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Used 2017 MX purchase experience

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I started researching into purchasing a tesla last fall, and soon realized that the vehicle tech was a good fit for me. I have had back/lower spine surgery and and have found discomfort in manipulating the gas and brake pedals with my right foot.


With my work, I travel long distances by vehicle, and while I used to use a work car for my travels, I get reimbursed for mileage. Purchasing a Tesla with the autopilot feature will help both mentally and physically. That plus free supercharging, while getting reimbursed, seem to be a great fit for me.


I considered the Model Y, and was really leaning that way, until this COVID-19, shut the factory down. I can't see myself getting my delivery until next year. I unfortunately am in a slight rush for a car. Right at the very beginning of the COVID lockdown in mid-March, the engine on my Chevy Equinox blew. So, while that was devastating news, it really couldn’t have come at a better time if it was going to happen. For the past month+ I have been sharing my wife’s vehicle. We are both fortunate enough to be forced to work/teach from home.


Okay, enough of the back story.


I will say the communication from Tesla is dismal at best. I felt like the used sales person only really took me seriously after I placed the order. Prior to that, I was made to feel like I was wasting his time. I would ask multiple questions, and he would only answer a few, and not well at that. This was not made better after ordering either.


4/7/2020(Tuesday): I finally decided on a 2017 90D MX and placed my order. The vehicle is in WA, and I am in MD. IF I could have flown to get it I would have and saved the $2000, but again with COVID, flying wasn't the safest method. I was told it should be 2-3 weeks for delivery. Sales person stated vehicle has already been upgraded to HW 3 since it has FSD. I filled out everything online, and made a deposit.


4/14/2020(Tuesday): I reached out since I had not heard any updates, on shipping of the MX, as I was told I would be updated. NO RESPONSE


4/16/2020(Thursday): I sent the same email asking for an update: Sales person stated he pinged the vehicle and it was in IL. A quick google search says Chicago is 11 hours away.


4/17/2020(Friday): I emailed to switch banks since I found a better rate, no issue, no delay.


4/20/2020(Monday): I emailed asking when I should hear from a delivery Specialist. He responded that it looked like the car was there, and I should be hearing soon about delivery. later in the day got a call to schedule delivery. At first it was scheduled for 4/23/2020, then an hour later it was delayed by a day due to "staff shortages". I went by the dealership (only 15 minutes away). I got to see it, and take a really good look at the outside, and through the windows. Everything looked better than the pictures. A service center employee told me that they only do "Used" delivery’s Thurs-Sat.


So here's to hoping Friday comes quickly.


All in all, this has been a slightly frustrating process, mainly due to the lack of/ineffective communication. Fortunately, I had been reading these forums, and expected it. I honestly expected the process to take over a month. I didn't even apply for my auto loan until he told me the car was in IL. I had read that auto loans expired after a month, and didn't want to reapply. Once I did apply, my bank (USAA) allows for 45 days.


If anyone has any questions about this process, let me know.


I mainly wrote this because during this process, I most found comfort in seeing others experiences and timeframe in order to compare myself to them. That and since tesla didn't communicate well, I needed information and hoped to mirror others.
 
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Reactions: bhorn
Hi @Stin121

Welcome to the forums! Congrats on the purchase, and I'm quite jealous of the fact that you've actually been able to look at your X in person. Do you have any pics to share? Did you notice any discrepancies from the sale page photos?

Cheers!
I took two pictues of it while there, my wife is in both, and she prefers to not be posted. HAHA.

In regards to the condition vs the pictures they sent: in most of the pictures where they indicated there was an issue, I was unable to see the same issue. Maybe a very faint scratch. Only one flaw was as I expected, the rest were not visable, or much less of an issue than the pictures portrayed. I am hoping the inside is the same. I know the MCU screen in pictures had the yellow bars, but that is fixable, and I am planning on upgrading to MCU2 ASAP.

I am lucky I could see it. I had been by the dealership right after I ordered in order to let my wife see a MX. This time I had a purpose, and my car was easy to find. It was nice to not feel preasured to take delivery, and I could give the car a nice look over without the rush.
 
Hope you are having a great time with your new (to you) Tesla Model X. They are quite remarkable vehicles and can be life altering.

Tesla is not good at answering the torrent of questions most used buyers throw at them. They usually just want to send you their packet of pictures, take the order and arrange delivery when the car is in the final stages.

They do all this pretty well, but are not set up for endless back and forth regarding all the little or bigger issues that buyers are most always needing to discuss...sometimes endlessly. Buyers tend to want to do a lot of changes, updates, taking away of unneeded options etc, as they continue along their purchasing journey.

While frustrating the process is efficient and allows Tesla to deliver more cars with less manpower.
 
Bought mine used (less than a year and less than 6000 miles) June 2017 from a Lexus dealer the same day they took it as a trade. Lucked out as it was fully loaded (3 charge units for 72 amp charge at home), subzero package, evannex lighted T on the trunk, upgraded interior lights, Tesla projected puddle lights, cubby drawer, weather tech mats, and more. They valued it as a base Model and I made out like a bandit. Not a single issue of note since I got it.

Of course I had been searching for almost a year so it pays to know what you want and be patient to find it, Tesla is not the best resale option.
 
Hi. So I am in the same boat. I am looking at a P100D Model X.

My question to you is... Did you pay for sales tax in your own state? or the state in which was listed on the tesla used inventory page? For example there is one in Carlsbad, California. The sales tax there is over 10% whereas in ohio its like 6.75%.

Second question is I have talked with the used car specialist regarding some used cars because I wanted to know about AP software and MCU.

Third is so the $100 refundable fee. Where you/ are you able to walk away if you dont like the condition of the vehicle?

Fourth is after watching Rich Rebuilds issue just about a year ago talking 90+ days scares me this will happen. How are you feeling about delivery?
 
Hi. So I am in the same boat. I am looking at a P100D Model X.

My question to you is... Did you pay for sales tax in your own state? or the state in which was listed on the tesla used inventory page? For example there is one in Carlsbad, California. The sales tax there is over 10% whereas in ohio its like 6.75%.

Second question is I have talked with the used car specialist regarding some used cars because I wanted to know about AP software and MCU.

Third is so the $100 refundable fee. Where you/ are you able to walk away if you dont like the condition of the vehicle?

Fourth is after watching Rich Rebuilds issue just about a year ago talking 90+ days scares me this will happen. How are you feeling about delivery?


I am only paying sales tax in MD. I read somewhere that you will definitly pay sales tax in your home state, and in a few states you would pay twice if picking up in a different state. I paid the $2000 to ship it to MD from WA, so I only need to worry about MD's tax.

So my vehicle started off as AP/HW 2 MCU 1. My sales advisor stated that the vehicle had been upgraded to AP/HW3. I am planning on upgrading the MCU for $2500 ASAP.

I do not believe the $100 is refundable. Although, you are able to walk away if the condition isn't what is the same as in the pictures, etc. I was fortunate that I was able to walk around the car a few days ago, so I know what I am getting when I take delivery tomorrow.

From order date 4/7 to delivery 4/24, a total of 16 days inbetween. That is a lot better than I was expecting to be honest.