First NZ Model S

[SteveWest]

Do you still own an ICE?

Yes, two hybrids: Toyota Estima and Lexus GS450h.

 

[Dborn]

What are you doing about the battery while it is in transit? Up to 6 weeks without charging. My guess is that when the factory ships the cars out, the battery is disconnected, and a major part of predelivery is hooking everything up.

 

[cynix]

What are you doing about the battery while it is in transit? Up to 6 weeks without charging. My guess is that when the factory ships the cars out, the battery is disconnected, and a major part of predelivery is hooking everything up.

Surely a full battery can last more than 6 weeks in energy saving mode?

 

[sublimaze1]

Surely a full battery can last more than 6 weeks in energy saving mode?

I know that in non-saving mode, I am losing about 2 miles range per day. In savings, maybe 5 a week +/- .... you should be fine.

Side note ... if there is any connectivity at all (wifi, network where the ship ports) simply ping your car. That will fire things up for 20 minutes.

 

[SteveWest]

The current firmware has an option to reduce the vampire load to about 1 mile of range loss per day, at the cost of a slower wakeup from sleep. I left the car with 218 km of "typical range" (a little over half full).

 

[cynix]

The current firmware has an option to reduce the vampire load to about 1 mile of range loss per day

Is this still true if the car cannot get a 3G connection? For example, you will often see increased power usage (and hence decreased battery life) on mobile phones when they're out of range, as they try to use more power to seek for a signal. I wonder if the car will wake up more often or stay up for longer while attempting to establish connection?

 

[SteveWest]

I'm told the Model S is smart enough to realise it has no comms, and stops trying, presumably to save even more power.

BTW, here's some footage from my visit to Amsterdam:

 

[DavidRM]

Great adventure Steve, and good luck on the trip back.

The Oz Sigs have been delayed for at least 7 weeks by our acceptance of an offer to have the new Driver/Camera/Lane Departure/ Parking hardware, so I think it may be close run thing but probably you will get on the road first. And if you didn't get lane departure warning, it doesn't matter. in NZ there's so little traffic you can drive down the middle of the road, right?

 

[SteveWest]

Here we go again

 

[TesAus]

Here we go againView attachment 61325

You must be a glutton for punishment!

 

[Sluggabed]

Congrats again SW. Out of curiosity what made you choose the Netherlands(?) for purchase? Delivery time, cost or bit of both or other?

 

[SteveWest]

Congrats again SW. Out of curiosity what made you choose the Netherlands(?) for purchase? Delivery time, cost or bit of both or other?

When I found out (a) no deliveries to NZ and (b) no 3rd row to Australia, I requested a UK reservation instead. It was at the suggestion of Tesla EU HQ that I took delivery in Tilburg with VAT-free EU pricing. Curious to know if this order will go through, as I heard the loophole had since been closed.

 

[Jmac]

Congratulations Steve - Thats the way to do it - awesome combination too!! - enjoy - JMAC

 

[koruki]

awesome, I'm a bit late to the party but hope to be seeing this driving on Grey's ave like I've seen the Roadster?

 

[tdelta1000]

congratulations!

 

[SteveWest]

Half way, 19 days to go!

 

[Higgy]

I think you will win. If your Customs are good I think you will have the first consumer owned Model S in the southern hemisphere!

From a very boring airport lounge.......

 

[SteveWest]

Bummer, my ship was late in to Singapore so my container probably missed its connection to Auckland. Looking at arriving 1 week later, on November 9.

 

[Mark E]

Bummer, my ship was late in to Singapore so my container probably missed its connection to Auckland. Looking at arriving 1 week later, on November 9.

What prep did you need to do to the car for the trip? I'd assume that you'll have to arrange a local NZ sim install once it gets to you - and that it's off the air now.

 

[Canuck]

Congratulations Steve. My wife is from NZ and I've been there a number of times. It's a great country and I look forward to spending the summers there (during our winters) in my retirement. My brother-in-laws had never heard of Tesla when I recently got mine -- so you've got some educating to do!