SteveF

I'm in exactly the same boat as you. What I am taking as encouraging news is that my initial calculations suggesed that I wouldn't see my 2008 car until April of 2009, or later. But if people in the 600's on the 2009 list are being quoted a roadster delivery in an "April-ish" time frame, mine should be getting here a couple of months earlier than April, no?

Bradleybang

Got same email. I am #720. So I called Zak to confirm some things. Here is what I got:
First 600 are 2008s and plan another 600 for 2009. I thus am 120th of 2009s and if all stays on track should be started March/April with delivery in May/June.

Of course this could change if problems occur. They have not shipped via cargo ship yet and this could slow deliveries.

Laurent

How do they ship the cars today, if not by cargo ship ? Is that what takes 4 to 6 weeks ?

TEG

I have heard conflicting info about this. At one point someone said "Martin's car was in transit by ship so it would be over a month of delay", but then more recently people have been saying that all Roadster gliders so far have been sent by air, and only now are they looking to using boats.

Previous mention of boat "shipment":

From Tesla Motors - hear
"... The resulting so-called “glider” is then shipped to California (about 5-6 weeks by boat, I’m told)..."

From Tesla Birth Watch 44: Tesla Talks Transmission Troubles to TTAC | The Truth About Cars
"...They calculate some logical number for a batch size and then throw them on a boat for 6 weeks...."

DaveD

At the Menlo Park Store unveiling, I talked to the TM employee (his name escapes me) who is in charge of the logistics of getting the Roadster gliders from UK to CA. At that time, he said that all of the Founders Series and some portion of the Signature 100's would be transported by air freight. After that, shipping by boat would be the transportation method used. He was still doing the analysis as to whether it would be better to ship to the US East Coast and then use rail to move them to CA, or to just keep them on the ship and take them through the Panama Canal. As I recall, given the increasing congestion of rail traffic due to the shift away from long-haul trucking, it was looking like going through the Canal was going to win out.

TEG

The costs to air freight the gilders must be huge. (I would guess $10K+ per). By boat is probably more like $2K.

All the jet fuel to fly the pieces around the globe cuts into the "green" benefits as well. The Roadster has already been responsible for a lot of fuel burning before the owner even drives the first mile.

lorencc

I was in the Menlo Park store yesterday to ask a few questions, in part to confirm my estimate of when I could expect delivery (#187). We all agreed on late December.

Doreen told me that "all" (my interpretation) the cars built this year will be airshipped. They want to get a lot of cars on the road quickly.