mmarshall

By request, a Static (non-test-drive) Review of the 2015 Tesla Model S

http://www.teslamotors.com/models

IN A NUTSHELL: Not cheap, but arguably the best pure electric car in production.

CLOSEST U.S. MARKET COMPETITORS: None in a pure electric mode......this car currently stands alone, although the Toyota Mirai is currently on the horizon.









(Front trunk)



(Front electric drivetrain/air-suspension, AWD version)



(Rear electric drivetrain/air-suspension, AWD version)










Tesla Motors, a relative newcomer to the modern automotive scene, is named for Nikola Tesla, a brilliant electrical engineer/physicist who once worked with the also-brilliant inventor Thomas Edison. Tesla and Edison, however, disagreed on the best way to apply electricity for general use (alternating-current vs. direct-current)...and both systems, of course, ended up in use for different functions. But, a number of economic, political, corporate, personality, and other factors intervened (I won't go into them all in detail here) to split up Edison and Tesla and send them their separate ways. Edison, off course, went down in the history books, but Tesla, despite his noted electrical and scientific achievements, never really got the credit he deserved.

Until now, that is......now that the maker of what are arguably the world's most advanced pure-electric, battery-powered passenger-cars is named after him. Although it also produces the less-expensive Model X, the company is best-known for its pricey but superb Model S, which comes in four different versions.....70D, 85, 85D, and P85D, depending on the number of on-board electric motors and if it is RWD or AWD. 70D versions come with a 70KWH battery, a single 329 HP electric motor, and AWD. 85 models come with an 85 KWH battery, a single 362 HP electric motor, and RWD. 85D models come with the same battery, single 422 HP electric motor, and AWD. P85D models, which IMO are the most interesting and advanced, come with the same battery, two electric motors (221 HP front, 470 HP rear), and AWD. Better be strapped into your seat with the P85D....Tesla claims a bruising 3.1 seconds from 0-60 MPH. On a drag strip (which, IMO, is the only proper place for it...not public roads), you'll give some of the baddest muscle-cars out there a run for the money.

So what does this cost? Prices start at $75,000 for a 70D and run to $105,000 for the top-line P85D....although state and/or Federal tax credits for alternate-fuel vehicles lower it some. For well-heeled buyers, though, it just might be worth it......Consumer Reports considers the Model S to be one of the best cars they have ever tested, with almost twice the range of other typical full-electric cars. Also, Tesla, sales,wise, does not market and sell their vehicles like other auto companies. They don't have franchise dealerships, instead, selling directly from company-owned shops with their own sales and service departments (like the one I visited myself for this write-up). For this reason, Tesla does not sell in all 50 states (yet) as current laws in some states forbid that company-direct practice....and, in some other states, competing auto companies are suing to try and stop the practice in court. The final legal outcome of all of this has not been settled yet, so Tesla's future in some states is still uncertain. The company also, from what I could tell, and from what some salespeople say, does not sell cars (or has very few cars to sell) right off the showroom floor, or on lots, at dealerships. If you want a new one, you simply order it, pay your deposit, wait in line, and pick it up at the nearest company store when it comes in.

I had never been to a Tesla store myself, so, for me, I didn't really know much of what to expect (knowing only what I had read in magazines and articles).....so, it was as much of a learning experience for me as it was for you. In fact, perhaps even MORE of a learning experience for me, because some of you may already own Teslas and/or know what to expect.

The store I went to, which was a brand-new one just outside of Washington D.C. in the suburbs, was surprisingly stark and low-key in its furnishings...bare walls, almost no place for customers to sit down, no wide-screen TVs, no coffee machines or snack bar. It was nothing like what you would find at a typical Lexus or Infiniti dealership, where they obviously spend a fortune on customer-perks. In the back of the crude showroom was one large desk with three seats, where the hostess, manager-in-charge, and one salesperson all sat together. On the right side of the showroom was a completely-assembled Model S in dark red with black leather interior (it had no window sticker, so the price and stats for it weren't displayed).......and, on the left side of the room, a completely stripped-down Model S frame/chassis on display with nothing on it but the bottom of the frame, wheels/tires, front motor/drivetrain/air-suspension, empty battery-compartments, and the rear motor/drivetrain/air-suspension. The four BIG air-suspension struts stuck up like four mini-towers. Everything on the lower-frame was aluminum.....which, of course, adds to the cost. Embedded in the lower-frame (the front and rear passengers sit directly over the top of them), were a number of shallow molded-aluminum compartments that housed the ultra-advanced lithium-ion battery-packs (another reason for the car's cost). Those powerful, advanced battery-packs are the key to the car's very long cruising range (by pure electric-car standards)...all else equal, almost twice as far, in some cases, as one can expect from typical run-of-the-mill pure electrics today. So, with the Model S, you do get what you pay for in the battery/powertrain department.....this is no ordinary plug-in commuting machine.

And, of course, you also get what you pay for with the rest of the car.....though there were a couple of features inside that I didn't like. I took a long time to closely examine that dark red Model S in the showroom, and I was thoroughly impressed with its fit-and-finish and material quality, inside and out. It was not the most plush or luxurious looking interior I had seen..... for instance, it doesn't wrap you everywhere with rich woods and leather like a Rolls-Royce, Bentley, or Maybach, but everything in it had the well-finished look, fit, and feel of a jeweler's hand. The wood-tone trim on the dash, interior hardware, door panels, dash materials,....all had excellent materials, fitted almost to perfection. The seat leather was soft, plush, and comfortable...it would give the old Jaguar Connally seat-leather a run for the money. There was decent head and legroom in front, and better-than average legroom in back, though the low roofline compromises some headroom for tall persons in back.

And it was even more impressive outside. I've seen some great-quality stock factory paint jobs in my time, especially from Lexus and Audi, but I think this one takes the cake. The factory colors weren't especially bright (they had huge color chip-samples mounted behind the car), but Good Night, was that dark red paint applied, smoothed, buffed, and polished to absolute mirror-perfection. A Swiss jeweler couldn't have done it any better. (I'd probably cry if I saw that paint damaged by vandalism, weather/storms, or an accident). The mirror-like exterior chrome door handles recess into slots in the doors...you lightly tap on them to pop them out for use. There are two trunks; one up front and one in back......the compact front electric motor lies low and far back enough that it doesn't intrude on any cargo space, and, of course, because this is a pure-electric car, there is no need for a space-grabbing radiator or hoses up front. There is also, of course, a conventional trunk in back....the aforementioned battery-packs, down low in the frame, sit low enough that they don't intrude on rear cargo space either. Both trunks are very well-finished with thick, plush carpeting on both the floor and walls.

Complaints? Yes, a few. I haven't found a perfect vehicle yet for my tastes, and probably never will. The large wheels and ultra-wide, lower-profile tires on the version in the showroom looked like they wouldn't stand up to potholes or sharp-bump impacts very well without possible damage. The entire dash was nothing but a sea of smooth trim, air vents, and literally finger-touch icons/symbols for literally just about everything...there were no conventional *****/levers or push-buttons at all. The big (and I mean HUGE) central video-display, especially with the NAV screen in use, looked as gaudy as a circus. I don't know if I could own or drive a car like that....I much prefer the feel of conventional controls to finger-touch icons, though I use a few of the stereo/clock icons in my Verano without too much trouble. And, even as slick-operating as they were, I found the dual-push exterior door handles pretty much a gimmick...IMO, one should not have to push first on them to pop them out of the door itself.

The request was for either a static or (if possible) full-review, but I did not test-drive the red Model S in in the showroom, even though, according to the gauge, it had a 175 mile charge still left on it. It was their only demo, and it would have had to come out the front doors and go back in again. If I get a chance with an unsold or available one soon, I might go back for test-drive, as I'm interested to see what its road manners are like. But, in the meantime, even from a static-review, I can assure you that this is quite a vehicle.

And, as always, Happy Car-Shopping.

MM

Fizzboy7

I would expect these cars and this company to go down in history. It will be very interesting seeing which offerings they have thirty years from now. Hopefully some of us will still be alive by then to look back at the starting date and observe the growth and progress.

mmarshall

Part of their future, of course, at least in some states, will determine on the outcome of existing state legislation and a number of lawsuits from other automakers who claim that Tesla is violating state laws. Some states have already granted Tesla waivers from their usual dealer-franchise laws, perhaps because they see how successful the brand is becoming and want to collect tax on those sales. As far as I understand, though (and i'm not a lawyer).....the company, at present, is still banned from several states unless they adopt conventional franchises in those states.

BTW, just for the record, Tesla stock closed at 280.02 on July 2...the last day of public trading before the long July 4 weekend.

Toys4RJill

The new cars in 30 years are going to be pretty awesome. I can't wait till the Toyota Mirai. I already love the looks of it.

mmarshall

The Mirai's base price has been estimated at around 58K (about the same as the bottom-line Model S).....so, obviously, a lot is going to be expected of it. However, as with the Tesla, tax credits may drop that price some.

chrisexv6

I became pretty familiar with the Model S as a family member was shopping for (and eventually purchased) one.

All the phone calls I had with him touting how nice the car was, how everything "just works" (Apple, anyone?), etc. I really just kinda grinned and beared it. I mean, its not exactly cheap, so I would expect the thing to "just work"

Then I drove the loaner he had for a few days. And I came away talking about the exact same stuff he did. It....just....works. Its like they thought of everything you would want to do, and its all right there and waiting.

I too thought the touchscreen only interface would irk me. But nope...I actually liked it, and quickly adapted to it. I think its becuase they actually used a screen big enough to support more than 1 function at a time. Acura seems to be closest with heir 2 screen setup, but still not as elegant as one big screen like in the Tesla.

As far as how it drives....I loved the ride it gave. Not sure what size wheels/tires were on the loaner, but it wasnt too firm and it wasnt too "boat like" over bumps. Handled pretty damn well for a car that weighs 5000 lbs. And acceleration? Yeah, it has a nose cone up front, like a space ship. When you hit the go pedal, it feels like you are in a spaceship. And that was "just" the 70kw model....he purchased the 85kw (sorry, no insane mode)

I know $80K is a lot of money, but if you are looking at spending $80K on a BMW, mercedes, etc.....I feel like your money would be much better spent on the Model S. We wont even get into how he can just go to someone elses (popular at casinos, hospitals, newer highway rest stops, etc) supercharging station and "fill up" for free.

mmarshall

Thanks for your input, chrisexv6. You helped fill in some of the areas I had to leave blank.

chrisexv6

No problem. if anyone else wants any info, feel free to ping me. I can run it by the owner

BTW, you mentioned the lack of hard buttons. Funny thing is we actually prefer no buttons. And Tesla does too....the only "hard" buttons in the car are for the hazard lights and the glove compartment release. The hazard light button is an NTSB requirement....Tesla is actually lobbying to get that requirement removed.

Im not sure the reasoning for a hard button on the glove compartment, other than maybe because if you want to get something out of it, you dont want to have to "start" the car to get to the touchscreen to open it.

Tesla is even lobbying to remove side view mirrors and replace them with cameras.....not only does it look better, but it improves aerodynamics (thats their argument)

LeX2K

I'm surprised the ability to charge for free is not talked about more. Suppose you could go to most any gas station and fill up for free, everyone would be talking about this like it was the greatest thing ever.

mmarshall

Good point. Tesla does have, in addition to its sales/service-outlets and their integrated recharging stations, a network of charging-only stations that do not provide any other services (locations are on their web-site, along with the sales-outets). How much they actually charge for that service (no pun intended) , or whether a certain number of free or discounted charges is included with the new-car-sale, I didn't ask. Perhaps some Tesla owners or employees here can chime in here on that.

Toys4RJill

You can actually plug the car into any outlet anywhere.

I know an owner and they come home and just plug the car into their installed charger at the end of the night. They never take super long trips and they have never needed to plug it any anywhere.

The car is a luxury item for the super rich. The owner I know of also has an AMG G-Wagon and a Aston Martin, but I see them drving the Tesla more than the other two.

mmarshall

A regular 120V home-outlet typically takes 8 hours or more (perhaps even more with the Tesla's long-range batteries). A 220V outlet, similar to that for a dryer or oven, might cut that to just a couple of hours. But Tesla outlets (supposedly, since I didn't actually see one) use 400V chargers, the most powerful ones currently available, that can do the job in 20-30 minutes.

Toys4RJill

I don't know about you, but I find the Tesla fascinating and would do it if I had the money for an additional car in that price range. I also find the new upcoming Mirai fascinating as well, although there is not center speedo.

corradoMR2

For me, it's extremes, love/hate with this car:

LOVE:
+ exterior styling
+ range (P85) and low running costs
+ smooth, quiet, and powerful acceleration
+ leading edge tech, customer support, and overall brand representation

HATE:
- interior styling: dash design, front/rear seat design with fixed head rests, door panels, everything.
- cheap-appearing plasticky materials (door panels mostly) even though it's mostly leather
- rattle-induced door slam (frameless windows)
- 196" length and 77" width is too big

Make a smaller compact sedan (180-185" length) with warmer interior and 40-60K price range, I see a Tesla in my future.

BrickHead

I know this is a great car. But does anyone think its interior is not very roomy? I sat in one at a Tesla dealer and thought the headroom was kind of limited. Additionally, certain luxury features common in other vehicles at the same price range are missing in this car.