Like many of you, I scoured these forums for the weeks leading up to confirming my Tesla and while waiting for it to arrive, and I greatly appreciate all the time, energy, passion, and useful advice posted by so many of you. I thought it time to contribute my little bit.
The most difficult part of my purchase was deciding between the 85 and the P85 or P85+. The difference of $20,000 (w 21” wheels) seemed like a *lot* to pay, just for the ability to accelerate and corner a bit faster in a car that already accelerates and corners very fast.
Did I really need this? Would I even notice? Or worse, would I actually be *less* happy with a stiffer, bumpier ride and tires that can’t be rotated and need replacing every 6-12 months? Nothing worse than paying so much more for something you like less.
I realized that most of the P vs P+ opinions I read were by people who have owned porsches, bmws, and other fast cars. Their rhapsodic writings about the + were intoxicating. I have always been interested in sports cars, but could never bring myself to spend the money or the gas. My two cars these last 10 years has been a Prius and a hybrid Highlander.
But, a month ago, minutes before midnight on my confirmation day, I went for it and max-ed out my order. Full P+ with all the trimmings, yikes! My wife was going to have a fit.
I just got my P+ friday, and have driven 300 miles already on a trip up the coast this weekend. So how did it turn out, and am I sleeping on the couch?
Early non-delivery
6 days before my scheduled delivery date, I got a call from my DS saying the car was ready early, and did I want to pick it up? Duh. I cleared my calendar the next afternoon, and we drove over to the factory. After an hour walk-through, my wife had to head back home for an appointment, but I stayed another half hour to ask the more techy questions (used the list posted on this forum), and my DS was very accommodating (thanks Lauren!).
Every single thing checked out, and, finally ready to leave, I got in the car, put it into Drive, and…. “KEY NOT FOUND”. Damn. They tried changing the key’s battery. No dice. They tell me they can’t reprogram it that day without the other key, which my wife took home with her, and would I like a loaner for the weekend? NO!!! I’ve effectively waited a year and a half for this car (long story), and I wanted MY car for our trip this weekend!
So, I took the P85 loaner and drove across the bay area, tracked down my wife, and drove back to pick up MY car. Three extra hours sitting in rush-hour traffic, but it was worth it! And I got to compare the P85 and the P85+ back-to-back on long drives….
“Floaty” vs “planted”
So, I got to drive the P85 w/21” wheels for two hours, on freeways, cloverleaf ramps, city driving and neighborhoods. Then I immediately followed it up with a long weekend in my P85+. Here are my impressions.
I have to say I loved the P85. It had been months since I did a test drive, and I hadn’t been in a Tesla since. The P85 is gut-wrenching fast, and feels really solid on the road. Since it was a loaner and I was on my own, I really pushed it. Going around cloverleafs and changing lanes quickly (when clear), accelerating to highway speeds instantly, etc. I did notice that accelerating tipped the car back some, and pushing it on corners it did lean, a bit, but not uncomfortably so. Fast, smooth, good road feel: I loved it. Honestly couldn’t find fault (tho remember, I'm not used to performance cars), and started to wonder why I paid so much more for the P+ (I had never test driven a P).
Then… MY car. Wow. While I had been completely happy with the P, my P+ was different. It was like driving a levitating two-by-four. The thing is so composed, it just stays level and solid on the road and in corners no matter how much you throw it around. It feels like it sits lower to the ground, even though I know it doesn’t. Still pretty smooth on the road - the suspension definitely soaks up the potholes - but a little noisier at freeway speeds and *definitely* stiffer handling, but in a good way. On washboard and uneven roads, it was a little less comfortable; it did tend to rock back and forth rather than absorbing the bumps, but I didn’t get to compare this part of the drive with the P85.
I didn’t know what others meant by “floaty” and “planted”, but now I do. “Planted” is absolutely the best word to describe the P+. I wouldn’t describe the P as all that “floaty” though - it’s not at like a cadillac where you feel like you’ve taken an anesthetic, and not mushy or bouncy; it still feels very connected to the road and corners well, just a little less so than the P+.
If you have the opportunity to get a P+ and don’t mind a stiffer ride, go for it; it’s still quite comfortable and really does feel good. For those who have a P, seriously, it is a great ride. Leave with the one ya’ brung.
Rash Dad
A couple more stories (and pics) from our trip. When I got home, my parents arrived to stay with our kids while we set off on our trip up the coast. Of course, they were curious about the car so we went for a drive, and my dad took the wheel. On a straight deserted road, I said he could punch it, and he did, with my mom screaming “NO!!!” from the back seat the whole way. Priceless.
Not quite so priceless - my dad rashed the right rear rim two minutes later going around a curbed corner at speed. The car is definitely wider than what I’m used to, and the back right corner, in particular, I find very hard to judge. Oh well, now it’s broken in and I don’t have to worry about doing it myself. I do love having the backup camera and the parking sensors, and the auto-tilt-down side mirrors are fantastic for cozying up to the curb. So far so good, but watch those rims when you first start driving!
Deer dear
My wife took the helm later that night on a damp, curvy road through the forests north of San Francisco. The headlights throw a perfect semicircular penumbra of light on the road ahead, but not so far ahead. She was just starting to relax and say, “woo hoo!” through the corners, when we came around a bend to find a mother deer and her two fawns standing right in the middle of our lane. I yelled, and she slammed on the brakes full force. It seemed impossible, but we came to a stop 10 feet in front of the deer, who were frozen in our headlights. They then sauntered off as our hearts settled back into our chests.
Man this car stops fast.
Charge conundrum
It took almost 2 hours to get to our destination in Point Reyes, and we still had plenty of charge to get home, but we planned to do a lot of driving around the area. When I called the hotel ahead of time, they said they had no charge plugs, and had never had that request. When we arrived, that turned out to be true, but I had brought a loong stout extension cord, and we managed to park in front of our cottage and run the cord in through a gate and under the front door, and plugged it into 110v inside. As it turned out, this worked quite well, as we picked up 40 miles each night, even at 3-4 mph, and it was enough to explore 60 miles each day and still get home at the end of the trip.
Only surprise was, it poured rain all night, and I woke up wondering if it was ok to leave it plugged in when wet. I checked several times with my handy android app and all looked good, and even though when I went out in the morning, the extension cord was lying in a puddle of water, no bad seemed to come of it. Gee, was this a good idea?
All the right curves
20 miles of tight twisty roads along the precipice of the coastal cliffs from Point Reyes to the Marin headlands; I really got to air her out… until my wife felt sick. It’s great to have a car that can take corners faster than rational thought, but for passengers there is a limit. The views were amazing, however.
Lost and Found
So, I am a very very happy camper. Only two real problem to report. First, the nav system in my car is completely useless. The map constantly spins in circles, and even on wide open freeways, the gps often thinks we are driving off into the nearby neighborhoods and the female voice keeps saying, “Please turn around. Please turn around”. After trying for hours, we couldn’t find any way to get it to make any sense for more than a few minutes at a stretch. Today I called Tesla, and they admitted that a lot of new owners are calling about this - apparently for some, the car on the map is even appearing in a different *state*. He said they had a bad software update, and are working on a fix. The second problem is, today the sunroof refused to close the last 3 inches. Tried everything: rebooting, different increments, and even the remote app. Tesla couldn't fix it over the air, so I have to take it in to the shop tomorrow.
Still, this car is a wonder to drive, and I can already tell there are many long road trips in our future. And, due to the multiple “woo hoo’s!”, I’m not even sleeping on the couch.
This weekend, I went from calling my Tesla an “it” to a “her.” I even named her…. Rocket. Shoot. I’m a goner.
The most difficult part of my purchase was deciding between the 85 and the P85 or P85+. The difference of $20,000 (w 21” wheels) seemed like a *lot* to pay, just for the ability to accelerate and corner a bit faster in a car that already accelerates and corners very fast.
Did I really need this? Would I even notice? Or worse, would I actually be *less* happy with a stiffer, bumpier ride and tires that can’t be rotated and need replacing every 6-12 months? Nothing worse than paying so much more for something you like less.
I realized that most of the P vs P+ opinions I read were by people who have owned porsches, bmws, and other fast cars. Their rhapsodic writings about the + were intoxicating. I have always been interested in sports cars, but could never bring myself to spend the money or the gas. My two cars these last 10 years has been a Prius and a hybrid Highlander.
But, a month ago, minutes before midnight on my confirmation day, I went for it and max-ed out my order. Full P+ with all the trimmings, yikes! My wife was going to have a fit.
I just got my P+ friday, and have driven 300 miles already on a trip up the coast this weekend. So how did it turn out, and am I sleeping on the couch?
Early non-delivery
6 days before my scheduled delivery date, I got a call from my DS saying the car was ready early, and did I want to pick it up? Duh. I cleared my calendar the next afternoon, and we drove over to the factory. After an hour walk-through, my wife had to head back home for an appointment, but I stayed another half hour to ask the more techy questions (used the list posted on this forum), and my DS was very accommodating (thanks Lauren!).
Every single thing checked out, and, finally ready to leave, I got in the car, put it into Drive, and…. “KEY NOT FOUND”. Damn. They tried changing the key’s battery. No dice. They tell me they can’t reprogram it that day without the other key, which my wife took home with her, and would I like a loaner for the weekend? NO!!! I’ve effectively waited a year and a half for this car (long story), and I wanted MY car for our trip this weekend!
So, I took the P85 loaner and drove across the bay area, tracked down my wife, and drove back to pick up MY car. Three extra hours sitting in rush-hour traffic, but it was worth it! And I got to compare the P85 and the P85+ back-to-back on long drives….
“Floaty” vs “planted”
So, I got to drive the P85 w/21” wheels for two hours, on freeways, cloverleaf ramps, city driving and neighborhoods. Then I immediately followed it up with a long weekend in my P85+. Here are my impressions.
I have to say I loved the P85. It had been months since I did a test drive, and I hadn’t been in a Tesla since. The P85 is gut-wrenching fast, and feels really solid on the road. Since it was a loaner and I was on my own, I really pushed it. Going around cloverleafs and changing lanes quickly (when clear), accelerating to highway speeds instantly, etc. I did notice that accelerating tipped the car back some, and pushing it on corners it did lean, a bit, but not uncomfortably so. Fast, smooth, good road feel: I loved it. Honestly couldn’t find fault (tho remember, I'm not used to performance cars), and started to wonder why I paid so much more for the P+ (I had never test driven a P).
Then… MY car. Wow. While I had been completely happy with the P, my P+ was different. It was like driving a levitating two-by-four. The thing is so composed, it just stays level and solid on the road and in corners no matter how much you throw it around. It feels like it sits lower to the ground, even though I know it doesn’t. Still pretty smooth on the road - the suspension definitely soaks up the potholes - but a little noisier at freeway speeds and *definitely* stiffer handling, but in a good way. On washboard and uneven roads, it was a little less comfortable; it did tend to rock back and forth rather than absorbing the bumps, but I didn’t get to compare this part of the drive with the P85.
I didn’t know what others meant by “floaty” and “planted”, but now I do. “Planted” is absolutely the best word to describe the P+. I wouldn’t describe the P as all that “floaty” though - it’s not at like a cadillac where you feel like you’ve taken an anesthetic, and not mushy or bouncy; it still feels very connected to the road and corners well, just a little less so than the P+.
If you have the opportunity to get a P+ and don’t mind a stiffer ride, go for it; it’s still quite comfortable and really does feel good. For those who have a P, seriously, it is a great ride. Leave with the one ya’ brung.
Rash Dad
A couple more stories (and pics) from our trip. When I got home, my parents arrived to stay with our kids while we set off on our trip up the coast. Of course, they were curious about the car so we went for a drive, and my dad took the wheel. On a straight deserted road, I said he could punch it, and he did, with my mom screaming “NO!!!” from the back seat the whole way. Priceless.
Not quite so priceless - my dad rashed the right rear rim two minutes later going around a curbed corner at speed. The car is definitely wider than what I’m used to, and the back right corner, in particular, I find very hard to judge. Oh well, now it’s broken in and I don’t have to worry about doing it myself. I do love having the backup camera and the parking sensors, and the auto-tilt-down side mirrors are fantastic for cozying up to the curb. So far so good, but watch those rims when you first start driving!
Deer dear
My wife took the helm later that night on a damp, curvy road through the forests north of San Francisco. The headlights throw a perfect semicircular penumbra of light on the road ahead, but not so far ahead. She was just starting to relax and say, “woo hoo!” through the corners, when we came around a bend to find a mother deer and her two fawns standing right in the middle of our lane. I yelled, and she slammed on the brakes full force. It seemed impossible, but we came to a stop 10 feet in front of the deer, who were frozen in our headlights. They then sauntered off as our hearts settled back into our chests.
Man this car stops fast.
Charge conundrum
It took almost 2 hours to get to our destination in Point Reyes, and we still had plenty of charge to get home, but we planned to do a lot of driving around the area. When I called the hotel ahead of time, they said they had no charge plugs, and had never had that request. When we arrived, that turned out to be true, but I had brought a loong stout extension cord, and we managed to park in front of our cottage and run the cord in through a gate and under the front door, and plugged it into 110v inside. As it turned out, this worked quite well, as we picked up 40 miles each night, even at 3-4 mph, and it was enough to explore 60 miles each day and still get home at the end of the trip.
Only surprise was, it poured rain all night, and I woke up wondering if it was ok to leave it plugged in when wet. I checked several times with my handy android app and all looked good, and even though when I went out in the morning, the extension cord was lying in a puddle of water, no bad seemed to come of it. Gee, was this a good idea?
All the right curves
20 miles of tight twisty roads along the precipice of the coastal cliffs from Point Reyes to the Marin headlands; I really got to air her out… until my wife felt sick. It’s great to have a car that can take corners faster than rational thought, but for passengers there is a limit. The views were amazing, however.
Lost and Found
So, I am a very very happy camper. Only two real problem to report. First, the nav system in my car is completely useless. The map constantly spins in circles, and even on wide open freeways, the gps often thinks we are driving off into the nearby neighborhoods and the female voice keeps saying, “Please turn around. Please turn around”. After trying for hours, we couldn’t find any way to get it to make any sense for more than a few minutes at a stretch. Today I called Tesla, and they admitted that a lot of new owners are calling about this - apparently for some, the car on the map is even appearing in a different *state*. He said they had a bad software update, and are working on a fix. The second problem is, today the sunroof refused to close the last 3 inches. Tried everything: rebooting, different increments, and even the remote app. Tesla couldn't fix it over the air, so I have to take it in to the shop tomorrow.
Still, this car is a wonder to drive, and I can already tell there are many long road trips in our future. And, due to the multiple “woo hoo’s!”, I’m not even sleeping on the couch.
This weekend, I went from calling my Tesla an “it” to a “her.” I even named her…. Rocket. Shoot. I’m a goner.
