Build quality: alignment of trunk

[Right_Said_Fred]

On several cars that were shown at yesterday's event I've noticed that the trunk does not completely align with the back of the car (see pictures below). On the brown car you can see that the lines of the right tail light are not completely aligned (on the left one they are). The blue car has the same problem, but less noticable.

I hope - and think - Tesla will fix this as they step up production.

[ElSupreme]

I think this has more to do with the 'slop' bolting on the plastic lamp housings, versus a real panel misallignment.

My GTI had/has this. I replaced all the rear lamp housings (to LEDs with amber turn signals, ) and I fixed/changed the way the lamps align with the body panels and themselves. You could probably 'fix' this the way you want it to look with a socket set.

Also if there is any change in depth this will look bad in photos at most angles.

[MikeK]

I'm more concerned with the gap on the side of the trunk. Compared to the panel gaps on the doors, etc, that gap looks quite oversized. I'm also not very happy with how the bottom edge of the trunk aligns with the bumper below it. I had hoped for better panel fit by this point. My fingers are certainly crossed that we'll see an improvement by the time my car is built.

[medved]

Yeah, I noticed that too on many videos. Sometimes i think the trunk is not closed properly. And that is way i am considering black color. It shouldn't be that visible on black.

[MikeK]

Yeah, I noticed that too on many videos. Sometimes i think the trunk is not closed properly. And that is way i am considering black. It shouldn't be that visible on black.

It's definitely not as visible on the darker colors. Here's the blue:



And here's the Dolphin Grey:

[SoCalGuy]

It's definitely not as visible on the darker colors. Here's the blue:

The rear tire well looks like its very close to touching the tire - does anyone know what the GVWR is for the Model S? Curious what its payload capacity is. The Karma's is relatively low (800lbs) which I suppose is fine for 4 adults and a small trunk.

[Todd Burch]

You cannot look at a picture to determine gap and flush. The gap you are seeing is on a complex curved surface whose normal direction changes as you progress from the trim toward the taillight. Near the chrome trim, the normal direction points more toward the camera. Near the taillight, the normal direction points more straight up. This results in foreshortening that makes it appear as though there is a significant gap and flush problem.

For what it's worth, I am in the precision metrology field, and I daily work with precision measurement in manufacturing on anything from spacecraft and aircraft to automotive and particle accelerators.

What you are seeing is an optical illusion.

[Robert.Boston]

Further, if you get the air suspension, it auto-balances load, so you shouldn't have trouble carrying large or even unbalanced loads.

[Todd Burch]

The rear tire well looks like its very close to touching the tire - does anyone know what the GVWR is for the Model S? Curious what its payload capacity is. The Karma's is relatively low (800lbs) which I suppose is fine for 4 adults and a small trunk.

It looks close because the air suspension is at its full lower limit. It's very likely not because there are a few people sitting in the back.

[ElSupreme]

What you are seeing is an optical illusion.

THIS!