Well what can I say, other than "it's been emotional". I'll still have the car for another 2 years minimum (out of necessity). But I'm out of love with it, and more specifically Tesla Motors.
I was always nervous investing big in the first mainstream car into the UK market. I liked the novelty, I liked the vision, I was nervous on the resale values, concerned about the ability to deliver on the SC network outside the "core demographic/geographic" here in the UK (i.e. London), and frankly ordering blind it was a gamble.
I pre-ordered 14 months before UK launch. I loved the concept. I went in sensibly though, in an attempt to minimise risk, I went for a basic(-ish) 60. Leather+ Tech. No Supercharging (I figured I'd add it if I could see a need given my use and current locations, which to date there hasn't been, given the "marketing" driven SC rollout rather than a "range enabling" focus)
Anyway 8 months later, here we are.
If I'm honest the whole buying experience has sucked, but I've put up with it.
I got delays, after delays from order. I even got the "hard sell" on upgrading to air to bring my car forward in the queue.
The Supercharger rollout has stalled (unless you live in London)
I got sent the wrong registration documents twice, the car didn't come with the correct licence plate. Weeks to resolve. Only to find months later I got government fines through Tesla's ineptitude.
I got multiple hire cars turn up simultaneously in lieu of loaners. I got delivery drivers dropping my car off at 11:30 at night, then demanding said hire cars back. (Having agreed with Tesla they would be picked up at the office the next day, seeing me drive round at midnight retrieving cars)
I've had the car back in more times than I care to count to stop the interior creaking. Faulty chargers, broken high level tail lights, and no matter how many appliques get put on it still fogs up.
Despite all of this, I was putting it down as "growing pains", and I was still broadly on side. Swayed by how good the cars were.
So until the 70D launch I'd been saving toward a P85D. In one fell swoop, they've turned an advocate into someone very unlikely to buy another.
Tesla have achieved a double whammy, my car is now worth '000s less, and I feel like I've been screwed massively for being an early adopter, all on a car less than 9 months old. (Bearing in mind we weren't eligible for the residual guarantee program either, I'm personally stuck with this)
I had the cash collecting nicely, I would have been a repeat customer in <1 years time, probably for a top spec car, but frankly I've had enough. So now I'll just run the 60 into the ground as a commuter.
My future Tesla fund has all just gone to Lotus for a new Exige V6 Roadster, and I feel in a much happier place (especially with a proven track record of 65%+ residuals after 3 years).
I was always nervous investing big in the first mainstream car into the UK market. I liked the novelty, I liked the vision, I was nervous on the resale values, concerned about the ability to deliver on the SC network outside the "core demographic/geographic" here in the UK (i.e. London), and frankly ordering blind it was a gamble.
I pre-ordered 14 months before UK launch. I loved the concept. I went in sensibly though, in an attempt to minimise risk, I went for a basic(-ish) 60. Leather+ Tech. No Supercharging (I figured I'd add it if I could see a need given my use and current locations, which to date there hasn't been, given the "marketing" driven SC rollout rather than a "range enabling" focus)
Anyway 8 months later, here we are.
If I'm honest the whole buying experience has sucked, but I've put up with it.
I got delays, after delays from order. I even got the "hard sell" on upgrading to air to bring my car forward in the queue.
The Supercharger rollout has stalled (unless you live in London)
I got sent the wrong registration documents twice, the car didn't come with the correct licence plate. Weeks to resolve. Only to find months later I got government fines through Tesla's ineptitude.
I got multiple hire cars turn up simultaneously in lieu of loaners. I got delivery drivers dropping my car off at 11:30 at night, then demanding said hire cars back. (Having agreed with Tesla they would be picked up at the office the next day, seeing me drive round at midnight retrieving cars)
I've had the car back in more times than I care to count to stop the interior creaking. Faulty chargers, broken high level tail lights, and no matter how many appliques get put on it still fogs up.
Despite all of this, I was putting it down as "growing pains", and I was still broadly on side. Swayed by how good the cars were.
So until the 70D launch I'd been saving toward a P85D. In one fell swoop, they've turned an advocate into someone very unlikely to buy another.
Tesla have achieved a double whammy, my car is now worth '000s less, and I feel like I've been screwed massively for being an early adopter, all on a car less than 9 months old. (Bearing in mind we weren't eligible for the residual guarantee program either, I'm personally stuck with this)
I had the cash collecting nicely, I would have been a repeat customer in <1 years time, probably for a top spec car, but frankly I've had enough. So now I'll just run the 60 into the ground as a commuter.
My future Tesla fund has all just gone to Lotus for a new Exige V6 Roadster, and I feel in a much happier place (especially with a proven track record of 65%+ residuals after 3 years).