Factory pick up - Road trip home to San Diego

[Psullivan]

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.

Hi @mcornwall. I thought I replied yesterday but maybe I didn't hit send. I do know where you house is. I also have 33 solar panels on my roof that you can kind of see from Amber Lane (west facing). My house over produced 1000 Kwh last year but once the car arrives I don't think that will happen anymore. You will have to head up my way once the car arrives and have a cocktail with us and check it out. I will let you know when it gets here.

And to everyone else thanks for the great suggestions. We now just need to get a firm date from our delivery specialist so we can put our plans together. Can't wait.

 

[Psullivan]

This is a test. My replies aren't showing up.

 

[DrComputer]

I am still staying in Sunnyvale waiting to pick my car at the factory. They gave me the go ahead to fly up here this weekend to get the car. Yesterday they said that during final inspection they found a crack in the rear window and have to replace it. Now they don't know if I can have the car ready by tomorrow or even Monday. If they can't get it done they said they would fly me back up next weekend to get it. I'm hoping they can get it finished. Either way my friends and family who are all up here with me are getting a factory tour tomorrow afternoon.

 

[Robert.Boston]

This is a test. My replies aren't showing up.

As a new poster to the board, your posts automatically go into moderation. Once you've posted a bit more, that will stop. Thanks for joining TMC!

 

[Norbert]

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.

Totally agree with choosing Hwy 1 for a vacation-like drive (and short of that, choosing Hwy 101 over Hwy 5 unless in a hurry).

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.

I think Gilroy is a pretty good choice going south to LA, as it can be used for all three: Hwy 5, Hwy 101, and Hwy 1. I think a location in San Luis Obispo is already planned, which then also allows using Hwy 101 and Hwy 1 down to LA with SuperCharger only. (Both 101 and 1 go through San Luis Obispo.)

 

[Norbert]

Totally agree with choosing Hwy 1 for a vacation-like drive (and short of that, choosing Hwy 101 over Hwy 5 unless in a hurry).

BTW, if taking Hwy 1 with some extra time, I'd also recommend driving Ocean St, in Carmel, down to the beach, and taking a short walk on that beach, it's very nice with white-ish sand.

And Point Lobos state park, 1 or 2 miles south of Carmel (entry is easy to miss in a short stretch of forest), which has a lot of variety within it.

 

[htsai14752]

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.

Arnold, could you ask for a factory tour when taking delivery at the plant? Do does it require an appointment for a factory tour.

 

[mrjohnlnguyen]

Pickup up mine last Friday, got a 1.5 hour tour which was great and drove my 60W home, see photos: http://sdrv.ms/11lZZcg

 

[rlpm]

Pickup up mine last Friday, got a 1.5 hour tour which was great and drove my 60W home, see photos: http://sdrv.ms/11lZZcg

Are they allowing pictures inside the factory now?

 

[blues]

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).

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.

My pickup date is fast approaching and I was wondering if anybody has attempted to pick up their Model S at the Factory and taking PCH back to southern california as smorgasbord suggested above? I am pretty excited to try something similar, but wanted to see if anybody has tried it and what their thoughts were on doing this trip.

 

[Robert.Boston]

My pickup date is fast approaching and I was wondering if anybody has attempted to pick up their Model S at the Factory and taking PCH back to southern california as smorgasbord suggested above? I am pretty excited to try something similar, but wanted to see if anybody has tried it and what their thoughts were on doing this trip.

I haven't, but this should be easy given the charging options along the PCH. There's a great map of the "Tesla Highway." It will be slower than bombing down I-5 and using the Harris Ranch SC, but a lot prettier. If you have twin chargers, though, you won't have to spend too much time charging, and you'll be charging in some great places. Range Charge at Gilroy, then 175 miles to San Luis Obispo, then 100 miles to Goleta for a top-up, then into LA (charge at the SC or one of the many other options).