New Model S & X in LHD only in UK

[caseys]

So I had a reservation down for a new Model S placed a while ago. More with the intent to at least get to test drive one prior to committing - am driving a 3LR at the moment.

Today I get an email through… :

Right-hand drive Model S will not be available in the U.K. for the forseeable future. You can choose to receive credit for Model 3 or Model Y, purchase Model S as a left-hand drive vehicle or just cancel your reservation.

Credit for Model 3 or Model Y
If you convert your reservation to a Model 3 or Model Y, you can receive £2,000 credit* as a thank you for your support.

Left-Hand Drive Model S
If you want to take delivery of a left-hand drive Model S and benefit from 3 years of free, unlimited Supercharging**, explore our inventory of immediately available vehicles.

Full Refund
If you prefer to cancel your reservation, you do not need to take any action. We will automatically cancel your current reservation on June 5th and refund your reservation fee in full.

Went to chuckle at the inventory available. There is of course absolutely none.

May pop into the local Tesla dealership and ask them wtf.

[caseys]

Ahh stock this morning when I got the email showed zero.

Ooh only £115k for a LHD Plaid in Grey.

Wonder if they’re even thinking they’ll sell without a test drive.

[caseys]

Has anyone else been invited to the test drive event at Hatfield House next week?

They’re giving people 1 hour slots to try an S or an X.

Have asked what they might be doing regarding insurance of LHDs.

May go along just for curiosity.

[caseys]

Took out a Model S LR today. What an utter shambles.

One car there. My hour test drive in fact is 15 minutes of a loop with a sales bod in the car.

Car also not allowed in ludicrous mode. Been told there will be no RHD of S, X, Cybertruck or roadster. It’s not profitable to retool for it.

No option either to buy apart from all cash. Not even Tesla’s own finance. No PCP. No PCH. Told little will be sold to lease companies.

Insurance it seems they aren’t looking into brokering anything. You’re on your own.

There will never be UK inventory. Every order after the load that’s here now will be built to order and shipped over.

Distinctly unimpressed by the ride of the S compared to the Taycan. It also suffered a lot of hop on a warm day under acceleration as it seemed to scrabble for grip on the 19s it was on.

Just get the feeling they’re placating shareholders / upper management just seeing if anyone will buy.

Makes you wonder if they’ll eventually drop the 3 or Y RHD.

Looks like it’ll be a Taycan or maybe a Lotus for me next time around if they manage to improve the efficiency of it at all. Just not willing to drop over £100k on something which I have to decide is or is not for me by a brief spin around the block.



Excuse awful photos.

Edit : got told might get to test drive a plaid - but it’s not w given. Also liked the look of all the suspension customisation but again you got naff all time to adjust. And you can only adjust in park and not change it dynamically.

Edited by caseys on Saturday 3rd June 20:33

Edited by caseys on Saturday 3rd June 20:33

[caseys]

gangzoom said:

I think you have to be mad to consider any LHD S/X in the UK. These are NOT some kind of super rare weekend toy car you can tolerate something as fundamentally flawed as sitting on the side of the road every day.

Oh don’t worry GZ, it was to see what it was like in the hope there would be a RHD. Being told there won’t be RHD when I got there it would have to be exceptional to even think about it. And alas it’s not. It’s a little more refined but evolutionary not revolutionary. Even in RHD I’d say a nice Taycan beats it for driving feel, handling and cabin quality. Tesla beats it massively on efficiency and the SC network.

I wasn’t at all disappointed to get back in my 3LR and have a nice sunny drive home through the Test Valley. I was worried I’d test an S and my 3 would then feel lacklustre - just like Porsches strategy of lovely courtesy card.

A lot of caterhams and Porsches seen on the way home just made me think of more weekend cars.

The X would definitely be a great all round vehicle. The SC network again and the general UX in the car being massive benefits.

My shortlist now would be bmw and Porsche. Audi looking at the Audi Q lines they just seem big and bland. May go look at the Lexus RX when it comes out as there was an ad for it during the race today. And there’s a lotus dealer down here in Bournemouth.

Or I may just get the extended warranty on my 3 and run it for 5-6 years until the market moves on again.