Tesla S - anyone else had a go? Views?
Discussion
Had a go in a Tesla S P85 the other day. Very fast, very refined but lacking in soul. I know it's not the fact it's an EV - as I recently borrowed an i3 for the weekend and loved it. Also the massive ipad didn't look right or offer the tactility/usability of more usual controls. Also the interior quality is a bit s
t compared to other cars in a similar price range. Also bloody expensive here in Sweden - £85k for a mid spec 85 with a few options.
Very disappointed as I liked the idea of an electric car but couldn't live with the i3's range or the poor BMW forecast residuals.
Anyone else had a go?
t compared to other cars in a similar price range. Also bloody expensive here in Sweden - £85k for a mid spec 85 with a few options.Very disappointed as I liked the idea of an electric car but couldn't live with the i3's range or the poor BMW forecast residuals.
Anyone else had a go?
I test drove the Tesla in Florida. Loved it. I really like the large touch screen, but then I'm not a fan of typical complex, button heavy luxury car dashboards. Instrument panel is excellent too, IMO. I agree the rest of the interior (seats, etc.) is a bit below par for the price. Improved seats are coming apparently. Also it is a very wide car for UK roads and garages.
I haven't driven the i3, but the battery is small, given it was launched 3 years after the Leaf. I expect this will be improved soon. Nissan are already talking about a significant range increase for the Leaf. The EV sector will become a LOT more competitive by 2015/16. I'm hanging onto my 2011 Leaf until something significantly better comes along at a reasonable price. If I was buying new now, I would consider i3, Leaf, Zoe and Tesla S. Golf EV is another option, but nothing really new there.
I haven't driven the i3, but the battery is small, given it was launched 3 years after the Leaf. I expect this will be improved soon. Nissan are already talking about a significant range increase for the Leaf. The EV sector will become a LOT more competitive by 2015/16. I'm hanging onto my 2011 Leaf until something significantly better comes along at a reasonable price. If I was buying new now, I would consider i3, Leaf, Zoe and Tesla S. Golf EV is another option, but nothing really new there.
RossP said:
The i3 battery is small by design. It's designed as a car for around 80 miles range, so what's the point of lugging around a bigger (heavier) battery than you need?
Better battery technology provides more energy for the same weight. The i3 was supposed to be light because of carbon fibre construction, not because they skimped on the battery. I think the i3 is a great car and everything I have read says it is a great drive (must test one soon!). My point was that in terms of battery tech it does not materially improve on a 3 year old design, despite Li battery technology supposedly improving by 5+% per year. To me the i3 is a second generation EV with a first gen battery.Would this change the EV market?
http://transportevolved.com/2014/01/30/nissan-asks...
RossP said:
BMW conducted extensive trials to ascertain the required daily range of an EV. From these it concluded that 80 miles range was enough for the majority of users, so it doesn't need a more powerful battery. Yes, you should try one, they're great!
That's what Nissan said when the Leaf was launched! (translation: we only had so much budget and the batteries are as good as it gets for now).More seriously, can you get a true 90 miles in your i3 by Noddy-style driving? That would be impressive. I think the Leaf is more like 80 miles best case. I plan for 60 miles in Summer, 50 miles in Winter (old tech heater on mine).
c2mike said:
That's what Nissan said when the Leaf was launched! (translation: we only had so much budget and the batteries are as good as it gets for now).
More seriously, can you get a true 90 miles in your i3 by Noddy-style driving? That would be impressive. I think the Leaf is more like 80 miles best case. I plan for 60 miles in Summer, 50 miles in Winter (old tech heater on mine).
More seriously, can you get a true 90 miles in your i3 by Noddy-style driving? That would be impressive. I think the Leaf is more like 80 miles best case. I plan for 60 miles in Summer, 50 miles in Winter (old tech heater on mine).
I will let you know when I get it! From what I've read / heard 100+ is possible from Noddy driving.
I very much enjoyed driving the Model S (and have ordered one).
I agree that the leather and general quality of the interior let the car down given the price. Having said that this is a full size supercar (to 120 MPH anyway) and a complete game changer. I found the car fun to drive - the StarTrek-like warp speed whoosh upon hard acceleration and it handled too (with traction off you can VERY easily drift the car). The economics of owning are highly compelling too.
All thumbs up from me!
I agree that the leather and general quality of the interior let the car down given the price. Having said that this is a full size supercar (to 120 MPH anyway) and a complete game changer. I found the car fun to drive - the StarTrek-like warp speed whoosh upon hard acceleration and it handled too (with traction off you can VERY easily drift the car). The economics of owning are highly compelling too.
All thumbs up from me!
Edited by adamfawsitt on Sunday 9th February 10:52
adamfawsitt said:
I very much enjoyed driving the Model S (and have ordered one).
I agree that the leather and general quality of the interior let the car down given the price. Having said that this is a full size supercar (to 120 MPH anyway) and a complete game changer. I found the car fun to drive - the StarTrek-like warp speed whoosh upon hard acceleration and it handled too (with traction off you can VERY easily drift the car). The economics of owning are highly compelling too.
All thumbs up from me!
I'd be interested to hear your views once delivered. I'm still very interested, though even with the low running costs (inc free charging on network for life!) it's still hard to make the numbers add up. In Sweden they are pretty pricing, and I can't help thinking there are more special places to sit for 80-100k GBP equivalent. I do like the rest of the package though. I agree that the leather and general quality of the interior let the car down given the price. Having said that this is a full size supercar (to 120 MPH anyway) and a complete game changer. I found the car fun to drive - the StarTrek-like warp speed whoosh upon hard acceleration and it handled too (with traction off you can VERY easily drift the car). The economics of owning are highly compelling too.
All thumbs up from me!
Edited by adamfawsitt on Sunday 9th February 10:52
I went to see the demo Model S at Westfield.
The only things that concerned me was the quality of some of the interior hard plastics and that front seats - I felt too high up and with limited adjustment felt a bit cramped as a passenger in the front.
Also the exposed seat mechanism/mounts was a bit cheap too.
The dash screen is very responsive, the interior lighting is great and the general fit and finish is of a high standard despite the above caveats.
The only things that concerned me was the quality of some of the interior hard plastics and that front seats - I felt too high up and with limited adjustment felt a bit cramped as a passenger in the front.
Also the exposed seat mechanism/mounts was a bit cheap too.
The dash screen is very responsive, the interior lighting is great and the general fit and finish is of a high standard despite the above caveats.
As soon as she-who-is-important agrees we're ordering one. They've just reduced the prices in Switzerland by about CHF 10,000 meaning the 85 is about the same price as a 535d. However, when I did the sums the ownership costs were more like those of a M135i. And this in a country with very low government subsidies and cheapish petrol prices.
They're currently selling more than all other electric cars combined. Whether they will continue to do so with the i3 on the market I don't know. I see one on the roads most days. If you can find one on the second hand market it costs more than new.
I have 3 supercharger stations within driving distance of home (north, just outside Stuttgart, in the west side of Switzerland and east in St Anton).
They're currently selling more than all other electric cars combined. Whether they will continue to do so with the i3 on the market I don't know. I see one on the roads most days. If you can find one on the second hand market it costs more than new.
I have 3 supercharger stations within driving distance of home (north, just outside Stuttgart, in the west side of Switzerland and east in St Anton).
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