How do you buy a Tesla ?

[paul_y3k]

Nissan (Swindon) gave us a 4 day test drive of a leaf - allowing us to not only test the car but get used to having an EV. whilst the car wasn't for us the EV life was and we're 100% sold.
We've had a nice TD in an I3, but of course want to look at a Model 3. Drove up to Cribbs in Bristol to take a look and although it was busy with lots of gawkers, We managed to get into the car and have a look ... at that point we looked for a sales person .... and looked ... and looked .. eventually noticed someone sat at the back, filling out some paperwork, who seemed totally disinterested with things going on around her.
Tried and failed to get her attention and in the end just gave up

[pincher]

Did you actually go up to her and try to speak to her and she still ignored you, or did you just hang around by the car in the hope that she would approach you?

[RobDickinson]

Phone them and book a test drive.

[SWoll]

All done via the website/phone. No dealers or sales people involved and they can't build them fast enough so don't really have to 'sell'.

Once you buy the car you've got 7 days and 1000 miles to decide whether to return it or not for a full refund.

It's a brave new world..

[Heres Johnny]

You can book a test drive online.

And if you want one buy from inventory - 28 model 3s avaiable from stock in the UK, if you custom order they tend to forget about you too.

[Fastlane]

I would say that buying a Model 3 is more akin to buying an iPhone from an Apple Store - you do all your research online before you go into the store, and have pretty much decided you want it before you go into the shop. You may have a quick play around with the shop model and might ask an advisor to give you a quick demo, which in Tesla's case, is a 20 minute test drive (at least in the case of Cribbs) and you then buy it anyway.

I much prefer this sales model as I usually know far more about any car that I am interested in than the salesperson who is trying to sell it to me. I had a 2 hour test drive in an iPace and a 2 day test drive in an eTron, both of which gave me an idea of how an EV drives, but I then went ahead and ordered the Model 3 before the 20 minute test drive at Cribbs.

I would ring Cribbs and ask for Chris Olds, he will look after you.

[V10 SPM]

Fastlane said:

I would say that buying a Model 3 is more akin to buying an iPhone from an Apple Store

Just be prepared to accept that your nearest Tesla store probably isn't so close as your local Apple store.

[Dave Hedgehog]

the whole thing is apple like

you book a test drive online

you spec the car online and put a deposit down

they call you and tell you when to collect

its a very chill and laid back experience vastly better than trying to barter with stealer's IMO

the only hassle is if you have a car you need to sell to pay for the Tesla, you get basically 4 days notice to sell it and transfer the money

if your financing, PXing to Tesla or have all the money its a none issue

you get 7 days 1000 miles to return the car if your not 100% happy

Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Monday 21st October 14:41

[LG9k]

Dave Hedgehog said:

the whole thing is apple like

you book a test drive online

you spec the car online and put a deposit down

they call you and tell you when to collect

its a very chill and laid back experience vastly better than trying to barter with stealer's IMO

the only hassle is if you have a car you need to sell to pay for the Tesla, you get basically 4 days notice to sell it and transfer the money

if your financing, PXing to Tesla or have all the money its a none issue

you get 7 days 1000 miles to return the car if your not 100% happy

Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Monday 21st October 14:41

Pretty much how I bought my Golf via Carwow (and did all the PCP online - yes, I am a peasant).

I didn't visit the dealership I bought from until I collected the car. The test drive was done at a local dealer who wouldn't offer me as good a deal).

Advantages were that they gave me a build date and regular updates as to its arrival.

[SWoll]

LG9k said:

Advantages were that they gave me a build date and regular updates as to its arrival.

All that does is ruin the surprise. Much more exciting with Tesla not knowing when it'll turn up, how much it'll cost, what colour the wheels will be etc.

[Dave Hedgehog]

SWoll said:

LG9k said:

Advantages were that they gave me a build date and regular updates as to its arrival.

All that does is ruin the surprise. Much more exciting with Tesla not knowing when it'll turn up, how much it'll cost, what colour the wheels will be etc.

especially when your 'lotto number' gets called after only 5 weeks and some people where still waiting at 12 weeks

[JJMatrixx]

I leased mine...worked out way cheaper and I didn't want to worry about batter life etc by buying!

Only disappointing thing was having to go and collect it rather than being dropped off like a normal lease car. The induction was a total waste of time. Anyway, M3 Performance is awesome.

[Kev_Mk3]

LG9k said:

Pretty much how I bought my Golf via Carwow (and did all the PCP online - yes, I am a peasant).

I didn't visit the dealership I bought from until I collected the car. The test drive was done at a local dealer who wouldn't offer me as good a deal).

Advantages were that they gave me a build date and regular updates as to its arrival.

I did this with my I30N - Minus the PCP part. Really simple

[LG9k]

SWoll said:

All that does is ruin the surprise. Much more exciting with Tesla not knowing when it'll turn up, how much it'll cost, what colour the wheels will be etc.

It's also worth mentioning that the car's screen-based software was upgraded recently, over the air to a new version (Android Auto) so this sort of thing is not limited to Tesla.

[anonymous-user]

LG9k said:

SWoll said:

All that does is ruin the surprise. Much more exciting with Tesla not knowing when it'll turn up, how much it'll cost, what colour the wheels will be etc.

It's also worth mentioning that the car's screen-based software was upgraded recently, over the air to a new version (Android Auto) so this sort of thing is not limited to Tesla.

Of course it’s not only Tesla. My XF gets OTA updates too.

Plenty of brands doing it now.

[SWoll]

REALIST123 said:

LG9k said:

SWoll said:

All that does is ruin the surprise. Much more exciting with Tesla not knowing when it'll turn up, how much it'll cost, what colour the wheels will be etc.

It's also worth mentioning that the car's screen-based software was upgraded recently, over the air to a new version (Android Auto) so this sort of thing is not limited to Tesla.

Of course it’s not only Tesla. My XF gets OTA updates too.

Plenty of brands doing it now.

You do both realise that when the guy said "regular updates" that's not what he meant right? He was talking about regular updates from his dealer on the progress of his order.

[paul_y3k]

hmm thanks all, thats given me a better insight into the process.
i hadn't considered if Tesla do PX ... that would certainly help ....