1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Tesla Model S sightings

Discussion in 'Tesla' started by mbartley, Oct 4, 2012.

  1. austingreen

    austingreen Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2009
    13,525
    4,057
    0
    Location:
    Austin, TX, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    Its a big state, and I just haven't seen them around here.

    Electric vehicles go well with Texans. The car dealers lobby is strong though. A manufacturer can not have a dealership in our state. Tesla has places to see the cars, but the nearest is in houston 3 hours away. Then you need to buy it from out of state, and have tesla deliver it. Manufacturers can have repair facilities.
     
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,191
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Check out this thread, at least one owner offering to let folks see his...

    Austin

    Evan, ?
     
    austingreen likes this.
  3. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Ok. I saw a Black Model S on 880 south in Fremont yesterday, couple hours before Superbowl started.

    Wow, that is some stunning looking car. Wheels were huge. 21" right? Tires were very low profile. That car looks like it means business too. Looks like it rides pretty darn low to the ground. I heard it has adjustable suspension to lower at highway speeds for less drag.

    I've gotta go have a good look at one in Menlo Park.
     
  4. sdtundra

    sdtundra Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2008
    1,314
    193
    0
    Location:
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    15 South passing Carmel Mt. Road today around 1-1:30pm
    [​IMG]
     
    Blu-ray likes this.
  5. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    19,891
    1,191
    9
    Location:
    Nixa, MO
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    21" rims on the performance models (or you can upgrade for $3500), 19" rims are standard (and better for fuel economy and a LOT cheaper to replace).
    The air suspension automatically lowers to the lowest setting when you've been at 55mph for 2 minutes (I think that's the duration) or instantly when you exceed 72mph.
     
  6. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2010
    2,382
    1,304
    0
    Location:
    California, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Chevy Volt
    I often see 4-6 Model S cars during my regular round trip commute between San Francisco and Silicon Valley. I'm surprised at how quickly they have become a common sight. They are almost as common as LEAFs on the road during my early morning drive.

    My guess is that there is a bias towards longer trips by early morning drivers. That, in turn, means fewer LEAFs due to their smaller EV range for drivers who can't reliably recharge at work. Tesla is also a local company and there are a lot of early adopter types here and lots of EVs generally.

    I should try counting the number of plugin cars I see during each day for a week. My guess is that I'll see an average of 10 plugins on the road plus a dozen parked each day.
     
  7. Sergiospl

    Sergiospl Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2011
    3,938
    1,351
    28
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
  8. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,571
    48,862
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    saw a white one on the new jersey turnpike today, around exit 11.
     
  9. Jeff N

    Jeff N The answer is 0042

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2010
    2,382
    1,304
    0
    Location:
    California, USA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Chevy Volt
    I bought a "tally counter" mechanical clicker thing at Office Depot for $3 last weekend and have been using it to count plugin cars. So far, I'm clicking 10-14 plugins a day on the road, parked on the street, or parked at charging stations other than my workplace (where I typically see at last another 10).
     
  10. sdtundra

    sdtundra Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2008
    1,314
    193
    0
    Location:
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Dark red one on I-8 west passing Viejas Casino on Monday the 18th...pics soon
     
  11. sdtundra

    sdtundra Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2008
    1,314
    193
    0
    Location:
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Dark blue going down Scripps ranch blvd. I was in the Ram towing a 9k lb trailer getting a whopping 8mpg
     
  12. Sergiospl

    Sergiospl Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2011
    3,938
    1,351
    28
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
  13. sdtundra

    sdtundra Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2008
    1,314
    193
    0
    Location:
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    White one with air suspension on the carpool/HOV lane on the 405 South in the Long Beach area at around 2:04PM.

    Dark blue Performance model with black 21 inch wheels in the Scripps Ranch area on Friday afternoon...seeing it up close on the street was awesome.
     
  14. sdtundra

    sdtundra Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2008
    1,314
    193
    0
    Location:
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Dark red on 5 South last night around 8pm. Older gentleman behind the wheel. Picked him up at Nobel Dr. and followed until I got off on I-8 East. Had the air suspension and 21 inch wheels and was cruising at about 80 in the left lane...looked so slick. Those tail lights are a dead giveaway from far.
     
  15. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2012
    3,779
    1,282
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
  16. mbartley

    mbartley Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2010
    47
    5
    0
    Location:
    LA County, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I just parked next to one just like that at work this morning. I'll spare the bandwidth of posting another picture...
     
  17. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2012
    3,779
    1,282
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Interesting story. It talks about in part how Tesla regentative breaking can be adjusted based on preference, and in cold weather automaticaly adjusts down until batteries are warm. I guess if you have to break hard there is a spike of energy that is sent to the batteries and if the battery is cold it may do damage. The car is smart enough to auto correct based on environment.

    Life With 2013 Tesla Model S: The Good & The Bad At 600 Miles
     
  18. Sergiospl

    Sergiospl Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2011
    3,938
    1,351
    28
    Location:
    Florida
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    2013 Tesla Model S vs 1956 Citroën DS-19! Head 2 Head Episode 29
     
    xs650 likes this.
  19. Corwyn

    Corwyn Energy Curmudgeon

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2011
    2,171
    659
    23
    Location:
    Maine
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I saw a Model S parked on the side of the road the other night. I actually backed up to get a good look, and to make sure I saw the name plate correctly. Silver with a temporary vanity plate. Good to see them getting up here in Maine. Head turning car for sure.
     
  20. sdtundra

    sdtundra Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2008
    1,314
    193
    0
    Location:
    Sacramento, CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Tesla Supercharger at Tejon Ranch on my way to Sacramento. There was a diesel Chevy parked there when I showed up but he left within 10 minutes. Walked out of Panda Express and saw these. The one on left is a Performance with Washington plates and clear roof.
    [​IMG]