What's your predicted loyalty to Tesla whenever replacing current car?

[whitex]

So now I just read that Tesla is removing lumbar adjustment in the passenger seat to cut costs. Seriously? "Because almost no one used it" according to Elon.

How cheap can you get.

Have you seen the latest Model S steering wheel? Even the M3 style cheaper, momentary switch blinker stalk was too expensive, along with gear stalk which has been replaced by an app on the main MCU touchscreen.

 

[Hookemhorns]

I'd have to say, the app is extremely convenient to open a simple request and get an answer or review reasonably quickly in my experience. Opened about a dozen issues in the app over the past few years, always got answers or replies, and routinely get text messages on my phone from a technical specialist if the issue is a bit more involved. I FAR prefer this over phone calls. YMMV

I'm still undecided, but I do miss the earlier days when they answered the phone and would talk to me about my problem for a couple of minutes, when they had a customer service email, when they would answer texts. My mileage does vary, I like the option of a human interaction offered by every single other car manufacturer. I also like the app when I'm ready to schedule service, but to misuse it as a means of simple communication seems unfair to Tesla. Like calling their number and pressing "2" to check on a car in service so I can talk to someone, when I don't really have a car in service. That's not something I would do.

 

[whitex]

I found that true in most cars that I have owned. Most passengers don’t even move the seat back or forward.

Don't give Elon any ideas, or the seats will become adjustable by service appointment only (bolted in position) - save on car cost, include 2 free, non-transferrable adjustments, make more money on subsequent adjustment appointments, watch the profit roll in.

 

[whitex]

But taking it out of a car where it already exists. Sheesh.

Notice that the car price did not go down to account for less featured seat. Tesla has historically played this game on few occasions, add a feature, use it to justify price increase, remove a feature but keep price higher. I remember the premium package on Model S went through a few rounds of such price ratcheting.

 

[whitex]

Just read an article in WSJ concerning Elon’s Twitter activity. They noted how he stated that some power wall was in production and would be popping them out in 1000’s per week. But like the S model, they weren’t near production. No
Longer startling to me.

Elon doesn't lie, he simply lives in an altered reality. In Elon's reality for example there is already more than a million robo-taxis driving around since end of last year, making money for their owners and for Tesla via the Tesla Ride Sharing Network he created in 2016. Unfortunately Elon makes this reality decisions based on his reality perceptions, such as "quick ,drop everything, there must be games and fart modes for the driver to amuse themselves while the car drives itself!".

 

[Yanniz]

I had people try to talk me out of buying a Tesla. Sure glad I didn’t listen to them.

Same here, love my Model S

 

[whitex]

Bully for you! You must be so proud of your influence. Now, how did you help your friend? Obviously you must have provided an alternative that is superior in features, price ... you know, stuff you deal with every day, unlike accident damage that is generally extremely rare. What did you recommend?

Perhaps saved the fried a lot of frustration? Personally I just share with people my experiences with Tesla, good and bad, let them draw their own conclusions. A number of them do end up asking about alternatives. For Model S I tell them Taycan and eTron GT, for Model 3 I tell them I don't know yet, but so far the Mach-E seems like a better value proposition (actually cheaper than Model 3 with the $7,500 rebate, more convenience features) but I caveat that with the fact that I haven't even test driven it yet (plan on when I get some time, as looking at various reviews and online comments makes me want to check it out). I also mention ID3 and ID4, but I know even less about them, so tell people to do their research.

 

[Barry]

Bully for you! You must be so proud of your influence. Now, how did you help your friend? Obviously you must have provided an alternative that is superior in features, price ... you know, stuff you deal with every day, unlike accident damage that is generally extremely rare. What did you recommend?

He brought up the Ioniq and I mentioned Lucid to him (which he never heard of). He said he'll probably just buy another Subaru, as he's been very happy with a string of them over the years, and Subaru is the state bird here in Colorado.

 

[JamesAllen]

I sold my MS P90D three weeks ago and had a Taycan Turbo S in the garage five days later. I loved my Model S and never had problems with service or the company,, but it was getting a little long in the tooth and I wanted a change. I have a reservation on a Plaid Plus, which gives me a year to try the Taycan and compare. I know the Plaid will be quicker than the Porsche with much cleaner interfaces - but I have to tell you the Taycan is amazing in its own right.

 

[Vic_F]

Tesla is making the wrong moves removing features, crappy service, raising prices in anticipation of govt. incentives returning. I would be hard pressed to pick a Y over a Mach-e. S and X are now overpriced. Love my 2018 S but next one may not be Tesla

 

[AMPd]

As a mechanic of 30+ years, I can say Tesla makes cars that last. Other manufacturers have gone cheap and it shows in their longevity. I see broken BMW and MINI vehicles every day and the problems come from cost cutting. My '16 S has had some small issues but compared to a BMW for which it's intended to compete, it's a no brainer. BMWs quickly go into the $2-5k per year to maintain just after going out of warranty 3-5 years old. A typical front only brake job on a BMW is over $600 and M cars can go over $1500. Worse, they need brakes every 30-40k miles. A Tesla can go 400k on brakes! This is easy and why I purchased my S.

What a load of horse crap, I own a 12 year old bmw. In fact I own what some might call the most unreliable bmw, the e60 M5, and it has not cost anywhere near 5k per year to maintain. Also I’m not sure where you’re getting your brake jobs done but my brakes have lasted well over 50k and still going strong.

Tesla makes cars that last? Lol yeah ok
The model s is filled with cheaply made parts, the entire interior is on par with a Toyota Corolla, not to mention all the control arm failures that is clearly due to cheap manufactured parts.
How about the cheap ass headlights where the DRL lasts about 6 months before it starts fading? Or the terrible lighting of the LED headlights. But yeah sure... Tesla only uses the most expensive parts!

 

[cduzz]

What a load of horse crap, I own a 12 year old bmw. In fact I own what some might call the most unreliable bmw, the e60 M5, and it has not cost anywhere near 5k per year to maintain. Also I’m not sure where you’re getting your brake jobs done but my brakes have lasted well over 50k and still going strong.

Tesla makes cars that last? Lol yeah ok
The model s is filled with cheaply made parts, the entire interior is on par with a Toyota Corolla, not to mention all the control arm failures that is clearly due to cheap manufactured parts.
How about the cheap ass headlights where the DRL lasts about 6 months before it starts fading? Or the terrible lighting of the LED headlights. But yeah sure... Tesla only uses the most expensive parts!

I've had a corolla (and a golf), and an audi allroad and a Q5 "prestige" -- the S (at least a 2016) is a step up from the golf and corolla. Not a huge step up, but certainly a step up; it is roughly on par with the Q5, though without ventilated seats or pull-up curtains on the rear windows. But hey the nav actually works! The Q5 is a squeaky mess and the driver's seat heater no longer works (2013). I *am* impressed by the 48 piece autonomous cup holders in the german cars. The S cup holders (a bucket in between the seats with a couple bricks to keep the cup from sliding around) are ... not sophisticated.

I'm not impressed with knurled walnut and alternate color stitching carbon fiber tweed. It is obviously nice to look at and sit in, but meh. I occasionally got rides in a friend's Porsche Cyannemon SUV and it had an overwhelming number of switches and buttons; it was like being in a Cosplay DC3 cockpit made by a leather fetishist.

Suspension member failures aren't an indication of "cheap" as much as "poor engineering, and QA" and are quite concerning.

 

[SmartElectric]

He brought up the Ioniq and I mentioned Lucid to him (which he never heard of)

The new Ioniq is very compelling, saw the review by Johnny Smith on YT, fantastic car/crossover/.

 

[El joe]

The new Ioniq is very compelling, saw the review by Johnny Smith on YT, fantastic car/crossover/.

That’s the thing — there are some amazing EVs coming soon, which opens up a lot of options for those of us that are thinking about moving to another EV, Tesla or otherwise. I currently have reservations in for two Cybertrucks, a Lightning, an Ampera and an Atlis and will decide once (if?) they start rolling out. It’s so cheap and easy to place refundable reservations that I can place them now and decide later.

 

[SilverGS]

I'm not impressed with knurled walnut and alternate color stitching carbon fiber tweed. It is obviously nice to look at and sit in, but meh. I occasionally got rides in a friend's Porsche Cyannemon SUV and it had an overwhelming number of switches and buttons; it was like being in a Cosplay DC3 cockpit made by a leather fetishist.

That's traditional ICE luxury that I couldn't care less about either!

 

[kizamybute']

Still love my Model S but fell out of love with the company. I doubt I will buy another Tesla.

I like luxury cars with options and Telsa doesn't really fit that criteria. Telling me I can't have a solid roof and I can't have the color I want is a non-starter if I'm spending six figures on a car.

Stiffing me $2500 for the MCU repair didn't help, not to mention their approach to service.

I've said these words many times. Among other things, these are among the reasons I'll be testing the waters elsewhere with my next purchase.

 

[FlatSix911]

Have you seen the latest Model S steering wheel? Even the M3 style cheaper, momentary switch blinker stalk was too expensive, along with gear stalk which has been replaced by an app on the main MCU touchscreen.

The Model S blinker and gear selector were sourced from a Mercedes S Class... they must have raised the wholesale price to Telsa.

 

[RonI]

What a load of horse crap, I own a 12 year old bmw. In fact I own what some might call the most unreliable bmw, the e60 M5, and it has not cost anywhere near 5k per year to maintain. Also I’m not sure where you’re getting your brake jobs done but my brakes have lasted well over 50k and still going strong.

Tesla makes cars that last? Lol yeah ok
The model s is filled with cheaply made parts, the entire interior is on par with a Toyota Corolla, not to mention all the control arm failures that is clearly due to cheap manufactured parts.
How about the cheap ass headlights where the DRL lasts about 6 months before it starts fading? Or the terrible lighting of the LED headlights. But yeah sure... Tesla only uses the most expensive parts!

First, I didn't say I was getting my brake jobs done, I own and operate a BMW / MINI exclusive repair business, I know exactly what BMWs cost to maintain and they are 3-5X more expensive than Teslas and that's at our better than Dealership prices.
Second, I am talking about 2014 and up vehicles not early ones. I owned a e39 M5 for over 200k miles and the only reason I still don't have it was an accident I loved that car!
If your E60 M5 has been good to you that's great! But I have replaced 5 engines, 3 transmissions and countless uber expensive other parts on E60 M5s. From oil leaks to rod bearings, countless SMG trans problems, Vanos pumps, throttle actuators, CCCs, and many more things have sent owners fleeing from these. A $100k vehicle can be purchased for $15k for that reason. But in the end the E60 is cheap to maintain compared to the N63, S63 powered vehicles. As for the N20, N55, no better. BMW will die if they don't change soon.

 

[AMPd]

First, I didn't say I was getting my brake jobs done, I own and operate a BMW / MINI exclusive repair business, I know exactly what BMWs cost to maintain and they are 3-5X more expensive than Teslas and that's at our better than Dealership prices.
Second, I am talking about 2014 and up vehicles not early ones. I owned a e39 M5 for over 200k miles and the only reason I still don't have it was an accident I loved that car!
If your E60 M5 has been good to you that's great! But I have replaced 5 engines, 3 transmissions and countless uber expensive other parts on E60 M5s. From oil leaks to rod bearings, countless SMG trans problems, Vanos pumps, throttle actuators, CCCs, and many more things have sent owners fleeing from these. A $100k vehicle can be purchased for $15k for that reason. But in the end the E60 is cheap to maintain compared to the N63, S63 powered vehicles. As for the N20, N55, no better. BMW will die if they don't change soon.

I never claimed they were cheaper to maintain than a tesla, I said 5k was way more than I have ever spent on maintenance.
Are you sure about that? Because their sales have been increasing steadily for the last 12 years.

BMW Group: car shipments 2023 | Statista

In 2023, the Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) shipped over 2.55 million autos worldwide.

www.statista.com

 

[Mark2018s]

While I do love my car...my experience with service has not been very good. Also didnt like their lowball price for trade in.

I dont think Tesla values its customers...its crazy...but true...that kind of indifference is going to bite them in the ass when other companies catch up.

I can say im not loyal to this brand, if theres a better car, im out of here. To Tesla: You did this to yourself.