Tesla Model S waffling

[lemming]

..that's the awesome.

[ZBB]

The bots already posted this, but Tesla modified their financing / residual guarantee offer today.

Biggest change to the residual is that the buyback guarantee from 36-39 months is no longer based on the 42% of an S-Class MB, but instead on the highest resale between similarly-priced MB, BMW, Audi and Jaguar. Looking at the details, they are offering it at 50% of the base price, plus 42% on the options (see here: http://www.teslamotors.com/sites/def...-guarantee.pdf), which would put the residual on my config at 49%. Not a bad bump.

The other change is that they are now offering financing up to 72 months and 15% down -- the original offer was up to 63 months with 10% down. I'm not borrowing nearly as much, and will not borrow for more than 60 months (I might do 48 or 54 instead though...) -- so this has no impact on my financial model...

[lemming]

Originally Posted by ZBB

The bots already posted this, but Tesla modified their financing / residual guarantee offer today.

Biggest change to the residual is that the buyback guarantee from 36-39 months is no longer based on the 42% of an S-Class MB, but instead on the highest resale between similarly-priced MB, BMW, Audi and Jaguar. Looking at the details, they are offering it at 50% of the base price, plus 42% on the options (see here: http://www.teslamotors.com/sites/def...-guarantee.pdf), which would put the residual on my config at 49%. Not a bad bump.

The other change is that they are now offering financing up to 72 months and 15% down -- the original offer was up to 63 months with 10% down. I'm not borrowing nearly as much, and will not borrow for more than 60 months (I might do 48 or 54 instead though...) -- so this has no impact on my financial model...

i saw that the other day.

it's pretty cool.

there's no other way around it, the car is pricey, so bolstering the residual is a nice gesture.

[ZBB]

Update time...

I received the title for the Boxster in the mail yesterday. Timely, since I received the "Your Model S is Almost Here" email today.

That email includes the link to finalize delivery address, trade-in, financing, etc.

Delivery window is May 24 to June 7. That's ~6 weeks earlier than I was expecting...

[robg]

Finally made it to a tesla store and sat in one over the weekend. What a gorgeous car! Got me doing all sorts of calculations. Only thing I'm not sure about is the giant touch screen. Loved everything else

[ZBB]

Oh... One other thing. I'm going to call Tesla to ask for delivery after June 1. AZ sales tax goes down by 1% on June 1, so I really don't want to pay the higher tax rate...

[ZBB]

Originally Posted by ZBB

Oh... One other thing. I'm going to call Tesla to ask for delivery after June 1. AZ sales tax goes down by 1% on June 1, so I really don't want to pay the higher tax rate...

I got an email from the Tesla Delivery Specialist today. He confirmed delivery will be first week of June -- so will be able to take advantage of the lower sales tax rate.

Over on the Tesla forum, there are 2 other AZ deliveries with the same delivery window as me -- and both of them are also asking for delivery after June 1, so I'm guessing Tesla is accommodating and just scheduling delivery towards the end of the window instead of at the front of the window...

[ZBB]

I realize the bots posted this already, but the CR review is out -- they gave it a 99 out of 100. The full article is behind their paywall, but here's their video discussing it:

[JST]

Originally Posted by ZBB

I realize the bots posted this already, but the CR review is out -- they gave it a 99 out of 100. The full article is behind their paywall, but here's their video discussing it:

The green screen they're using makes my eyes hurt.

I dunno; they blow past some issues that, in more typical CR reviews, would be cited as bugs rather than features. No map pockets? Uh, ok. Maybe I can learn to live with that, but is it really an example of innovative design? The cupholders don't work? Again, probably not a deal breaker, but is it something to hold out as a positive? No spare tire? I suppose in a car that can't really go outside the range of AAA, that's not a huge deal, but it it pissed me off in the M3 and it would piss me off here.

I'm not knocking the car; I'm growing increasingly intrigued by them. But something about that review suggests to me that these guys have let their geeky side get carried away here.

[ZBB]

Originally Posted by JST

I dunno; they blow past some issues that, in more typical CR reviews, would be cited as bugs rather than features. No map pockets? Uh, ok. Maybe I can learn to live with that, but is it really an example of innovative design? The cupholders don't work? Again, probably not a deal breaker, but is it something to hold out as a positive? No spare tire? I suppose in a car that can't really go outside the range of AAA, that's not a huge deal, but it it pissed me off in the M3 and it would piss me off here.

I'm not knocking the car; I'm growing increasingly intrigued by them. But something about that review suggests to me that these guys have let their geeky side get carried away here.

I agree with your comments. They come across as giddy about how Tesla re-thought certain things. But they are giving them a pass on a couple things.

I'm basically OK with the no map pockets thing -- although I wished they had put in some more storage cubbies some place (like the Boxster's little cubbies underneath the arm rests on the door -- which I find extremely useful). The center arm rest looks like it would fold up and have storage in it -- but instead its fixed with place to put anything.

As for the cup holders, I have a feeling that those will frustrate me -- they are not placed well (up high and far back -- just in front of the center arm rest). Additionally, Tesla recently made a design change to them that removes the spring-loaded tensioners on the inside (think of the E46 cup holders -- basically the same thing). So now new owners are complaining that bottles wobble and spill. There are some DIY enhancements some people are doing -- like installing Audi or VW cup holders underneath the tray below the Big Screen -- which doesn't look too bad, and I may even try that myself (and may even buy a spare tray so I can permanently install it and reverse the design)

There are also now a couple 3rd parties making a center console to go in the flat space below the Big Screen, and Tesla will start selling one this summer -- and all 3 of the designs have cup holders in them...

At the same time, its unpossible for the Tesla cup holders to be worse than those in the E39. I made it through that car, so I'll make it through the S too...