Things I learned from Tesla service:
-The passenger window sticking out past the B pillar trim is for "aerodynamics" even though none of the other windows look like this.
-The loose plastic interior trim by the door jamb just "kind of sits there, it doesn't really clip in" when I pointed out that just the driver's side one is loose
-No other car companies have completely painted hinges or door jambs
-The missing wheel well clips are normal, even though I had one installed, some cars had them all installed, but most had none installed
-The paint drip on the end of my fender is normal because all the other model 3s have it.
-the misalignment resulting from the paint drip on the fender is also normal
-the gap between the rear bumper cover and trunk weatherseal is normal
-headlights protruding from the bodywork are normal
-there is no way to fix a misaligned taillight
-you can adjust the strikeplate to fix the door that looks like it's not closed, but, I mean, it's not even an issue
-the half-painted door jamb is normal because the other side had a different half-painted area
-no other car company releases their tolerance specs
-door handles don't have to be consistently flush/inset with door panel
-other car companies have different issues
-I won't be satisfied with another car so I might as well take the car to the body shop to have it resprayed to fix the paint issues
-I'm a picky person
Things I didn't learn from Tesla service:
-When the replacement trunk liner due to standing water in my trunk at delivery is due in
-What suspension part numbers are specific to my car
I now know the strategy is a war of attrition, and it's working. I left feeling like I was a bad person for bringing up my issues. In the future whatever I can fix myself I will. They would help themselves by making parts available through retail like every other car company. Luckily the V9 download lifted my spirits after a depressing encounter.
There are some great people who work there, but I also think there are some "car dealership" people and there is no way around that. That would be fine with me if I could pick a car from inventory and test drive it, but I can't. So I will accept my fate and enjoy the first new car I've ever bought for better or worse. And I will try not to get angry when I see cars that weren't offloaded for the Q3 push that have great fit and finish.
Minus all the issues the car is a technological achievement. It's like nothing out there, a true disruptor, and it's amazing. They had the gonads to take a concept car and put it right into production, and the entire industry is scared. But these quality issues and customer service interactions are a huge hurdle and will eventually hurt them if they're left unchecked.
-The passenger window sticking out past the B pillar trim is for "aerodynamics" even though none of the other windows look like this.
-The loose plastic interior trim by the door jamb just "kind of sits there, it doesn't really clip in" when I pointed out that just the driver's side one is loose
-No other car companies have completely painted hinges or door jambs
-The missing wheel well clips are normal, even though I had one installed, some cars had them all installed, but most had none installed
-The paint drip on the end of my fender is normal because all the other model 3s have it.
-the misalignment resulting from the paint drip on the fender is also normal
-the gap between the rear bumper cover and trunk weatherseal is normal
-headlights protruding from the bodywork are normal
-there is no way to fix a misaligned taillight
-you can adjust the strikeplate to fix the door that looks like it's not closed, but, I mean, it's not even an issue
-the half-painted door jamb is normal because the other side had a different half-painted area
-no other car company releases their tolerance specs
-door handles don't have to be consistently flush/inset with door panel
-other car companies have different issues
-I won't be satisfied with another car so I might as well take the car to the body shop to have it resprayed to fix the paint issues
-I'm a picky person
Things I didn't learn from Tesla service:
-When the replacement trunk liner due to standing water in my trunk at delivery is due in
-What suspension part numbers are specific to my car
I now know the strategy is a war of attrition, and it's working. I left feeling like I was a bad person for bringing up my issues. In the future whatever I can fix myself I will. They would help themselves by making parts available through retail like every other car company. Luckily the V9 download lifted my spirits after a depressing encounter.
There are some great people who work there, but I also think there are some "car dealership" people and there is no way around that. That would be fine with me if I could pick a car from inventory and test drive it, but I can't. So I will accept my fate and enjoy the first new car I've ever bought for better or worse. And I will try not to get angry when I see cars that weren't offloaded for the Q3 push that have great fit and finish.
Minus all the issues the car is a technological achievement. It's like nothing out there, a true disruptor, and it's amazing. They had the gonads to take a concept car and put it right into production, and the entire industry is scared. But these quality issues and customer service interactions are a huge hurdle and will eventually hurt them if they're left unchecked.