What Would You Do (Paint Chip)?

[vinnie97]

Other annoying niggles that soured my experience: The Model 3 replica was only available in red, and they were too cheap to give me 2 USB C-type Android cables (told me to order the other on the website). I guess that's punishment for not owning an iPhone. There's also no capability for playing files off a USB drive according to the orientation, but I thought I'd read that was an available feature here prior.

The weather strip on the backdoor was also malformed/coming loose, which I made them aware. I suspect the asymmetric panel alignment I noted is probably within spec (aka tough titties!).

 

[Amit519]

Well, if the delivery center wasn't 2 hours away, I might have used this tact. Tesla will be paying to fix the chip so a message of sorts is still being sent. The only way to get the loaner was to accept delivery, so I'm now at their mercy.

Sorry @vinnie97, I hope everything works out for you. You may most likely forget the whole paint chip issue once you get the car back from the paint shop, if not before then. Usually the joy of the first drive, taking the car home, makes one forget a lot of these issues.
I forget that not everyone is as lucky as me, to live less than 10 minutes away from their local Tesla showroom/delivery center.

 

[Amit519]

Other annoying niggles that soured my experience: The Model 3 replica was only available in red, and they were too cheap to give me 2 USB C-type Android cables (told me to order the other on the website). I guess that's punishment for not owning an iPhone. There's also no capability for playing files off a USB drive according to the orientation, but I thought I'd read that was an available feature here prior.

The weather strip on the backdoor was also malformed/coming loose, which I made them aware. I suspect the asymmetric panel alignment I noted is probably within spec (aka tough titties!).

My experience with small things that need getting fixed has been great, but see if they can take care of ALL your issues as you don't want to drive 2 hours each time.
As for the usb-c connector, they don't carry it in their service center. It's an online only thing. I asked too but was given the same answer. A good alternative is to add a lightning female to USB-C male adapter, you can find them cheap on Ebay and Amazon too. This was from a quick 1 minute search:
Have a great time in your new Tesla.

You should be able to play files off a USB drive, but the drive has to be FAT32 formatted first. I have included the page from the owners manual detailing this.

 

[vinnie97]

Ah, I might as well get a USB C-Type cable for the cost of those adapters, lol. Very good info on the USB playback. I will need to refer this section within the manual to the orientation specialist so she can stop misinforming customers.

 

[jsrawa]

Other annoying niggles that soured my experience: The Model 3 replica was only available in red, and they were too cheap to give me 2 USB C-type Android cables (told me to order the other on the website). I guess that's punishment for not owning an iPhone. There's also no capability for playing files off a USB drive according to the orientation, but I thought I'd read that was an available feature here prior.

The weather strip on the backdoor was also malformed/coming loose, which I made them aware. I suspect the asymmetric panel alignment I noted is probably within spec (aka tough titties!).

I agree, that is a bummer about the replica. I was under the impression that it was going to be in the color of your car.

 

[vinnie97]

Consider the benefits- you never have to park in the most remote corner of the parking lot, since your car is already dinged. For most people, they need to walk extra for the next year or two.

OTOH, that will also encourage a less healthy lifestyle (but being in such a sour mood, the fruits of such don't sound so bad right now). I hope you don't face this dilemma and similarly have to make 2-hour jaunts from and to the service/delivery center. In other beneficial news, I can just save a ton of money by avoiding the application of any paint protector film as well. Having optioned out on a build of a car that I still can't drive (I've still not had the opportunity to drive a single Tesla vehicle yet; I consider test driving an S to be a waste of everyone's time and resources since I have no intention of buying one as a result of price), this kinda' thing really spikes my OCD and, rightly or wrongly, makes me feel like I'm being taken for a ride.

 

[Oldman]

I wonder why Tesla doesn‘t offer some kind of rebate for the buyers to accept the car as is. Let‘s say 1,000 $ and you drive the car home now ? Or how much would be the minimum penalty you would accept for a car with paint chips etc ?

Might be the best and quickest solution for Tesla and buyers...?

 

[insaneoctane]

I wonder why Tesla doesn‘t offer some kind of rebate for the buyers to accept the car as is. Let‘s say 1,000 $ and you drive the car home now ? Or how much would be the minimum penalty you would accept for a car with paint chips etc ?

Might be the best and quickest solution for Tesla and buyers...?

Sets a precedent that they don't want? Let's face it that all these paint chips and scratches are simply a byproduct of going too fast. Wallstreet wants them faster yet. I sure hope Tesla can maintain or improve quality

 

[Indy3]

Does Tesla put those white temporary paint protection wraps when the car is being transported?

No they do not! Nothing on the Model 3s during transport. They DO use wraps on the S and X though

 

[Indy3]

Interested to hear if others have received a loaner in these situations.

I have a loaner Model S P85D as they fix a paint chip on my Model 3. It sounds like it entirely depends on if they have an available loaner at the time you drop off your car for service. I’m guessing the Indianapolis service center is not nearly as busy as those on the West Coast. When I scheduled to bring in my Model 3, they said they could arrange for a loaner but could not guaranty it would be a Tesla.

I will say the annoyance of being without my new baby Model 3 is tempered somewhat by driving this rocketship P85D. Holy crap that car is fast! Not $120k new awesome, but still fun for a few days. Ps older Model S’s leave a LOT to be desired in terms of practicalities of life, little things like terrible placement of cup holders, or the lack thereof. I definitely would not consider a preowned 2012-2015 Model S over a Model 3.

 

[vinnie97]

In the arid sin city desert, they definitely couldn't provide me with an S (my guess, lots of banged up Model 3s that they're scrambling to fix). This premium fuel-sipping Mercedes is killing me.

 

[vinnie97]

So...my 3 was sitting in the parking lot of the body shop today in the desert, reaching interior temps of 158F. Does it actively maintain battery temperatures in this scenario if it's not plugged in or should I be concerned about range reduction/destruction already? The battery's still at 83% after being charged to 100% on 4-26.

Basically, my brand new car is undergoing cosmetic surgery and probable test drives without me having so much as driven a foot/meter, so I can simply spend the mounting days worrying in the meantime. If I'm satisfied upon receipt later this week (?), I'll merely be able to drive it around the city for a dropoff to have an Xpel film applied (partial) and a ceramic coating on the remainder, taking another 1-2 weeks (paint needs curing), if I survive that long.