Opportunity Console - New Photos, Poll

[MikeK]

Is the caller ID really that useful? Many businesses block caller ID on sending so you get unknown anyway.

Those are the folks who get to talk to my voicemail.

[MikeK]

If it's someone in your contact list though or who doesn't block their number, it would appear on the 17" screen instead of you having to look at your phone.

So does that mean that if somebody is not in my contact info, I don't even see the number displayed?

One of the things I like about the iPhone is that it does area code lookup. So, I may see just a number, but it says something like "Houston, TX", and I at least have some idea. So, there's an example of why it would be nice to have the phone's display within easy glancing territory.

[Jason S]

One of the options for next to the speedo is the phone display:

[spatterso911]

So does that mean that if somebody is not in my contact info, I don't even see the number displayed?

One of the things I like about the iPhone is that it does area code lookup. So, I may see just a number, but it says something like "Houston, TX", and I at least have some idea. So, there's an example of why it would be nice to have the phone's display within easy glancing territory.

It may display it, but that is unknown. One thing for certain, if it displays the number, at a minimum you at least get to see the area code, so you have some idea at least. If they are in your list of contacts, they have some relative importance to you, so you see their name, maybe even a photo of the person. Many people put the photos of their closest contacts (spouse, children, close friends) so that is great if I can tell at a glance of a picture.

[bbmertz]

Back on the topic of consoles, the non-performance Sunset Red vehicle I test drove in LA today had both a rubberized open console shelf under the display screen as well as a leather-covered armrest with cup holders between the driver and passenger seats. I really liked the open cubby shelf which I would use to store my wallet, sunglasses and phone. I also liked the armrest, since it was comfortable and slid forward to hide the cup holders when not in use. It would be even more functional if it popped open to store and connect my iPhone via USB, like the BMW 535i.

[vfx]

By the way. That tray in the red performance car had two USB and one 12V (cig) plug facing the dash.

[Denis Vinnie]

For those of us that live by the "place for everything and everthing in its place " philosophy, Tesla's present offering does little more then line the "negative vaccum" with the dash materials, it does nothing for compartmentalized storage...!? The concern her is not cosmetic, its functional. "Out of sight, out of mind" does wonders in discouraging would be thieves and vandals. The overwhelming majority of reservation holders participating in these forum have requested that some form of enclosed storage console be made available as an option, some going as far to say that they would take on the task themselves if need be. It would be unfortunate if looky-loo's (Potential Customers) beleived that some Tesla S owners poor attempt at a center console was factory delivered....then again , it may have come from Walmart. I recognize that Tesla is trying to make a point, but at what and whose expense? Furthermore, in the same way that my shirt sleeves and coat cuffs do not belong in my coffee, I for one, don't beleive that cupholders belong in the arm rests. Ideally they should be in a pop out cupholder in plain view and easily accessible with minimum reach.

[shokunin]

it sort of baffles me that Tesla has nailed the hardest part of the Model S, drivetrain, engine, styling, handling, etc. Yet when it comes to the minor details, they totally fell asleep. We have 10" or so vertical height that normal cars have an gear shifter, parking brake, cup holders, and armrest storage and armrests all in that space. Yet we have a floor that's trimmed and some leather bolsters on the side. Huh? I'm also wondering what the heck is under the armrest console that's a foot high that only has vents out the rear, 12v outlet and 2 usb ports. Someone mentioned electronics, but why do you need that much space for "electronics" in the center of the car? I digress...

Why not just raise the console floor by a mere 3" to put a shallow console. Keep the leather bolsters raised above this "console" so you can still put your purse, man-bag, or other items on top.

Below the screen put a small hinged door or sliding door that slides forward underneath the console for eyeglasses or small change storage, then cut out a couple of large holes for cup holders (cut front to back and not side to side, and finally a kleenex box sized rectangle area for concealed storage.

Better yet, take everyday items and ask your designers where in the world would you put them in an Model S.

1- Sunglasses
2- Phone
3- Wallet, keyfob, parking access cards
4- Excedrin, Advil bottle
5- chapstick, small bottle of lotion or sunscreen
6- Kleenex, napkins
7- pen / pencil
8- Coins, still needed for tollroads and parking meters
9- trash, eg used kleenex and napkins
10 - microfiber towel to constantly wipe off the touchscreen
11 - USB extension cable since there are no ports behind the console for rear seat passengers.

In it's current form, I'm going to have use a small gear bag from 511 tactical and just store all my stuff in there and leave it in the behind my seat which should blend in with the black interior.

I love the way the car drives that I am willing to overlook the storage issues. But other buyers may not be as tolerant.

[Soflauthor]

For those of us that live by the "place for everything and everthing in its place " philosophy, Tesla's present offering does little more then line the "negative vaccum" with the dash materials, it does nothing for compartmentalized storage...!? The concern her is not cosmetic, its functional. "Out of sight, out of mind" does wonders in discouraging would be thieves and vandals. The overwhelming majority of reservation holders participating in these forum have requested that some form of enclosed storage console be made available as an option, some going as far to say that they would take on the task themselves if need be. It would be unfortunate if looky-loo's (Potential Customers) beleived that some Tesla S owners poor attempt at a center console was factory delivered....then again , it may have come from Walmart. I recognize that Tesla is trying to make a point, but at what and whose expense? Furthermore, in the same way that my shirt sleeves and coat cuffs do not belong in my coffee, I for one, don't beleive that cupholders belong in the arm rests. Ideally they should be in a pop out cupholder in plain view and easily accessible with minimum reach.

I am one of the people who have "tasked themselves" with the job of designing a center console insert (CCI), and I do worry that my design will be a "poor attempt" or "Walmartish." [I've learned to be pretty objective about my design work and if I get a "poor attempt" vibe, I'll throw in the towel -- promise]. But I'm forging ahead for now. Over the weekend, I stopped by my local Tesla store and took some rudimentary dimensions for a beta center console channel -- recognizing full-well that things might change significantly when the product cars are introduced.

I then fired up my long dormant CAD software (it's amazing how quickly you forget how to use some apps) and created a much-refined engineering drawing of the sketch I presented way back in post # 126. By the way, the sketch was way off, in that the existing channels flare outward significantly as they approach the display end and are asymmetric (a surprise) at the display end. For those with interest, the entire CCI will be about 21 inches long, and 8 inches wide at the existing tower end and 12 inches wide at the display end. It will be 6" high at the tower and will contain edge top walls that fit a concave smooth spline curve that will terminate at the display at approx. 7 inches high -- very low profile, but not the three inches that @skokunin recommends in post #256. The top of the CCI will be flat and set about 3/4" nominal below the splined edge walls. Three compartments remain, although the center storage area has been redesigned and now has new dimensions at 10.0"L x 5.5" W x 5" D. The center storage area is itself modular and will accommodate cupholders with their own cover, storage with its own flip-top, and a few other optional surprises.

Next up, a pre-prototype (demonstration of concept). I'm stopping by my local hobby store/Home Depot and buying some modeling foam tomorrow. I'll then use my refined drawings as a baseline to craft a full-size foam model over the next few weeks. If it comes out well (it might not), I'll post some pics for those who might have interest in a hopefully non-walmart solution.

I'm still hopeful that TM will do the right thing and produce a CCI that is meaningful. But I'm having fun with this little project, and already believe that my CCI can be fabricated to look really good and serve an important interior function. Stay tuned.

[AnOutsider]

Mod Note: Discussions regarding physical buttons have been moved to Physical buttons in Model S