Features I'd like to see

[ZTrekus]

Am waiting on an order for a P85D - so I confess that I haven't yet owned a Tesla and am anxiously awaiting the experience. On that basis, the following I suppose is really theoretical. That being said, I'd like to see:

1) LED headlights. My former Prius had them. The BMW i3 has them. Why not Tesla?
2) Customisable buttons. The BMW allows you to program a series of ready buttons to jump to whatever you want, be that a radio station, a navman address etc... Why not some customisable buttons on the touch screen to jump immediately to what you want?
3) The BMW i3 can park itself. Even the old Prius iTech can park itself. Why not the Tesla? I know, I know wait for an update. But surely that is not all that hard to churn out given that it has existed for years with Toyota.
4) Some distance markings on the reverse lines. How do you know how far off the back wall are you?
5) An app for the Samsung Galaxy Gear. Of course this is specialised to those that wear those wanky things - but I am one of them....


Oh yeah... and the ability for the car to fold itself up into a brief case so you can walk off with it when you arrive.... but I am willing to wait on that one...

 

[danielp]

My list for Australia:
1. Max legal tinting as standard for all cars. It will reduce the load on the aircon and increase efficiency. Plus the aircon barely keeps up.
2. Mobile charging cable for 10A/16A and three phase 16A.
3. Support for purchasing some options after delivery (like audio).
4. Cargo nets.
5. Option to put a petrol generator in the frunk. Just kidding!!

 

[ZTrekus]

Thanks danielp - your tinting option reminds me - how about some built in shutters for the sunroof?

As for the mobile charging - if they don't bring that out by the time my car gets delivered, I am going to buy a home charger and connect it up to a 240v power cord. In fact when I told the sales person that I was gunna do that, he said that that is in fact what they have done for their in-showroom charger.

 

[danielp]

IMHO the sunroof is already nicely tinted/protected. The heat feels like it comes through the windows.

 

[Dborn]

The pano roof absolutely does not require any tinting protection! 3 phase wall connector and mobile charging cable are allegedly available Q1 2015. Or, in Tesla parlance, "SOON".

 

[Davide]

7 band graphic EQ! That $3000 stereo is actually really good but where do they fit 12 speakers?

OK, I have found more detailed info on the excellent U HiFi stereo. Explains a lot. And music off a USB stick is effing awesome!

http://www.s1nn.de/system/uploads/attachment/file/548ed54bbfc4384f1f00000b/Tesla-TechnischeInformationen_deutsch_englisch.pdf

 

[ZTrekus]

Hey Davide, that's really interesting.

When I went to buy my Tesla, I asked to hear 'Pearl - Katy Perry' in both showroom models, one with the upgraded sound system, the other without. I had already outfitted MyTesla website with the Sound System option but after hearing both, I was reluctantly talked out of it and saved myself $3200.

Firstly, I think my test was flawed because however the salesman managed to download the song (or bluetooth it from his phone), it was a bad sampling. And so garbage in garbage out. But even with the garbage I could hear the bass was certainly better on the upgraded system. But that was about all. They both had loud volume and I was a little embarrassed trying to max it out in the showroom. But it hadn't occurred to me at the time to have brought a clear version of the song on a USB stick and done the experiment from there. I am half tempted to repeat the experiment that way and if I change my mine, to somehow upgrade my option pack even though the car is in the production queue.

But the other half of me tells me to stop being so precious and put the money towards the bank loan :-(

 

[Davide]

Well I'm sort of lucky because part of my work is soundtrack mixing. That system is capable of reproducing way more than compressed music can offer. But if I was you I would repeat the test with a good sampled song for example "It began in afrika" by Chemical Brothers, that song has a fantastic bass melody that can't be heard on most systems. Also bring and test your favourite song/music that you would listen to if you had time to sit in front of your Home theatre/HiFi, because mostly in the car is one of the few places you really get to enjoy your music especially in that fantastic quite cabin!

 

[TesAus]

Probably covered already, but for most music you need to turn off the surround sound (?) option on the upgraded stereo or it sounds like s****.

 

[timpoo]

Hey Davide, that's really interesting.

When I went to buy my Tesla, I asked to hear 'Pearl - Katy Perry' in both showroom models, one with the upgraded sound system, the other without. I had already outfitted MyTesla website with the Sound System option but after hearing both, I was reluctantly talked out of it and saved myself $3200.

Firstly, I think my test was flawed because however the salesman managed to download the song (or bluetooth it from his phone), it was a bad sampling. And so garbage in garbage out. But even with the garbage I could hear the bass was certainly better on the upgraded system. But that was about all. They both had loud volume and I was a little embarrassed trying to max it out in the showroom. But it hadn't occurred to me at the time to have brought a clear version of the song on a USB stick and done the experiment from there. I am half tempted to repeat the experiment that way and if I change my mine, to somehow upgrade my option pack even though the car is in the production queue.

But the other half of me tells me to stop being so precious and put the money towards the bank loan :-(

For what it's worth, I currently listen to 24 bit Lossless music on the Tesla system and it is GLORIOUS. I have the upgraded sound system. For the sub woofer alone it would be worth it. I think any music over 256kbps would be better on the upgraded system, and noticeably so.

One feature I'd love to see is the ability to play whole albums through Rdio - rather than the "station" set up it currently has.

 

[gizmonty]

One feature I'd love to see is the ability to play whole albums through Rdio - rather than the "station" set up it currently has.

This would be very high on my list too! If not at the top! The Rdio feature is awesome and I'm really enjoying it, but it is horribly crippled by this limitation.

Looking at Rdio they seem to have only 2 packages - stations only with ads, or albums and playlists without ads. Given we don't get ads, Tesla are either forking out for the full package or they have negotiated a limited deal. I suspect it's the full package and the software is just incomplete as apparently Slacker in the US allows full albums. Seems like a pretty easy fix - perhaps we need to put Dborn onto it!

 

[Dborn]

This would be very high on my list too! If not at the top! The Rdio feature is awesome and I'm really enjoying it, but it is horribly crippled by this limitation.

Looking at Rdio they seem to have only 2 packages - stations only with ads, or albums and playlists without ads. Given we don't get ads, Tesla are either forking out for the full package or they have negotiated a limited deal. I suspect it's the full package and the software is just incomplete as apparently Slacker in the US allows full albums. Seems like a pretty easy fix - perhaps we need to put Dborn onto it!

Pass!! My cred is quite low at present. Suggest you contact Kasey Krape, using the usual email convention.

 

[timdbrian]

For what it's worth, I currently listen to 24 bit Lossless music on the Tesla system and it is GLORIOUS. I have the upgraded sound system. For the sub woofer alone it would be worth it. I think any music over 256kbps would be better on the upgraded system, and noticeably so.

One feature I'd love to see is the ability to play whole albums through Rdio - rather than the "station" set up it currently has.

The one feature I regret not getting - upgraded audio. Lack of sub is crippling, limited detail but I suppose it's not bad for "stock standard".

As an audiophile I wanted to get the upgraded sound but talked myself out of it by saying "I'll just build an even better system myself", however that requires a lot more work than just adding an arguably small amount of money on top of the pile.

I do wish upgraded audio was an accessory option like the dual charger (which I also didn't get because I can retro-fit it if need be).

 

[ZTrekus]

The one feature I regret not getting - upgraded audio. Lack of sub is crippling, limited detail but I suppose it's not bad for "stock standard".

As an audiophile I wanted to get the upgraded sound but talked myself out of it by saying "I'll just build an even better system myself", however that requires a lot more work than just adding an arguably small amount of money on top of the pile.

I do wish upgraded audio was an accessory option like the dual charger (which I also didn't get because I can retro-fit it if need be).

Damn you timdbrian and timpoo...

your last 2 posts just made me ring Tesla and ask them to email the factory to change my order to upgraded audio...

so now i'll know who to thank... And when the creditors come knocking i'm gunna refer them on to you too ;-)

 

[timpoo]

Damn you timdbrian and timpoo...

your last 2 posts just made me ring Tesla and ask them to email the factory to change my order to upgraded audio...

so now i'll know who to thank... And when the creditors come knocking i'm gunna refer them on to you too ;-)

Haha great work my friend you made the right choice. I had the benefit driving a car WITHOUT the sound package for a week, and when I finally got in my car I breathed a huge sigh of relief at how much better it sounded.

Sorry I know it sounds like I'm exaggerating, because the standard system is by no means a slouch, but I personally think it's the equivalent of the difference between an 85 and a P85 - both great cars, but one is obviously better.

 

[ZTrekus]

Haha great work my friend you made the right choice. I had the benefit driving a car WITHOUT the sound package for a week, and when I finally got in my car I breathed a huge sigh of relief at how much better it sounded.

Sorry I know it sounds like I'm exaggerating, because the standard system is by no means a slouch, but I personally think it's the equivalent of the difference between an 85 and a P85 - both great cars, but one is obviously better.

That actually makes me feel a little less guilty...

 

[dhuDz]

Tech Package: Should Include handsfree automatic liftgate/frunk ala Ford Escape/Kuga


As the leader in automotive technology currently, the tech package should have included the very innovative handsfree/automatic liftgate like they use in Ford SUVs...




Just saying....


Opinions?


It's just using that capacitive sensor they use in Wii and Xbox with similar function to a standard button switch you press or(kick gesture) to open orclose the power liftgate.

 

[Keiron]

In line with this thinking I am constructing an under seat lowline sub for my beast. Will advise when I have successfully interfaced it.

Regards Keiron

 

[CHG-ON]

I have heard lots of complaints that the UHFI is not up to snuff. But I am basically happy with it. Not thrilled, but happy. I have installed MUCH better systems in previous cars and will probably upgrade at some point, but after plunking so much down for the car, I need to wait. The only complaints I really have is how hard it is to balance the sound stage and the bass, etc. It is very hard to move those darn icons while driving. It would be so nice if they had a +/- 1 for each of the settings so I could tap them, rather than trying to drag them up and down and sideways while trying to drive. It's hard to do.

And I do find the only use for the Dolby is if I have a full car, I center all settings, turn that on and it seems to be more pleasant for the passengers. I have heard so much better implementations of Dolby in other cars. They really could do so much better and I am actually surprised that Dolby approved this implementation. And I think it is only programming and CODECs, which Elon did recently mention. So maybe we will see an improvement here.

It's hard to balance, but once gotten right, it sounds pretty good. Especially with a beer in the garage, cranked up!

 

[ChrsiH314]

I'd like to see the drive/reverse/neutral/park gearstick in a more usual place, i.e. vertical and in the middle console. Ideally I'd like to see a reduced-power drive setting so there's no risk of launching the thing at 100km/h with the slip of a foot, a full power drive setting ... and insane mode selected by flipping a red cap on the top of the lever and pressing a button