I picked up my Model X late Wednesday the 30th at the factory. The idea was to repeat what I did three years ago when I also picked up my Model S from the factory, did a factory tour and immediately drove it about 500 miles back to San Diego.
This time around, I arrived 1/2 hour late for the tour(!), and initially they said sorry, too late for the tour. They then looked at their screen, saw that I was an early Model S buyer, Model X sig owner, and were kind enough to give me a private tour! Nothing special, same stuff everyone else gets, just talking faster in a golf cart.
The tour has changed a bit in three years! Back then we got to walk around, on catwalks, take our time. The tour now, you are in a long electric cart bus and you are driven to a few areas. My tour time was 4pm, in between shift changes, so the factory was idle. Ugh. Boring. Three years ago I got to see all the robots and workers operating.
I started the trip at 6pm and rolled into the house at 3:30am. Needless to say, I was a bit tired at the end. Autopilot saved me. Except for a stretch of 5 freeway through downtown Los Angeles which is under perpetual construction, autopilot drove all the way on the highways and freeways. It takes a lot less energy and you get a lot less tired driving with autopilot than you do normally. Very, very impressive, and massively useful.
Compared to my original 3 year old P85 Model S, the Model X has a tighter suspension. It rides stiffer (slight negative), but handles cornering much better. No floaty feel that I would sometime get on my Model S. Combined with the way more comfortable seats, the Model X is a nicer ride.
The windshield makes you feel like you're in a helicopter bubble. Just wild. However, I'm not sure about it yet. I haven't had much time during the day with it, and even so, we only have the winter sun right now. How will it work with the blaring hot summer sun? I suspect I'll get a heat rejecting "clear" windshield tint added for extra sun protection. I put that on my Model S and feel that it makes a difference. I have more headroom in the Model X compared to the Model S.
The third row seats work well for kids and small adults. I've got longish legs and felt cramped back there. There is good headroom though.
The P90D Model X (without ludicrous) feels like it has more pep and acceleration than my P85. And unlike loaner P90D Model S cars that I've driven, you can barely hear the front motor in the Model X.
At one point in my journey, a car in front of me had some sort of exhaust issue and billowed out a huge, and I mean huge, cloud of noxious crap which I drove right through. In a normal car, I would have breathed that crap for miles. With the Model X, even without bio weapon mode on, I could barely smell it.
I was worried about the front row central console in the Model X. My model S doesn't have anything and I appreciate the empty space to hold my iPad, hat, and assorted crap. But I think the Model X console will work for me.
The frunk is quite a bit smaller than my original Model S. And no, it cannot hold a golf bag. A standard length driver just just fits across it. This is offset by the deeper storage well and higher overall storage in the back. Also, you really could fit duffle bags under the second row seats if you needed to pack things in.
Overall, I'm quite happy with my Model X. I need the 7 seats for the kid's team pickups, I like the better ride, the higher driving height, the amazing autopilot, the refined power, etc. The only real negative is the second row seats. They take too long to move in and out of position for third row access, and, of course, they don't fold flat. But overall, I'm thrilled!
This time around, I arrived 1/2 hour late for the tour(!), and initially they said sorry, too late for the tour. They then looked at their screen, saw that I was an early Model S buyer, Model X sig owner, and were kind enough to give me a private tour! Nothing special, same stuff everyone else gets, just talking faster in a golf cart.
The tour has changed a bit in three years! Back then we got to walk around, on catwalks, take our time. The tour now, you are in a long electric cart bus and you are driven to a few areas. My tour time was 4pm, in between shift changes, so the factory was idle. Ugh. Boring. Three years ago I got to see all the robots and workers operating.
I started the trip at 6pm and rolled into the house at 3:30am. Needless to say, I was a bit tired at the end. Autopilot saved me. Except for a stretch of 5 freeway through downtown Los Angeles which is under perpetual construction, autopilot drove all the way on the highways and freeways. It takes a lot less energy and you get a lot less tired driving with autopilot than you do normally. Very, very impressive, and massively useful.
Compared to my original 3 year old P85 Model S, the Model X has a tighter suspension. It rides stiffer (slight negative), but handles cornering much better. No floaty feel that I would sometime get on my Model S. Combined with the way more comfortable seats, the Model X is a nicer ride.
The windshield makes you feel like you're in a helicopter bubble. Just wild. However, I'm not sure about it yet. I haven't had much time during the day with it, and even so, we only have the winter sun right now. How will it work with the blaring hot summer sun? I suspect I'll get a heat rejecting "clear" windshield tint added for extra sun protection. I put that on my Model S and feel that it makes a difference. I have more headroom in the Model X compared to the Model S.
The third row seats work well for kids and small adults. I've got longish legs and felt cramped back there. There is good headroom though.
The P90D Model X (without ludicrous) feels like it has more pep and acceleration than my P85. And unlike loaner P90D Model S cars that I've driven, you can barely hear the front motor in the Model X.
At one point in my journey, a car in front of me had some sort of exhaust issue and billowed out a huge, and I mean huge, cloud of noxious crap which I drove right through. In a normal car, I would have breathed that crap for miles. With the Model X, even without bio weapon mode on, I could barely smell it.
I was worried about the front row central console in the Model X. My model S doesn't have anything and I appreciate the empty space to hold my iPad, hat, and assorted crap. But I think the Model X console will work for me.
The frunk is quite a bit smaller than my original Model S. And no, it cannot hold a golf bag. A standard length driver just just fits across it. This is offset by the deeper storage well and higher overall storage in the back. Also, you really could fit duffle bags under the second row seats if you needed to pack things in.
Overall, I'm quite happy with my Model X. I need the 7 seats for the kid's team pickups, I like the better ride, the higher driving height, the amazing autopilot, the refined power, etc. The only real negative is the second row seats. They take too long to move in and out of position for third row access, and, of course, they don't fold flat. But overall, I'm thrilled!
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