Picking up Model S soon..need advice

[mpbruin108]

I have decided that a tour at the Tesla plant is something I must do so I decided to fly up to San Jose and then onto Fremont to pick up the Model S. Then take a trip back to LA that same day. I do have a little bit of range anxiety already even though I'm getting an 85kwh edition. Has anyone done this trip that can offer any advice or experience? I know someone with a 60kwh did it a few months ago but wanted to know if there were anyone else who did it?

I plan to document as much of the trip as possible with pictures at each stop at a supercharging station (off the 5 South Freeway) and probably some pictures along the way as I anticipate it being pretty empty.

Thanks in advance.

 

[yobigd20]

lol http://www.teslamotors.com/supercharger you'll be fine.

 

[dsm363]

Congrats. Yeah, use the lightening bolt icon on the 17" screen to find the Supercharger you want and use that to get home. Good luck.

 

[mpbruin108]

ah..good to know about the lightening bolt icon. Did any of you guys take the route and found anything interesting/fun to do on the way down. I'm assuming I have no choice but to take the 5 south. I really wanted to take 101S all the way down but I don't think I'll make it as there are less supercharging stations, I believe.

 

[dsm363]

Make sure you have the delivery specialists there walk you though finding the Superchargers in the Nav and tell them where you are going. They'll help you locate and program in what you need.

 

[MikeC]

This is the easiest road trip possible in a Model S right now. Drove back from the factory pickup to LA in Feb and drove to SF and back a couple weeks ago. It would be hard to mess it up. You can skip Gilroy, but wouldn't hurt to top it off a little if you're (unnecessarily) worried about range. Not much to see on the 5, unfortunately.

 

[mpbruin108]

Make sure you have the delivery specialists there walk you though finding the Superchargers in the Nav and tell them where you are going. They'll help you locate and program in what you need.

Great idea. I'll keep note of that when I see them.

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The Superchargers on 101 won't be ready for the next month or so, it's best to take I-5. If you like a good piece of beef, arrive at the Harris Ranch (Coalinga, CA) Supercharger with a big appetite and order some quality prime rib or a steak.

With careful driving (not doing 80+), and depending on what part of LA you are in, you may be able to make it home by just stopping once at Harris Ranch, but there is a Supercharger in Tejon Ranch (before you climb the Grapevine) if you are worried about getting over the hill. A 10 minute stop there should eliminate any range anxiety.

Man, I am a steakhouse connoisseur. I never thought Harris ranch would have good steakhouses. I think I might have to give them a try. Which steakhouse did you go to? How was it?

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This is the easiest road trip possible in a Model S right now. Drove back from the factory pickup to LA in Feb and drove to SF and back a couple weeks ago. It would be hard to mess it up. You can skip Gilroy, but wouldn't hurt to top it off a little if you're (unnecessarily) worried about range. Not much to see on the 5, unfortunately.

Thanks, that does make me feel better. Did you average any certain speed?

 

[derekt75]

Man, I am a steakhouse connoisseur. I never thought Harris ranch would have good steakhouses. I think I might have to give them a try. Which steakhouse did you go to? How was it?

I've never stopped at Harris Ranch because all I can think about in Coalinga is how awful 100,000 cows can smell. I can't imagine trying to eat in such a foul smelling area.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[klevins]

I've never stopped at Harris Ranch because all I can think about in Coalinga is how awful 100,000 cows can smell. I can't imagine trying to eat in such a foul smelling area.

Your mileage may vary.

Absolutely. I have flown in to Harris Ranch- they have a decent airstrip and 100LL. You can smell the feedlots below 1000' AGL.Disgusting place.

 

[MikeC]

Thanks, that does make me feel better. Did you average any certain speed?

Probably 80+ mph. Range is really not a concern when there are Superchargers. Cops, on the other hand...

 

[capt601]

Very easy drive.. Did it after taking delivery in December and drove back to south Orange County. If you are leaving from factory on the trip, just request to them that they give you a range charge for your delivery. That way you will not have any range anxiety leaving the factory. You have to tell the factory that you need this charge level or you never know what you will end up with.
We left Fremont area ( from a local hotel)with 233 range and arrived Harris ranch with 23. So range charge would be good as you may want to test the acceleration a bit after taking delivery! Normal charge at Harris, arrived to tejon pass chargers with 70 miles remaining. Normal charge and arrived in Orange County with 98 miles remaining. So easy drive.
Harris ranch nice breakfast at hotel. Not much else there besides subway at gas station.
Tejon pass. Yogurt land is closet along with many fast food options. In and out is 10 minute walk.
Tejon pass will eat up some miles going up, but we gained , I think, 19 miles coming back down.
We averaged 80-85 mph on the entire drive. Enjoy the car and the trip.

 

[nspollution]

Tell your DS your plans and let him/her know you need to pick it up with a full charge. You can even have them range charge it if you have that much anxiety.

 

[mpbruin108]

What a trip

So the trip was a very long but fun trip. I picked up the car at 9am, did a factory tour, which was awesome. Then went up to SF to do some small errands and visit some stores. All in all, got a few looks, learned what Chargepoint was (since I thought I could charge there but soon realized I couldn't), then left SF around 4:00pm to be welcomed by traffic. Decided to get charged up at Gilroy around 5:15pm and saw 1 Tesla during that drive. Gilroy has four stalls and there were 5 Teslas there (including mine). Since I was the last Tesla to arrive, I had to wait like 35 minutes for the other owners to return (which returned all at the same time). It was like a mini Tesla meet. =)

After only 30 minutes of charging, I headed down to Harris Ranch (got there around 7:30pm) and was intensely hit with the overpowering smell of cows. Never have I smelled such an odor in the air. OMG, it was a lot more bearable once I learned to breath out of my mouth and not my nose. The food at Harris Ranch was killer. Prime rib of 20ounces was bigger than my buddies steak of 24 ounces. How that worked out, I don't know but I do know that the Prime Rib at Harris might be even better than the prime rib at Lawrys. Left Harris Ranch at 9:30ish.

Then headed to Tenjon Ranch and it was completely empty. By this time, it was nearing 11:00pm. The nicest of all 3 charging stations so far. In fact, I took a car picture with it below. =)

By the time I got home, around 1:00AM, I was beat. Very fun and eventful trip. I would recommend anyone else who is thinking of doing it, to do it. The car is ULTRA SMOOTH and super fun to drive. The internet radio held up pretty well during the trip and I always had a lot of power left even with averaging 75 mph and with A/C on.