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Factory pick up - Road trip home to San Diego

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Hi all,

This is my first post to the TMC. I haven't been able to find this discussion so I hope it isn't a duplicate. My wife and I had planned on picking up our Sig Performance at the factory and then take a few days to get back to San Diego (Carlsbad). At first we were told the the Super Chargers wouldn't be ready for the public. Now that the Super Chargers are coming online next week it looks like we can do it. Our delivery dates are October 21st - November 3rd. Can any of you share your experiences at the factory and what your travel plans were? I am thinking we would fly up Thursday night, take delivery on a Friday and see the factory in action, have lunch with Elon (dreaming), and then take a couple days to come home. Was there a good hotel nearby? For those Southern Californians that have done this journey in your new S what route did you take home? Do you have recommendations of how you came home, where to stay, even good restaurants? I am not the greatest trip planner. Just driving the new S will be great but I am looking to make a mini vacation on top of it as well.

Thanks in advance for any help,

Pat
 
Welcome! That will be a great way to break in the new car with a mini-roadtrip. If the Superchargers are working, that might be fun to see how they work and share your experiences with them. Thanks.
 
There's going to be another Model S in Carlsbad? What color?

I'm in La Costa and will be on the lookout!

EDIT: Just looked on Robert.Bostons's ZeeMap and see S924 in Carlsbad. If this is you, and the pin is accurate, you're only about 1/4 mile away from me (as the crow flies).
 
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Thank you all so far.

@mcornwell - I also live in La Costa just off Alga. I have a Sig Performance, Sig red, black interior with carbon fiber, silver 21" wheels, no pano roof, but with grand kid seats (my wife had to have that). I am taking the day off today because the electricians are here installing my NEMA 14-50 in my garage as I type. It is starting to feel more real seeing a plug go in.
 
From Gilroy to Tejon Ranch you're on Hwy 5, which is boring, ugly, and during holidays dangerous. If all you want to do is get to San Diego as quickly as possible then Hwy 5 is the ticket (assuming you're not doing this Thanksgiving weekend), but for an enjoyable road trip - the "mini-vacation" you want - you're going to want to get over to 101 if not Hwy 1.

Hwy 1 through Big Sur is a world-class drive, and absolutely worth doing if you've never done it before. Stop and eat at Nepenthe. Stop and walk under the highway to McWay Cove to see the only NA waterfall that dumps into the ocean. If you're doing the drive on Saturday and time it right, the tour of the Big Sur Lighthouse is also fun (and not touristy).

Heck, even 101 is better than 5. Atascadero or Santa Maria are way better places to stop than the Hwy 5 fast-food only rest-stops in the middle of nowhere. And, of course, there's Santa Barbara, which is a great town to find a good meal, a museum, or even just walk along the ocean.

Anyway, assuming you've got a full standard charge coming out of Fremont, it's about 100 miles to Gilroy. My advice is to top off (need at least 235 ideal miles in the battery), and take 156 to Hwy 1. Stop in Monterey for food. Unfortunately, at most a 30 amp J1772 charge. 17 mile drive is pretty nice, but no place to charge in Pebble Beach, unfortunately. Then take Hwy 1 down to Santa Maria and use one of the 70 amp J1772 chargers. The real prize place to stop is Santa Barbara, and at least one really nice hotel has charging facilities that will have you fully charged overnight. I recommend spending the evening and overnight in SB.

Then it's easier, from SB get on 101 to the Supercharger in LA, which gets you to San Diego.

I think Tesla didn't choose the best places for NorCal Superchargers. Even if you don't want a mini-vacation on Hwy 1, Hwy 101 is a way more enjoyable route than Hwy 5. For Hwy 101, you can use the 70 amp J1772s at various Rabbobanks, but that means a couple hours in Atascadero or Santa Maria, so not ideal.
 
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I stayed at the Hyatt Place in Fremont when I went last October for the test ride event, which was about as close to the factory as you can get. Where the factory is located is a pretty industrial area, so if you fly in at night and just want someplace to crash near the factory, that's a good choice (free breakfast!). I called in advance and they used their shuttle to take me (and a few others) over to the factory in the morning, which was great. San Jose was the closest airport IIRC.

As noted, if you and your wife want something a little more upscale, you'll be a few miles away, and I'm assuming you're not renting a car, so you'll need a taxi to get you to the hotel and then to the factory.

Have fun! It's definitely a bonus to live in California and be able to do the factory pickup.
 
Small world. We're off of Alga and Alicante. If you see the house with 33 solar panels as you drive down Alicante by the park, that's us.

Thank you all so far.

@mcornwell - I also live in La Costa just off Alga. I have a Sig Performance, Sig red, black interior with carbon fiber, silver 21" wheels, no pano roof, but with grand kid seats (my wife had to have that). I am taking the day off today because the electricians are here installing my NEMA 14-50 in my garage as I type. It is starting to feel more real seeing a plug go in.
 
I just realized when I signed my MVPA there was nothing to indicate delivery preference. Do you tell your Delivery Specialist that you want to pick it up instead of having it delivered when you get your delivery window and paperwork?

They ask you when they set you for your delivery window and you have to provide them your license, insurance and other vitals (including where you want delivery) so everything is set when the car is ready to go.
 
We had planned something very similar but then couldn't do it when our delivery was delayed. We planned down the coast, recharges at San Luis Obispo, then overnight at a hotel in Santa Barbara (I found it on Recargo, which you should search for charging places, but I can't remember which one it was), then via LA.
 
I can also highly recommend the coastal route, though I've never done it in an EV. Stopping overnight between Pismo Beach and Santa Barbara is also highly recommended - makes the trip much less of a grind and there are many nice places to stay between those 2 points, though you are somewhat limited by finding a place near a charging station at least. Looks like others have given plenty of tips for making the trip a success and hassle free.
 
Hwy 1 through Big Sur is a world-class drive, and absolutely worth doing if you've never done it before. Stop and eat at Nepenthe. Stop and walk under the highway to McWay Cove to see the only NA waterfall that dumps into the ocean. If you're doing the drive on Saturday and time it right, the tour of the Big Sur Lighthouse is also fun (and not touristy).

This sounded so nice that I'm tempted to do the drive myself, even though I live right across the bay from the factory! :)
 
Pat, on the hotel front, there's a Marriott very close to the factory and a Hilton a couple of miles away but, I'd recommend the swankier W Hotel in Newark about 10 miles from the factory (also in part because I live a couple of blocks away and would love an oppty to check your car out ;))

I'm sorry to take this OT but I cannot let a recommendation for the "W Silicon Valley" stand unchallenged. I've been an SPG Platinum member for 11 years (means I'm very loyal to W Hotels), but I've had countless horrible experiences at this one--at they do not care. I've never seen a General Manager of a hotel be so completely rude and apathetic about the quality of her staff and accommodations. Also, if you are interested in using the INTERNET at the W "SILICON VALLEY", don't count on it. When it IS working, it's 256kbytes/sec.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
 
I'm sorry to take this OT but I cannot let a recommendation for the "W Silicon Valley" stand unchallenged. I've been an SPG Platinum member for 11 years (means I'm very loyal to W Hotels), but I've had countless horrible experiences at this one--at they do not care. I've never seen a General Manager of a hotel be so completely rude and apathetic about the quality of her staff and accommodations. Also, if you are interested in using the INTERNET at the W "SILICON VALLEY", don't count on it. When it IS working, it's 256kbytes/sec.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

Good to know, aviators. Not that I'll ever have to stay there but, will definitely warn visitors to the area in the future. I just wanted to check out Pat's car, of course :)