I can see both sides here. As an employee of a Fortune 50 company, I can understand the pressure Tesla is under to keep shipping older cars, even while working on the newer models. A leak or notice of new features would dry up shipments.
On the other hand, I would be pretty upset if I asked about the possibility of waiting for more features and was told it didn't matter, so I took delivery of the older model. It would be hard to feel you hadn't been taken advantage of. Even lied to. Not a good start to a customer / manufacturer relationship. Personally, I suspect Tesla will eventually see the wisdom of making those sorts of changes on the model year boundary. It would also make it easier to tell if the car you are looking at in an ad should have the new features or not. Right now, it can be hard to tell. Knowing it is a 2014 year model isn't enough. Mike On March 12, 2015 10:35:27 AM MDT, Martin WINLOW via EV <[email protected]> wrote: >Nice!... Whoever you are. MW > > >On 12 Mar 2015, at 09:51, lektwik via EV <[email protected]> wrote: > >> What a bunch of sniveling babies these Tesla owners are. If you want >a >> newer model, sell your old one and move on! >> >> Narcissistic snowflake much? >> >> The butthurt. It burns. >> >> On Wed, Mar 11, 2015 at 1:14 AM, brucedp5 via EV <[email protected]> >wrote: >> >>> >>> >>> >>> >http://www.montereyherald.com/business/20150304/tesla-anger-recent-model-s-buyers-cry-foul-over-new-features >>> Tesla anger: Recent Model S buyers cry foul over new features >>> By Dana Hull 03/04/15 >>> >>> [image >>> >>> >http://www.montereyherald.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=zz&Date=20150304&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=304009949&Ref=PH&Item=1&NewTbl=1 >>> HAWTHORNE CA - OCTOBER 09: Tesla owners look at the new interior of >a Tesla >>> "D" model electric sedan after Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, unveiled the >dual >>> engine chassis, a faster and all-wheel-drive version of the Model S >>> electric >>> sedan, at the Hawthorne Airport October 09, 2014 in Hawthorne, >California. >>> The D will be able to accelerate to 60 miles per hour in just over 3 >... >>> ] >>> >>> PALO ALTO -- Some loyal fans of Tesla Motors feel they have been >misled. >>> >>> The innovative Silicon Valley company announced last week that every >Model >>> S >>> rolling off its retooled assembly line includes a new hardware >package that >>> enables autopilot features. Prospective customers can also order the >"D," >>> an >>> all-wheel-drive version of the electric vehicle. >>> >>> But some Model S owners, particularly those who recently got cars >that >>> don't >>> include the new hardware package or missed out on the chance to >order >>> all-wheel drive, are crying foul. >>> >>> Among the most irate: customers who were ordering a Model S but say >they >>> were persuaded by Tesla sales reps in September to purchase a demo, >>> inventory or loaner model instead, as well as those who claim they >>> specifically asked Tesla if autopilot features or all-wheel drive >would >>> ever >>> be an option on the Model S and, they say, were told no. >>> >>> A Tesla spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. >>> >>> Tesla's blog states that "every single Model S now rolling out of >the >>> factory includes a forward radar, 12 long-range ultrasonic sensors >>> positioned to sense 16 feet around the car in every direction at all >>> speeds, >>> a forward-looking camera and a high-precision, digitally controlled >>> electric >>> assist braking system." The new hardware, combined with future >software >>> releases, will allow Tesla to deliver a range of active safety >features. >>> >>> Richard Wolpert of Los Angeles placed his order for a Model S in >March and >>> got his car in June. He says he specifically told Tesla sales reps >that he >>> was willing to wait for features like adaptive cruise control but >was told >>> they would not be an option on the Model S. >>> >>> "If Tesla had said it's coming, but we can't say exactly when, I >would have >>> waited," Wolpert said. "With 'traditional' car companies we know >there are >>> new models every year, and we factor that into our decision. With >Tesla >>> there was no talk or disclosure there would be effectively a 'new' >Model S, >>> so we bought blind." >>> >>> Wolpert launched a petition on Change.org asking Tesla to provide a >>> retrofit >>> for the new autopilot features for existing Model S owners. As of >Wednesday >>> afternoon, more than 600 people had signed it, including several >from >>> Norway, one of Tesla's key European markets. >>> >>> "Value of the car dropped overnight," Dag Rinden of Oslo, Norway, >wrote on >>> the petition. "The security equipment is important to get. Some of >it >>> should >>> be easy to retrofit." >>> >>> Tesla does not have traditional model years for its vehicles and is >>> constantly rolling out new features, including software-related >>> improvements, that are provided to customers free of charge. Indeed, >much >>> of >>> the excitement around the all-electric Model S is that it is >constantly >>> being improved. >>> >>> But several parts need to be installed or replaced to enable >autopilot >>> features, including the windshield, front and rear fascia and brake >lines >>> -- >>> making a retrofit impractical. >>> >>> Tesla prides itself on customer service, and many owners interviewed >said >>> they were "escalating" their concerns and remained hopeful that >Tesla would >>> come up with a fair solution to their situations. >>> >>> Model S owners who missed out on the new features have been advised >they >>> can >>> trade in their current Model S for a new one. But many say they have >been >>> quoted trade-in prices that would cost them thousands of dollars. >>> >>> Eric Brown of Irvine was under the impression that he was buying a >"top of >>> the line" Model S and was thrilled to get his car Sept. 29. On Oct. >1, CEO >>> Elon Musk sent out a tweet saying it was "about time to unveil the D >and >>> something else." Tesla unveiled the autopilot features and all-wheel >drive >>> at a high-profile Los Angeles event Oct. 9. >>> >>> Brown is relatively lucky: His vehicle came with the autopilot >features, a >>> bonus that he wasn't expecting. His issue is that he wants all-wheel >drive. >>> >>> "I feel that Tesla dropped the ball on the announcement because it >seems >>> they didn't consider the feelings and reaction of customers who had >just >>> taken delivery of their vehicles," said Brown, 28, who is now >considering >>> trading in a car with just 300 miles on the odometer. "The company >is >>> moving >>> in the right direction -- they just upset some of their customers >with the >>> time frame on the release of the D." >>> >>> To be sure, not all Tesla loyalists or Model S owners are upset, >noting >>> that >>> the speed of innovation at the company is something that should be >>> applauded. >>> >>> "If you want a car that changes only once every year, go buy >something >>> besides a Tesla and stop telling Elon how to run his business," one >poster >>> wrote on Tesla's blog. >>> >>> A counter petition -- asking Tesla Motors to disregard the retrofit >>> petition >>> -- has been launched on Change.org as well. >>> >>> "This is ludicrous," wrote Brian Sherin of Santa Cruz. " It's like >saying >>> Apple has to give original iPhone owners a new iPhone every time the >model >>> is upgraded." >>> >>> Some analysts say the complaining is not a big deal. >>> >>> "Grousing about AWD is a non-starter. The X (an SUV expected next >year) is >>> AWD and this D model is just a way to test the AWD platform before >it goes >>> into production in the X," said Theo O'Neill, an analyst with >Ascendiant >>> Capital Markets. "On the other hand, this is the kind of grousing >you hear >>> in the service department at your BMW dealer. These customers are >picky, >>> and >>> it just means that Tesla is now a real car company." >>> >>> Mihail Mihaylov, 36, of Chicago, spent roughly $140,000 for a fully >loaded >>> Model S Performance model and got his car Sept. 29. When he learned >that >>> Musk had announced autopilot features, he drove to the Villa Park, >>> Illinois, >>> service center to see if his car was autopilot-enabled, but was told >his >>> car >>> does not have the hardware required. A Tesla salesperson offered him >a >>> trade-in for about $110,000 -- something Mihaylov finds >unacceptable. >>> >>> "The Model S now has these new features, but mine doesn't have it," >>> Mihaylov >>> said. "So some people got lucky, and I am not so lucky. I've had the >car >>> for >>> two weeks, and it has less than 1,000 miles on it, and it is already >>> devalued. We are talking here a lot of money." >>> [© Monterey County Herald] >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> For EVLN posts use: >>> http://evdl.org/evln/ >>> >>> >http://www.evdl.org/archive/index.html#nabble+template%2FNamlServlet.jtp%3Fmacro%3Dsearch_page%26node%3D413529%26query%3DEVLN%2Bbrucedp2%26days%3D0%26sort%3Ddate >>> >>> >>> >http://business.scoop.co.nz/2015/03/05/bridges-pushes-nz-as-most-ready-for-electric-cars/ >>> Bridges pushes NZ as 'most ready' for EVs >>> >>> >http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11412263 >>> >>> >>> >http://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Kelowna/15/03/04/Kelowna_s_Getting_the_Job_Done_on_Electric_Bikes >>> City of kelowna.ca Electric Bike Fleet> Cruising around save money >>> >>> http://ecomento.com/2015/03/04/tesla-2000-superchargers-worldwide/ >>> Tesla celebrates 2,000 Superchargers worldwide (w/infographic) >>> + >>> EVLN: $33.5k or $229mo Cheaper VW e-Golf Limited Edition Trim r:83mi >>> + >>> EVLN: BBC-TG-Clarkson suspended> mislead the public about Tesla EVs >>> >>> >>> {brucedp.150m.com} >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> View this message in context: >>> >http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Tesla-S-drivers-crying-foul-Grousing-is-ludicrous-tp4674199.html >>> Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive >at >>> Nabble.com. >>> _______________________________________________ >>> UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub >>> http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org >>> For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA ( >>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) >>> >>> >> -------------- next part -------------- >> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >> URL: ><http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20150312/ab1ac43d/attachment.htm> >> _______________________________________________ >> UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub >> http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org >> For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA >(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) >> > >_______________________________________________ >UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub >http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org >For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA >(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
