Tesla experience was great until I ordered a car

[zhu-]

I bought a Tesla because I believe in the mission, wanted to do my part to contribute, and also try my first EV. For the $50-$60k price range, the Model 3 is definitely quite lacking when it comes to sound insulation, build quality, audio quality (front audio is very average and the rear just sounds like somebody in the front is playing music through their iPad speakers), ride quality, materials quality, and unfortunately the list goes on. I believe many of us are turning a blind eye to a lot of issues as we generally do for things we love. I love my Model 3 and for what it stands for in terms of its impact on the future of cars but if I were to objectively look at it like every other car, it is far from great with a lot of room for improvement.

 

[SnakeDoctorTD]

I purchased a Model S towards the end of 2017. The process was easy, and for the most part pleasant. The delivery specialist was the only hiccup I encountered where communication was lacking. I ended up working with someone else, but there was no survey or anything afterwards that I can remember. I didn't log any complaint as everything else went to plan. Delivery was when it was stated, car is great, any service has been handled fairly well.

 

[StellarRat]

I bought a Tesla because I believe in the mission, wanted to do my part to contribute, and also try my first EV. For the $50-$60k price range, the Model 3 is definitely quite lacking when it comes to sound insulation, build quality, audio quality (front audio is very average and the rear just sounds like somebody in the front is playing music through their iPad speakers), ride quality, materials quality, and unfortunately the list goes on. I believe many of us are turning a blind eye to a lot of issues as we generally do for things we love. I love my Model 3 and for what it stands for in terms of its impact on the future of cars but if I were to objectively look at it like every other car, it is far from great with a lot of room for improvement.

That's interesting because my brother, who is a mechanical engineer by training, just got his first ride in my M3 this weekend. His comments, "I guess Musk really knows what he's doing." and "This car has a great stereo." and finally, "I might have to get one of these." He's owned plenty of nice cars and high end motorcycles as well.

 

[Knightshade]

Yeah- the model 3 stereo is excellent for an OEM system- it's one of the points most pro reviews brought up too.

that said- there's apparently a bug a small % of owners have been experiencing in the last couple of firmwares that seems to significantly mess with audio quality- so maybe the poster is experiencing that- there's a thread or two on it if he cares to search.

 

[Lifeinabox]

Yeah- the model 3 stereo is excellent for an OEM system- it's one of the points most pro reviews brought up too.

that said- there's apparently a bug a small % of owners have been experiencing in the last couple of firmwares that seems to significantly mess with audio quality- so maybe the poster is experiencing that- there's a thread or two on it if he cares to search.

Especially coming from an S, the Model 3 stereo is excellent. I'd also say source matters. For instance, you need to enable Slacker "Maximum Audio Quality" for 320kbps streaming or else the sound is super compressed.

 

[Glamisduner]

I was on the Model 3 list from day 1. I ordered mid-range in October. I received a confirmation from a local "Owner Advisor". I responded to the Owner Advisor with a question, but did not receive a response. When I was next near the Tesla showroom, I stopped by. He was there. I introduced myself. He was completely disinterested. Made me feel like I was wasting his time. I did not hang around. I called and emailed Tesla with my question. I still have not received a response to my emails and customer service submissions online. Those were from late October.

After a month went by and I heard nothing about the car I ordered, I started trying to contact Tesla again. I emailed again but still no response. I called and got someone on the phone but she knew very little. I went back to the Tesla showroom again to talk to my Owner Advisor. Again, he would not give me the time of day. I left quite incredulous.

I emailed him again and stated that if he was too busy to talk to me, I would like to speak to another OA. He did not initially respond. I emailed him again with the same request. He then sent me an email with the name of another OA and CC'd the other OA.

I sent the other OA an email with 2 quick questions. No response. That was over a week ago.

Now I am very close to delivery. No one has contacted me about a pending delivery. My OA's are clearly not interested in talking to me.

I am very tempted to return this car once it arrives, just because I am terrified of their horrible customer service.

I hear you brother! We are not going to lie and tell you service is great with tesla at the moment. Service is terrible right now. I'm still waiting for them to finish addressing issues from my early October delivery, which was supposed to be a September delivery!

Especially coming from an S, the Model 3 stereo is excellent. I'd also say source matters. For instance, you need to enable Slacker "Maximum Audio Quality" for 320kbps streaming or else the sound is super compressed.

Please share how you were able to do this.

 

[Knightshade]

Especially coming from an S, the Model 3 stereo is excellent. I'd also say source matters. For instance, you need to enable Slacker "Maximum Audio Quality" for 320kbps streaming or else the sound is super compressed.

That's not actually possible in a model 3.

You get 64kb/sec from slacker no matter what. (and it sounds like it)

If you want the best audio quality in the 3 you need to play from USB (ideally uncompressed FLAC/etc)

 

[Lifeinabox]

That's not actually possible in a model 3.

You get 64kb/sec from slacker no matter what. (and it sounds like it)

If you want the best audio quality in the 3 you need to play from USB (ideally uncompressed FLAC/etc)

Really? The Model 3 UI restricts it? Otherwise, it's completely on Slacker's end and the car should produce what it gets.

 

[TeeEmCee]

Really? The Model 3 UI restricts it? Otherwise, it's completely on Slacker's end and the car should produce what it gets.

maybe with the "free" account that comes with the car it does. I went on a "debugging run" last night (to check on the remaining rattles and creaks) and I also tried the stereo in a number of ways. I was surprised to hear that streaming Spotify over bluetooth (with high bit-rate setting) sounded noticeably better than the built-in Slacker.

 

[Lifeinabox]

maybe with the "free" account that comes with the car it does. I went on a "debugging run" last night (to check on the remaining rattles and creaks) and I also tried the stereo in a number of ways. I was surprised to hear that streaming Spotify over bluetooth (with high bit-rate setting) sounded noticeably better than the built-in Slacker.

I have a paid subscription. The free account you are unfortunately compressed.

 

[Knightshade]

I have a paid subscription. The free account you are unfortunately compressed.

You are stuck with compressed on the paid one too.

Streaming quality is set on the client platform- not the server.

Multiple threads about this, including direct quotes from Slacker support confirming it.


See also-

Audio Quality

Quality setting is done on a per-client basis. If you listen to Slacker Radio on multiple apps, changing the quality setting on one device will have no effect on the quality settings of other devices

So setting quality to max on the website does nothing for you when not listening via the website.

The model 3 gets 64kb/sec no matter what kind of account you have, because the Tesla slacker app doesn't permit changing that setting on the client.

The S used to offer a setting on the car to use higher quality streaming- the 3 never did.

 

[TeeEmCee]

Crap. Time to dust off the old FLACs.

 

[Lifeinabox]

Yeah same here.

 

[StellarRat]

Just to note: My brother heard my own MP3 collection not some crappy streaming stuff.

 

[talels]

I might be lucky here, but my customer service experience with Tesla has always been good, and my local service center is amazing. On top of that, I love my car and driving has never been so much fun!

 

[TeeEmCee]

I might be lucky here, but my customer service experience with Tesla has always been good, and my local service center is amazing. On top of that, I love my car and driving has never been so much fun!

I don’t suppose you’d be interested in buying another one and double the awesomeness?

 

[talels]

I wish I could but I can't afford another one at this time...

 

[MXWing]

There's probably 100,000+ other Model 3 owners NOT complaining about their car.

When they feel like throwing a tantrum, you will find them here.

 

[GreenT]

That's interesting because my brother, who is a mechanical engineer by training, just got his first ride in my M3 this weekend. His comments, "I guess Musk really knows what he's doing." and "This car has a great stereo."

People judge a car by its stereo????
Now I've heard it all.

When the Model S first came out, the service was INCREDIBLE!

Today it is HORRIFIC if you can find service they are so far apart. My nearest service staff are just bald face liars. Sorry, but it's a fact - I caught them at it.

 

[RScottyL]

Similar experience. I love the car. Customer service is terrible. Tesla needs to get its act together

From most of the stories I have heard about, I agree!

Tesla needs to focus on current issues before coming out with any more vehicles!

Take care of the current customers first!