I've owned my Tesla for a month now, but I still go back regularly to visit the Tesla Motors web site, configure cars to see if anything has changed, etc. And like many of us, I've been visiting the site for over a year now here or there. One thing dawned on me a few days ago and I wanted to share and see if my thinking was the same as most of you folks here...
When you visit the site, the layout is such that it encourages you to pick your Paint, Roof/Wheels, and Interior as the FIRST step. After you do that, you then decide which of the versions you want (60, 85, P85D). And after that you scroll down to pick 85 vs 85D if that is the route you went. This is backwards to me because of the following:
#1 - CASH
Let's assume you are looking to do a cash purchase of this car. I tend to go right to the right column and choose cash because I like to see what the items cost (what does each option actually cost me to add-on?). If you do that, and pick an Alcantara headliner for example--- you'll see that it costs extra. However, if you choose the P85D then this actually does NOT cost extra. So really, it is important to pick the model first, because that will change some of the pricing.
#2 - INTERIOR
Many people who are looking at a P85D might have heard about the awesome Next Generation (Recaro) seats. They'll pick the color interior they want, the paint, etc... then after, when they choose the P85D, they might not realize they have to scroll BACK up to Interior to select those NG seats. This is an oversight for many people I've found when talking to prospective new owners. Again, you should be choosing which seats you want AFTER you pick your trim level, so that there is added awareness to the options available.
#3 - WHEELS
Tesla suggests you get the 21" package with the P85D, however you're actually choosing wheels PRIOR to your trim level. Again, like #2 above... you should be picking these items AFTER you pick your trim level.
Now I realize I may just be silly here, because nothing prevents you from going back up to CHANGE those options. But that seems less linear than I think the experience should be. Am I being overly picky? YES! But I can be because I think that it makes more sense.... it should be TRIM, then OPTIONS, to make sure you get all the right bits the way you think best (and including Tesla suggestions).
What say the rest of you? Thoughts? When you compare to most other auto makers, they have you pick a trim, then an exterior color, then interior trim, then options/packages last. Seems like this would make sense (reversing those first few items as I said)
When you visit the site, the layout is such that it encourages you to pick your Paint, Roof/Wheels, and Interior as the FIRST step. After you do that, you then decide which of the versions you want (60, 85, P85D). And after that you scroll down to pick 85 vs 85D if that is the route you went. This is backwards to me because of the following:
#1 - CASH
Let's assume you are looking to do a cash purchase of this car. I tend to go right to the right column and choose cash because I like to see what the items cost (what does each option actually cost me to add-on?). If you do that, and pick an Alcantara headliner for example--- you'll see that it costs extra. However, if you choose the P85D then this actually does NOT cost extra. So really, it is important to pick the model first, because that will change some of the pricing.
#2 - INTERIOR
Many people who are looking at a P85D might have heard about the awesome Next Generation (Recaro) seats. They'll pick the color interior they want, the paint, etc... then after, when they choose the P85D, they might not realize they have to scroll BACK up to Interior to select those NG seats. This is an oversight for many people I've found when talking to prospective new owners. Again, you should be choosing which seats you want AFTER you pick your trim level, so that there is added awareness to the options available.
#3 - WHEELS
Tesla suggests you get the 21" package with the P85D, however you're actually choosing wheels PRIOR to your trim level. Again, like #2 above... you should be picking these items AFTER you pick your trim level.
Now I realize I may just be silly here, because nothing prevents you from going back up to CHANGE those options. But that seems less linear than I think the experience should be. Am I being overly picky? YES! But I can be because I think that it makes more sense.... it should be TRIM, then OPTIONS, to make sure you get all the right bits the way you think best (and including Tesla suggestions).
What say the rest of you? Thoughts? When you compare to most other auto makers, they have you pick a trim, then an exterior color, then interior trim, then options/packages last. Seems like this would make sense (reversing those first few items as I said)