First Tesla Model S test drive with Elon Musk (video)

[Tchou]

That center screen is way too bright when you are out of town....
also, being no buttons you have to look at it to use it (so you don't look at the road.... ).
Not sure this is a good ergonomic point....

[zcat3]

If they can bring this car to market as stated at 50K, I wonder what that does to the expected 40K plus Volt? My wife and I had reserved Tesla Roadster number 137 (which we might have finally had by now) but pulled our reservation a year or so ago when our first child arrived as the Roadster no longer made sense to us. We have been waiting even since for this car. We currently have a Volvo XC70 wagon and a Hymotion Prius. The Model S, in an AWD mode, could eliminate our need for the Volvo altogether and combined with the Prius would be all the car we would need. If the Better Place model takes hold (which I suspect Tesla is in process of partnering with), then Musk may be right that a Model S is all the car you need.

If either quick charge stations or battery swapping stations exist by the time the Model S is released, it truly could be the car that changes everthing.

[Danny]

Originally Posted by Tchou

That center screen is way too bright when you are out of town....
also, being no buttons you have to look at it to use it (so you don't look at the road.... ).
Not sure this is a good ergonomic point....

In the 2nd video the Tesla rep states that the screen will be dimmable in the production model.

[efusco]

Originally Posted by Danny

In the 2nd video the Tesla rep states that the screen will be dimmable in the production model.

More than that, I bet it will auto-dim when the headlights are on. They also said you'd be able to skin the display. That would allow one to choose a darker skin to reduce some of the brightness.

[darelldd]

I still say that the huge touchscreen is the result of "look what we can do" instead of "how should this best be done.' I love the car, I do NOT love the huge touchscreen. Shades of HVAC control in the Prius!

Originally Posted by daniel

2. I intensely dislike the way they do re-gen: taking your foot off the accelerator activates regen braking.

I need to stop you right there. You may intensely dislike the *idea* but I can't imagine how you could possibly dislike the process - without having at least experienced it. I know you've ridden in a roadster, but you have not driven with the ACP controller, have you? Yes it is different. Yes it is something new to learn. And yes you absolutely can coast (and yes, I still think it should be defeatable - as it is in the roadster and I see no reason to expect otherwise in the S). This method of driving is *FANTASTIC* to those of us who have used it - and in fact I've found nobody who owns an ACP-controlled car that wished it operated any other way.

Hating the idea that you haven't yet experienced is like gas-car drivers hating EVs because of all the new scary stuff that they have not experienced.

[efusco]

"ACP controller", Darell? Can you clarify what that means?

[Fibb222]

Originally Posted by zcat3

... If the Better Place model takes hold (which I suspect Tesla is in process of partnering with), then Musk may be right that a Model S is all the car you need.

If either quick charge stations or battery swapping stations exist by the time the Model S is released, it truly could be the car that changes everthing.

As a resident Better Place fanboy, I'd be curious to know why you suspect Tesla and Better Place are talking. Is it just the Tesla S's swappable battery or do you have more juicy bits to share...?

[And I wonder which manufacturer ZENN is finalizing a deal with...]

What mpgs are you pulling with your hymotion?

[JimN]

Tesla is NOT selling the car for $50,000, it is $57,000. If people or Toyota published that they were selling the Prius for $22000 after the Federal credit how long would it take before "deceptive advertizing" was called?

Let's see, $40k for a car that can go 40 miles or $57k for a car that can go 160? Hmmm, guess which one doesn't get built. "Tesla Kills Volt", take that Alessandro.

[efusco]

Originally Posted by JimN

Tesla is NOT selling the car for $50,000, it is $57,000. If people or Toyota published that they were selling the Prius for $22000 after the Federal credit how long would it take before "deceptive advertizing" was called?

Let's see, $40k for a car that can go 40 miles or $57k for a car that can go 160? Hmmm, guess which one doesn't get built. "Tesla Kills Volt", take that Alessandro.

Well, FWIW Chevy's been advertising their $40k price as the after tax credit price too.

[darelldd]

Originally Posted by efusco

"ACP controller", Darell? Can you clarify what that means?

AC Propulsion. The guys behind the Tzero who built the drive system for the Tesla, the Mini-E and others. They're the ones who created this "lift to slow" regeneration being talked about. The only other folks who have done it are the makers of the Vectrix. Their twist throttle is very similar in design, with the added benefit of twisting it BACKwards - you actually go backwards. Neat.

Originally Posted by efusco

Well, FWIW Chevy's been advertising their $40k price as the after tax credit price too.

Yeah, I'm not sure I like where all this is headed. For example, I was expecting a certain tax credit on my Rav4EV of (I think) $4,000 back when I bough it. My credit ended up being $700 after all was said and done. The cost of the car and the credit are two different animals, and will likely NOT be the same for everybody.