Telegraph (UK) reviews the Model S - 3rd March 2014

[twinklejet]

Tesla Model S review - Telegraph

Tesla Model S review
The electric Tesla Model S is a very fine car with a few frustrating compromises
4 out of 5 stars

Full Article: Tesla Model S review - Telegraph

Superficially the Tesla Model S electric car is so “the answer”, you wonder if other motor makers haven’t been sleeping on the job. With a share price on fire after recently announcing plans for a new battery “gigafactory” (that’s a factory, then) confirming next year’s SUV and a smaller, cheaper model for 2017, there’s barely a silicon-valley baron without a Model S in his baronial drive. This precocious 11-year-old PayPal-funded car maker has...

Full Article: Tesla Model S review - Telegraph

 

[mgemmell]

That's a bitter-sweet review.

I enjoyed it but would like him to compare the supposed 84g/km figure to the REAL figure from an M5 or Aston (not the rated figures which are nowhere near what you get in real life). And then the fact that in a country like Norway the car makes no "CO2 hole in the atmosphere" only reflects on the poor decisions being taken by the UK government as to its power source choices.

Soon they'll be invading the UK streets!

 

[SwedishAdvocate]

.../ the Tesla doesn’t traverse bumps well, with poor damping control, a choppy ride quality and an unpleasant, darty feel to the steering, which conveys almost no feedback. Speed up and it gets worse, with the wheels running out of rebound travel and the car crashing over crests. /...

Is this accurate?

- - - Updated - - -

.../ To produce a car of such accomplishment in just 10 years /....

It didn’t take 10 years.

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.../ however, it’s also aimed at a soft and wealthy part of the market and it’s vocal neophytes often miss the point.

When it comes to getting around, there’s no such thing as a free lunch, virtually all power has a climate change implication whatever you drive. Charged off a British domestic supply, Tesla’s well-to-wheels carbon contribution will be at least 84.7g/km.

It’s great, but it still leaves a CO2 hole in the atmosphere and to claim anything else is plain misleading. /…

How about if you get your electricity from:

Ecotricity - the green energy company, supplier and generator of eco electricity and gas

…or I don’t know – the sun…

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.../ There’s a network of sorts in the states where Tesla recently managed to drive from California to New York, although jinking between them meant the journey took almost 700 extra miles. We’ve also heard of frequent low-speed "races" to the supercharge stations between Tesla drivers anxious not to wait in line for a fill up. [My underline.] /...

Where did ”they” hear that?

 

[trils0n]

"the Tesla doesn’t traverse bumps well, with poor damping control, a choppy ride quality and an unpleasant, darty feel to the steering, which conveys almost no feedback. Speed up and it gets worse, with the wheels running out of rebound travel and the car crashing over crests."

That was my issue with the review as well. Seems completely opposite my experience. Ride is smooth, even with the 21s. Darty steering? Nope. Feedback isn't the greatest, but I can feel the texture of the road through the wheel so its not completely numb.

 

[Andre]

That's a bitter-sweet review.

I enjoyed it but would like him to compare the supposed 84g/km figure to the REAL figure from an M5 or Aston (not the rated figures which are nowhere near what you get in real life). And then the fact that in a country like Norway the car makes no "CO2 hole in the atmosphere" only reflects on the poor decisions being taken by the UK government as to its power source choices.

Soon they'll be invading the UK streets!

He could also pinpoint the possibility of making your own energy by solar panels on your house roof. Which I have done, self supporting free energy whole year around !

 

[Doug_G]

Is this accurate?

Uh, no.

It didn’t take 10 years.

Since the company started, yes. Don't forget they built the Roadster first.

Where did ”they” hear that?

Given the credible source they quoted - "We've also heard" - it's pretty clear: They made it up.

 

[SwedishAdvocate]

.../ Don't forget they built the Roadster first. /...

That was kind of the point I wanted to make. They haven't just made the Model S in those ten years. They've also made the Roadster, the drivetrains to the Smart EV, the latest Toyota Rav 4 EV, and have been at work at the drivetrain for the upcoming Benz B-class EV. Those ten years wasn't just spent on the Model S.

 

[Doug_G]

That was kind of the point I wanted to make. They haven't just made the Model S in those ten years. They've also made the Roadster, the drivetrains to the Smart EV, the latest Toyota Rav 4 EV, and have been at work at the drivetrain for the upcoming Benz B-class EV. Those ten years wasn't just spent on the Model S.

Well, in a way, it was all part of the road map to the Model S and beyond. They couldn't have built Model S if they didn't learn by doing the Roadster. They learned a lot from Lotus, and they learned a lot on their own.

 

[moollar]

The article has many errors, but at least it was positive overall. Lots of ignorant comments after the article though. Luckily there are others correcting them.

 

[Julian Cox]

One stand out thing about this article - the guy obviously drove the car like an immature teenager.

There is definitely an exercise in "getting it" that needs to happen in the UK and Europe.

Musk suggested that the first UK RHD delivery will go to someone famous (I would guess royalty) in the UK. This is the correct approach for that culture.

Meanwhile, these reporters should not be allowed out without a Tesla co-pilot explaining the whole deal. EU is a long way from Silicon Valley.

 

[VolkerP]

You associate UK with EU?
That will make a lot of people furious :biggrin:

 

[jdevo2004]

British and famous: Richard Branson. Any royal not driving a British made car is asking for trouble.

 

[sandman900ss]

British and famous: Richard Branson. Any royal not driving a British made car is asking for trouble.

That's a brilliantly perfect possibility.
Excellent point on the royalty, although William has been known to ride his Ducati 1098 a few years ago- not a Triumph!

 

[theganjaguru]

The door handles motor out to meet you (one of a number of motorised functions, which must surely waste charge)

... I don't know why this bugs me. Its not like the door handles are going to eat into range... Trivial.

 

[Merrill]

Is he driving the same car that I am, do not feel any of the road handling or suspension issues. Certainly do not feel like a Baron, although when driving sometimes I think I'm dreaming and have to pinch myself. Maybe if I had a pint and a pasty I would feel different.

 

[StephenM]

The reviewer certainly has the Tesla grin. Makes you wonder if he was under any pressure to be extra-critical wherever possible for the article.

 

[Todd Burch]

The fact that the reviewer mentions the door handles potentially eating into charge says a lot about the reviewer...perhaps not fit for a review of driving dynamics?