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This article is reposted from the user @Low-key Octopus on Zhihu.

Y, Shanghai, 19-inch gray wheels, order number 1467xxx.

Having been lurking in various groups for a long time, I have seen a lot of information, some true and some false. Here, I have summarized the more credible information for everyone’s convenience.

Will the delivery be finished before the New Year?

There is currently news that says Tesla internally requires all orders before the 2nd (including the 2nd) to be completed before the New Year, but the authenticity of this information is unknown and is only for reference.

Will the color affect the delivery time?

According to current information, separating the delivery batches by color before the New Year is a highly credible piece of information. The specific order is: gray-blue—black-red—white.

Note: This is only applicable for delivery before the New Year. After the New Year, production will be arranged according to the order situation, and there will be no difference in color.

Will changing the color/wheels affect the delivery time?

Changing your configuration will not affect your existing order number. There is no need to re-queue.

Changing your configuration will affect vehicle matching. Changing to a priority color like gray-blue may allow you to pick up your car earlier, while changing from 19-inch wheels to 20-inch wheels may delay your delivery time as production of 20-inch wheels is reportedly limited. The degree of impact will vary depending on the order number.

• If your order number is very early, such as having placed a deposit of 20,000 RMB and placed your order on the first day, changing to gray-blue color may allow you to pick up your car earlier, and changing wheels will have little impact.

• If your order number is neither early nor late, changing to a priority color may allow you to pick up your car earlier, but due to limited production scheduling before the New Year, changing the wheels may delay your delivery time, even between the New Year and before the New Year.

• If your order number is very late and confirmed for delivery after the New Year, there is little impact.

Currently, it is speculated that factory production scheduling is not adjusted according to the order situation. It is a pre-existing plan, so early orders can switch to any configuration they want, but changing to configurations with later delivery times or limited production scheduling may be pushed out of the line before the New Year.

It doesn’t matter if your order is late, just relax.

Why haven’t I been invited to the group yet?

At the moment, there is no substantive meaning to joining the group. At most, it is to verify the eligibility for purchasing a car or to pre-approve loans for those who need them.

Until the VIN is matched, any action taken is just a formality.

So don’t worry if you haven’t been invited to the group yet. There are people who have been scheduled for delivery on the 18th in the group, and the invitation was only sent a few days before the delivery.

If you have been invited to the group, don’t harass them about delivery every day. It’s useless, they are also very busy.

Will floor mats be provided at delivery?- There are floor mats, but no trunk mats. The mats that come with the car are not waterproof, it is recommended to purchase it yourself here.

Is there a USB drive given during delivery?

Yes.

Is there a car charger given during delivery?

No, it is recommended to buy it yourself here.

Do I need to buy a license plate frame?

No, the license plate frame for the previous model M3 has been improved.

How to choose between 19 and 20 inch wheels

With the same tire width, there should not be much difference in energy consumption with just the tire, but the 19-inch wheel comes with an aerodynamic hub that reduces energy consumption, so overall the 19-inch wheel should have better energy performance than the 20-inch wheel.

I don’t know about suspension and tire noise, but the 20-inch wheels shouldn’t be better than the 19-inch wheels.

From my point of view, the only advantage of the 20-inch wheels is appearance. Although Michelin’s four tires cost 8000, the bargain does not necessarily mean you really need it. Unless you are particularly concerned about appearance, the 19-inch wheels may be a better choice for daily use.

PS: After seeing the car in person, I didn’t feel that the 19-inch wheels were small or ugly at all, which is completely different from some of the pictures before. It has strengthened my idea of choosing the 19-inch wheels. It is better to go to the store and actually see it before making a decision.

Is Tesla’s loan a good deal?

The “fee rate” is 4%, and the real interest rate is close to 8\% depending on the different terms. Whether it is high or not depends on your comparison with the interest rates you can get from other channels. For me, it is high.

Delivery time prediction update

It is unlikely to deliver before January 10th (this week) because the delivery process cannot be done at such short notice. Referring to the delivery process of Model 3, there must be at least 3 days notice in advance, and temporary license plates cannot be issued on Sundays. Therefore, the possibility of delivery this week is already very low.

………………………………………Update: January 11
Received definite confirmation of delivery schedule. Superiors have given instructions to begin matching cars next week. Information seems reliable, and though some cars may be delivered in January, overall delivery schedule is slower than anticipated.

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Update: January 15
Matching has begun.

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Update: January 17
This afternoon, there was another round of matching, and I’ve already found a match.

RN801467427, gray 19-inch rims, in the Shanghai area.

Pickup time is January 20 at 1 pm.

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What are the signals that your car has been matched?

Open the official website, log into your account and navigate to order management. If your vehicle status changes to “Please pay the remaining balance,” it means you need to prepare for the next step.

Upon discovering a change in your order status, you can proactively contact delivery personnel to arrange a pickup time.

This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.