Retractable Door Handles - Is It Practical?

[gg_got_a_tesla]

I suppose Tesla could have it both ways but, as per the product specialist there in PA yesterday next to the static car, they have been observing how folks are working the handles at all these events and on the betas at some stores; this (conservative) approach could be the distilled wisdom from all that.

Who knows, it could all change again shortly.

 

[Robert.Boston]

FWIW, we leave our cars unlocked up at our summer place. No one comes out there except our friends and the UPS truck. I'd prefer, though, that the handles retract to keep the pine needles from accumulating inside.

 

[smorgasbord]

FWIW, we leave our cars unlocked up at our summer place. No one comes out there except our friends and the UPS truck. I'd prefer, though, that the handles retract to keep the pine needles from accumulating inside.

Would you be opposed to locking the car, or at least having it auto-lock?

For me, as soon as the handles retract while the doors are unlocked you get into the difficult position of having to figure ou when to extend the handles. That's when it gets less convenient than normal handles.

 

[Jason S]

I drove the Black/Pano Performance yesterday in PA and I would swear it had sensor opening. However it worked I had no trouble w/ it. I walked up to the car, touched the handle, handle extended, inserted my hand, opened the door.

That's the way I remember the handles working at the Fremont event as well. Not really understanding the issue at this point.

 

[vfx]

Reading through your comments it sounds like there was a lot of teaching going on. Tesla may have just decided it was not worth it doing the sensor with fleets, cabs, rental cars and valets all frustrated about their first interaction with the S.

 

[dtich]

i for one hope they consider making handle behavior a selectable parameter. i like the sensor open as i have had something similar for door locks on my latest car, just touching the handle unlocks the door, i'm used to touching things to throw switches. we will all get more and more used to using touch to enact physical changes, as opposed to using a full on push/pull.. it's the way things are moving. i can, however, see the touch being a steep learning curve especially for passengers, non-owners, and the thought of having to explain how the doors work all the time is sigh inducing.. but truthfully, it's worth it to me. what's wrong with learning a new way, if it's better, or worth something..?

which brings me to another thought. i hope, actually assume, that tesla doesn't 'chase' every nitpick that comes up on these boards. one thing a lot of the comments i am reading seem to forget is that this is a 'new car'. it's not your old car. and there are going to be several things to get used to. all the comments about how the model s should do this, and not do that, and the mirrors should do this, the touchscreen that... etc, etc--while the forum feedback is certainly important to, and hopefully valued by, tesla, and should help refine the usability of the car rather quickly in the beginning.. there is also a lot to be said for just trusting the engineer/designers and let's see how well the car works once we get to drive it for a while. there are always things to get used to. and often the new ways are better than the old ways, they just take some time to learn, to unlearn the old ways...

i'm just saying (in a somewhat tired and rambling way, obviously) that there should be a balance, a considered approach, to what changes are contemplated from the feedback on the boards--the VAST majority of which is based on a VERY short time period actually using the vehicle, and a relatively long period ruminating on the experience and winding ourselves up! ...all that said, i'm sure that's exactly the approach tesla is taking, and that they, probably more than anyone, can't wait for all of us to get cars in our hands so we can pipe down and just drive.


fwiw.

 

[Trnsl8r]

... which brings me to another thought. i hope, actually assume, that tesla doesn't 'chase' every nitpick that comes up on these boards. one thing a lot of the comments i am reading seem to forget is that this is a 'new car'. it's not your old car. ...
fwiw.

You got that right. And we have that dog ugly big black bar of afterthought housing the pano-roof's shades to prove it.

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

You got that right. And we have that dog ugly big black bar of afterthought housing the pano-roof's shades to prove it.

Not so sure about that. Was told at Palo Alto on Sunday that it is structural and doesn't have anything to do with sunshades. The betas just didn't have it but, the post-safety-rating pano-roof-equipped production models all have the bar.

 

[ddruz]

Not so sure about that. Was told at Palo Alto on Sunday that it is structural and doesn't have anything to do with sunshades. The betas just didn't have it but, the post-safety-rating pano-roof-equipped production models all have the bar.

I realize this is off topic but FWIW this is the same info I got at the LA test drive when I asked about it.

 

[Robert.Boston]

Would you be opposed to locking the car, or at least having it auto-lock?

For me, as soon as the handles retract while the doors are unlocked you get into the difficult position of having to figure out when to extend the handles. That's when it gets less convenient than normal handles.

I would program the handles to retract after, say, 2 minutes (even if the auto-lock mode is off). They would extend either when the key comes back into range or when someone touches the handle.

 

[unclfuzzy]

... i hope, actually assume, that tesla doesn't 'chase' every nitpick that comes up on these boards. one thing a lot of the comments i am reading seem to forget is that this is a 'new car'. it's not your old car. and there are going to be several things to get used to. all the comments about how the model s should do this, and not do that, and the mirrors should do this, the touchscreen that... etc, etc--while the forum feedback is certainly important to, and hopefully valued by, tesla, and should help refine the usability of the car rather quickly in the beginning.. there is also a lot to be said for just trusting the engineer/designers and let's see how well the car works once we get to drive it for a while. there are always things to get used to. and often the new ways are better than the old ways, they just take some time to learn, to unlearn the old ways...

I agree 100%. Except the folding mirrors. And the cup holders. Oh, and cooled seats. But other than those things all those nitpicking complaints are just so much hot air.
:wink:

 

[smorgasbord]

I would program the handles to retract after, say, 2 minutes (even if the auto-lock mode is off). They would extend either when the key comes back into range or when someone touches the handle.

Anytime you have to touch the handle to make it appear, you've decreased the usability.

What I recently found out (and should have figured out on my own), is that we have these silly retractable door handles to thank for the Model S doors being so thick. Think about it - where do the handles go when they retract, and what kind of mechanism is needed to push them out and pull them back in?

They could have put the money into making the bar over the sunroof smaller and covering it in the same material as the headliner.

 

[spatterso911]

Anytime you have to touch the handle to make it appear, you've decreased the usability.

Most keyless entry vehicles have either a button or touch mechanism to unlock the car, then another step to allow you to open the car. Tesla isn't adding a stage, only adding a complex process to preserve the aerodynamics of the car. I think the concept is superb, I only hope it is robust enough to handle hundreds of operations without fail. If it was nixed and replaced with conventional door handles, hundreds of posts would appear complaining about the potential loss of range, aesthetics, loss of the "cool factor", technological failure, and so on...

I say, keep them as designed, just deliver us a robust set of door handles as promised.

 

[vfx]

A...
What I recently found out (and should have figured out on my own), is that we have these silly retractable door handles to thank for the Model S doors being so thick. ....

I thought this was the super safe crash impervious car they wanted that made the doors thick.

 

[smorgasbord]

Most keyless entry vehicles have either a button or touch mechanism to unlock the car, then another step to allow you to open the car. Tesla isn't adding a stage, only adding a complex process to preserve the aerodynamics of the car. I think the concept is superb, I only hope it is robust enough ...

We can disagree on the concept - I think Aston Martin's simple pivot solution looks the same and has the same aerodynamic benefits, but works so much better, is more robust, and costs less. It doesn't have power extend/retract, if that's your idea of cool.

But, there's really no argument that having to touch the handles to make them appear is an added step and will make it take longer to get into the car. I challenge any SF Bay Sig owner this year to a race to get into the car - against my Honda pickup.

You'll have to push on the handle, wait for the handle to extend, put your hand in, and pull. Maybe pull, wait, and pull again from what I saw at the test drive event.

I'll pull the handle, which pulls the door in the same motion. Can't get much faster than that.

Now, tell me why you want to take longer to get into your car? Especially if you've parked in a sketchy neighborhood.

 

[Mycroft]

I'm in agreement with smorg. These handles are going to be the Model S's Achilles heel. They would have been much better served by having Aston Martin flipper type handles. IMO, one of Elon's rare missteps.

 

[unclfuzzy]

First time I've ever seen "Aston Martin" and "costs less" in that order. All Sigs will of course have the technology package, so the door handles will slide out when we approach the car. If you don't want to touch the fob or the door, spring for the tech package. I've grabbed and opened the door on a couple of Model S test drive cars now without thinking about it and yes, there is a slight (maybe .2 sec max) delay before the pull, but if you weren't looking for it you probably wouldn't even notice the difference. That said, I will happily concede the race to get into your Honda pickup. Given the choice, I will patiently wait for the power lift gate on my Model S to go up and crawl in over the back seats.
:wink:

 

[Trnsl8r]

I'm in agreement with smorg. These handles are going to be the Model S's Achilles heel. They would have been much better served by having Aston Martin flipper type handles. IMO, one of Elon's rare missteps.

Well said, sir.

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

Or, Tesla has really nailed these - as they get ready to deliver their first SSL - and more lay folks may actually be lured in by the "wow factor"!

 

[jerry33]

I think you have to get the technology package to really get the benefit of the handles. Otherwise they're going to get old after a while.