Gripes about the Beta interior

[dpeilow]

I wonder how much of this minimalism / lack of centre console is about saving weight, perhaps to meet the range promises?

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

I wonder how much of this minimalism / lack of centre console is about saving weight, perhaps to meet the range promises?

Good point. But, a hollowish center console's weight would pale in comparison to a full load - 5 average adult passengers and luggage - in the car; Tesla hasn't said so far what passenger load the range promises are for so, we could assume the worst case there?!

Also, carving out door pockets - if safety's not the reason for the thick doors, that is - will help with saving weight too?!

 

[onlinespending]

I prefer to think that we are helping to polish a slightly rough diamond, rather than just nitpicking.

Exactly. It's called constructive criticism. Everyone that's been crying for improvements to the interior means well. Some people want to give Tesla a free pass all the time. But just like a parent with his or her child, sometimes you have to be tough on the ones you love if you want what's best for them and to see them improve.

 

[strider]

If you had purchased a 1.5 or even a 2.0 Roadster I think you would see this whole situation differently. There is no doubt in my mind that Tesla will change the interior on subsequent Model S revisions. I think there should be some communication from Tesla. If the interior is going to be revised or another trim level is going to come out in the near future, Let us know!

I'm not sure what industry you work in but I can tell you that in my industry we never talk about future product changes as that will cause all the customers to hold their purchases and we would go out of business. Tesla (and every other manufacturer of every product in the world) will make changes/improvements as they go. Buying any product (whether it's a car, TV, or an iPad) is a gamble that the company won't come out with a new one tomorrow. I believe that Tesla was willing to do some 2.5 updates to 2.0 cars that were purchased right near the changeover so there is a history that they will take care of those people. They have also allowed 2.0 owners to pay for the 2.5 parts if they want them.

Bottom line is that if you don't like the way it is on launch then wait. I can guarantee you that they will update various aspects of the car in the future. You just have to decide if you want to wait or get the current version. For instance, I would really like touchless trunk opening but it's not happening. I can live without it but that's a decision I had to make.

 

[strider]

can't wait that long, I will just take what they give me :crying:

Well, you could just add a few months by dropping to the R list since you're a Roadster owner. We may end up doing this as my wife will not plunk down this kind of cash without a test drive (I know there's a whole thread for that, please post any comments there).

 

[goyogi]

I think it looks like an old 70's Chrysler. It looks awful. That's why I think this is not it. They have much better taste then that.

We did not see the real interior yet.

I had the same reaction when I saw it in the initial photos. Seeing it live made it palatable but I wouldn't go weak in the knees over it. Though everyone I've taken to see it liked the interior. I think the radical change from the prototype to the beta was jarring for many of us as we were expecting something similar.

Though if your passengers are focusing on the interior while you are driving you are driving incorrectly. Try driving in a more interesting area and if that's not possible get the performance version and drive REALLY fast and it will force them to look out the window at your close calls or shut their eyes.

 

[smoothoperator]

I'm not sure what industry you work in but I can tell you that in my industry we never talk about future product changes as that will cause all the customers to hold their purchases and we would go out of business. Tesla (and every other manufacturer of every product in the world) will make changes/improvements as they go. Buying any product (whether it's a car, TV, or an iPad) is a gamble that the company won't come out with a new one tomorrow. I believe that Tesla was willing to do some 2.5 updates to 2.0 cars that were purchased right near the changeover so there is a history that they will take care of those people. They have also allowed 2.0 owners to pay for the 2.5 parts if they want them.

Bottom line is that if you don't like the way it is on launch then wait. I can guarantee you that they will update various aspects of the car in the future. You just have to decide if you want to wait or get the current version. For instance, I would really like touchless trunk opening but it's not happening. I can live without it but that's a decision I had to make.

On the Roadster's Tesla improved the Roadsters continuously...A lot of the 2.5 improvements on 2.0's were during the build process. I am pretty sure that this type of philosophy will also be present in the Model S.

If i cannot get a deferred signature I will take delivery of my car when I am contacted. I have no desire to wait several additional months for a non sig model.

I guess the lesson that I learned from this is, not to believe everything that Tesla says.

 

[ddenboer]

I never knew Elon had a reality distortion field, but it seems like it has some effect here.
I believe that the interior we saw this past weekend on 43/44 is VERY close to the final interior based on staff I spoke with. In EVERY case, the Tesla employee said "fit and finish" is all that remained, so I do not see them changing this too much. Will it change a bit, yes it has to (it is still missing USB ports and a few other things people here have noted). Will it change a lot? I don't consider a lot to be "fit and finish", so I doubt it.

 

[felixtb]

also it seems that steph, you have only seen it in pictures? you really have to see it live. It does NOT photograph well. before I saw it live and could touch and feel and be part of the cabin I thought it was pretty old style american as well but having been in the car it's really quite nice. it turns towards the driver nicely and is not as flat and clunky as the pictures make you believe.

 

[vfx]

Of course one thing that has to be factored in any redesign is that the duct work for the rear air conditioning vents...

 

[smoothoperator]

WOW.....after seeing those pictures I wonder if a Model S will be totaled by insurance if the 17 inch touchscreen is ripped out of the dash by vandals or thieves....Looks like a very expensive repair if something goes wrong

 

[vfx]

I don't know if anyone else has mentioned this but the contours of the door surfaces nicely mirror the design elements in the dash. There is a coherent design language that is harmonious. whether one likes those or not is subjective but they have made an effort that is praiseworthy. I for one do like it.

I'm with Thumper and Spatter.

The interior design languages really shows now that the styles line on the new steering wheel integrate it with the dash. It's now a complete package with the dash and door lines and repeated screen and nosecone shape.

Nicely done Franz!!

 

[vfx]

.... I think the mistake people are making is comparing to cars that *start* at over $100k, when in reality the Model S is optioned up to that point (with a bulk of the costs in the battery packs). .....

This was my observation too. The car is $57,000 electric car with 160 mile range. Anything more than that is an accessory. You are paying packaged pricing of $140 for each mile more of range beyond 160 miles and you are paying for tech packages, wheels, badging, whatever you "need"to make it more of what you want. But you can't call it a $100,000 car if all you have done is add a bunch of range miles and a pano roof.

If you want a nice interior either get less miles or take it to an upholsterer to have it blinged out to your dream inerior. Many Roadster owners (Ian) have done this to thier "not good enough" $140,000 car. An extra 6 to 10 grand is pretty minor in the big picture and uncle Sam is giving that to you anyway.

 

[doug]

Seems to be all you guys are talking about across a bunch of threads. It's so much that people can't find what they want. So please continue those conversations here while I try to clean things up.

 

[bonnie]

Good luck with that. We might start griping about where you put the posts, just for a new topic.

 

[smoothoperator]

This was my observation too. The car is $57,000 electric car with 160 mile range. Anything more than that is an accessory. You are paying packaged pricing of $140 for each mile more of range beyond 160 miles and you are paying for tech packages, wheels, badging, whatever you "need"to make it more of what you want. But you can't call it a $100,000 car if all you have done is add a bunch of range miles and a pano roof.

If you want a nice interior either get less miles or take it to an upholsterer to have it blinged out to your dream inerior. Many Roadster owners (Ian) have done this to thier "not good enough" $140,000 car. An extra 6 to 10 grand is pretty minor in the big picture and uncle Sam is giving that to you anyway.

This is supposed to be Tesla's no compromise mainstream vehicle. Tesla thinks this is the best sedan on the planet. Most people are asking for usable storage and perhaps higher quality materials for the higher end models (perhaps in the form of added packages).. Who wants to possibly void the warranty on certain parts of their brand new vehicle due to aftermarket additions. If Tesla was supportive of the aftermarket then that would be one thing, but in reality they have a very stringent policy with regards to what they feel is compatible and what is not (on the Roadster).

 

[vfx]

...I can see how people who bought 1.5's felt slighted after the 2.0's came out (bigger jump) without much warning. ...

Many of the 2.0 changes where cheaper for Tesla and parts were of lessor quality so it's a wash on the interior.

 

[MitchL]

You can almost make out what's on the screen in the picture -- it's definitely some sort of diagnostic screen, but it's integrated into the normal UI (regular icons run along the top)

top pane looks like VIN #, uptime, battery voltage/current, and temperature.
next pane down looks like transmission info: it says STANDBY, DRIVE, Torque, more temperatures, and motor current.
next two panes appear to have more voltages.
Bottom pane says "DRIVE ENABLE" with some status info ("CLOSED") on the right column.

I'll bet there's some really interesting information hidden in the Model S software. Wonder how long it will take us to discover the diagnostic screens...

/Mitch.

 

[vfx]

Feather your hair, dig out the bell bottoms and go with it?

It's retro.

 

[onlinespending]

This was my observation too. The car is $57,000 electric car with 160 mile range. Anything more than that is an accessory. You are paying packaged pricing of $140 for each mile more of range beyond 160 miles and you are paying for tech packages, wheels, badging, whatever you "need"to make it more of what you want. But you can't call it a $100,000 car if all you have done is add a bunch of range miles and a pano roof

You can't use the argument that the Model S is just a $57,000 car, since cars that cost less than half as much have far more functional interiors. And there are plenty of cars at the same price point with well designed, high quality interiors (BMW 5-series, Mercedes E-class, Lexus GS, Audi A6/A7). It doesn't take a $100k car to have a luxurious interior.