Houston, TX

[Keith72]

I had the Opti Coat Pro applied to my car over the weekend, and it makes the car look fantastic!! I had some faint outlines from bird droppings that had etched into the clear coat, but they are now completely gone, and the car is protected from that happening again. I won't miss having to wax the car in the hot Houston weather. I saw in an earlier post that LiteWait had the 22PLE done, and I think they are similar products. I used John Gray to do it over in Richmond, and here's a link.
http://carartdetailing.com/
I had the car, the windows and the lights done (different Opti products for the windows and lights). I dropped the car off on Friday evening and picked it back up on Sunday morning. Another Tesla pulled up as I was picking up my car (owners name was Tom). John does a great job and is very conscientious. Since my car is now over 3 months old, I had him do the polish prior to the Opti Coat.

 

[stephenpace]

Houston Coffee and Cars is again this weekend--we only had ONE Tesla at the last event (thanks Jerred!), so we hope to do better this time, despite the holiday weekend. Did you just get your car in the last month or two? Would you like to meet some other owners? Would you like to share your love of Tesla with others? Then come on out!

Details:

http://www.houstoncoffeeandcars.com/
https://www.facebook.com/coffeeandcars

NEXT GATHERING: JULY 6, 2013 Join us the first Saturday morning of July for our next gathering. From 8:00AM until 10:00AM at Vintage Park.

All are welcome to come by and attend. If you are bringing a Tesla, please try to arrive by 6:30am (!) so you can get a space and we can park together. We will attempt to park next to:

We Got Your Back Chiropractic - http://wegotyourbackchiropractic.com
110 Vintage Park Blvd. Suite D Building J
Houston, Texas 77070

If you think you will be coming, can you let me know by PM? I need to know how many spaces to block off and how many to hold for late arrivals. We will likely do the driveout at 9:30am so remember to set your active air suspension to LOW for that if you have it.

We hope to see you there!!

Map (see red arrow):

 

[Keith72]

I had Opti Coat Pro installed on my car last weekend, and it's made the car look even better (if that's possible)!! John Gray did the installation, and included the window coatings and lens coatings. I dropped the car off on Friday evening and picked it up on Sunday morning. Since my car is now over 3 months old, John polished the car first, then did two IPA wipes, then the Opti Coat Pro. He does a great job and is meticulous in his work. As I picked up my car on Sunday another Tesla pulled up (pearl white, owner Tom).
The Opti Coat Pro is similar to the 22PLE that LiteWait describes in an earlier post. They refer to the Opti Coat Pro as a ceramic polymer, and there are only two certified installers in Houston - John and Vive. I think there are shops that will do the Opti Coat 2.0, but it's not the same. Here's a link to John's site:
http://www.carartdetailing.com/
He works out of his garage, but has a good setup for doing the work. He's located in Richmond, so it was a bit of a drive for me from League City, but well worth it.

 

[kalikgod]

I might head out this Saturday since I will actually be in town this month. No Model S yet, still a year left on my LEAF. I may bring it out, depending on if I am +1.

Do you know the days on the test drive event this weekend? I test drove at Santana Row on a work trip, but I have not gotten my wife seat time yet. This will be a requirement to seal the deal, plus some SuperChargers.

 

[Skintrade]

I had Opti Coat Pro installed on my car last weekend, and it's made the car look even better (if that's possible)!! John Gray did the installation, and included the window coatings and lens coatings. I dropped the car off on Friday evening and picked it up on Sunday morning. Since my car is now over 3 months old, John polished the car first, then did two IPA wipes, then the Opti Coat Pro. He does a great job and is meticulous in his work. As I picked up my car on Sunday another Tesla pulled up (pearl white, owner Tom).
The Opti Coat Pro is similar to the 22PLE that LiteWait describes in an earlier post. They refer to the Opti Coat Pro as a ceramic polymer, and there are only two certified installers in Houston - John and Vive. I think there are shops that will do the Opti Coat 2.0, but it's not the same. Here's a link to John's site:
http://www.carartdetailing.com/
He works out of his garage, but has a good setup for doing the work. He's located in Richmond, so it was a bit of a drive for me from League City, but well worth it.

Keith72 is your Model S white? Ran into someone at Dunn Bro Coffee in Friendswood a month ago with a white model S. Please elaborate on the effects of the OptiCoat Pro on the paint appearance. Was it applied over clear bra? Pics would be great.

 

[NICE]

Skintrade, I've got a white Tesla. It just looks pearl :biggrin:

Keith, I hope you don't mind, but I took a couple pictures of our opti-coated Teslas.
Good point made! The Pro version is only available through 2 authorized Opti-Coat Pro installers in Houston.
Vive & Car Art


John the Opti-coat guy will be attending this Saturdays 7/6 Cars&Coffee event. I'll bring my White Model S to show.
His cell phone # is 832-264-0670
You can call or text him for appointments since he only works on cars on the weekends.

<img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5335/9199942608_f5abaa4243_d.jpg">
<img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5337/9199942718_67870b1ef8_d.jpg">

 

[stephenpace]

Do you know the days on the test drive event this weekend?

I think they do both Saturday and Sunday. Just signup online or give the store a call. The slots tend to fill up, so the earlier you call the better.

 

[kalikgod]

I think they do both Saturday and Sunday. Just signup online or give the store a call. The slots tend to fill up, so the earlier you call the better.

Thanks.

I called yesterday and they said reservation holders only. I am sure I could have got a slot if I pressed, but I am still ~9 months from putting in the reservation. I have some time to get my wife some seat time.

 

[q177onique]

Hi All,

I want to introduce myself....there will be another white 85 around. My delivery window is 7/28-8/1. I really appreciate everyone's posts. I have been glued to this forum. I can't think about anything else except getting my car! I plan to be at coffee and cars this weekend and hopefully will be able to meet some of you.

Monique

 

[huntjo]

Welcome Monique!

 

[stephenpace]

@kalikgod: Hmm, if they won't give you a spot, you can go down and see if one of the other drivers would let you ride along in the back. Might be better than nothing. I thought they would let non-reservation holders go if they had some empty spots, though. You could always put down the $2500 fully refundable deposit, go for your ride, and then immediately put in for your refund.

@q177onique: Welcome, Monique! If you want to meet some local owners, you are certainly welcome to join us at Coffee and Cars the Saturday.

 

[gnelson]

@kalikgod: Hmm, if they won't give you a spot, you can go down and see if one of the other drivers would let you ride along in the back. Might be better than nothing. I thought they would let non-reservation holders go if they had some empty spots, though. You could always put down the $2500 fully refundable deposit, go for your ride, and then immediately put in for your refund.

@q177onique: Welcome, Monique! If you want to meet some local owners, you are certainly welcome to join us at Coffee and Cars the Saturday.

If he drove one he would not want a refund!

 

[NICE]

If he drove one he would not want a refund!

Warning: Do not test drive a Tesla if you are not planning to buy one immediately.
I test drove a Tesla at the get Amped Tour and that was it. It didn't matter what it took, I had to get one.
The wait was only 8 weeks, but it will seem like an eternity when you anxiously await its arrival.

 

[gnelson]

A couple of years ago I went to an event in Houston and drove many different cars. I got to drive a Chevrolet Volt and before I drove one mile, I had to own one. I looked all over for the color I wanted. It took a lot of searching before I actuallly bought one. The experience of an electric car is compelling.

My experience with purchasing the Tesla was easier but more compelling. I saw reports and could sit in the Model S in the Houston Galleria Store, but I could not buy one there or get a test ride. I knew I was compelled to buy one. Although I couldn't buy one from the store, a gentleman from Denver called me while I was at the store and took my order. I had a short wait time for delivery and could have shortened it further if I had thought about finalizing the order immediately rather than waiting 2 weeks before the order became automatically final.

I had not seen a brown Model S and was continually thinking I should have ordered the multi-coat red. I just let the 2 week period expire. I finally got to see a brown Model S in the store shortly before mine arrived. The brown Model S exceeded my expectations.

The Model S takes the Volt experience to new levels of power, convenience and comfort. I still enjoy the Volt and sold a Corvette to allow ownership of the P85+. I was quite lucky that I had a relatively short wait.

Although the buying and service experience in Texas is made complicated by stupid laws, the process of buying the Tesla was easier than buying the Volt. Many Chevrolet dealers aren't that interested in selling Volts.

Overall I am quite happy with the purchase and delivery. I am more concerned about service for the Tesla. It irritates me that I can't just drive to the Houston Service Center to get small issues addressed. I have to call Tesla in CA to get service in TX. I just received my toll road bar tag. I will probably remove the nose cone and install it myself rather than call CA to get it installed. This is a totally screwed up aspect of owning a car costing more than $100k. I should be able to drop by and have a service tech install it in a few minutes because they have done multiple installs.

 

[flybob08]

Removing the nose cone to put the toll tag on is a quick and easy process just be sure to lay it down face up to avoid scratching the finish of the plastic. Toll tag works like a champ behind the nose cone.

 

[NICE]

Removing the nose cone to put the toll tag on is a quick and easy process just be sure to lay it down face up to avoid scratching the finish of the plastic. Toll tag works like a champ behind the nose cone.

Maybe my car is somehow different than everyone else's. All I had to do is either stick the ez-tag on the dotted area or slide it under the mirror base. If you come to C&C this Saturday, I can show you.

 

[gnelson]

Maybe my car is somehow different than everyone else's. All I had to do is either stick the ez-tag on the dotted area or slide it under the mirror base. If you come to C&C this Saturday, I can show you.

You can put it there but it won't get read. You need a bar tag. At the toll tag store on Beltway 8, there is a test light to check that your tag is getting read. I have a windshield tag and it doesn't get read. I told them I needed the bar tag, but they didn't believe me until I tested the windshield tag they provided.

It was easy to remove the nose cone. I attached the bar tag with double sided tape.

 

[NICE]

You can put it there but it won't get read. You need a bar tag. At the toll tag store on Beltway 8, there is a test light to check that your tag is getting read. I have a windshield tag and it doesn't get read. I told them I needed the bar tag, but they didn't believe me until I tested the windshield tag they provided.

It was easy to remove the nose cone. I attached the bar tag with double sided tape.

Thats what I've been trying to say. My EZ-Tag reads just fine. I can see the scans on my ez-tag online account.

 

[gnelson]

Thats what I've been trying to say. My EZ-Tag reads just fine. I can see the scans on my ez-tag online account.

Your account has the correct charges because they are reading your license plate. Tesla windshields have a coating that does not allow the windshield tag to be read. I doubt that your windshield is any different than other Tesla windshields. I suspect if you go to a toll gate the windshield tag will not open the gate.

I look forward to meeting you at the C& C On Saturday. What color is yours? I will be in the brown one with grey wheels.

 

[NICE]

Your account has the correct charges because they are reading your license plate. Tesla windshields have a coating that does not allow the windshield tag to be read. I doubt that your windshield is any different than other Tesla windshields. I suspect if you go to a toll gate the windshield tag will not open the gate.

I look forward to meeting you at the C& C On Saturday. What color is yours? I will be in the brown one with grey wheels.

Actually, it wasn't a license read. I used my old ez-tag from my last car while I was waiting for my new one to arrive. I was expecting it to show up as a license read but it charged as my old car. I now have the new one and it works just fine.
I'll pull up my ez-tag account and show you at C&C. Mine is the white one with the lights on. I look forward to meeting everyone.