Tesla Motors Club
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.
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.