Dr Taras' Model S gets customized!

[AMPd]

H

So "The Hun!" was invited on the Italian Stampede to drive up to Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, police motorcade escorted the whole way from Chatsworth to Monterey tagging along with 100 Italian exotics including multiple Ferraris and Lamborghinis! We stopped half way at Harris Ranch to refuel. The gas guzzlers were lined up at the gas station as I just plugged in to the Supercharger and went to eat! When I came out, I had 265 'rated' miles for the 130 miles the GPS said I needed where we went through a curvey 2-lane road, highway 198, cutting through to the 101. With the pedal-to-the-metal driving, I arrived at the Gilroy SuperCharger with 5 miles left!

The next day, all da boyz (& a few girlz too) took their Italian toys on the greens to Concorso Italiano. With the "anything you can do, I can do better" confidence of a Tesla owner, I too took "The Hun!" on the greens at Laguna Seca Golf Ranch, Monterey California, only, I already knew that, coincidentally, Tesla Motors was sponsoring a booth there. I was happy to see the Tesla employees and they had a spot for me next to their tent. Here's some pictures that were snapped:
View attachment 29221



(Mods, feel free to move this to another thread if you deem appropriate)

Is the hood wrapped in matte black?

 

[DrTaras]

Is the hood wrapped in matte black?

Yes

 

[silbenny]

Yes, please. I'm dying to know more about the audio system such as each component and anything 'learned' or 'special' that needs to be done to install an aftermarket audio system in the Model S. I know A&E worked with Tesla on the install, so if there is important info people should know to take care of please share! We don't want to make some mistake that may affect the battery! I'm curious if any secondary 12V battery was used, if any farad caps were used, what types of fuses were used to protect things, if any special 'low power' components were used, and very importantly -> where and how was there power and the audio tie-in occur to the Tesla system? Are they audio out's somewhere already (where would that be?)?. etc etc details please!! thank you!

Any update on this info?
btw-Great car and setup! I bet that brushed aluminum looks awesome in person.

 

[DrTaras]

btw-Great car and setup! I bet that brushed aluminum looks awesome in person.

Thanx for the kudos on the car. Truly my one 'regret' about the brushed aluminum is that it is amazing in person,
especially in direct sunlight but in pictures it does not translate very well.
Here are some pix from the Tour de Tesla that we had last weekend which may show it better.

- - - Updated - - -

Any update on this info?

Hmmm. yobigd20 is one of those guys I would have answered as I respect that in less than a year on the boards he's brought a frankness and positiveness to help not hinder.
Can you remind me when he made that comment (one of the things I wish the "quote" would also note).

That being said, I can tell you that although Al & Ed's DID put an accessory battery in my Roadster they did NOT need to put any accessory batteries in my Model S.
Aside from that, as I put in my post #1 of this thread, I'm much more of a big picture guy so don't know the answers to most of the other questions.
Big believer, at least in this arena, that the ends justify the means, but don't know much about the means; sorry :redface:
You might be able to contact A-E who did the work.

 

[silbenny]

DrTaras
The biggest issue we have is trying to figure out where to access the output from the "headunit". From my understanding the digital sound processor is located behind the touchscreen within the dash- of course the issue is how to access this area without tearing up the car. I'm assuming A-E wouldn't want to give out all their info given that it will lead to competition- although I live thousand miles away!

 

[DrTaras]

DrTaras
The biggest issue we have is trying to figure out where to access the output from the "headunit". From my understanding the digital sound processor is located behind the touchscreen within the dash- of course the issue is how to access this area without tearing up the car. I'm assuming A-E wouldn't want to give out all their info given that it will lead to competition- although I live thousand miles away!

Honestly I get it, but honestly I have no idea about what you're talking about and have no idea if A-E would want to give away trade secrets. If you wanted to do a minimally-invasive da Vinci robotic supracervical hysterectomy, I'm happy to give away my trade secrets. But in this arena of 'headunit' placement, I'm lost. Sorry. :frown:

Speaking of lost, here is my wife arriving at the Peterson Museum in "The Hun!" after she got lost!
Of 125 Teslas, she followed a Roadster who towards the end of the rally got a "FAULT" light and left the route to go directly to service.
My wife and 4 other Teslas followed him until they realized they had gone the wrong way & then with the NAV system, corrected and rejoined:

 

[NigelM]

Can you remind me when he made that comment (one of the things I wish the "quote" would also note).

Click on the little blue box/white arrow symbol which appears next to the name of the quoted person. It's a back to the future button that zips you to the original post.

 

[DrTaras]

Click on the little blue box/white arrow symbol which appears next to the name of the quoted person. It's a back to the future button that zips you to the original post.

Further illustrating my ignorance! Thank YOU NigelM!!! Brilliant! :biggrin:

 

[DrTaras]

Carbon Footprint Offset?

So last Sunday, my son had a soccer tourney in Bakersfield. The boys went up along with some parents in this RV on Saturday. Early Sunday morning I made the jaunt up from L.A. in "The Hun!" Stopped at the Supercharger at the bottom of the Grapevine in the Tejon Pass & snapped this shot. Not much of an environmentalist (tho am pro-environment) to know if my carbon footprint that I facilitated with my son going on the RV has been offset by use of the Supercharger to recharge?

But, as usual, the none-too-shy, "Tesla The Hun!" makes friend wherever he goes spreading the gospel of Tesla! This time we met Lauren & Doug from the Bay Area who were driving down on their way to Vegas for some R&R. It was nice meeting you and hope you had fun. She asked the number one question I've informally polled about "The Hun!" which is about the MobilEye & its efficiency of function, 'is it worth it'. The 2nd most popular question is about the rear and front mounted parking sensors, though these questions are becoming less frequent as the newer MS come with those as OEM.

 

[DrTaras]

If u want to see a Tesla at the LA Auto Show, there are only 2 ways to do so and both are downstairs at the customization (Kentia) hall at the AL & Ed's booth.
Either T-Sportline's uber customized Black Beauty or "A Tesla The Hun" as Mr. January in the FAMOUS calendar!

This view is from inside of one of his Bespoke Coachworks looking out at the Tesla in his other booth

 

[DrTaras]

The TesLA Club went to Motor4Toys to donate some toys to underprivileged kids.
Most of the pictures are in this TMC thread but this picture, I thought, captured
The Hun's! softer side of 'trying to put a dent in the universe' (-Steve Jobs) without putting a dent in the frunk!

 

[DrTaras]

Door ingress/egress lights

2010, 4 years ago at CES, as evidenced in this TMC post of the YouTube video (start @ 1:56) we unveiled ingress/egress lights... 1st on a Tesla.
At the time Elie had said he wanted the lights to be of the Tesla Icon but did not have the proper technology in place.
Well, now, for the Model S, he's done it! Please help me welcome to the newest installed aftermarket option to the family!

What was your 1st reaction? Please keep it PG-13! Mine was... 'TO THE BATMOBILE!"

 

[AnOutsider]

Interesting. Is that on the ground outside or the footwell inside? Hard to see.

 

[Jason S]

I think that's the bottom part of an open door over concrete. So that's outside, imho.

Overall I'm a function > fashion guy, but the improvement for outdoor lighting is an overall +. Very nice!

 

[wstuff]

Looks really good, I like it, R

 

[DrTaras]

I think that's the bottom part of an open door over concrete. So that's outside, imho.

correct :wink:

 

[Shumdit]

My Range Rover has those lights. Gimmicky, but cool.

 

[DrTaras]

My Range Rover has those lights. Gimmicky, but cool.

Post a similar picture

 

[DrTaras]

The Hun! made an appearance at #DriveFree; the Coast to Coast Kick-Off party in Hawthorne!
Nearly a year since his make-over & nearly 150,000 page views it still is 'fresh' & yes CRAVES attention! :love:

But you know what, those Tesla employees who I call the sub-250s, the people who have been there since before there was some big pay-off of stock option, who've been there for the cause and continue to do so... THOSE are the unsung heros! Great seeing you Ted, Colette, Leila, Adam, Kirsten, Jeremy amongst others!

3-2-1- send off!

 

[gnelson]

I prefer the red circle that my projector emits with the white Tesla logo.