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First time Tesla owner's initial impressions. Ordering, delivery, driving.

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First EV owner here. I am one of those guys who kept saying "I will be the last guy to buy an EV". I am (was) a piston head kind of guy who loves V8s, and somewhat high end cars. But I really like everything with wheels on. I just wanted to share my subjective feelings about the purchasing experience and the vehicle.

012789D4-F2F0-4494-9FD6-D49FF89FA732.jpeg


Purchase Experience:

It reminded me of buying a Mac or an iPhone. They are definitely going for the look and feel of Apple. Since we are Apple users, it felt familiar.

Pros:
- No negotiations. Also no price hike due to COVID by the dealership, since there is no dealership.
- Online signing through the app.
- Nobody is trying to sell you tire protection or other add on junk products at delivery.

Cons:
- It was not obvious to me that you do not need to apply for financing when ordering. I felt that was needed for the order to move to the next step. Actually, the credit approval is only good for 90 days. Therefore, if you order something that is a few months out, you should select cash to avoid a credit inquiry. Tesla should not even allow you to apply IMHO. Cash can be changed top lease or financing later, so you can apply once within the 90 days window. Since we ended up with multiple orders, and multiple approvals, Tesla's Finance department started question why I have applied for multiple vehicles and this last order almost got denied, even though my credit or income was not an issue.
- Your "sales advisor", or should I say "sales contact", is not much of a help. Mine was not. When we started to run into issues with the above he had no idea what to do, and provided bad information. He finally just stopped talking to me. This was a senior advisor too who is in charge of a demo location.

Delivery:

Pros:
- Everything through the app. All the paperwork, the payment, the signing. Great!

Cons:
- $100k car, $5 treatment. This is not the most expensive car I have bought. But you do expect a bit of attention especially with a very techie car like this. I didn't need any VIP treatment. All I wanted was to get me going with the app and the key cards. Maybe a 10 min orientation. She told me to watch videos. Literarily, she told me to just go and do that on my phone. Meanwhile there were maybe two other customers there. What if an elder couple picks up a car?
- They would not allow me inside the car until I unlocked it, which meant I had to accept delivery. How do you inspect the inside for defects? You don't.
- Car's tire pressure was all over the place to the point that it pulled to the left when accelerating. The windshield was not cleaned from the inside either.
- I went into the service department to buy a 14-50 adapter, and it looked like a very unorganized place. The advisors were sitting in a huge hangar like structure with open doors, without AC, right next to the cars. This in FL. Must be fun during August.

FB2A6A58-77CC-4C2E-B47B-6AE45F4446BD.jpeg


The Car:

This Model S LR replaced a 2019 BMW M5 Competition. So I am comparing it to that.

Pros:
- First and foremost, I have no build issues except a tiny 2mm misalignment on the door trim where it connects into the main console. Reading others having the same experience, maybe Tesla did up the game by 2022.
- To me, this is the best looking EV at the moment. Only the rear lights are a bit dated with the white red pattern. I feel a solid red color would provide a cleaner look.
- Excellent cornering due to the low CG, and yet it is also a smooth ride. I have no idea how that is even possible. M5 was a somewhat rough ride. Definitely worse than this yet I don't feel the Model S has worse handling. The vehicle feels light to me, when I know it is heavy. Btw, great tire choice. I love the Michelins. You do go though them quick (10k on FL roads) but they are quiet and they stick.
- The availability of instant power and torque is a game changer. In 0-60 the S LR is comparable to the M5 but there is no delay and that makes it feel faster.
- All the gadgets and tech is very nice if you like gadgets. I do. This would be a huge list so I won't get into the details but the things I really dig are: Instrument cluster shows traffic in blind sports, and other cars around me. Garage opens when arriving. I have a TV in the car and "free" AC when I sit and wait. The streaming service is great for news channels that I had no access to otherwise. Basic autopilot works very well. Much better than on my previous BMWs. (I have FSD but I have not tried it. I will never qualify for beta.) Green traffic light alert is awesome. Many more...
- The low air resistance has a nice side effect of not having wind noise either.
- More interior space than the M5. More storage space in the cabin and in the trunk. More rear seat leg room but the rear seats do have a bad angle.
- Frunk... yay. Though it is a bit finicky to close.
- Finally someone got the seat ventilation right. On the BMW you could barely feel it. On other cars it is usually too cold or too loud even on low. This is quiet and perfect on low setting.
- The glass roof is great but you can't adjust how much light it allows through. It would be nice to be able to make it brighter. MB has that option.
- The yoke is fine. I got used to it within days. Now I prefer it over the wheel for looks. It is a tiny bit too big but the size allows for a very comfortable hand and elbow position. The steering ratio should be a bit higher or maybe adjustable. Personal preference.
- My actual range available is around 280 miles. My commute is 90 miles (round trip), which is way more than what most drivers do daily. If I charge to 80%, I can do two days. If I would forget to charge one night, I would still be fine. If this works for me, it will work for 90% of the population. Not to mention fast chargers are becoming available more and more.
- Leaving with a "tank" 80% full every morning is great.

015692C3-F327-490B-8EFE-F3BF93F110D6.jpeg


Cons:
- The interior quality is good but not at the level of a 100k vehicle. Especially the fake wood inserts are kind of cheap looking. Is plastic really that much more environmental friendly than a bit of real wood? Just drop the wood look and go for something else. The vegan leather is totally fine though. It looks and feels great.
- The AC goes nuts once in a while. If I go from 73F to 74F it sometimes goes into heating mode when outside air temperature is close to the selected temperature.
- No in car Wifi.
- No top down parking view.
- Lights do not turn into the direction of the turn. Again, $100k car.
- No soft close doors. Probably weight saving. It is fine, but it is hard to go back once you had them. I am always applying too little force and thus I have to shut the door twice most the time. I will get used to it.
- No HUD, though not a big negative since with the yoke the instrument cluster almost feels like I have a HUD. But it would be great if Tesla would make a nice HUD like the new Mercedes EQS.
- Current lights are just ok. They are not bad but definitely behind industry average. I guess that is just about to change with the matrix lights.
- Buckling up your little ones in the rear is a project even with a booster seat. I could not even put in my proper child seats so far. I am waiting for an extension.
- My 4 years old said the rear screen is too small LOL. I think it is fine, but the iPad is there to stay.
- The horn on the yoke is a button. Seriously?
- The range does not really adjust to current driving dynamics. You learn to take X percentage off of it and thus it works. It is also consistent. But it should learn your driving habits. I think this is a bit of a marketing choice and to help with anxiety. No big deal really.

Granted this is still honeymoon times, but my initial impression is: I can't wait for the other S to arrive so I don't have to share the car with my wife. :)) At the moment our other car is a fully loaded 2021 GMC Sierra 2500HD with a 6.6 diesel. Talking about opposites. The GMC is a great truck. So far I never had second thoughts when paying at the pump. I guess you just get used to getting ripped off and ignore it. But yesterday, firs time in weeks I had to fill the tank. I paid $115. The first time in my life it really sunk in that I just threw $115 through the window. Needless to say, we are parking the truck as much as we can until the second S is here.
 
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The M5 was a great car and it worked great for us when we had a 750 and the M5. We did European Delivery with them and picked up both in Munich at the factory. They were great. The 7 was the family car and the M5 was used lightly. The M was a beauty. Marina Bay blue with carbon and white leather inside. But when the lease was up on the 7, as much as we liked it, we did not get another. Mostly the new design is what put us off. The huge grill, iDrive 6, etc. I have been driving BMWs since I was 17. I think I had over 20 of them. But BMW's design took a turn that I simply hate. Not just exterior and interior, but also how the vehicle feels. It was time to look into other brands. The resale value was good on the M due to covid, and the mileage was rapidly increasing on it, so it was time to let it go.
Totally agree with your comment on BMW design direction. Why they have decided to follow the pickup truck giant grill buffoonery is completely silly. I have had 5 M cars, enjoyed them all, but electric is the future, so why not give it a try. Love it so far, especially with fuel at near $5.50 a gallon here in SoCal
 
Totally agree with your comment on BMW design direction. Why they have decided to follow the pickup truck giant grill buffoonery is completely silly. I have had 5 M cars, enjoyed them all, but electric is the future, so why not give it a try. Love it so far, especially with fuel at near $5.50 a gallon here in SoCal

I read this thinking wow, that’s pretty much how I would sum it up. We went from a bmw 750 and M6 to Tesla X and S.
I did not mean to turn this into an anti BMW thread but pretty much all my friends who drove BMWs switched the past few years for these reasons. I was the last one standing.

Great review. I'm reading your review and felt like I went through the same experience you went. Hopefully we didnt go to the same dealership. I love my Tesla but my sale advisor was sorry and useless, I I wasn't impress with delivery day but watching a few videos on youtube about delivery day had me prepare. With all that said, I didn't think driving a tesla can be that much fun, espcially driving in Miami. I higly recommend you get the PFF protection, it will make driving your car more fun...
It was the West Palm Beach service center on Okechobee. As far as PFF I did lease this one. I get better tax deduction that way from my LLC but the next S will be a finance. PFF looks really great but it is so darn expensive. $8k for the whole car if I am not mistaken. I don't know if it is worth it unless you really keep the car for a very long time. I mean 3-4k would be fine but 8?
 
BMW fan here, also first EV owner.
Still have my '19 M2 and '13 335i and i do agree about the new BMW design, not for me anymore either.
We sold our G20 BMW for the M3LR and never regret it. I've never really felt any connection with the new BMWs weather exterior design or in driving, I feel happier driving the model 3 for some reason.
Only thing though, the M3LR decided to retire its front motor at 500 miles on the odometer and had to get towed to the service center.
It's been 9 days and still no word when we'll get her back. We got a loaner though.
 
@Huncowboy thx for your review!
Would you mind saying what Tesla location you picked up your Model S?

(I might want to change my delivery location. I have heard of plenty of locations that allow the customer to inspect the vehicle inside and out before accepting.)

I think it’s only fair to inspect inside before accepting. In my case I can afford to go do an inspection and come back in two weeks if necessary, BUT it would be a supreme difficulty to set up potentially multiple service visits.
 
First EV owner here. I am one of those guys who kept saying "I will be the last guy to buy an EV". I am (was) a piston head kind of guy who loves V8s, and somewhat high end cars. But I really like everything with wheels on. I just wanted to share my subjective feelings about the purchasing experience and the vehicle.

View attachment 776097

Purchase Experience:

It reminded me of buying a Mac or an iPhone. They are definitely going for the look and feel of Apple. Since we are Apple users, it felt familiar.

Pros:
- No negotiations. Also no price hike due to COVID by the dealership, since there is no dealership.
- Online signing through the app.
- Nobody is trying to sell you tire protection or other add on junk products at delivery.

Cons:
- It was not obvious to me that you do not need to apply for financing when ordering. I felt that was needed for the order to move to the next step. Actually, the credit approval is only good for 90 days. Therefore, if you order something that is a few months out, you should select cash to avoid a credit inquiry. Tesla should not even allow you to apply IMHO. Cash can be changed top lease or financing later, so you can apply once within the 90 days window. Since we ended up with multiple orders, and multiple approvals, Tesla's Finance department started question why I have applied for multiple vehicles and this last order almost got denied, even though my credit or income was not an issue.
- Your "sales advisor", or should I say "sales contact", is not much of a help. Mine was not. When we started to run into issues with the above he had no idea what to do, and provided bad information. He finally just stopped talking to me. This was a senior advisor too who is in charge of a demo location.

Delivery:

Pros:
- Everything through the app. All the paperwork, the payment, the signing. Great!

Cons:
- $100k car, $5 treatment. This is not the most expensive car I have bought. But you do expect a bit of attention especially with a very techie car like this. I didn't need any VIP treatment. All I wanted was to get me going with the app and the key cards. Maybe a 10 min orientation. She told me to watch videos. Literarily, she told me to just go and do that on my phone. Meanwhile there were maybe two other customers there. What if an elder couple picks up a car?
- They would not allow me inside the car until I unlocked it, which meant I had to accept delivery. How do you inspect the inside for defects? You don't.
- Car's tire pressure was all over the place to the point that it pulled to the left when accelerating. The windshield was not cleaned from the inside either.
- I went into the service department to buy a 14-50 adapter, and it looked like a very unorganized place. The advisors were sitting in a huge hangar like structure with open doors, without AC, right next to the cars. This in FL. Must be fun during August.

View attachment 776098

The Car:

This Model S LR replaced a 2019 BMW M5 Competition. So I am comparing it to that.

Pros:
- First and foremost, I have no build issues except a tiny 2mm misalignment on the door trim where it connects into the main console. Reading others having the same experience, maybe Tesla did up the game by 2022.
- To me, this is the best looking EV at the moment. Only the rear lights are a bit dated with the white red pattern. I feel a solid red color would provide a cleaner look.
- Excellent cornering due to the low CG, and yet it is also a smooth ride. I have no idea how that is even possible. M5 was a somewhat rough ride. Definitely worse than this yet I don't feel the Model S has worse handling. The vehicle feels light to me, when I know it is heavy. Btw, great tire choice. I love the Michelins. You do go though them quick (10k on FL roads) but they are quiet and they stick.
- The availability of instant power and torque is a game changer. In 0-60 the S LR is comparable to the M5 but there is no delay and that makes it feel faster.
- All the gadgets and tech is very nice if you like gadgets. I do. This would be a huge list so I won't get into the details but the things I really dig are: Instrument cluster shows traffic in blind sports, and other cars around me. Garage opens when arriving. I have a TV in the car and "free" AC when I sit and wait. The streaming service is great for news channels that I had no access to otherwise. Basic autopilot works very well. Much better than on my previous BMWs. (I have FSD but I have not tried it. I will never qualify for beta.) Green traffic light alert is awesome. Many more...
- The low air resistance has a nice side effect of not having wind noise either.
- More interior space than the M5. More storage space in the cabin and in the trunk. More rear seat leg room but the rear seats do have a bad angle.
- Frunk... yay. Though it is a bit finicky to close.
- Finally someone got the seat ventilation right. On the BMW you could barely feel it. On other cars it is usually too cold or too loud even on low. This is quiet and perfect on low setting.
- The glass roof is great but you can't adjust how much light it allows through. It would be nice to be able to make it brighter. MB has that option.
- The yoke is fine. I got used to it within days. Now I prefer it over the wheel for looks. It is a tiny bit too big but the size allows for a very comfortable hand and elbow position. The steering ratio should be a bit higher or maybe adjustable. Personal preference.
- My actual range available is around 280 miles. My commute is 90 miles (round trip), which is way more than what most drivers do daily. If I charge to 80%, I can do two days. If I would forget to charge one night, I would still be fine. If this works for me, it will work for 90% of the population. Not to mention fast chargers are becoming available more and more.
- Leaving with a "tank" 80% full every morning is great.

View attachment 776102

Cons:
- The interior quality is good but not at the level of a 100k vehicle. Especially the fake wood inserts are kind of cheap looking. Is plastic really that much more environmental friendly than a bit of real wood? Just drop the wood look and go for something else. The vegan leather is totally fine though. It looks and feels great.
- The AC goes nuts once in a while. If I go from 73F to 74F it sometimes goes into heating mode when outside air temperature is close to the selected temperature.
- No in car Wifi.
- No top down parking view.
- Lights do not turn into the direction of the turn. Again, $100k car.
- No soft close doors. Probably weight saving. It is fine, but it is hard to go back once you had them. I am always applying too little force and thus I have to shut the door twice most the time. I will get used to it.
- No HUD, though not a big negative since with the yoke the instrument cluster almost feels like I have a HUD. But it would be great if Tesla would make a nice HUD like the new Mercedes EQS.
- Current lights are just ok. They are not bad but definitely behind industry average. I guess that is just about to change with the matrix lights.
- Buckling up your little ones in the rear is a project even with a booster seat. I could not even put in my proper child seats so far. I am waiting for an extension.
- My 4 years old said the rear screen is too small LOL. I think it is fine, but the iPad is there to stay.
- The horn on the yoke is a button. Seriously?
- The range does not really adjust to current driving dynamics. You learn to take X percentage off of it and thus it works. It is also consistent. But it should learn your driving habits. I think this is a bit of a marketing choice and to help with anxiety. No big deal really.

Granted this is still honeymoon times, but my initial impression is: I can't wait for the other S to arrive so I don't have to share the car with my wife. :)) At the moment our other car is a fully loaded 2021 GMC Sierra 2500HD with a 6.6 diesel. Talking about opposites. The GMC is a great truck. So far I never had second thoughts when paying at the pump. I guess you just get used to getting ripped off and ignore it. But yesterday, firs time in weeks I had to fill the tank. I paid $115. The first time in my life it really sunk in that I just threw $115 through the window. Needless to say, we are parking the truck as much as we can until the second S is here.
Love your last point and have noticed the same thing as well. I get on average 327 Wh/mi, curious to hear what yours is
 
@Huncowboy thx for your review!
Would you mind saying what Tesla location you picked up your Model S?

(I might want to change my delivery location. I have heard of plenty of locations that allow the customer to inspect the vehicle inside and out before accepting.)

I think it’s only fair to inspect inside before accepting. In my case I can afford to go do an inspection and come back in two weeks if necessary, BUT it would be a supreme difficulty to set up potentially multiple service visits.
It was palm beach on Okeechobee road.
 
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Reactions: KidsEyeDr
I am looking to get a 2022 Tesla S LR and these forums helps me out with my decision, thank you all who contributed into the informations. This will be my first EV experience and looked into all other EV's in the upcoming market for '22&'23, Tesla S LR won the competition . I need the cargo space to haul my fragile equipments ( scopes, mounts etc.) and the ease of SC locations during long trips plus the fact I don't have to service my current car (Range Rover Velar) once a year whether you have driven 4,000 or 20,000 miles plus paying the latest high test fuel prices and not having enough cargo space sealed the deal for me.
 
I am looking to get a 2022 Tesla S LR and these forums helps me out with my decision, thank you all who contributed into the informations. This will be my first EV experience and looked into all other EV's in the upcoming market for '22&'23, Tesla S LR won the competition . I need the cargo space to haul my fragile equipments ( scopes, mounts etc.) and the ease of SC locations during long trips plus the fact I don't have to service my current car (Range Rover Velar) once a year whether you have driven 4,000 or 20,000 miles plus paying the latest high test fuel prices and not having enough cargo space sealed the deal for me.
Welcome to the forum! You’ll find lots of useful folks and references here.

Have you ordered yet?
 
I haven't ordered it yet, last time I've looked at order time it was between Nov. to Feb.23. Searching around to see what's available and how long ago people placed their order to the time when they received is rather long, I'm looking towards finding one for sale with minimal mileage with black interior. My little terrier is way too fond of finding dirt, mud or anything that can coat his fur with filth then climbing into the car. S model owners seems to prefer white interior so my search continues.