I Acquired A Tesla FSD Switch Regardless of Ordering Previous ‘deadline’

Recommendation for anybody who has a Tesla with Full Self Driving (FSD) and needs to purchase a brand new Tesla and preserve their FSD with out having to pay one other $12,000.

Regardless of my displeasure with Elon Musk’s antics, what he did to Twitter and a few of his disturbing statements, I’ve been a cheerful Mannequin 3 proprietor since 2018 and a part of the minority (19%) of Tesla homeowners who purchased Full Self Driving, although in my case it price far lower than the present $12,000 as a result of I purchased it early on.

Largely optimistic expertise with FSD

I’ve blended emotions about FSD however largely optimistic, regardless of its nefarious repute. For me, it’s a security assistant as a result of I at all times have my eyes on the highway, able to take over if one thing seems unsuitable. I like the truth that it modifications lanes, which is without doubt one of the riskier maneuvers for human drivers. Having cameras — along with your individual eyes — scanning the highway, makes it lots safer so long as you’re additionally paying shut consideration, ought to the cameras get it unsuitable. Having stated that, I’ve by no means had a detailed name on an FSD lane change although I’ve had different points comparable to sloppy or doubtlessly harmful activates metropolis streets. Additionally, I’m at all times looking out for highway hazards, like a mattress on the freeway, that FSD would possibly miss.

Lastly, as a tech journalist, I discover it attention-grabbing to observe together with the continuing enhancements to FSD. It has an extended technique to go earlier than it fulfills Elan Musk’s wild guarantees of turning Teslas into robo-taxis, as Musk as soon as claimed would happen by 2020. Nonetheless, I imagine that self-driving vehicles will finally be a actuality and, when they’re generally used, will considerably scale back visitors casualties.

Ordering points concerning FSD

This previous summer time Tesla launched a “one-time” non permanent provide permitting homeowners who’ve FSD to switch it to a brand new automobile for no cost. That authentic provide led to September, however they re-introduced it in January with a March 31 expiration date.

Their rule is that it’s essential to take supply by March thirty first. The deadline relies on supply, not once you order it. They’ve stated they’ll make exceptions for conditions the place they ship after the date they predict (for instance if the estimated supply date was March once you ordered, and it comes later, they are saying they’ll honor it) however they haven’t promised to honor orders if the estimated supply is previous March as is now the case for Lengthy Vary, which is slated for Could. As of this writing, you may nonetheless get a Customary Vary with an estimated March supply.

Since I get vary anxiousness on highway journeys once I’m off main highways the place there are many Superchargers, I needed a long-range, however thought I used to be out of luck. I regarded on Tesla’s stock web page however couldn’t discover any Mannequin 3s with a projected vary of 341, which is what they declare for the brand new 2024 lengthy vary mannequin.

Inside gross sales advisor obtained me a automotive

It took a number of makes an attempt utilizing the Tesla chat function (press the chat icon on the order web page) however I lastly obtained in contact with an “inside gross sales advisor” who despatched me hyperlinks to demo vehicles that had been obtainable in my space. I didn’t see any of those vehicles on Tesla’s stock web page, however they did present up once I clicked on his hyperlink. He stated that demos don’t keep obtainable lengthy and urged me to order shortly. I did order and obtained a supply date solely a few days later. The automotive I ordered had about 2,000 miles on it and so they gave me a $890 low cost. The low cost wasn’t the motivation. I’d have fairly had a brand new automotive, nevertheless it was the one technique to get an extended vary in time to maintain my FSD bundle with out having to pay one other $12,000.

The not-so nice information

After I confirmed up on the Tesla gross sales workplace to choose up my automotive, my spouse discovered a small dent and scratches on the decrease entrance fascia, which is the realm under the entrance bumper. It regarded as if somebody who take a look at drove it ran right into a curb. There have been additionally about 4 very small paint chips however in any other case the automotive appeared OK. I at first rejected it and requested if they may discover me a brand new one or one other demo however they weren’t ready to try this for me. It took some convincing, however I used to be capable of get their supervisor to agree in an electronic mail to have it repaired at Tesla’s expense. The restore is scheduled for subsequent week, so we’ll see how that goes.

There have been a few minor points. They did switch the FSD however I’ve to attend for a software program replace earlier than it should begin working. That might come any day, any week or in a month or two. It’s onerous to foretell. Autopilot, nonetheless, does work. Additionally, once I did a spread examine by noting the variety of miles left on the cost divided by the proportion of cost, it got here to 331 as an alternative of the promised 341. I questioned if that had been battery degradation, however I checked a few different 2024 Lengthy Vary Mannequin 3s that they had on the lot and so they all got here to about 333, together with one with solely 11 miles on it. Fascinating a normal vary on the lot confirmed the total 272 miles that it guarantees.

So, when you’re on the lookout for a Lengthy Vary Tesla Mannequin 3 prior to now and the top of the month, ask to talk to an Inside Gross sales Advisor and see in the event that they will help.