Kinddog's story in animated text and after 1 week of ownership

I've been following the Tesla story for a couple years now. Last July, however, I really started reading a lot about it. Both as a lurker on this website, and elsewhere. I couldn't believe what they were actually proposing was about to come true...

So I decided in mid-July to put a deposit down. It's refundable, right? No risk. I call the Tesla hotline and the very nice lady goes "this is a great time to put a deposit down, because we are holding a test-drive event (Get Amped) in your area this Saturday! And I was like...

So that Saturday, I drive to Gaithersburg MD for the test drive. Holding a Tesla test-drive event in Gaithersburg MD is akin to putting on the Boston Marathon inside a parking garage. I drove a performance model and got to cruise by a slew of strip malls at 23mph behind a wall of 90's-era minivans while stopping every 200 feet at stoplights. Just awesome really...

Nevertheless, I was thoroughly impressed with the car. I couldn't believe how fast I would hit 80mph once we got on I-270 (and thereby triggering the throttle limit on the test drive cars). My lasting impression was that this didn't feel like a car as much as a time-machine. In cars (even the fastest sports cars), accelerating is a process. Press the accelerator, wait for torque to peak, hear engine roar and body vibrate, then you're past them. In the Model S, passing others seemed more like teleporting... just think "i wanna be over there" and it happens. It was a surreal feeling that I couldn't quite wrap my head around, and all I knew is that I wanted more of it...

So I sat on my reservation (10,280) for a few more months, debating the (as I see now) rather stupid question of whether or not to get the Performance model or the standard 85...

I say "stupid" because nobody needs the Performance model. It is disgusting fast and utterly useless on the over-patrolled (taxed) American roads. Not to mention I live in a state where the level of monitoring between state-troopers with laser-guns, photoradar, and patrol planes overhead (for real) rivals any 20th-century Russian gulag state.

However, like many here, I had the fear that I'd regret not getting it in the future. I mean, what's an extra $9k or whatever when you are at this level already? Also, it's much more than the "$9k for 1.3 seconds" as many have described it. Going from 5.2sec 0-60 to 3.9sec 0-60 is a 30% increase in performance for about a 10% increase in price. And dear god, that acceleration. OMG that acceleration. I barely had a taste of it in Gaithersburg, but I finally decided YES it's expensive, but you know what?!?...

I did drive the standard 85kWh. I did a test drive at the DC Store in November. Partly to see if I was crazy to want the Performance and partly to satisfy my (now) 4 month itch to be back inside a Tesla and driving it. I confirmed that I was crazy to want a Performance because the 85kWh is what Goldilocks would term "juuust right". I also confirmed how much I want the car in general, as the test drive was much better than the Gaithersburg c*********k and I had a lot more quality time behind the wheel. I left the DC test-drive in November with a mean case of Teslinsomnia for the next week or so (along with a strange, foaming at the mouth problem that never really went away)...

So I went home very confident in my decision to go ahead with the purchase, along with the need to forget about the car completely considering my estimated delivery was April-May. I would need to find a hobby. Or a therapist. Or both. Instead, I found teslamotorsclub.com. And what an epic time-sink this website is for reservation holders. But it is the only fix for those waiting on their delivery. I'll admit, sometimes this kind dog has been a little nippy. A little... snappy. Sometimes, downright aggressive towards stupid people making stupid comments..... but hopefully you all can forgive me. I wasn't myself. I was waiting on my Tesla.

And then, it happened. It was a cold and boring Monday night. The 3rd of December. I had just tucked myself into bed after a zzzQuil/Ambien/shotofvodka cocktail which I found somewhat relieved my Teslinsomnia symptoms. I was reading Cosmo for iPad, trying to learn the "50 Things Women REALLY Want in Bed" when I got an email. It read "It's Time to Configure Your Tesla Model S". I shot up out of bed like there was a spider under the covers and RAN downstairs to my computer...

I filled out the configuration tool as fast as I could. As if that would somehow impress the folks at Tesla enough to think "dang this guy really wants this car, let's build it NOW!". Silly kinddog...

So I was happy that it looked like I would get this car sooner rather than later (maybe March instead of May), but that was it. I settled in for a long winter's wait, looking at my watch for time to hurry up...

However, three days later, I get another email... "It's Time to Deliver Your Model S". This time I was outside playing cornhole before the Redskins game came on. Again, I RAN into the house to my computer...

Much to my utter shock, the delivery questionnaire said my delivery window was Dec 15-31. I couldn't believe it. A surge of electrons and endorphins filled my soul and I started dancing around the house. I'd have my car in just a couple of weeks!!!!!

I scrambled to clean my garage and get an electrician out to install a 240v outlet. Our garage looked like an episode of Hoaders so I had to rent special truck for all the crap I had to take to the dump. Wife was not pleased. She had asked me for years to clean the garage and I never got around to it. Now I find myself heaving boxes into the trash truck like I got a degree in waste disposal. She was all watchin me like...

And I was like baby, you can be like that, but my Tesla is coming so...

Garage ready, and I was telling all my friends it would be here by New Years. They are all car guys so they were getting as excited as I was!...

Unfortunately, Christmas came, nothing. New Years came, nothing. Finally I called on Dec 31 and someone on the delivery team at Tesla in CA was like "well... we were trying to get you in before the end of the year, but it doesn't look like we will be able to. But it should be mid-late January for sure." I was crushed...

The wait continued. My agitation and my time at teslamotorsclub.com increased, resulting in a one-week ban. I knew something had to give. I was all like...

Finally I got a second delivery window after another call to Tesla faking like "it's all good, i'm just wondering because i gotta make travel plans*." My PS said "yes! we have a new delivery window for you. It's January 29 - February 12." and I was like "okay, you say February 12, but it'll really be ready on January 29, right? riiiight???...

And he's all like...

Wrong. First week in February, I find out it's travel schedule. Put on a truck on February 1, it should come into the Rockville MD service center on Monday, February 11 (via Backofamule Transportation Services, apparently). Couple of days of prep and inspection, and we're looking at picking the car up from Rockville Service Center on Wednesday or Thursday of this week. Another delivery window missed, but at least i'll have my car next week...

So this past Monday night (two days ago), I'm STILL working off the hangover from the weekend (that's another issue entirely). Before I go to bed, around 9:30pm, I see a voicemail message on my phone. It's from a guy from Backofamule Transport Co who says he will be at my house tomorrow mid-morning to drop of my Model S. I'm like whuuuuuuuuuut? This can't be! I have to go to work tomorrow! I have so many TPS reports to do tomorrow! I can't take off of work! I don't want an 18-wheeler coming in my neighborhood announcing I'm a yuppy! WHAT IS WITH THIS FREAKING TESLA COMPANY?!?

Long story short, the truck driver was wrong, and the folks at Rockville got my car ready the next day. So yesterday, I finally get to Rockville and lay eyes on my Model S, just back from being detailed...

Other than my wife, it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Oh except for the Amalfi coast too. But right after that. I get the debriefing from my delivery specialist, and drive home. At that moment I finally understand what this "Tesla Grin" thing is that everyone keeps talking about...

There are zero problems with the car. None that I've read about on here anyway. No ambient lighting buzz. no door issues. no "swaying" under full acceleration. Nope, just a perfect, insanely fast, rock-solid, stupefyingly fun-to-drive Model S. So suck it, John Broder and NYT. You can quote that.

And I'm spent...

Pictures from last night. Not very good, but it was night and stuff...

*don't gotta make travel plans

Elshout said:

I love it, now you'll have to order an Interior Set, Premium Carpet Floor Mats for only $250 plus about $70 shipping charge. Delivery time is not specified because TMC is apparently back ordered on this must have accessory.

Click to expand...

haha... you don't sound bitter at all.. :wink:

- - - Updated - - -

kendallpb said:

@kinddog: Congrats, man, and hilarious tale with the pix and all! :-D

Click to expand...

thanks, buddy.. :smile:

my kind thoughts after 1 week of ownership

1 - This car somehow exceeds any/all expectations. As you could probably tell from my delivery thread, I was excited to get this car. It could reasonably be said that my expectations could not be higher. And yet, every aspect of the Model S has exceeded my impossibly high expectations. It's hard to make a $100k car seem like a "value", but that's exactly what the Model S does. It is as liquidy smooth and comfortable as a Mercedes S-class. It is as sporty as a 911. It is as fast as a Ferrari. It is incomparable in terms of technology, environment, and innovation. Wow. I am more impressed every day I drive it.

2 - I did not expect the car to feel this solid. Bulletproof, actually. Sherman-tank like. Inspires extraordinary confidence and imparts a feeling of quality that even the highest-end Mercedes and BMWs fall just short of.

3 - The suspension is magical. Usually, in order to soak up crappy roads and potholes, you have to sacrifice sportiness and touch. Somehow, they managed to achieve both. I go over rough patches that would make my last car almost shatter apart, and it barely registers a sound in the Model S. And yet, on twisty country roads, the thing is as flat and precise as a BMW M3, with no discernible body-roll to speak of. I can see how, on a track, the Model S might exceed its own capabilities. but for 99.99% of real-world sport driving, the Model S absolutely conquers. I can't imagine them coming out with the rumored "track" edition with even stiffer suspension. Because while the S does soak up potholes and crap, it is still an extremely firm ride. You will feel every raise and undulation in the road. (this is a good thing, IMO, but I can imagine it would get old on long trips).

4 - I was very worried about how big the car is and about curbing the rims. I've come to find out that as long as you are "conscious" while maneuvering around parking garages, etc, it's not a problem at all.

5 - Lots of people in the car puts a hurt on acceleration. I had 5 people in one time and floored it and it wasn't even close to normal acceleration. I guess this is true of any car, but I have noticed it more with Model S.

6 - At first I was like "why did they put the signal stalk so low?". But now I love it because you don't have to raise your left arm off the armrest in order to signal. This encourages me to signal all the time now, thereby increasing safety.

7 - I love one-pedal driving with the re-gen on Standard. Turns the car into an almost zen-like experience, where the car is an extension of your body. Surreal. Lovely.

8 - People really freak out over it. This is generally pretty fun. Except when it's a ricer who starts tailing me.

9 - Amazing timing. I take delivery of Model S at the same moment this country is facing another inexplicable gas price increase. How empowering.

10 - I have not had one issue with the car. I do hear a moderate buzzing noise from engine at speeds of 65-70mph, but it seems to be getting quieter over time. Will bring it up to service when the time comes, but reading TMC, it is not unusual.

11 - The LED headlight halo is breathtakingly gorgeous. Never really noticed it before I got my car. I was wondering, since most luxury cars are doing the LED signature daytime running lamp thing, how Tesla could differentiate itself. They did. The lights are more purple than I thought too. Visually striking.