Model S Technical / Mechanical Issues

[Doug_G]

I've not found the Roadster to be at all "uncontrollable" with the TC off. Quite the contrary. But whatever you do don't switch off TC in the rain - bad idea!!!

[dailydriver]

I disagree with that as a blanket statement, but you're right in so far as it takes a good, experienced driver to handle that much power without TC. I grew up racing cars and there's a few other roadster owners who to the track regularly, I've driven he roadster without TC and its kinda exhilarating but get it wrong and you're toast. Haven't tried Model S without TC but I'd like to that at the local track or airfield with plenty of space for the first time out.

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P.S. nice video dailydriver, that you driving?

Thanks. Yup - I couldn't wait to see what the car could do with all of that torque. I made the video just a few days after I got the car. I'll have to wait until spring to get the car on the track though.

[stephenpace]

I have a small buzz at 100% and a bad one at anything lower.

I prefer just turning off the ambient lights until they come up with a fix. 100% is bright.

@dailydriver: Nice! I thought we were going to have to wait for the Russians to get the car to see the first one of those.

[wycolo]

> The Model S is borderline undrivable with T/C disabled [PRJIM]

Apart from the fun n games, I'd be concerned if the S could not climb a muddy/snowy/icy/slushy hill almost as well as the Roadster can (which is quite well, thank you). With all that xtra weight on the front axle, the S needs to allow complete power control.
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[Trnsl8r]

I picked up our car on Saturday morning. On Sunday morning I noticed this condensation in one of the tail lights. Anyone else see this?



(Emailed the "ownership" address and my DSs on Sunday and again on Monday, but haven't heard back yet.)

[NigelM]

I picked up our car on Saturday morning. On Saturday morning I noticed this condensation in one of the tail lights. Anyone else see this?

Yup after washing the car, and there's a few others who have mentioned it. Not a biggie, but it needs fixing.

[ckessel]

Yup after washing the car, and there's a few others who have mentioned it. Not a biggie, but it needs fixing.

I'm not sure how this gets past Tesla's water testing environment. Surely that's more vigorous than a car wash?

[qwk]

It has been my experience that anything with north of 300hp is "borderline un-driveable" or a little hard to control on less than ideal surfaces. Horsepower over 400 is mostly a high speed item with little or no use at lower speeds. Porsche's AWD turbo 99x series seem to make good use of it but I have a 550 that will literally spin the tires at 60 mph by simply rolling into the throttle in third gear (TC off of course). I've been tempted to buy cars with more horsepower (the 458 comes to mind) but always find myself asking the question "Why?".

This is just a generalization. A measure of HP is useless in comparing different vehicles because of factors like vehicle weight, dyno used, where the hp is measured, transmission type etc. A 500hp car that weighs a lot can be a snail. If you are spinning the tires at 60mph at the power levels you stated, you are using the wrong tires, or the car is poorly setup. I have been in 800+rwhp cars that get good bite on the street even at low speeds, too many variables. A better measure is trap speed at a drag strip.

[Dave Rauschkolb]

Yes, I've had the car one week and the left backup light does this but not the right one.

I picked up our car on Saturday morning. On Sunday morning I noticed this condensation in one of the tail lights. Anyone else see this?



(Emailed the "ownership" address and my DSs on Sunday and again on Monday, but haven't heard back yet.)

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I have had the car one week with everything working perfectly. Today I had a "Call Tesla Service" light come on for a few minutes then it turned off. I called the Tampa Service Center and they said it was a "false positive" glitch in the last upgrade. He said if the light does not go off then there is a need for concern otherwise don't worry.

[stephenpace]

On Sunday morning I noticed this condensation in one of the tail lights. Anyone else see this?

Yes, although mine is on the passenger side (I can see similar after a car wash), but not as bad. I've got it on my list, though. I'm not sure if this part is supposed to be sealed or not, but it seems like it should be. My guess is some adhesive came loose on a few, but they have not evaluated it yet.