P85+ barely better than P85

It seems like the associate you spoke with may not have been educated in the older configurations. The difference between P85 and P85+ is only related to handling. Others here can describe the differences in detail, but IIRC there are different bushings, sway bar, and the staggered tire setup.

All I can add is that my P85+ handles A LOT like my 2002 BMW M5. The P85, not so much.

If you're looking for acceleration and comfort, go for P85. If you're looking for a sport sedan like an M5 or AMG, go P85+.

I'll let the others who have tried both speak on this, but from what I recall, the P85D uses a softer suspension setup that the P85+, so it's probably closer to the P85 in handling. Also keep in mind the "D" adds close to 300 lbs more weight, which definitely has a negative effect on handling.

P85+ was the last car Tesla made that was a real sports car with handling: 470 hp with RWD, staggered wheels and sport suspension.

Todays D models are fast on straight roads, but heavier, soft suspension and no steering feeling.

Wait a sec. The D is quite a difference in handling. The best handling car Tesla ever made is a P85D. Now arguably, the newer P85Ds are not the same.

Life is not so simple that handling is P85D>P85+>P85>S85. Bushings were improved over time as well as other components less well documented. When I first drove a P85, I felt the rear was sloppy. It was 2013. Flash forward to 2015 P85D and I had never driven a sedan that handled that well.

"Handling" is also not just about g forces. The traction of the D motors doesn't equate to higher maximum lateral acceleration numbers but most people would interpret the traction as improved handling.

On Staggered tires - can someone please explain the physics to me how it benefits a AWD car with 50/50 weight distribution? I'm not seeing it but that doesn't mean I'm not missing something.

Lolachamp has some of the best creed on this forum. Why don't you ask what he drives....A p85D last I looked.

Niclas said:

Todays D models are fast on straight roads, but heavier, soft suspension and no steering feeling.

Click to expand...

I have a P85D on order and this comment (and others like it) worry me. There are a lot of conflicting opinions out there about the P85D and handling - many of the reviews I read/watch say it handles quite well, but then I see comments like this on TMC from folks (I assume) have driven it or better yet are owners. Is it really just a road yacht? I'm not looking for it to handle like a mid-engine Porsche but I'd at least like it to be on par with my current BMW 535i.

@tstafford - Didn't you drive it before buying?

Never ceases to amaze me how folks can drop $100K+ on a car without having driven it, then stress when a unknown contributor to a forum (who may not ever have driven one) makes an adverse comment
or worse still find it is 0.2 seconds off another brands lap time when they have no intention of ever using it on a track.

On balance though imho don't panic it will be different to your 535i but overall every bit as good if not better ... imho!

Keep in mind the early P85Ds have the same suspension as the P85+'s. At some point (March?) Tesla changed it such that all model S's use the same suspension.

Yes the early P85Ds had the +-suspension. However it was dropped without Tesla ever mentioned it. I did drive the P85D but it was nowhere near the P85+ in handling. Guess it was a later version (didnt check build date).

If you look in the Tesla part catalog early P85D have different suspension setup than P85+. P85D was even better than the + suspension. Air modules was not the same and P85D had larger anti roll bars and other bushings. But after 30 april P85D did get the same suspension as 70D and 85D that are much softer.

Wow, that's disturbing news about the P85D. Looks like I'll be keeping my P85+ a lot longer than I had figured.

Or until Tesla comes out with a P85D+

thegruf said:

@tstafford - Didn't you drive it before buying?

Never ceases to amaze me how folks can drop $100K+ on a car without having driven it, then stress when a unknown contributor to a forum (who may not ever have driven one) makes an adverse comment
or worse still find it is 0.2 seconds off another brands lap time when they have no intention of ever using it on a track.

On balance though imho don't panic it will be different to your 535i but overall every bit as good if not better ... imho!

Click to expand...

Of course I drove it. But having owned many, many cars - I don't think anyone can assess the feeling and experience of a totally new one without at least a few hundred miles in the seat. Having owned at least eight 911s I could easily go drive a new one and see what I think of it (I have a solid baseline), but the Tesla is a new creature to me - so the 30 minute test drive is a limited sample set.

From the part catalog for air modules.

tstafford said:

Of course I drove it. But having owned many, many cars - I don't think anyone can assess the feeling and experience of a totally new one without at least a few hundred miles in the seat. Having owned at least eight 911s I could easily go drive a new one and see what I think of it (I have a solid baseline), but the Tesla is a new creature to me - so the 30 minute test drive is a limited sample set.

Click to expand...

didn't they offer you a 24-hour test drive? Our Gallery in Texas does that, and it's a much better way to liv in the car than a simple test drive.

It also depends on the P85 vintage, too. Older P85's (2012, early 2013) have a different subframe and squishier bushings in the control arms that leads to a different feeling. Later on, Tesla changed the bushings and P85's handled considerably better, the only major differences between P85 and P85+ being the staggered tire setup and different airshocks.

^and thicker sway bars

but I can tell you that a lowered P85 on coil suspension is better still than P85+

We got one of the first P85Ds so I guess we have the old + suspension. I can tell you that compared to the non + P85 that we had for a year before getting the P85D, the handling is dramatically different. The P85D is one of the best handling large cars around. It's not quite as sharp as the BMW M5 we had about 12 years ago (then again, new Ms aren't that sharp either...), but it is definitely better than the P85 and the Audi A7 that we had before that. And I drive cars hard on really challenging roads along the CA coast.

We test drove a P85+ when we bought the original P85 and passed on it due to my refusal to have a car with a wheel size that guaranteed problems on CA's horrible roads. We almost didn't buy the P85D since it was originally introduced as 21" wheels only. There's no question that if you want a Model S with sharp and responsive handling, the P85+ was noticeably better than the regular P85. And from the seat of my pants, my sense is that our P85D bests the old P85+. The RWD P85 class had a tendency to step out on decreasing radius turns under power while our early P85D will just pull itself through as it accelerates HARD.

Niclas said:

Todays D models are fast on straight roads, but heavier, soft suspension and no steering feeling.

Click to expand...

My P85D is firmer and much less wobbly than my P85+.
Don't know about post April P85Ds.

As per OP question. There's hardly any steering feel regardless of version. RWD models provide somewhat more classic experience up to the point where traction control kills all the fun (no disabling). AWD is point and go, more like a GTR. Model S is not a track car. It goes into limp mode and cuts power by half after 1,5 minutes of hard driving (see nurburgring thread and video).