Tesla moments on Christmas Day 2017 with my 2015 Model S 70D...
· Trudging through the freshly fallen heavy snow and stiff, cold wind to my car in the condo parking lot to clear it off so we can head to the first of two family Christmas celebrations. Finding that preheating the car for 45 minutes or so had indeed helped to melt the snow, and more importantly the ice on the driver’s side windows from the earlier freezing rain. Some quick scraping made fairly easy work of the ice and the windows and doors opened successfully on the first try. (This is my 3rd winter with the Tesla, and I previously learned the lesson that you must never try to open a door with ice remaining on the window! The glass won’t be able to retract that critical quarter-inch into the door, and you’ll be in trouble!) Score 1 for preheating!
· Once the car was cleared of the snow, being able to pull out of my parking space and up the sloping parking lot, even though the lot had not yet been plowed. The sudden brief heavy storm had dropped perhaps 3 inches, maybe 4 inches of heavy snow in a couple of hours. My wife, on the other hand, was unable to get her FWD Toyota Corolla to move up the slope and became stuck. (Neither car has snow tires.) The Model S pulled through the snow with no slips, no slides, no flashing traction control indicator. It felt good, but I was worried about my wife’s car. (Fortunately a landscaping crew arrived just in the nick, and helped to shovel her out and started plowing the driveway.) Score 1 for AWD and good traction control.
· Putting the food that needed to be kept cold until it was time to warm and serve it, into the frunk. Score 1 for the frunk!
· Being able to load all sorts of folding chairs, heating tray, gifts, and bags of food into the capacious trunk.
· Using and appreciating all the various features of the “Sub-Zero” package in this nasty weather, including the heated steering wheel and the heating strip on the windshield where the wipers park, the heated washer nozzles (it was one of those days when you must use the washers almost constantly to deal with slush, salt, snow, etc.). (Well, in honesty, I did not use the rear seat heaters on this day because no one was sitting in the back, but they get used on many other days.) Score 1 for the Sub-Zero package. At the time, it seemed like a high price for the features we got, but I am glad for all of it (And regret that it is no longer available as a separate package.)
· Feeling safe and secure on the mostly-clear-but-still-messy roads, with AWD and traction control and ABS and working wipers and enough washer fluid, heading for that family party.
· Finding myself on a steep downslope in another town, on a plowed but snowy street with a STOP sign half-way down, gently pressing on the brakes and shuddering to a stop where intended. Yup, the car does have ABS, doesn’t it!
· Helping my 100-year-old mother into the toasty warm car, kept warm with the new “camper mode” feature while she navigated down her steps to the driveway. Score 1 for “camper mode!”
· Enjoying my mother’s remark about how much she enjoys the warmth of the seat heater on “3” as we drive. (She likes it even in weather most of us would consider mild.)
· And many hours later, after the family party is over, once again enjoying my mother’s appreciation for the preheated car and the and the heated seats.
And a great day was enjoyed by all. Belated Merry Christmas to everyone else who celebrates it!
