My Tesla Used Inventory Buying Experience
Discussion
Personanlly, i'd just cancel the purchase and look elsewhere!
For a 3 year old car, all of those issues are excessive imo. No way would BMW, say, put a 3yo car into their AUC network with those defects! (because they quite rightly know no one would buy it....)
(if you've agreed the sale of you existing car, go ahead, sell it, and just buy a cheap snotter to get round in till you find a better deal)
For a 3 year old car, all of those issues are excessive imo. No way would BMW, say, put a 3yo car into their AUC network with those defects! (because they quite rightly know no one would buy it....)
(if you've agreed the sale of you existing car, go ahead, sell it, and just buy a cheap snotter to get round in till you find a better deal)
Sadly, this is nothing new and completely puts me off buying a used Tesla, aside from the fact it's difficult for the amateur to even carry our routine work on them.
Check out this series from rich rebuilds, echos your experience! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ro6kpKlw0&li...
Check out this series from rich rebuilds, echos your experience! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ro6kpKlw0&li...
RSymons on the South coast sells a lot of used Teslas and you can view the car before you buy there.
The Model 3 should be available by September if you place an order today. There are two big batches on their way right now and more to follow.
I'd exepect all imperfections to be revealed up front if it were me, but i wouldn't expect a 3 year old car to be perfect.
Good luck with it whatever you choose to do!
The Model 3 should be available by September if you place an order today. There are two big batches on their way right now and more to follow.
I'd exepect all imperfections to be revealed up front if it were me, but i wouldn't expect a 3 year old car to be perfect.
Good luck with it whatever you choose to do!
Edited by FurtiveFreddy on Friday 26th July 14:09
Tesla downgraded their refurb process last year. It's even worse in the US, they don't even bother vacuuming it out so you end up with the previous owners toenails and pubes all over the place. Yours is actually in good condition in comparison to what people over there have been reporting.
"Within spec" is Tesla speak for "F.U. take it or leave it".
"Within spec" is Tesla speak for "F.U. take it or leave it".
kuro68k said:
Tesla downgraded their refurb process last year. It's even worse in the US, they don't even bother vacuuming it out so you end up with the previous owners toenails and pubes all over the place. Yours is actually in good condition in comparison to what people over there have been reporting.
"Within spec" is Tesla speak for "F.U. take it or leave it".
Yeah, have read some horror stories from folks in the US!"Within spec" is Tesla speak for "F.U. take it or leave it".
My car had been valeted and was immaculately-presented... looked impressive and immaculate from arm's length. It was only on close inspection that it started to unravel.
The most serious issue, and a deal-breaker unless they fix it, is the corrosion on the door.
Overall, the car looked very well cared-for, so I'm hoping Tesla will come back with an amicable solution.
Still waiting for the call back... giving them until 4pm.
I would agree with the above - you are shelling out a not insubstantial amount of cash, and the car ought to be significantly better than this.
If Tesla do not play ball (hard to walk away from I know given the 4 year warranty) I would be inclined to see what else is out there at Tesla specialists such as R Symons - from what I have heard they will generally have actually prepped the car, and may be more selective on what they take in.
Don't let it put you off getting a Tesla - my S has been great and was bought as a nearly new second hand car; we're driving 1700 miles to Norway next week, something we would not have contemplated in our old car!
If Tesla do not play ball (hard to walk away from I know given the 4 year warranty) I would be inclined to see what else is out there at Tesla specialists such as R Symons - from what I have heard they will generally have actually prepped the car, and may be more selective on what they take in.
Don't let it put you off getting a Tesla - my S has been great and was bought as a nearly new second hand car; we're driving 1700 miles to Norway next week, something we would not have contemplated in our old car!
Update time...
Tesla called @ 3:52pm and confirmed all 3 issues would be dealt with (that's the graze/rip on the lower dash panel, paint blemish on the front bumper and corrosion / paint blistering on the NSR door). They couldn't commit to a timeline to get everything fixed, but have offered a courtesy car (Model S with free Supercharging), which they'll be delivering to my home address tomorrow morning.
On a side note, I was told to expect a call from the pre-sales guy I was dealing with (Pieter Rust) to discuss the smaller imperfections (stone chips, etc) I noticed that weren't flagged on the pictures I was sent prior to purchase.
I've asked for details of the extent of the repair work that will be done to the door, so I can be satisfied it will be done properly and they've committed to providing an update on that (and timelines) in the early part of next week.
So, Tesla (so far) have come good.
Watch this space.
Tesla called @ 3:52pm and confirmed all 3 issues would be dealt with (that's the graze/rip on the lower dash panel, paint blemish on the front bumper and corrosion / paint blistering on the NSR door). They couldn't commit to a timeline to get everything fixed, but have offered a courtesy car (Model S with free Supercharging), which they'll be delivering to my home address tomorrow morning.
On a side note, I was told to expect a call from the pre-sales guy I was dealing with (Pieter Rust) to discuss the smaller imperfections (stone chips, etc) I noticed that weren't flagged on the pictures I was sent prior to purchase.
I've asked for details of the extent of the repair work that will be done to the door, so I can be satisfied it will be done properly and they've committed to providing an update on that (and timelines) in the early part of next week.
So, Tesla (so far) have come good.
Watch this space.
ian_uk1975 said:
Update time...
Tesla called @ 3:52pm and confirmed all 3 issues would be dealt with (that's the graze/rip on the lower dash panel, paint blemish on the front bumper and corrosion / paint blistering on the NSR door). They couldn't commit to a timeline to get everything fixed, but have offered a courtesy car (Model S with free Supercharging), which they'll be delivering to my home address tomorrow morning.
On a side note, I was told to expect a call from the pre-sales guy I was dealing with (Pieter Rust) to discuss the smaller imperfections (stone chips, etc) I noticed that weren't flagged on the pictures I was sent prior to purchase.
I've asked for details of the extent of the repair work that will be done to the door, so I can be satisfied it will be done properly and they've committed to providing an update on that (and timelines) in the early part of next week.
So, Tesla (so far) have come good.
Watch this space.
Sounds like they are at least tyringTesla called @ 3:52pm and confirmed all 3 issues would be dealt with (that's the graze/rip on the lower dash panel, paint blemish on the front bumper and corrosion / paint blistering on the NSR door). They couldn't commit to a timeline to get everything fixed, but have offered a courtesy car (Model S with free Supercharging), which they'll be delivering to my home address tomorrow morning.
On a side note, I was told to expect a call from the pre-sales guy I was dealing with (Pieter Rust) to discuss the smaller imperfections (stone chips, etc) I noticed that weren't flagged on the pictures I was sent prior to purchase.
I've asked for details of the extent of the repair work that will be done to the door, so I can be satisfied it will be done properly and they've committed to providing an update on that (and timelines) in the early part of next week.
So, Tesla (so far) have come good.
Watch this space.
I would have been inclined to go for the refund and look for another car. As long as you have the use of a loaner, I don't suppose there is any harm in them taking ages to put that one right
Just be sure that you retain your right to reject & claim a full refund (under DSR) if the renovations aren't up to spec. You don't want accepting the loaner / renovations to invalidate, or make difficult, any claim you have under those rights.
JPJPJP said:
Sounds like they are at least tyring
I would have been inclined to go for the refund and look for another car. As long as you have the use of a loaner, I don't suppose there is any harm in them taking ages to put that one right
Just be sure that you retain your right to reject & claim a full refund (under DSR) if the renovations aren't up to spec. You don't want accepting the loaner / renovations to invalidate, or make difficult, any claim you have under those rights.
I don't want a refund as I got the car for a good price and it's the variant I want, comes with free lifetime Supercharging and the 4-year / 50k-mile warranty. Except for the issues I've mentioned in this thread, the car was immaculate.I would have been inclined to go for the refund and look for another car. As long as you have the use of a loaner, I don't suppose there is any harm in them taking ages to put that one right
Just be sure that you retain your right to reject & claim a full refund (under DSR) if the renovations aren't up to spec. You don't want accepting the loaner / renovations to invalidate, or make difficult, any claim you have under those rights.
Until I actually take delivery of the car, the clock for DSR / Consumer Contracts Regs doesn't start ticking, so all good there.
REALIST123 said:
Rust is oxidisation. Of iron. Aluminium oxidises but the layer of oxidisation then protects the aluminium underneath in a way that doesn’t happen with ferrous steels.
Paint can’t bond to the oxidised layer which is why you get the bubbling.
Proper preparation and painting of aluminium should prevent the sort of corrosion seen here for many years unless there’s been damage to the panel, which hasn’t been properly repaired.
Well, it was prepared and painted by Italians, so no wonder it oxidizes/corrodes Paint can’t bond to the oxidised layer which is why you get the bubbling.
Proper preparation and painting of aluminium should prevent the sort of corrosion seen here for many years unless there’s been damage to the panel, which hasn’t been properly repaired.
The stuff that is steel based in rusty brown nowadays
ian_uk1975 said:
I don't want a refund as I got the car for a good price and it's the variant I want, comes with free lifetime Supercharging and the 4-year / 50k-mile warranty. Except for the issues I've mentioned in this thread, the car was immaculate.
Until I actually take delivery of the car, the clock for DSR / Consumer Contracts Regs doesn't start ticking, so all good there.
It doesn’t sound very immaculate. Maybe it’s a “good price” for a reason. Suspect you’ll have difficulty rejecting it once you’ve agreed to them doing the repairs and providing you with a loan car.Until I actually take delivery of the car, the clock for DSR / Consumer Contracts Regs doesn't start ticking, so all good there.
If the price paid reflects some minor faults (and major plus points), what's the issue?
Look at the bigger picture.
Large car, low running costs, likely very long life.
Far superior to any ICE vehicle.
I aim to buy an EV with good range within a few years, given the lack of rust in NZ this will probably be the last car I will ever buy as I am now 62.
gangzoom said:
The issue is the car in question is a Tesla, and for many that is the only issue.
It is worth seeing them for yourself to get perspective over the web horror stories, the model 3 I drove bared very little resemblance to what the web reports imply it should be. Build quality / panel fit was absolutely fine, everything worked. It was very fast and made me smile to drive it. After driving the iPace it’s amazing how car like the model 3 is.Now if I believed the press the iPace was supposed to be fun and also very fast. Yet i found it utterly boring and it felt so slow compared to my a45 or the base model 3. The dead zone / delay on the brake pedal is bloody dangerous IMO. I had normal automatic brake pressure when I started it but the car shot forward.
I am convinced enough to put my money into a Tesla.
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