With auto pilot I don't see a problem with this.

 

No problem. Ask as many questions as you want......that's why I started the thread. I probably should have taken some I-Phone shots to illustrate the place, but I didn't....didn't have the phone with me. It was, for the most part, simply a warehouse building (with a decorated skin) separated into two parts...a larger service/parts facility and a smaller showroom. The "showroom" was essentially a semi-bare room with three parked vehicles, a sales manager's desk/chair, some mountings on the walls, and little else. They probably do this because, since Tesla's facilities are all company owned and/or operated, and the company has to foot the bills for them, without private franchises, it keeps costs down.

I showed up. Appointments there are not needed, though can be made if desired. As far as I could tell, test-drives were not necessarily the exception there, but the rule...they were also dealing with a couple of customers there as well, and a number of new Model 3s and Model S's seemed to be in stock. Didn't see many of the gull-wing Model X's, though, except for one in the showroom (can't remember how many, if any, were outside on the lot). The Model X got a reputation for poor QC, especially on the gull-door assemblies, so it is possible that people just aren't buying it anymore, or, if they still are, the place was (almost) sold out.

It also should be remembered that the Tysons part of Northern Virginia's D.C. suburbs is a BIG-money-area, with a lot of dollars chasing after a lot of new vehicles. Indeed, Porsche, Bentley, Mercedes, Jaguar, Aston Martin, and other elite brands all have facilities and/or dealerships in that same neighborhood. So, the way that this local Tesla shop operates may or may not be in the same manner as in more mundane neighborhoods or regions of the country....that, I wouldn't know.

 

In Scottsdale, the "showroom" is in the big shopping mall. The service shop and test drive facility is in a building nearby. It is a bit like a warehouse, but serves its purpose. The showroom had one of each of the three models on display and a couple of guys to answer questions. No sales pressure at all.

 

Have you done a test-drive yourself?

 

I did, a short drive in a standard range + version which is around $41000. The fit and finish were much better than I expected - not Lexus level, but not bad either. I found the big screen easy to adapt to and after a while it seemed very natural. This model is not really fast, but it is slightly faster than the Camry V-6, BMW 330, or MB C300. My big complaint was the stiff ride. This should have been the best riding Model 3 and it was still pretty stiff. It did handle very well though. The 240 mi range would fit us as a 2nd car and maybe as a primary car now that we don't take long road trips.

I was tempted to try the Performance model, but was afraid I would like it too much.

 

Nice review. As for the charging, doesnt surprise me that they don't charge cars for customers. Many dealerships have gas pumps, but they dont fill up cars for customers.

 

They get a LOT of cars in there for service (when I was there, there was a solid line of Model 3s that clogged much of the service bays and ran out the door onto the lot). They claim (?) that they need all of the available outlets for vehicles in service....perhaps so. But that also tells me that they just didn't spend enough money for an adequate number of them.


BTW, you may (?) have actually seen that place at one time...I know you have been to the Tysons area a number of times. It's on Tyco Rd, squeezed in between the Audi Dealership and the industrial parks along that road.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9313...7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.9314...7i13312!8i6656

 

That's some paint-job on these Teslas, isn't it? I'd say that the red on the Model 3 was as good as what I've seen from Lexus, except that Tesla uses a smooth, non-metallic red, while Lexus, of course, usually has the metallic and pearl finishes.

 

The Red is still multi-coat, and a $2,000 option. Since you generally like to harp on added cost paints.

Build quality, even with the paint you love, is absolutely still a major issue for Tesla, with significant defects fairly widespread.

 

Perhaps as the cars age, more problems will show. The brand-new Tesla 3 that I sampled seemed well-enough screwed together.....except for a somewhat tinny closing to the trunk-lid.

Not surprised that the red is a 2K option. It looked it.

 

I'm pretty active in the Tesla forums and the build quality issues are getting much better...yes even the paint. I had my Xpel guy evaluate the paint right after i took delivery to see if i should return and he said it was near perfect. He did say the newer builds have been much better through his doors. Just FYI...

 

That's good to hear.

 

The Tesla Model 3 I saw (red) had paint as least as good as any new Lexus model. I would imagine one could get an incredible shine with some light polishing and a natural wax.

 

i know it's just an (one of many) expressions you use but most cars are glued and welded together.

 

It's an old term in the auto-review business......goes back even before my time.

As for the vehicle's basic structure, of course, there are three general types, of which most vehicles today are designed from......unibody/monocoque (most passenger cars/crossover SUVs/CUVs), body-on-frame (traditional pickup trucks and some large SUVs), and space-frame/body-panel for some specialty vehicles.