I got the impression from early Bjorn videos
Bjørn Nyland that early model S's were "some assembly required". So, unfortunately, I'm experiencing the same thing.
I decided to try Rock Wool: sound and temperature insulation, under the driver floor mat. I put it in. Pros:
- It blocked out a huge amount of noise. Lots of noise still comes in from all sorts of other areas of the car, and I heard many many ICE engines and other loud noises, however, it is amazing how much noise that one mat absorbed. That is a huge advantage.
- It seems like it is in the right position to stop a large amount of the cold air coming in from that area I found with the heat gun.
- While installing it, I realized two things: that the area that gets cold depresses slightly more than the rest of the floor there, and that that is exactly where I put the weight of my entire body when I get in; is that causing the car to break, and therefore there is a hole there the service center did not find? Is that another disadvantage of not getting the Model X where it is easier to get in and out? Maybe I discovered something during this process.
- Rock Wool is insulating, sound absorbing, and won't burn worth a damn, so actually prevents some fire spread a little.
Disadvantages:
- I cut a cake of the wool so thick that the accelerator doesn't go all the way in. I will thin it there somehow.
- I put the Rock Wool in naked, which dispersed fibers throughout the cabin the first time I got in. I decided I had to wrap it somehow.
- It does not have a lot strength; when I get in and out, it gives way, and will probably disintegrate in lots of use and movement in driving.
So, I decided to try some things to tame the Rock Wool, or replace it. I rummaged through Home Depot, and found three things: pink panther board (burns, stiff, thinner than Rock Wool); cardboard in the stocking cart (cardboard will disintegrate with use and moisture and is a poor insulator); and vacuum bag for packing clothing to be moved, which I figured would squish the Rock Wool for the accelerator pedal enough and prevent the fibers from coming loose and doing nasty in the cabin.
First up, I tried the vacuum bag. It's a bit of a chore to get the bag to work right (cheap zipper, plastic tears, getting nozzle in a good place where it ends up in use and still vacuums (it has to be placed on the contents to suck all the air out, yet placed correctly to not interfere with my installation)), but it seems to suck the Rock Wool to 1/3rd its original size, and also, it will keep the fibers in place. I had to fold the excess of the bag over, which is a chore. This whole sandwich went under the mat. Disadvantages of the vacuum bag: burnable, and I figure the smooth plastic will cause a gap where the air can easily pass through and around the bag unimpeded. I'd have to somehow gasket the bag to the floor, in other words. Some sort of insulation, maybe?
So, I experienced most of my problems getting cold as it turns out on California Highway 120: long distances, often reduced state of charge of the battery, high speeds for extended times, cold, and at night. So, anybody from Tesla who wants to experience crappy heating at the feet might try Highway 120 from the factory to Yosemite and back at night, especially right now, with snow on the roads and it still being winter cold out. But, see above, where I discuss that I might have had my weight (around 175#) cause a puncture in the floor of the car as I got in and out which may be different than a factory model.
Are we not supposed to stand in the car while getting in and out of it? It's hard enough not to hurt myself getting in and out, so what seems to work well in every other way right now seems like it would be dumb to stop doing if it causes me injury to try another method.
This would have been a fun YouTube video, but then I'd need a video helper, video editing time, and I'm self conscious about how I sound, so forget that.
Pictures: