Tesla is a different type of car, and their policies are also different.
Just because everybody does it, does not mean that Tesla will also do it. They are changing the world and also the car buying experience.
They do not then allow the potential buyer to take the car out onto city streets for a "test" drive. To many issues to be opened up. Who is responsible for an accident, a curbed wheel. The customer may simply change his mind due to common buyers remorse.
These test rides can easily eat up an extra hour for every delivery. Tesla does not have that luxury currently. They are all about getting the maximum number of cars delivered to buyers. They could get 4 new cars delivered in the time spent doing an extended test drive.
I sympathize with the movement started by Tesla - love the EV experience. But I respectfully disagree with all the above statements.
1. So far the Tesla change in my "car buying experience" for our 3 Tesla purchases was actually overall lukewarm if not frankly poor. Other than the hassle-free price, everything else was either average or subpar. The local delivery center needs a major refresh to look like a place selling luxury cars (yes, I understand these are "normal" cars with a high price for battery and innovation, but this is still luxury price range). And I would like to feel welcome there rather than ignored whenever I show up. As I said before, they are undertrained, understaffed, and overworked. And the concept of a "delivery specialist" in a remote location (Nevada?) is simply idiotic. 3 deliveries = 3 clueless specialists. The guys at the delivery center are way better - and more interested in having a good experience, since their job depends on local customer satisfaction.
2. What issues would come up with an accident? Your insurance covers that - and
the insurance is on file with Tesla before you even get to the store. So no need for additional paperwork, just sign when you get the keys - much like when you are given a "loaner". Tesla does that, so why not for new cars?
3. What buyer's remorse are you talking about?
Most of the people had a test drive in a similar model (not that many crazies like us to take a car that we only saw on youtube before); they like it, so they order one. By the time
you pick up the car you either paid it already, or went through the process of securing payment on the day of delivery. This is a hassle for most of us, and shows commitment to purchase; in my experience, remorse happens when you have to get the money not after that. Once you committed the funds, I would imagine there are not many people changing their mind...... If "buyer's remorse" translates into "car has defects that should have been taken care of", then yeah, I guess that could happen. But Tesla needs to fix those anyway, so no incremental cost.
4. What extra time are you talking about for the test drive? It should take 3-5 minutes - the time to give you the key fobs / key cards, have you sign the paper that you take the car and are responsible for it, and show you where the car is. I do not need a car rep to seat in my car (the one I am actually there to pick up) - I actually find that annoying. Once you are off to check your car, the delivery team can deal with whatever other customers they have there.
I love the Tesla cars we had (P85D, LR RWD 3) / have ( performance 3), but unless the refreshed model S looks and feels like a 100k+ car, my Merc will be replaced by a Taycan - at least that is what my deposit with Porsche says.
