My delivery expectations

[hallcp]

I have recently seen several posts from people complaining about problems with their new Model X, often interspersed with "my Porsche never had these issues". Look, it's an expensive car, and I want to be sympathetic with them.... but ultimately I am not.

It seems to me the problems fall into several categories:

1. Missing parts
2. Minute imperfections in paint
3. Squeaks
4. New owner not understanding the features
5. User apparently wanted a Mercedes
6. Something broken

I am expecting a Model X delivery in just a few days and I *think* my reaction to these issues would be as follows:

1. Ask them to fix the car, it's under freaking warranty forchrissake
2. I don't care
3. WD-40
4. Read the manual, watch the videos Tesla sent you, watch the AutoGefuhl hour-long review
5. I want a car of the future (even the new Audi E-tron dashboard looks prehistoric)
6. Have Tesla fix it, it's under freaking warranty forchrissake

You see I'm not buying a Tesla because my Mercedes needed an oil change. Here are my reasons:

- I want to see the future of cars before I'm too damn old to put a few miles on one (I'm 62)
- I've been waiting since 1976 for an electric car
- I want to support Elon Musk
- I believe in climate change
- I want Tesla to succeed (I bought stock too)
- I'm tired of paying money to Middle East oil countries only to have them fund terrorists

I think Tesla is an honest company and will fix anything that's broken. But none of these petty issues will put me off one little bit. This is bigger than just getting some fancy new car. This is about the future looking a little brighter than the present and me having a (tiny) part in it.

 

[msvoyager]

Well said, and completely agree! Enjoy your upcoming new care of the future!

 

[Super_Popular]

I have recently seen several posts from people complaining about problems with their new Model X

Let's not forget about the thousands of perfect deliveries that Tesla does that you do not hear about.

 

[DCGOO]

I have recently seen several posts from people complaining about problems with their new Model X, often interspersed with "my Porsche never had these issues". Look, it's an expensive car, and I want to be sympathetic with them.... but ultimately I am not.

- I want to see the future of cars before I'm too damn old to put a few miles on one (I'm 62)
- I've been waiting since 1976 for an electric car
- I want to support Elon Musk
- I believe in climate change
- I want Tesla to succeed (I bought stock too)
- I'm tired of paying money to Middle East oil countries only to have them fund terrorists

I agree completely, except for the last point. Nearly all of gasoline used today in .US comes from domestic sources. But it still stinks and pollutes, so I get your point.

 

[P85_DA]

Wow ...OP very well said !

 

[xyeahtony]

I remember the former Tesla delivery specialist who did a Q&A here said that someone brought a magnifying glass and a ruler to the delivery and spent 2 hours going over the paint, and then rejected delivery because of a 1cm mark. That's the kind of douchebag we don't need here, so welcome to TMC and hope you enjoy your car.

Now that I think about it, everything you said makes perfect sense. Its a car, enjoy it for what its meant for = driving.

 

[banned-66611]

Obviously it's up to you what you are willing to accept, but to be fair...

- some of the faults people have seen have been severe and Tesla has failed to fix them repeatedly

- things like paint imperfections can affect resale value

- an electric car costing a fraction as much from another manufacturer probably won't have these problems and would also be fixed quickly under warranty

 

[P85_DA]

someone brought a magnifying glass and a ruler to the delivery and spent 2 hours going over the paint, and then rejected delivery because of a 1cm mark. That's the kind of douchebag we don't need here,

Lol lol

 

[xyeahtony]

Obviously it's up to you what you are willing to accept, but to be fair...

- some of the faults people have seen have been severe and Tesla has failed to fix them repeatedly

- things like paint imperfections can affect resale value

- an electric car costing a fraction as much from another manufacturer probably won't have these problems and would also be fixed quickly under warranty

every other manufacturer has been making cars for 100 years longer than Tesla. this is a brand new company, there's going to be growing pains. It's what happens when you buy from a new car company. And how do we know when people buy other cars they dont have problems. Obviously they do. The lemon law process wasn't invented when Tesla was born, it was invented years ago because these things happen to ALL cars.

Sure an electric car from another manufacturer also won't have a fast charging network and would be resigned to be a glorified city car.

And why did you disagree with my post? Everything I said was factual haha. Unless you do think someone should reject delivery because they spent 2 hours going over a car paint and found a 1cm blemish.

 

[banned-66611]

If Tesla couldn't make expensive cars to the expected standard then why not start with cheap ones like Nissan did?

 

[TexasRat]

If Tesla couldn't make expensive cars to the expected standard then why not start with cheap ones like Nissan did?

Why ask a question when you already know the answer? Tesla started with basically no money and tried to break the mold by creating the first electric car for public consumption. How many people would be early adopters? Would they be able to sell 100k cars at $40k each? Much easier for them to sell 40k cars at $100k each to get the money they need to reinvest in R&D.

Also remember, the most expensive thing is the battery pack. The cheaper EVs you're talking about have what, a range of 40 miles? 90? Teslas have 200 - 300 miles. That's a lot of battery pack under the car.

Newer cars like the bolt have great range and some people would argue good quality, better than tesla. And how exactly were they able to design their car? Chevy wouldn't have been able to create a single EV if it weren't for tesla's patents and R&D, which they openly share with other auto manufacturers. It's the people who buy expensive teslas that have paid for the R&D necessary to build a model 3 for the masses and other EVs from other car manufacturers.

Don't get me wrong. That doesn't mean tesla gets a hall pass for producing poorly made cars with massive defects. However, it sounds like they're trying to make things right and still stand by their products.

 

[Tiger]

Please report back after your delivery

 

[xyeahtony]

If Tesla couldn't make expensive cars to the expected standard then why not start with cheap ones like Nissan did?

Seriously? because Nissan had dozens of models already in production to subsidize EV research and development. Tesla started from scratch. They had to build expensive cars at first in order to fund development of the next model. Why do you think every car Tesla has released is cheaper than the last? Imagine a brand new car company producing 1,000 $35k cars a year, they would go bankrupt immediately. Where would they get the money for that supercharger network? Factory expansion, or factory purchase? Remember they bought that factory in Fremont with proceeds from the roadster. Autopilot research/development? etc...list goes on....#eyeroll

Roadster -> S/X -> 3

Once 3 production is at goal production rate and Tesla is profitable, then they should/will have less issues.

 

[banned-66611]

Tesla started with basically no money and tried to break the mold by creating the first electric car for public consumption.

So you mean they failed and were beaten in every possible measure by other manufacturers like Nissan?

They claim they needed the expensive models to develop the tech. Well, Nissan didn't, Renault didn't, GM didn't. There are dozens of Chinese manufacturers that didn't either.

Don't get me wrong, I admire what they have done, and their plan of starting at the high end was an effective one. But it wasn't the only one, and once they went beyond the Roadster they needed to offer quality in line with the price they were charging.

 

[TexasRat]

So you mean they failed and were beaten in every possible measure by other manufacturers like Nissan?

They claim they needed the expensive models to develop the tech. Well, Nissan didn't, Renault didn't, GM didn't. There are dozens of Chinese manufacturers that didn't either.

Don't get me wrong, I admire what they have done, and their plan of starting at the high end was an effective one. But it wasn't the only one, and once they went beyond the Roadster they needed to offer quality in line with the price they were charging.

A lot of the companies you've listed have huge cash reserves though, that can afford their ICE models to carry them while their R&D develops EV technology. In China, it's hard to say. I don't know the details so I cannot chime in. It's possible though, that the government dumped cash into that R&D effort as well.

I still feel like Tesla has achieved something that no other manufacturer has yet. The cars you've listed don't have the range, and certainly not the materials or the battery size. The Bolt is the only one I believe that has as large of a battery. No other manufacturer has invested in a supercharger network either. So all of the other options you've listed (unless you're talking hyrbid like a Volt that can use gas) are relegated to city commuter cars.

Trade-offs really. I don't think Teslas are for everyone.

 

[TexasRat]

Delivery scheduled for tomorrow. Let's hope all goes well. Scared to see what I'll find. I will be sure to NOT scour every inch of the car looking for issues, as I won't be happy if I do that.

 

[Super_Popular]

Delivery scheduled for tomorrow. Let's hope all goes well. Scared to see what I'll find. I will be sure to NOT scour every inch of the car looking for issues, as I won't be happy if I do that.

It will go well, happy thoughts no negativity

 

[xyeahtony]

So you mean they failed and were beaten in every possible measure by other manufacturers like Nissan?

They claim they needed the expensive models to develop the tech. Well, Nissan didn't, Renault didn't, GM didn't. There are dozens of Chinese manufacturers that didn't either.

Don't get me wrong, I admire what they have done, and their plan of starting at the high end was an effective one. But it wasn't the only one, and once they went beyond the Roadster they needed to offer quality in line with the price they were charging.

What on earth are you talking about???

Nissan and Renault are the same company genius. And they make dozens of other vehicles so they already had billions in cash to help develop the tech. Same thing with GM, which has been around since 1908 and has had more than 100 years to build up a cash reserve and develop car tech.

A brand new company is not going to have the resources those major car companies did to develop what Tesla did.

"Dozens of chinese manufacturers." It does not take a lot of money to develop a car that travels 100 miles. How many of those chinese EVs are being sold globally? How many of them are even heard of? name 5 of those companies without googling... Meanwhile Tesla is synonymous with basically everyday conversation.

"Failed and beaten in every possible measure by other manufacturers"

Really? In what way? Car Quality? Look at how many 30kwh Nissan Leaf batteries are failing with over 40% battery degradation...and try rewording that statement. Does Nissan have a fast charging network? Not on the scope of Tesla superchargers. Currently its basically impossible to drive a nissan leaf outside your home state, let alone your home city. Meanwhile, in a Tesla you can basically drive anywhere in America (or the EU) with relative ease.

 

[Spelly88]

Delivery scheduled for tomorrow. Let's hope all goes well. Scared to see what I'll find. I will be sure to NOT scour every inch of the car looking for issues, as I won't be happy if I do that.

I expect a review! Can’t wait to get mine. Still en route to PA I guess.

 

[jboy210]

Delivery scheduled for tomorrow. Let's hope all goes well. Scared to see what I'll find. I will be sure to NOT scour every inch of the car looking for issues, as I won't be happy if I do that.

Best of luck. Here is hoping for a "clean" car!