I needed a car to replace my XJ8-L. It was between the Ray Donovan Mercedes CLS 550 (I still like the styling a lot) and a Tesla Model S which I also thought was a beautifully styled car. I was very attracted to Tesla's technology including autopilot, and how fast the cars were. From there I floated the idea of both cars to friends and my adult children. My wife and friends told me the Mercedes was an obscenely overpriced indulgence, that I was not Ray Donovan, and that the Tesla would kill me, so I should just get a Lexus or Camry, or even another Jaguar. My adult children and their friends said "do you really want to be another old guy in a new Mercedes? Get the Tesla!"
So in mid 2019 the time came when I needed a new car in three weeks or less. Tesla had some great price reductions offering a $10K discount + $3500 tax credit, and free supercharging on inventory cars. So I ordered it online one morning using a credit card, without ever driving one or having arranged financing. Tesla had the car ready and shipped to Austin in a week, and I took delivery at home a few days later.
I have never regretted the purchase and was thrilled with the car - absolutely thrilled. No car has ever provided me with more enjoyment or been more interesting, or more trouble free. My best friend who said I would die in it went on a road trip with me and then bought one himself.