So. We picked up our M3 LR from Bristol today. It was one of those days when pretty much everything seemed to go right (for a change?). The train wasn't full of covidiots. The prebooked car was waiting outside Temple Meads and dropped us at Cribbs Causeway with plenty of time to spare. (We had a bite to eat and did a little shopping.) At the Tesla shop, we forgot to 'sign in' with the QR code on arrival (we mistook it for the NHS app thing) and then forgot to mention to the guy that we are leasing the thing. Both led to a tiny delay, but really we have no complaints. Our only other issue was that the keycards were warped and we didn't mention it while the guy was there because we were just too excited and wanted him to go away so that WE COULD SIT IN OUR CAR FOR A BIT AND PLAY. (All while charging at Tesla's expense. ;-) )
I took a checklist with me and got partway through and couldn't find a problem and so we kind of gave up AND HIT THE MOTORWAY. The M5 was clogged and slow, and we were still sorting out things as we drove, but, crumbs, what a car! We pulled into services halfway home so I could have a go too. I got the best part of the drive (i.e. non-motorway) and nearly broke my wife's neck when I didn't warn her I was about to floor it. I say again, what a car! (I'm a tofu-knitting 'Let's save the planet' kind of person, but if you can have fun along the way, where's the harm?)
Got back, plugged it into my new 3-pin socket (see my other posts passim), and have been packing for holiday ever since (thus this late posting). But I so wanted just to sit in the car and listen to music (I used to sell hifi and, let me tell you, I've heard worse...) and play the games. It's the first car we've ever had (and we've had a ratty old Porsche and a BMW and a Volvo and a couple of Mercs - and some absolute rubbish - and a couple of new Leafs) that's almost as exciting just to sit in as it is to drive.
(And did I already say? It drives like a charm.)
I had another look at the car earlier and I suppose if I'm being really picky, the rear light clusters are very slightly inconsistently proud of the bodywork, but overall the build quality seems excellent. (TBF, I'm no expert - I'd barely heard the phrase 'panel gaps' before getting this Tesla...) Paint looks fine, everything seems to work. (No pictures because it's just a bog-standard LR in white, but I do question my use of the word 'just' there. Even the standard wheels look a bit better in the flesh.)
We've had a few ups and downs to get to this point - thanks to various peeps on this forum who've commented on my posts - but even our first impressions have made it all worthwhile! We take it to Devon and Cornwall for a fortnight tomorrow, then we'll be pootling around at home for a few months before I get to grips with some serious weekly commuting (assuming the universities stay open...).
I can't wait.
