Tesla couldn't build cars for customers to drive until crash tests and approvals were completed. Now they want to get cars into customers hands, so I'd expect that cars for test drives will still be a month or two more. Also wouldn't be surprised if they prioritize drives according to reservation number, but I have no idea how they might do that.
A test ride/drive doesn't do a lot for me other than just sitting in the car and making sure I can get in and out without bumping my head. Test rides/drives are too short to learn anything significant. Renting the car for a week or two would be more informative if you had doubts that it would work for you.
There's no way to rent the car at this point though. I think a test drive from Tesla once that's possible will be the best you can do for awhile.
Would it be illegal to use some of the recently-produced betas for test drives? They are already sitting around in Tesla stores all across the country...
The display beta's don't have drive trains. Some of them which were used for various events and do have drive trains don't have airbags or seatbelts.
Roadster insurance was much cheaper if I limited it myself and my wife. Plenty of people have had test rides...no-one else has driven it. Model S may be the same story pending insurance.
Yeah. I give rides in my Roadster to anyone who asks, but nobody drives it but me. If and when I ever have a girlfriend, she'll be the only exception, if she wants to.
I'll let people drive my S Performance though only a handful of people ever asked to try out my cars. They are content with letting me show off the performance.
A person driving your car temporarily will be covered by their own insurance. So assuming they have insurance and enough coverage then the car is covered while they're driving it.
I, too, would like a test drive but doubt that I'll be getting one... at least from Tesla. My dad's got Sig 417 so I'll get a chance to drive his before I need to order mine. I'm hoping that they decide to take a week and go on vacation or something. I'll make sure his S gets exercise. Oh, and once I have mine I'll be letting a few people drive it. I kind of have to let my wife drive and I have a few friends that I'll let drive it because we share similar vehicular interests. Other than that it'll be test rides only.
And assuming their deductible is not greater than the damage they cause when they're so busy trying to figure out all the features that they're not looking at the road. And assuming they actually have insurance. Some folks have liability but no comp. And even if they do have full insurance and take responsibility for the deductible, there's the hassle of repairs and the misery of being without your car while it's shipped to the nearest Tesla facility for repairs. Etc. Nope. Someone would need to have a pretty serious claim on my affection, AND I'd have to be convinced of their competence and respectful driving style, before they'd get the key to my car.