Advice from prior test drives:
When the Tesla co-pilot says punch it, punch it. Don't wussy foot it. Floor it.
Caveat: Make sure there isn't a car in front of you.
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When the Tesla co-pilot says punch it, punch it. Don't wussy foot it. Floor it.
Caveat: Make sure there isn't a car in front of you.
Johann Koeber
Happy Owner
I test drove on Friday, then rushed to Rome on business. So here is my input:
The car was a joy to drive. I expected a lot of issues about the interior, I found it held up good. Quality is good - I am happy.
Unfortunately the road was wet and somewhat slippery. When I accelerated the wheels slipped slightly. Then TC set in and stabilized the car. No Angst at any time. Just shows me that the power of the car was never limited by the motor, but rather by the friction the winter tires could put on the road. My roadster stabilizes earlier - I have never noticed the wheels slip - the TC always kicked in before that happening.
All test drive models had the 19´ winter tires. The displayed Sig red had the 21´ wheels, but they are not legal to drive under the weather conditions.
I did not try out any of the software aka the big screen for lack of seat time. The display was good to read all the time, non glare and brightness was adjustable.
The seats were more comfy than expected. I am not a racing driver so they offer enough support for me.
There was plenty of very friendly staff at the event. We got to ask any questions we wanted. My impression was, however, that the answers to the hot ones (charging, availability, upgrades, moving EU headquarters away from UK) are to be taken with a grain of salt.
No cancellations due to test ride - so far, everybody happy.
Great car, great driving experience. Need for more time to really test the car before finalizing.
The car was a joy to drive. I expected a lot of issues about the interior, I found it held up good. Quality is good - I am happy.
Unfortunately the road was wet and somewhat slippery. When I accelerated the wheels slipped slightly. Then TC set in and stabilized the car. No Angst at any time. Just shows me that the power of the car was never limited by the motor, but rather by the friction the winter tires could put on the road. My roadster stabilizes earlier - I have never noticed the wheels slip - the TC always kicked in before that happening.
All test drive models had the 19´ winter tires. The displayed Sig red had the 21´ wheels, but they are not legal to drive under the weather conditions.
I did not try out any of the software aka the big screen for lack of seat time. The display was good to read all the time, non glare and brightness was adjustable.
The seats were more comfy than expected. I am not a racing driver so they offer enough support for me.
There was plenty of very friendly staff at the event. We got to ask any questions we wanted. My impression was, however, that the answers to the hot ones (charging, availability, upgrades, moving EU headquarters away from UK) are to be taken with a grain of salt.
No cancellations due to test ride - so far, everybody happy.
Great car, great driving experience. Need for more time to really test the car before finalizing.
EV_de
Model SP10/XP9 EU ZOE#47
.. really ? fortunately the road was almost dry when I drove ( it starts snowing, after my tesdrive ), but i was a bit
suprised / afraid that the car lift of the Frontwheels during excessive accelleration ...
I tryed carfully to steer , but it felt like lost tracktion on the Frontwheels...
Thought the AirSuspension self Leveling will work against this behavior, ...
I warned my passengers before I punched it. Holy c**p! was what I said next.
It was like if the front wheels tried to lift from the tarmac. Feeling wobbly as the car seemed to fight for control of all that power. That was in a Perf with 19" winter tires, anyway. I refrained from exploring the cornering limits, since it was a narrow road with trenches along, separating us from the snowy Bavarian country side. I'd rather take the car to an empty parking lot or a track, have a racing instructor next to me, and no passengers in the car.
All nice driving, fine interior and front seats, excellent touch screen. Never distracting - I usually miss red lights when using a navigon. :redface:
I agree that pictures don't do justice to Model S exterior. It is a big car, but the curved lines change the car's appearance in a most intriguing way as you walk around the vehicle.
Rear trunk volume is astonishing and the frunk provides some useful volume, too.
The big let down is 2nd row seats. Tesla designed the car for crash test dummies there, not for human beings. Severe lack of head room for me - I would bang my brains into the pano roof frame all the time. Headrests are not adjustable, merely for decoration :cursing:. Real pax bring some stuff along to stow away, want to place a bottle somewhere, plug in their phone - why did they drop the rear USB ports? egress/ingress is impeded by the low roof line.
Middle seat is OK i am 186cm I figure that's 6in1 just that there is no working headrest. The leg position was fine, in contrast.
I don't see how this car is working for us as a family of 5, at some occasion accompanied by 2 adults (e.g. friends, grand parents). Taking care of the 3rd row passengers will be really hard from the 2nd row, as my wife judged. Not that there were any child seats installed, it is just damn hard to do the tiniest move in a fully occupied 2nd row. :frown: Need more room in the back - perhaps Model X?
New official information (via a presentation) that I gathered and find worthy to report here:
- 5 service centers planned for Germany (D, HH, F, S, M) along with 2 additional stores (HH, F)
- signature deliveries start end of spring, general production start mid-end of summer
verbatim information so take with a grain of salt
- the EU charge port will accept the Mennekes type 2 plug. Due to increased size, the ring of LEDs has to make way. They will be moved to a different position.
- child seats are subject of EU homologation. Tesla staff was astonished to hear that deliveries have begin in U.S.
- Tesla will analyze development of the market and then decide when and where to start erecting super chargers.
cheers
Volker
Edit: "Driven by hunger, a fox tried to reach some grapes hanging high on the vine but was unable to, although he leaped with all his strength. As he went away, the fox remarked, 'Oh, you aren't even ripe yet! I don't need any sour grapes.' " - Aesop
Uhm and I haven't even the brains of a fox :biggrin:
It was like if the front wheels tried to lift from the tarmac. Feeling wobbly as the car seemed to fight for control of all that power. That was in a Perf with 19" winter tires, anyway. I refrained from exploring the cornering limits, since it was a narrow road with trenches along, separating us from the snowy Bavarian country side. I'd rather take the car to an empty parking lot or a track, have a racing instructor next to me, and no passengers in the car.
All nice driving, fine interior and front seats, excellent touch screen. Never distracting - I usually miss red lights when using a navigon. :redface:
I agree that pictures don't do justice to Model S exterior. It is a big car, but the curved lines change the car's appearance in a most intriguing way as you walk around the vehicle.
Rear trunk volume is astonishing and the frunk provides some useful volume, too.
The big let down is 2nd row seats. Tesla designed the car for crash test dummies there, not for human beings. Severe lack of head room for me - I would bang my brains into the pano roof frame all the time. Headrests are not adjustable, merely for decoration :cursing:. Real pax bring some stuff along to stow away, want to place a bottle somewhere, plug in their phone - why did they drop the rear USB ports? egress/ingress is impeded by the low roof line.
Middle seat is OK i am 186cm I figure that's 6in1 just that there is no working headrest. The leg position was fine, in contrast.
I don't see how this car is working for us as a family of 5, at some occasion accompanied by 2 adults (e.g. friends, grand parents). Taking care of the 3rd row passengers will be really hard from the 2nd row, as my wife judged. Not that there were any child seats installed, it is just damn hard to do the tiniest move in a fully occupied 2nd row. :frown: Need more room in the back - perhaps Model X?
New official information (via a presentation) that I gathered and find worthy to report here:
- 5 service centers planned for Germany (D, HH, F, S, M) along with 2 additional stores (HH, F)
- signature deliveries start end of spring, general production start mid-end of summer
verbatim information so take with a grain of salt
- the EU charge port will accept the Mennekes type 2 plug. Due to increased size, the ring of LEDs has to make way. They will be moved to a different position.
- child seats are subject of EU homologation. Tesla staff was astonished to hear that deliveries have begin in U.S.
- Tesla will analyze development of the market and then decide when and where to start erecting super chargers.
cheers
Volker
Edit: "Driven by hunger, a fox tried to reach some grapes hanging high on the vine but was unable to, although he leaped with all his strength. As he went away, the fox remarked, 'Oh, you aren't even ripe yet! I don't need any sour grapes.' " - Aesop
Uhm and I haven't even the brains of a fox :biggrin:
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So happy to see long-term Tesla followers finally get behind the wheel.
This never gets old.
Got amped today!
I'm going to upload photos and probably the test drive video in the upcoming days.
Personal notes on cars, staff and event:
Staff were nice altogether - even tried to satisfy me by translating most of the info to me as the only one there without sufficient german knowledge at the presentation -.
However there were no other news there what a Tesla follower shouldn't already know.
They answered differently for couple of my questions: e.g. some said those 3 performance cars already EU version, however they were not.
Product specialist miss H.H. confirmed there is no info when or where there will be supercharges ~"it was mentioned there will be in europe as well".
New infos for me:
- EU it is your time to finalise option letters coming in weeks.
- There will be a new web page section for financial she said.
- Charging port gets bigger slightly.
- There will be a back fog light installed(EU must have).
Car impression:
+++ Had FUN with the drive, was able to spin the winter tires on almost dry surface coming out of the first roundabout before traction control stopped them. Car was shaking slightly adrenalin pumped, my foot was on the floor. I need to drive this beast on a trackday.
Front of the car did start to take off like an airplane.
EV_de might have the point, that it should be handled nicer, I only steered a little to keep car inside the lane as there was heavy opposite traffic on the tiny road.
Started in sporty steer mode, won't ever turn this to any other(until hard sport one appears).
It feels like in between a Volvo c30 (slightly more connected to the road) and BMW 3 (imo softer than my actual).
Regenerative braking: two modes, softer mode i won't use, it feels like around or less than what my actual manual transmission gives. Harder: i liked, it saves energy and brake pad wear.
- Back row (as a -small volume- investor i probably shouldn't point this out) this is for kids only. No i don't mean 3. row actually i mean 2.
I'm 182cm and was able to touch the top of the car with my head when i slightly pushed my head backwards in back seat. Getting in and out to the back is at least as tricky as getting into my much smaller BMW 3 e46 sedan. Had three mates in the back row, both of the two sitting at the sides did mention their head hit the side of the car top(170,180cm).
Tesla designers: I do really like the huge trunk, but please watch for 2.row space as well!
- Don't like the mercedes cruise control touched it 2 times accidentally when i wanted to turn and use the signal one. Hope there will be option to program it to the right buttons on the steering wheel, saw some custom menu there.(it feels very comfy there operated with 1 thumb on mine).
US style 'gear shifter'? the one with P-D... modes on the right of the wheel, would you please change that to a 'shifter' at the center just like most EU automatic cars. Felt like the old days with a Wartburg.
- I missed slalom ride option, and a short 'autobahn' ride. (don't tell anyone but saw 150km/h+ on the gauge when the guy said you can test here)
Still reservation holder.
Might consider cancel at the time of invite, but that's an another story.
I'm going to upload photos and probably the test drive video in the upcoming days.
Personal notes on cars, staff and event:
Staff were nice altogether - even tried to satisfy me by translating most of the info to me as the only one there without sufficient german knowledge at the presentation -.
However there were no other news there what a Tesla follower shouldn't already know.
They answered differently for couple of my questions: e.g. some said those 3 performance cars already EU version, however they were not.
Product specialist miss H.H. confirmed there is no info when or where there will be supercharges ~"it was mentioned there will be in europe as well".
New infos for me:
- EU it is your time to finalise option letters coming in weeks.
- There will be a new web page section for financial she said.
- Charging port gets bigger slightly.
- There will be a back fog light installed(EU must have).
Car impression:
+++ Had FUN with the drive, was able to spin the winter tires on almost dry surface coming out of the first roundabout before traction control stopped them. Car was shaking slightly adrenalin pumped, my foot was on the floor. I need to drive this beast on a trackday.
Front of the car did start to take off like an airplane.
EV_de might have the point, that it should be handled nicer, I only steered a little to keep car inside the lane as there was heavy opposite traffic on the tiny road.
Started in sporty steer mode, won't ever turn this to any other(until hard sport one appears).
It feels like in between a Volvo c30 (slightly more connected to the road) and BMW 3 (imo softer than my actual).
Regenerative braking: two modes, softer mode i won't use, it feels like around or less than what my actual manual transmission gives. Harder: i liked, it saves energy and brake pad wear.
- Back row (as a -small volume- investor i probably shouldn't point this out) this is for kids only. No i don't mean 3. row actually i mean 2.
I'm 182cm and was able to touch the top of the car with my head when i slightly pushed my head backwards in back seat. Getting in and out to the back is at least as tricky as getting into my much smaller BMW 3 e46 sedan. Had three mates in the back row, both of the two sitting at the sides did mention their head hit the side of the car top(170,180cm).
Tesla designers: I do really like the huge trunk, but please watch for 2.row space as well!
- Don't like the mercedes cruise control touched it 2 times accidentally when i wanted to turn and use the signal one. Hope there will be option to program it to the right buttons on the steering wheel, saw some custom menu there.(it feels very comfy there operated with 1 thumb on mine).
US style 'gear shifter'? the one with P-D... modes on the right of the wheel, would you please change that to a 'shifter' at the center just like most EU automatic cars. Felt like the old days with a Wartburg.
- I missed slalom ride option, and a short 'autobahn' ride. (don't tell anyone but saw 150km/h+ on the gauge when the guy said you can test here)
Still reservation holder.
Might consider cancel at the time of invite, but that's an another story.
Could the non locals get an answer key for these city abbreviations?
Not sure about HH off the top of my head. Btw, no B?Could the non locals get an answer key for these city abbreviations?
- 5 service centers planned for Germany: Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart
(I'm not a local, but looks like HH stands for Hamburg)
Other locations according to the presentation are:
Belgium: Brussels
Switzerland: Geneva
Austria:Vienna
Italy:Milan
Netherlands: Amsterdam, Apeldoorn
France: Paris, Lyon
Norway: Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger
Denmark: Copenhagen
charliestyr
EVangelist
Here's another video from the Munich get amped. I do not speak enough German to actually know what is being said most of the time, although I can guess.
I did catch "iPhone on four wheels" though.e2a: was hoping to maybe catch the rear turn signals in this video, but alas no. That would be my request to anyone headed to a European get amped, record the rear turn signals if possible? Sounds so dull, but I am intrigued.
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charliestyr
EVangelist
ok, thanks surprised they can get away with the red turn signals. Most people will realise what they are of course, just that they are usually quite strict about that kind of thing. I guess it's not for long
surprised they can get away with the red turn signals. Most people will realise what they are of course, just that they are usually quite strict about that kind of thing. I guess it's not for long
charliestyr
EVangelist
Nice! Thanks for the picture. That's cool they integrated it well, i.e. didn't change the original design.
Wardenclyffe
P2682 cancelled
thanks indeed. i cannot make out the fog light so i guess it is somehow also integrated in the main light cluster. looks neat.
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