Between his description of the door handle wait, and his comment that there's no memory function for the seats, I conclude that he was testing a P85 before the 4.0 update which introduced auto-presenting handles, and even the 1.13.16 update which introduced driver profiles. Can that be right for a review being published in Feb 2013?
Me too. I can understand someone saying they hate them because they feel they will break down sooner than regular handles but for normal use, they are fine. It's all subjective though but if that is the only thing he decided to focus on as a negative, it's pretty amazing especially coming from an auto magazine like that.
Absolutely, because it's in this month's print edition (presumably), which means they probably did the test drive a couple of months ago. There is one picture of the interior with the old "Range v. Ideal" on the Energy page, which means that it was definitely pre-4.0 software. I assume that their problems with the intermittent wipers were also due to the old software. The great thing is that most of their complaints about the car (including the door handles) have been or are able to be fixed with software upgrades. And as they recognized in the piece, they are mere quibbles anyway given the overall awesomeness of the car.
While I don't expect it, it would be very impressive of them to offer an "update" that "corrects what is now erroneous in our original article, due to another outstanding feature of the vehicle: OTA updates."
I'm cross-posting my Get Amped Hamburg post, as it is more relevant in this thread, and the other thread seems dead. Note on the acceleration: It probably was due to my worry about tickets. VolkerB was able to get the tail out, so i must not have been flooring it
Trust me a Model S performance will blow the doors off your 535d. (I replaced a 335d with the Model S). This is both in terms of feel and hard #'s.... There really is no comparison! I'm surprised that you thought it was not as refined as your 5... The S is so quiet and so smooth. Now that I've had my S 2.5 weeks I really could not imagine not buying it.
Brian - they actually did in the print edition. It says in a box "Shortly before we went to press, Tesla announced that a software update will soon fix the Model S's slow moving door handles. This is the world we live in: vehicles evolving moment to moment" Really an amazingly glowing review.
Performance: Ah, good to hear that mnx. Now i'm really looking forward to a longer test drive. Refinement: maybe i will think differently after a longer test drive. We only had 10 mins. My current 5 series is very refined, albeit due to the optional adaptive drive. I hope Tesla starts offering testdrives at the dealers in europe soon. To be continued. Btw, i already mentionned this, but your black wheels rock. Perfect match for the MS.
Another first drive review, of a no-compromise drive from LA to Vegas. This guy gets it, and specifically notes that superchargers are "free, FOR LIFE". Quite positive. AutoNews: Rechtin drives the Tesla Model S
How often does a Ferrari 458 tested by taking it SF to San Diego? Enough of the range testing already. 99% of people don't use their car that way. If you spend $100k on this car you probably have two or three other car and most likely fly for distances exceeding 300 miles. I live in the NorCal Bay Area. I fly to LA, San Diego and Vegas. Why don't they test the car for handling, braking, sound, luggage space, practicality, sound system, comfort, convenience, performance. To limit the utility of the Model S to range is just silly.
Exactly. That's like telling someone. You bought a BMW 5 series? That's a $100k car! (M5 only). Oh, it's a 535.
I understand your point, but in the current nascent state of the charging infrastructure, range is still THE issue that stop people from purchasing BEVs. I appreciate pieces like this where this issue is not only addressed, but not considered a problem (not to mention free...). Obviously this will not apply to everyone, even when superchargers are fully deployed, but for all the other aspects of the car you noted, we have the two COTY awards and the fantastic article by Road & Track.
P85 with Pano, Tech, blue, Audio and CA sales tax comes in at $109k. Add rear seats, red, HPWC, twin charger and you are at $115k.