7 seats

[Mitrovic]

Well I would be in the market for a 7 seats EV. But I do not think this should be done in this body style. Kids driving backwards? No way for my kids. They would feel ill after the first bend.

Might be that they considered it, did speak about it, but then changed their minds and decided that the model S will be a 5 seater and the next model ( the SUV ) will be a 7 seater?

 

[Nik]

Well I would be in the market for a 7 seats EV. But I do not think this should be done in this body style. Kids driving backwards? No way for my kids. They would feel ill after the first bend.

Might be that they considered it, did speak about it, but then changed their minds and decided that the model S will be a 5 seater and the next model ( the SUV ) will be a 7 seater?

There are plenty of cars with optional rear-facing seats. Mainly large estates like Volvos.
I think with four or more kids I'd get an MPV, but for the odd time I need to fetch their freinds or grandparents it's no big deal.

You can see the placing of the seats in the bottom of the boot on one of the videos of the alpha - I think the Peter Rawlinson ones from Jan 6th 2011
http://www.portfoliotilt.com/aficionado/automotive/545-new-video-from-tesla-shows-off-model-s-engineering

 

[Todd Burch]

When I was young, I used to ride in the back of a Safari station wagon that had read-facing child seats...I never got sick. Actually was kind of fun for a kid!

 

[JimmWilks]

I used to love riding in the back of the car. Such a good view all the time, and you can wave to the drivers behind you.

 

[Doug_G]

Might be that they considered it, did speak about it, but then changed their minds and decided that the model S will be a 5 seater and the next model ( the SUV ) will be a 7 seater?

No, Tesla's FAQ says 7 seats is definitely a feature, but is an optional upgrade.

Model S | Frequently Asked Questions | Tesla Motors

 

[trevorlsciact]

Considering that Elon has 4 kids and he usually gets what he wants, I'm pretty confident that the 5+2 stays in at least as an option. Though if the safety isn't good enough for Elon to put his kids back there THEN I beleive they will scrap the option. Considering how much noise they've made with this I guess they properly modeled the safety before they released the specs. So all in all I give a 90% chance for rear jump seats to be option/standard equipment.

Cobos

Not to nit-pick, but he has 5 (!) kids I believe.

Might be that they considered it, did speak about it, but then changed their minds and decided that the model S will be a 5 seater and the next model ( the SUV ) will be a 7 seater?

They say there is no such thing as a stupid question... well, they are wrong. Sheesh just look at the Model S page on Tesla's website.

 

[stopcrazypp]

Kids driving backwards? No way for my kids. They would feel ill after the first bend.

As a frequent rider of buses, trains, streetcars with rear facing seats, I would say they would only feel sick if they get sick going forwards anyways. There is no difference.

The main issue I see is if there is enough head room in the back and a good enough view so it doesn't feel claustrophobic. But sitting backwards isn't really an issue.

 

[Mitrovic]

As a frequent rider of buses, trains, streetcars with rear facing seats, I would say they would only feel sick if they get sick going forwards anyways. There is no difference.

The main issue I see is if there is enough head room in the back and a good enough view so it doesn't feel claustrophobic. But sitting backwards isn't really an issue.

Me too, I travel a lot in trains, and have no problem with driving backwards, but there are indeed many people who ask me whether I mind to change, because they get sick driving backwards....

However I don't see why this should be a stupid question my dear "trevor ..." as I have been asked by several Model S interested people this question as they think I'm a "Tesla-specialist" ( I am not ! ) being an owner of the roadster

 

[Mitrovic]

No, Tesla's FAQ says 7 seats is definitely a feature, but is an optional upgrade.

Model S | Frequently Asked Questions | Tesla Motors

Thank you for this link! Answers also my question about the deposit!

 

[jkirkebo]

Me too, I travel a lot in trains, and have no problem with driving backwards, but there are indeed many people who ask me whether I mind to change, because they get sick driving backwards....

That reminds me of a story, an old lady about to travel from Oslo til Bergen by train asked the conductor for a forward facing seat since she always got so sick when riding backwards. The conductor promptly found a forward facing seat for her and she was happy. But alas, because of a signalling problem the train took a different route out of Oslo towards Bergen, that meant the whole train would be going "backwards" to Bergen (no problem since these are EMUs) and on a more curvy track too for the first two hours. After an hour the conductor got to the part of the train where the old lady sat, now going backwards. He was surely expecting a reprimande, but the old lady smiled and said "thank you for finding me such a nice forward facing seat". Apparently it was all in her head...

I actually prefer riding backwards on the train. I sleep better then, since hard braking will push me into my seat instead of trying to slide me out of it.

 

[JimmWilks]

Apparently it's safer for the same reason, in that if the train crashes you're hugged by the seat, not launched out of it.

 

[doug]

When I was young, I used to ride in the back of a Safari station wagon that had read-facing child seats...I never got sick. Actually was kind of fun for a kid!

I used to love riding in the back of the car. Such a good view all the time, and you can wave to the drivers behind you.

Yeah, I was gonna say, my sister's kids love riding in the back of their wagon. I remember it as fun too the few times I did it as a kid.

I'm just curious to see how it will work with that sloped rear glass, and safety requirements are certainly more stringent these days (wheather they are all sensible or not).

 

[strider]

Yeah, I was gonna say, my sister's kids love riding in the back of their wagon. I remember it as fun too the few times I did it as a kid.

The problem I had riding in the back there was that the air conditioning never made it back that far so having grown up in Oklahoma you ended up sitting in a greenhouse....:crying:

 

[stopcrazypp]

Me too, I travel a lot in trains, and have no problem with driving backwards, but there are indeed many people who ask me whether I mind to change, because they get sick driving backwards....

That's weird, I have never had that experience (perhaps because when I ride in trains I don't ride in particularly packed ones).

Supposedly those who get sick from sitting backwards is because unlike sitting forwards, you don't get to predict the direction you are traveling as well. Not sure how applicable this is to the rear seats of a car where you have a limited view of the outside (especially the road in the front) anyways.

 

[vfx]

Getting sick might come from Mom cracking the back window a bit to let the "fresh" air in.