Tesla Launch

[David's8]

The comments about the interior trim reflect my comments made (and then submitted by email at her request) to the Tesla rep after I raised them at the Wales do after sitting in the back for a while. Basically, they can be summarised as that the trim quality and finish was, IMHO, not up to the standard that the (fastidious/OCD) people who own 8 would expect - nor that of others who look to spend that kind of money on a a car. She did try to say that they would be swayed by the low running costs but I think that people still want some quality finish as well.

[tintin]

Originally Posted by David's8

The comments about the interior trim reflect my comments made (and then submitted by email at her request) to the Tesla rep after I raised them at the Wales do after sitting in the back for a while. Basically, they can be summarised as that the trim quality and finish was, IMHO, not up to the standard that the (fastidious/OCD) people who own 8 would expect - nor that of others who look to spend that kind of money on a a car. She did try to say that they would be swayed by the low running costs but I think that people still want some quality finish as well.

The quality finish is fine for 99% of the population David - as good as Mercedes and most others. I can probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of critical comments on interior quality that I've seen from Tesla owners on this. And that's from a very active group with more than a thousand owners, the great majority of whom have very high expectations and/or deep pockets.

We're generally a very picky lot on here (and some more than most ) - and have been thoroughly spoiled by D2 quality

[Goran]

Do Tesla still charge £495 compulsory servicing per year in the UK?
That's the one thing that puts me off quite a lot, the whole point of an electric car is that it needs next to no servicing so to whack on a hefty compulsory service charge is really underhand, especially if in some years all they do is a quick download of new software.

Lets face it, a lot of internal combustion cars cost less than £500 to service each year.


Found it. Ouch!

https://www.tesla.com/en_GB/support/service-plans

I like to be as self-sufficient as possible and to know how to do all the straight forward maintenance myself.

Russians have the right idea

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/11/23/t...ervice-center/

[tintin]

Originally Posted by Goran

Do Tesla still charge £495 compulsory servicing per year in the UK?
That's the one thing that puts me off quite a lot, the whole point of an electric car is that it needs next to no servicing so to whack on a hefty compulsory service charge is really underhand, especially if in some years all they do is a quick download of new software.

Lets face it, a lot of internal combustion cars cost less than £500 to service each year.


Found it. Ouch!

https://www.tesla.com/en_GB/support/service-plans

I like to be as self-sufficient as possible and to know how to do all the straight forward maintenance myself.

Russians have the right idea

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/11/23/t...ervice-center/

No, they don't, it's not compulsory - they only insist if it's on one of their lease agreements. If you're not on one of them, then there's very little to do, and no effect on the warranty on not having this done. And tbh, in my experience they tend to do minor stuff as a courtesy or at a nominal cost (unlike Audi Main Dealers )

[David's8]

Originally Posted by tintin

We're generally a very picky lot on here (and some more than most ) - and have been thoroughly spoiled by D2 quality

Its a good point Steve, but if I was buying one and had owned a 14 yr old '8 I would be expecting a lot! Owning a D2 does indeed spoil you and its only after owing one for a while and looking at other cars that you really appreciate some of the quality stuff when you see what other "up-market" cars come with.
As, for "picky" I was buying a 2nd hand LR Freelander for Mrs D last year and the comment at the dealers was "we have never had someone come down in overalls with a torch and want to inspect the underside/suspension and bodywork". Well, I was about to give them a wallet full of money and there wasnt anything wrong with my money so there had better be nothing wrong with the car.

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by tintin

as good as Mercedes

Better really, not that that is saying much based on my recent well-researched buying experience over 2016.
Of all the medium cars we looked at I found Mercedes were the worst inside. Though admittedly I wasn't looking at S-class.

[tintin]

I thought I'd also share this, just in case anyone thinks the Tesla limits the ability to go a, ahem..., Grand Tour

This video is of a trip by one of the Tesla UK group, which covered 4600 miles in 16 days:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPoZ7do2iVQ&app=desktop