Test Drive

SwampNut

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For the Tesla owners out there that have been on a Tesla waiting list before, did you get a chance to sit in, drive, touch, feel, smell, drive, etc, your model of choice before finalizing your purchase?

I know a lot of people on the waiting list will take delivery with no questions asked. I still want to see the CT and get a feel for it's somewhat barren interior before handing over $.

What happened after you finalized your order? Did you get a certain amount a time to perform an inspection and point out any issues, or did they just deliver it to the nearest dealer where you picked it up and you had to run any issues through the warranty department?
I bought my M3LR from Carvana with a touchless delivery and no test drive. I also bought my Gladiator over email and never tested it. In that case though, I'd owned a previous model Wrangler and was confident of what I'd be getting. I guess I see the CT in the same way, though there's some risk for sure.
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SpaceYooper

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I bought my M3LR from Carvana with a touchless delivery and no test drive. I also bought my Gladiator over email and never tested it. In that case though, I'd owned a previous model Wrangler and was confident of what I'd be getting. I guess I see the CT in the same way, though there's some risk for sure.
That's a completely justifiable way of purchasing after seeing the vehicles on the road for a few years and people writing reviews, posting videos, etc.

I'm mainly concerned with being an early adopter to a largely unproven product. Tesla is proven, but building a truck that proves to stand the test of time isn't something we'll know until several years of the CTs being on and off the road.

Unless Tesla comes out with some secret footage of testing the truck in freezing, dusty, belly-pan/structural pack bouncing, blistering, dry rotting, suspension pounding , alignment challenging, sidewall blowing, off road conditions (regular truck stuff) for the last couple years I'd feel a lot better about buying it if I could walk around it and kick the tires a little lol.
 

SwampNut

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That's a completely justifiable way of purchasing after seeing the vehicles on the road for a few years and people writing reviews, posting videos, etc.
Oh, no, I'm much dumber than that. I had never watched a Tesla video, and had never even touched a Tesla at all. The CT is a largely proven product based on a decade of other EVs, with a few new and different parts added in. It makes no difference if you kick the tires, it is what it is and there's no way to know how the real world will treat it. In particular, Tesla has zero experience with off-road vehicles, and my intended use of it is likely to break things. So be it.

I don't really like watching product videos, to date I've probably only seen parts of a handful of Tesla videos.
 
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SpaceYooper

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The CT is far from a proven product. It's not even in product in production yet.

I agree Tesla EV tech is proven, (I still think the battery warranty needs to be better) and I agree some (though I'm not sure how much) of the parts will be shared with other vehicles.

I disagree that there is no way to know how the real world will treat it. I agree that Tesla has 0 experience with off road vehicles. Hence the concern. That's were the testing comes in.

I'm not saying it has to be tested for ridiculously extreme situations. Leave that for the owners and YouTube celebs that want to test the extremes for viewership, followership, or their own motivations. But I would like to know it was tested overtime/repeatedly on real bad washboard, and speed bump type roads, along with deep rut situations requiring some degree vehicle articulation where you need a foot or so of ground clearance and prove things won't come loose, bolts won't snap, frames won't get bent, structural packs won't crack, etc.

Can't wait for some of this testing footage and warranty info to come out.
 

flamaest

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+1 vote for local meetups and owners groups.

I will never accept another car without some form of live drive, or at least a passenger ride along.

My model 3 was a very low VIN, from Feb-2018, and boy is the cabin loud at highway speeds OMG. I would have never completed the online purchase if I had known this was an issue, and at the time no one was talking about it.

And to those that say 'return-period none-sense', it is a PAIN in the rear to do a car-return after the bank loan clears.

I should have just waited a few more months as Tesla quickly changed all sort of things in the model 3 to reduce road noise and improve comfort, non of which is in my car.

I literally have to plug my ears while on many stretches of highway. UGGG.
 


SwampNut

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Would most test drives include highway driving? The last time I did one, in 2013, it didn't. The highway was just a bit far. I guess it would be possible with insistence? They didn't offer it, wife didn't care. I wouldn't have driven it at all so I didn't care.

I just realized I don't know if she drove the truck we got before that. She did the deal on her own and surprised me (we already were a year into talking about it).
 

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Would most test drives include highway driving?
Guessing that depends mainly on the proximity of the dealer (or Tesla showroom) to a highway. On at least one test drive the salesperson directed me to their standard test drive route and we got on the interstate, went to the next exit, drove around and came back.
 

SwampNut

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I was thinking about this on the way home tonight. I don't get it, there must be variations in cars? Ours is quieter and to me more luxurious than the BMW it replaced. It was an expensive sporty version, so maybe that adds noise?

I've noticed one clear thing though. These tires are ultra quiet on perfect pavement (common here), and super noisy on bad pavement.
 

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There is nothing I can learn on a test drive that would prevent my Cybertruck purchase.

That said, I will probably schedule a test drive every weekend for about a year, or until mine is delivered 😭
 


nitrohuck

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My guess, and It is not really a guess.

If we don't get an opportunity to view the product before we pay for it, we can get a full refund if we don't like it when we see it.

I can't imagine a scenario where we pay for the product without an opportunity to see it in the flesh first, and then Tesla refuses to refund if we don't like it once we see it in rel life.

I can't bet my life on it if they don't, but Tesla would be betting their business on it if they don't.

Alternative option... buy the CT anyway, then turn around and sell it for likely a hefty premium to a thirsty crowd willing to pay above market price to get a CT immediately :)
 

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I was thinking about this on the way home tonight. I don't get it, there must be variations in cars? Ours is quieter and to me more luxurious than the BMW it replaced. It was an expensive sporty version, so maybe that adds noise?

I've noticed one clear thing though. These tires are ultra quiet on perfect pavement (common here), and super noisy on bad pavement.
One big thing I notice is noise when accelerating, passing, or going up steep climbs is not a thing. You get wind noise, but no vibrations/ engine noise at all.

When I’m not paying attention and have the music up… 85MPH just sort of happens.
 

Sirfun

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There is nothing I can learn on a test drive that would prevent my Cybertruck purchase.

That said, I will probably schedule a test drive every weekend for about a year, or until mine is delivered 😭
That sounds painful. About like going to the candy store with no money as a kid. Or going to the beach with your leg in a cast!

I see it,
I want it,
I can't have it!!!!
😱
 

Crissa

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I was thinking about this on the way home tonight. I don't get it, there must be variations in cars? Ours is quieter and to me more luxurious than the BMW it replaced. It was an expensive sporty version, so maybe that adds noise?

I've noticed one clear thing though. These tires are ultra quiet on perfect pavement (common here), and super noisy on bad pavement.
Well, Tesla ramped up their noise proofing to make up for the expectations.

-Crissa
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