I can understand both sides of the discussion - the buyer should get the lower price because that's what was stated, and those suggesting that it was a mistake, and if they lowered the price they would be favoring one buyer over others. I don't have a good answer to solve the problem, but I do have some other thoughts.
Less than 5 months ago I took delivery of my M3 LR RWD from the same Raleigh location. When I ordered my car AWD wasn't available, and I likely would have ordered it if if were. The price difference back then was $5000 more for AWD, when it became available. Autopilot was priced near $5K and FSD was $7K more. So, I ordered a LR RWD in basic black with the 19" wheels, no AutoPilot, no FSD. Pre-fees/delivery the price was $50,500.
Now the RWD option is "off menu" - if it's available at all, but the pricing has changed dramatically. Today a LR AWD in black, with 19" wheels, and standard AutoPilot (admittedly an option not now offering NoA) lists for $51,000. That car configuration has AWD, faster acceleration, and standard Autopilot compared to my not yet 5 month old RWD version. That's $500 more than my car price. For that the new buyer gets AWD ($5K - a few months ago), AutoPilot (Another $5K option for my car). Both cars have the upgraded 19" wheels. So the new buyer gets $10K of things I didn't get for $500. Not a bad deal. Yes, the tax credit is half of what it was, but that's only a $3,750 difference. The new buyer is still ahead $6,250 after the tax credit.
Should I feel badly, "cheated", or otherwise expect Tesla to do something to make up the difference? No, I don't expect any of those things. I'm just amazed that Tesla could lower the price as aggressively as it has to attract new buyers and provide even more value. Want another example of how aggressive Tesla's pricing has become? How about this. I remember reading Dan Neil's review of the M3 Performance in July 2018. His review was for the M3 Performance in Red with "all the options". That car listed for $78,000. The same car equipped the same as it was in his review today lists for $66,000, a $12K price cut - over 15% less for a car that's had several other improvements along the way, including the likelihood of also have V3 hardware preinstalled, and a model year newer than the review car.
My point? Simply this - Tesla has done what no other manufacturer I know of has done. They've aggressively lowered the price of their cars and offered new features for free (I've had 5 Version upgrades to the car's system in five months at no cost). The price reductions are dramatic across all models - 3, S, X. In such a rapidly changing environment is it possible that things get miscommunicated and some clients get annoyed/aggravated? Sure it is, but look at the bigger picture. We're getting more car for the money than ever with Tesla, and they're doing it proactively. (Did anyone expect the base SR version would include the full glass roofs front and back - I surely didn't)?
Tesla is still a "work in progress", and anything that makes it more financially stable and builds the company is fine with me. That doesn't mean they don't need to better educate their sales team, and upgrade the service issues that many point to as needing better consistency, but let's give them credit for being bold (maybe too bold at times) and moving forward as best they can.
Will some earlier owners have mixed feelings about the pricing shifts and feature adds? Without doubt, but Tesla's mission is to provide high quality products at levels that make them available to more potential owners, and I, for one, applaud their effort and support it fully.
