Tesla Model 3 in Australia

[thomasw]

Well, it's in Australia so an Australian band would be fitting - Like Icehouse. It's also Electric and Blue.

...so maybe "Dedicated to Glam"

Im in VIC, and RACV arent even doing that so no excuse.

Try RAA in SA, they quoted me $5800 ! And even with higher excesses it barely dropped it.
Edit - maybe they have come to their senses and lowered it, got an online quote now for $4900

 

[bay74]

maybe they have come to their senses and lowered it, got an online quote now for $4900

Not quite my idea of coming to ones senses.
I thought Shannons was bad at ~$3.5k p.a. Bunch of online ones, they appeared to be related (using effectively the same question format) wouldn’t provide cover at all due to my “location” - presume they meant Victoria and not my dodgy suburb.
Cheapest I’ve seen so far was RACV, ~$2k p.a., much more than I’m paying now (for a 18 year old Camry and 45 year old VW combined). That’ll eat a good chunk of petrol savings.

 

[TASKA9]

For Vic, RACV seems to be the best offer. They give not-at-fault accident and theft car hire in comprehensive cover as standard. And when you get an online quote, Model 3 are listed twice for each trim. One is actually a few hundreds (if memory serves) cheaper than another.

 

[aegidius]

Tesla customer service? Not a problem! However appalling you think the service is right now, I am almost certain, that as each week passes, it is going to improve!

If anyone has memories of buying a new ICE car, and being mucked about with options, and spun yarns about cars that are on the boat, and having to wait 6-9 months even then, then Tesla looks entirely normal in its communication. Of course I'd like things to be better, but all I've heard so far is not unusual in this game.

 

[Anubis]

If anyone has memories of buying a new ICE car, and being mucked about with options, and spun yarns about cars that are on the boat, and having to wait 6-9 months even then, then Tesla looks entirely normal in its communication. Of course I'd like things to be better, but all I've heard so far is not unusual in this game.

For me, I totally disagree Tesla’s experience is “normal”.
My last 3 cars were specific builds out of Germany. From the day I placed the orders, I was given a delivery date 3 months ahead. I could have even flown to Germany to watch one of them being built. All three were delivered to the schedule. Expectations were set, and they met them. Along the way, I was called every 3 to 4 weeks and given status updates.

A week into my Tesla order, I have a hairy fairy timeline of October or November. Having had experience with overseas builds, I am working on 3 months for delivery. I am creating my own expectation.

I can envisage as Tesla matures, they will improve. As many have said, there is no reason your order can’t be immediately allocated a car that has already been built and you can track it all the way to your driveway - literally by its inbuilt GPS. If it’s not built, then you maybe even can get a live feed as it is being built.

Let’s hope Tesla start to apply some of their ingenuity to the delivery process in the near future.

 

[Kangojack]

I wonder how long until Tesla underwrites insurance in Australia for their own vehicles.

 

[raynewman]

For me, I totally disagree Tesla’s experience is “normal”.
My last 3 cars were specific builds out of Germany. From the day I placed the orders, I was given a delivery date 3 months ahead. I could have even flown to Germany to watch one of them being built. All three were delivered to the schedule. Expectations were set, and they met them. Along the way, I was called every 3 to 4 weeks and given status updates.

A week into my Tesla order, I have a hairy fairy timeline of October or November. Having had experience with overseas builds, I am working on 3 months for delivery. I am creating my own expectation.

I can envisage as Tesla matures, they will improve. As many have said, there is no reason your order can’t be immediately allocated a car that has already been built and you can track it all the way to your driveway - literally by its inbuilt GPS. If it’s not built, then you maybe even can get a live feed as it is being built.

Let’s hope Tesla start to apply some of their ingenuity to the delivery process in the near future.

Tesla are NOT building Model 3 to order. They build a great swag of them then ship them to Australia.
The local staff then allocate them to individual orders or inventory.

 

[WoodWombat]

First, I don’t aware of a high quality 10A cable is more expensive than an amphibian adaptor. The claim that having the adaptor and a 15A cable is cheaper is not very convincing.

Second, if you use 10A to 15A adaptor -> 15A extension cable -> UMC with 15A tail, the UMC will draw 15A current and it will trigger the circuit breaker. It won’t cause any damages but the car won’t charge unless you adjusted the current from the car.

Third, extension cable have its resistance. It will generate heat. I had a high quality cable and the 15A plugs will get hot after being used to charge the Leaf on 15A (using a 15A EVSE not the EVSE from Nissan) for a few hours. It is safe but I am not sure if I used it for years on daily basis. This is why I said it is not wise to use it daily.

[...]

Personally, I won’t charge from old power points because old wiring or power points may not be able to handle high current continuously for a long period of time.

I have bought an industrial quality 15A extension cable (from these guys) with 2.5sqmm cable so that when I have access to a good 15A socket I can use that, and other wise use the Amphibian adapter and run with less loss. It also means that I can carry just one extension cord for charging on the road. EEC also can supply cables with 4 sqmm cable but only with screw-lock industrial connectors since the larger cable does not fit in normal heavy-duty plugs and sockets. Any of these will quite happily run 15A continuously. I calculated about 50W dissipation of heat for the 20m cable that I have. That will barely make it warm.

For the unknown quality power points, one option if you are desperate is to plug in the 10A tail and then set the car to only draw 8A. Sure you will only get about 1.7kW charge, but at least you will not set fire to the house. If you are really unsure, then start at 6A and then increase if nothing is getting hot.

 

[aegidius]

My last 3 cars were specific builds out of Germany. From the day I placed the orders, I was given a delivery date 3 months ahead. I could have even flown to Germany to watch one of them being built. All three were delivered to the schedule. Expectations were set, and they met them. Along the way, I was called every 3 to 4 weeks and given status updates.

You did well there. My experience (of buying an Audi from Brisbane) was not like that. I hear other similar stories. I'm sure there are many different experiences - my point was just to say delivery hell happens a lot in the ICE world too. Totally agree Tesla could - and should - do better.

 

[Anubis]

The local staff then allocate them to individual orders or inventory.

And that's one of the things that could be improved.
I put my order in on a Friday night while I was watching footy. Great service!
Why couldn't that order be matched to the existing inventory right then and there? Take the "local staff" out of that loop.

Hey, I'm not bitching... just making an observation for improvement.
If Telsa want to sell a million+ cars a year, their current processes will need improvement.

 

[aroth]

Tesla are NOT building Model 3 to order. They build a great swag of them then ship them to Australia.

They say that. However I'd bet the truth is somewhere in between. With the exception of a handful of very late orders I don't think anyone has claimed to receive an invoice for a car with a build date predating their order date. And it's not like Tesla is really in a position, financially, to build and ship swags of extra cars that it doesn't have immediate buyers lined up for.

Wouldn't be surprised if the lucky late-orderers are mostly just snatching up vehicles from people who placed an order early and then modified it to get the white interior (or free white paint, or whatever). Tesla would have built their initial config and then ended up with an "extra" car when the order was modified.

 

[Anubis]

With the exception of a handful of very late orders I don't think anyone has claimed to receive an invoice for a car with a build date predating their order date.

Just checked the order/VIN database...

3 orders out of 40 have order dates before the build date. All SR+.
Also, the average build to order date is currently 37 days for those 40 orders.

 

[TeeThreee]

My current quote from GIO for my hidden VIN P- is an eye-watering $4,200 per year. I think I need to have another chat to them about not including the performance pack ...

Take a close look at the breakdown of the quote.
The key line is "Low Emissions Discount: 25%"
Obviously an environmentally aware bonus, totally divorced from the risks inherent in the policy.
Good on them! A pity the other RACs don't have the same eco-friendly policy.

 

[Dave3333]

Any other 4430 (Cap Capricorn) hidden VINners out there still waiting for a call? I've got my fingers crossed that if this 12V battery issue is sorted this week then we might see some progress...

 

[freshmax]

@Vedaprime someone on NZ Facebook just got allocated a hidden VIN not in your list. 4994XX

 

[Kangojack]

Any other 4430 (Cap Capricorn) hidden VINners out there still waiting for a call? I've got my fingers crossed that if this 12V battery issue is sorted this week then we might see some progress...

Yep. 4430 VIN. No call as yet

 

[cbrsr+]

What a great start to the weekend. Had a call this arvo from a Sydney delivery specialist! He is sending our invoice through on Monday.
Red SR+ black interior
Transportation to home address in Canberra
Tentative delivery time noon on Monday 23 Sept
Reserved 23.5.2019
Ordered 6.6.2019
Have hidden VIN 4429XX
Actual delivery date will be confirmed a week before the delivery
Canberra cars will arrive without number plates and registration (Meowsers mentioned this in an earlier post) as Sydney office unable to organise their end. This is done through Access Canberra either anytime after Payment completed or after arrival of vehicle. Latter doesn’t seem a great option - can’t see us sitting and looking at the car in the garage instead of taking it for a spin lol

Hi TaylorP, thanks very much for that post. I think I’m in the same boat as you - just got the invoice for our SR+ (May 2018 res, 4416XX) for delivery in Canberra week 23 Sep, but the rego cost area was blank. No mention of having to register the car ourselves in the phone call so it’s a bit of a surprise...

Is this the form you use? https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov....h+New+Registration+from+Interstate+Dealer.pdf

Looks like a few details are needed that aren’t on the invoice (CPA number, TAN etc.). Did you get any guidance on that from Tesla and/or when we can actually get the number plates? Not totally clear whether we need to have the car inspected in the ACT ourselves either.

 

[cbrsr+]

Sorry, VIN should read 4613XX...

 

[AndrewSa]

Try RAA in SA, they quoted me $5800 ! And even with higher excesses it barely dropped it.
Edit - maybe they have come to their senses and lowered it, got an online quote now for $4900

After seeing RACWA quotes I challenged RAA SA about it. Got response "costly to repair and only one repairer" I quizzed them how WA would be any different.... conversation just circled. Escalated queries and got much some response. Previous quotes were around 3K but now higher apparently so obviously they're not in the market. Looks like AAMI will be getting plenty business

 

[cs_jacky]

I have bought an industrial quality 15A extension cable (from these guys) with 2.5sqmm cable so that when I have access to a good 15A socket I can use that, and other wise use the Amphibian adapter and run with less loss. It also means that I can carry just one extension cord for charging on the road. EEC also can supply cables with 4 sqmm cable but only with screw-lock industrial connectors since the larger cable does not fit in normal heavy-duty plugs and sockets. Any of these will quite happily run 15A continuously. I calculated about 50W dissipation of heat for the 20m cable that I have. That will barely make it warm.

For the unknown quality power points, one option if you are desperate is to plug in the 10A tail and then set the car to only draw 8A. Sure you will only get about 1.7kW charge, but at least you will not set fire to the house. If you are really unsure, then start at 6A and then increase if nothing is getting hot.

You will use Amphibian adapter if the 15A socket is not good? If that's the case, you can't use Amphibian adapter because it is a 10A -> 15A socket adaptor. It won't fit into the 15A socket. You solution should be reducing the charging current in the car settings.

Different people have different considerations and preferences.

I would go through the followings to decide what I need:

1. Under what circumstances I need to charge with UMC? Do I need an extension cable?
2. Is it fast enough to charge with UMC?
   1. 10A provides 2.4kW power and takes 26 hours to charge Model 3 from 10% -> 90%
   2. 15A provides 3.6kW power and takes 17 hours to charge from 10% to 90%
3. How frequent do I have to charge with UMC?
4. How important for me to carry 1 cable vs 2 cables? Do I need to carry cables everyday?
5. Can I avoid using UMC with destination chargers and superchargers using a good route planner such as ABRP?

For me, I prefer to plan my journey ahead and utilise superchargers, destination chargers & other CCS chargers (such as 50kW & 350kW ChargeFox DC chargers). I will keep the UMC in the trunk for emergencies.