So after so much anticipation, I finally got my pearl white P85+/twin chargers/moonrof/tech/childseats today. I have been scouring this forum for the last several months actively reading and absorbing all the nuances with the car. I have some experience with high end cars with my previous cars being a SL 500, CL 500, M6, Corvette, 911, S550, and XJR. I have become an electric convert since getting solar panels and owning my volt, so I took the plunge and ordered my model s.
After so much wrangling about what to get, I really, really splurged and went for it all.....meaning ordering the P85+ with every bell and whistle...to the cost of over $125K.
I wasn't sure whether to order the performance and since I was never able to test drive a performance plus package, I was very concerned about the driving characteristics of the car. From the way it was described on the website, the plus package would drive smoother, but handle better. Seems like an oxymoron to me, but I took it for what it's worth I spent the extra $6500(I was already ordering the 21 inch wheels anyway for my P85).
So here are my impressions after a full day with the car so far.
1. I love the 17 inch touchscreen. There is nothing on the market that even is in the same planet as Tesla. This in itself is a game changer. Everyone who has one knows that. It's mesmorizing and most everything is easy(I don't like the way the homelink is accessed).
2. The acceleration is breathtaking. I already had 2 people test drive it today, and it literally blew away any expectation they had. Everyone seems to also agree with this, and so am I. For a large sedan to accelerate this fast, let alone an electric is ridiculous. I just hope I don't get a lead foot too often and get a speeding ticket.
3. I do like the interior design. For me the moonroof is a must...The headliner drops down 2 inches lower without the sunroof, and in the back seats, that could be somewhat clostraphobic. Don't know if I will ever use the childseats, and its something the dealer has to remove they tell me. The seats are okay, but I do agree my MBZ/Jag/BMW had better seats...I expect the next gen will be better.
4. The handling is great for those whose priority is for fine tuned race-car like handling. For a sedan, its unflappable with hard cornering and high speed maneuvers. It easily outhandles a S63/on par with my M6. But my beef with Tesla today is that it does drive a bit noisier than a regular 85kw with 19's and even the 21 inch. It drives a bit rougher than most luxury sedans such as an S550 or 750iL. It was advertised to be smoother(so hence the reason I bought it along with being cool to be one of the first to own a +), but I don't think that is the case. For most of us who don't drive too aggressively(me included), if you want the soft luxurious ride I am used too, and don't need the aggressive sports car attitude, get the 85kw. As I have become older, I dont' speed, and don't ever race, and enjoy the peace and quiet of being by myself listening to music in my car. But the younger me convinced my older side to give in and go for the gusto. For those who want the P85+, it should be for those in the market for a M5/S63/Panamera turbo who want a more aggressive handling car and able to live with more road vibration/bounce. So many posts have hailed the P85+ as the best model s to buy, it convinced me too. But I hope this helps anyone debating like I did what to get.
5. I hear a reverberation in the car as I get up to speed.....just like when you have one window open and you get that noise that makes you open another window just a crack to let the air escape....I have extremely sensitive ears, so that is one mart of it. I think it could the buffeting of the air as it passes above the car, or ??escape of air somewhere....don't know.
6. Service was good, but not stellar. My delivery specialist said they would put aside a parcel shelf that I could purchase at the time of pickup, along with a high power wall charger, but when I asked today....they didn't have a clue......then they said they don't carry it, then said to order it online...No big deal, but would have been nice if they told me that from the get go. They seem a bit absent minded sometimes...I had to call them to arrange today to come in today to get the car....it wasn't until I called them first did they schedule me for an exact time today......no big deal since they are probrably inundated with new car deliveries now.
7. Don't know about extended warranty....I need to get it within the week since the price increases, but since I change cars every 2-3 years, it is worth it?
8. I would have preferred the charger in the front like my chevy volt. I have to relocate my chargepoint in the garage.....would be nice if all the electric car guys could standardize that..then I wouldn't have to move the charger from one place in the wall to another location. But not a big deal either.
After so much wrangling about what to get, I really, really splurged and went for it all.....meaning ordering the P85+ with every bell and whistle...to the cost of over $125K.
I wasn't sure whether to order the performance and since I was never able to test drive a performance plus package, I was very concerned about the driving characteristics of the car. From the way it was described on the website, the plus package would drive smoother, but handle better. Seems like an oxymoron to me, but I took it for what it's worth I spent the extra $6500(I was already ordering the 21 inch wheels anyway for my P85).
So here are my impressions after a full day with the car so far.
1. I love the 17 inch touchscreen. There is nothing on the market that even is in the same planet as Tesla. This in itself is a game changer. Everyone who has one knows that. It's mesmorizing and most everything is easy(I don't like the way the homelink is accessed).
2. The acceleration is breathtaking. I already had 2 people test drive it today, and it literally blew away any expectation they had. Everyone seems to also agree with this, and so am I. For a large sedan to accelerate this fast, let alone an electric is ridiculous. I just hope I don't get a lead foot too often and get a speeding ticket.
3. I do like the interior design. For me the moonroof is a must...The headliner drops down 2 inches lower without the sunroof, and in the back seats, that could be somewhat clostraphobic. Don't know if I will ever use the childseats, and its something the dealer has to remove they tell me. The seats are okay, but I do agree my MBZ/Jag/BMW had better seats...I expect the next gen will be better.
4. The handling is great for those whose priority is for fine tuned race-car like handling. For a sedan, its unflappable with hard cornering and high speed maneuvers. It easily outhandles a S63/on par with my M6. But my beef with Tesla today is that it does drive a bit noisier than a regular 85kw with 19's and even the 21 inch. It drives a bit rougher than most luxury sedans such as an S550 or 750iL. It was advertised to be smoother(so hence the reason I bought it along with being cool to be one of the first to own a +), but I don't think that is the case. For most of us who don't drive too aggressively(me included), if you want the soft luxurious ride I am used too, and don't need the aggressive sports car attitude, get the 85kw. As I have become older, I dont' speed, and don't ever race, and enjoy the peace and quiet of being by myself listening to music in my car. But the younger me convinced my older side to give in and go for the gusto. For those who want the P85+, it should be for those in the market for a M5/S63/Panamera turbo who want a more aggressive handling car and able to live with more road vibration/bounce. So many posts have hailed the P85+ as the best model s to buy, it convinced me too. But I hope this helps anyone debating like I did what to get.
5. I hear a reverberation in the car as I get up to speed.....just like when you have one window open and you get that noise that makes you open another window just a crack to let the air escape....I have extremely sensitive ears, so that is one mart of it. I think it could the buffeting of the air as it passes above the car, or ??escape of air somewhere....don't know.
6. Service was good, but not stellar. My delivery specialist said they would put aside a parcel shelf that I could purchase at the time of pickup, along with a high power wall charger, but when I asked today....they didn't have a clue......then they said they don't carry it, then said to order it online...No big deal, but would have been nice if they told me that from the get go. They seem a bit absent minded sometimes...I had to call them to arrange today to come in today to get the car....it wasn't until I called them first did they schedule me for an exact time today......no big deal since they are probrably inundated with new car deliveries now.
7. Don't know about extended warranty....I need to get it within the week since the price increases, but since I change cars every 2-3 years, it is worth it?
8. I would have preferred the charger in the front like my chevy volt. I have to relocate my chargepoint in the garage.....would be nice if all the electric car guys could standardize that..then I wouldn't have to move the charger from one place in the wall to another location. But not a big deal either.