I'm a Production, and here's my story (Sublimaze1 - P188)

[spatterso911]

Did I mention that my wife now wants an "X" - I am all for that. She wants to wait until the supercharging stations get built in the DFW-HOU-SAT region (that's where our long jaunts will be). But I caught her scanning the Teslamotors.com site and then with a smirk and a smile states "I really like this X thing"

We may be a two Tesla family sooner than I thought.

Yup. Happening in my house as well.

[NigelM]

Post about dogs went here: Dogs

[andystj]

Awesome looking car. Congratulations. We just got the news that our Blue S is built. Papers are signed and the purchase will be finalized tomorrow. I sure hope all available truckers are converging on Freemont to get these babies delivered.

We need to set up a little drag race to test your acceleration as soon as my blue baby arrives.

Andy

[elecblue]

Good job on the new car! Please show no mercy when you smoke the s**t out of all gas burners you can find. Long live the EV!

[mcornwell]

sublimaze1, any news on whether you were actually given a performance model by accident?

[VolkerP]

sublimaze1, any news on whether you were actually given a performance model by accident?

I think Tesla learned from this thread that the planned name was to be "Trudi" - and decided to do something about that

[sublimaze1]

One week into it (warning: not proofread, written in spurts, and probably flows like Pulp Fiction)

Here goes:
I will start with some of the quirks, as I find that such posting is what I seek. I had an issue with the USB drive I was using. It had to do with the fact that I was using a micro SD and a very miniature micro SD USB card reader (trying to keep the size down). I switched to a more reliable reader (the EyeFi reader I had laying around) and it worked just fine. I have noticed that some of the songs are not read if they are in folders. Still working on that.
After getting the car inspected, the car would not start for about two minutes and I had the red bar that stated “wait for screen” or “wait for touchscreen” – can’t remember. In any case, I waited and the screen came up but was frozen. The car then would move, but while rolling, I held the two scroll wheels down for 15 seconds. Released. 30 seconds later, the “T” came up and the screen rebooted. Odd.
We had Ice on Monday morning. Ice in Texas, I know … well, it is December. BadA** handled it very well. No Traction Control issues at all. Maybe it was not slippery enough.
I am only getting 237-241 miles range per charge. I read that this is not unusual until we cycle a few times, so I am not getting my knickers all in a wad just yet.

I have found myself playing a little game called “see if you can judge the regenerative brake stopping so that you can avoid using the brake pedal until the last moment” – it is somewhat enjoyable, but a bit distracting in thick traffic. I play this game only when I am relatively clear of traffic. I figure I may never need to change my brake pads – ever (wishful thinking).

My whole issue with thinking I had a Perf is pretty much gone. The car is quick, but not Bat _ _ _ _ quick, so I guess I will just have to deal with what I bought. Novel, huh? I did, however, take four of us grown men for a lunch spin on Monday. Me (225#), John (320), Tony (190) and Antonio (215) – so about a half ton of payload – and I noticed a few things. Of course it is not as quick (weight is a penalty) but the regenerative braking is less noticeable when trying to bring us all to a halt.

I have also noticed that my vehicle is still being “built” as per MyTesla website. Kinda odd, but – whatever. I have condensation in my right rear taillight assembly (the back up light in particular). A friend of mine here in Dallas has the same problem and he stated that the Tesla rep simply shrugged it off and moved to another issue. As we don’t get rain here (much, anyway), I surmise it was from the deluge that San Fran area got over the first weekend in December. If anyone else can shed some light on this, I would be grateful. Apparently a Ranger visit is $100 – even with the warranty issues. So I have to decide how to handle this. I may wait until the 3^rd row seats are delivered.

Regenerative braking again: It was 25-31 degrees over the Monday night - Tuesday am and regenerative was certainly affected. On the way home from work, it started at the 13-15 line and by the time I got home (25 miles or 30 minutes later) it still had not gotten back to its full capacity. In the morning, as I left the garage, it was at about 35 or so, and made it to full less than half the way to work. This was at 6am, while it was 25 outside.



Ambient lighting: I have a buzz with the ambient lighting. Not noticed while driving, but certainly while still and with music off, which is where I want to use the ambient most often (e.g. garage and evening when getting in the car). I have heard others have this problem, so I am cautiously optimistic that it will receive a fix.

HA! First fight over the Tesla occurred last night (Tuesday night). Diana and I decided that I would take the truck to pick up some furniture today (store is near my work) and she would have use of BadA**. Well, I changed my mind. Lemme splain: on Sunday, we decided to tool around with the kids in the back seat (third seats had not arrived) and, as such, had to install the car seats – which, as many of you know, is not a simple feat in the car. This is mainly due to the fact that I am not as nimble as I used to be, and the latches for the seat belt (they use boosters) is hidden by the seat itself. I am worried about the plastic on the car seat marring, ripping, shredding, whatever the leather. We put a towel under them, but you still run the risk of the plastic rubbing the wrong way when you are trying to slide that thing over to find the buckle. So I just said “nope” – not gonna do it. Now these are her kids, not mine (mine drive the car, hers ride in it) and I probably touched a nerve by saying they weren’t going in the car again until the third row arrives. She thought about it, and agreed that a $1K leather repair job was not worth it – so argument ended.

Did anyone recognize that they put a diffuser on the back? I just noticed it while looking at the back of the car. I was curious (having seen so many Sig Performances on the forums) that the car would look – well – unfinished, or naked without the rear spoiler. I can now say that it looks perfectly fabulous without one and I would even go as far as to say that it is an option that I would have left out, had I been forced to make that decision.

Wednesday AM I had a few observations that I would like to share. I was trying to run the battery down to single digits, but came back to the car to find it plugged in (Diana did so), so I will restart the running down again today – but it was, again, quite chilly and I had my corduroy jacket on (no, I am not developmentally delayed). The car sensed the key to let me unplug and get in, but it did not sense it inside when I sat down. Odd. I also had a can of Diet Caffeine Free Pepsi in that same pocket – maybe it’s the aspartame. Also, it seems that everytime the car is accessed (for lack of a better term) the USB stick gets rescanned/reinitialized. I wonder if there will be a software update that will only do so once the memory stick has been removed. It takes a little while when you have 7-10K songs. Also, my full charge today was 236. Again, I am hoping a few cycles will help increase that range.

Also, it seems that from time to time, I get this unavoidable urge to take the car from a measly 40mph to somewhere double plus that just – because. It usually occurs in thin traffic where the person in front of me is driving at a pace that I consider to be unfair to the battery pack. As such, I look far ahead and rule out any obstacles (including a quick lane change from grandma) and I launch forward a bit. It is too fun not to go, and I make my point in seconds, but the grin lasts for much longer.

I guess that is about it for a week update – the first week I have owned this car. By far the best car I have ever owned: hands down - even if I didn't get a Performance by mistake.

[dsm363]

The 240 or so miles is rated range after a standard charge, right? That's about right.
Why are you trying to run the range down to single digits? Just curious.
Good review.

[napabill]

sublimaze1:
I have found myself playing a little game called “see if you can judge the regenerative brake stopping so that you can avoid using the brake pedal until the last moment” – it is somewhat enjoyable, but a bit distracting in thick traffic. I play this game only when I am relatively clear of traffic. I figure I may never need to change my brake pads – ever (wishful thinking)

It has become an obsession to make it on an outing without ever using the brake pedal. Understand in may be made an Olympic sport in 2014.


I have also noticed that my vehicle is still being “built” as per MyTesla website. Kinda odd, but – whatever.

Mine changed to "Delivered" within a couple of days of delivery. Maybe factory delivery is easier for them to note.


Regenerative braking again: It was 25-31 degrees over the Monday night - Tuesday am and regenerative was certainly affected. On the way home from work, it started at the 13-15 line and by the time I got home (25 miles or 30 minutes later) it still had not gotten back to its full capacity. In the morning, as I left the garage, it was at about 35 or so, and made it to full less than half the way to work. This was at 6am, while it was 25 outside.

Unclear on what the "13-15 line" is.



Ambient lighting: I have a buzz with the ambient lighting. Not noticed while driving, but certainly while still and with music off, which is where I want to use the ambient most often (e.g. garage and evening when getting in the car). I have heard others have this problem, so I am cautiously optimistic that it will receive a fix.

I've never noticed this. But I'm hearing challenged, always have been. Back when you actually had to tune a radio, I'd drive people batty as I'd be oblivious to high pitch squealing when not properly tuned.

HA! First fight over the Tesla occurred last night

My OWMBO has yet to drive Tess. Wants no part of her...yet. Waiting until we decamp to Arizona in a couple of weeks. Less traffic.


Did anyone recognize that they put a diffuser on the back?

You mean the body flare along the leading edge of the Trunk?

Also, my full charge today was 236. Again, I am hoping a few cycles will help increase that range.

I have varied between 238 and 240, consistently from the beginning. Seems normal to me.

Also, it seems that from time to time, I get this unavoidable urge to take the car from a measly 40mph to somewhere double plus that just – because. It usually occurs in thin traffic where the person in front of me is driving at a pace that I consider to be unfair to the battery pack. As such, I look far ahead and rule out any obstacles (including a quick lane change from grandma) and I launch forward a bit. It is too fun not to go, and I make my point in seconds, but the grin lasts for much longer.

Another candidate for an Olympic sport.

By far the best car I have ever owned: hands down

I'm right there with you!

[sublimaze1]

Unclear on what the "13-15 line" is.

With cold re-gen, the 60 is never reached, because of the orange/yellow dotted line. it is at 13-15 kw.

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Why are you trying to run the range down to single digits? Just curious.

Another olympic sport

Good review.

Thank you.

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No - this is a diffuser. It encourages molecules of air to spread out (for lack of a better term) but whilst maintaining the same number (e.g. drops density) thus creating downforce.