Does anyone own or have opinions about the Tesla Model S 85?

rickandcindy23 · Aug 12, 2013

Just wondering.....

Keep seeing these on I-25 on our way to Colorado Springs. We saw two yesterday, which made me turn my head, and I don't care much about cars. I know the Tesla is a car you charge. I assume it uses no gas as a backup?

I would like to know personal experiences with the car. I am reading a lot from the website. Definitely intriguing.

rickandcindy23 · Aug 12, 2013

Ah..., so no one has one? I am surprised! Seems that TUG members are on top of these kinds of technologies.

I looked at the website and talked to a salesman this morning. There are tax credits and a long wait to get one. Why tax credits, if there none around? Makes no sense.

TUGBrian · Aug 12, 2013

interesting concept for sure, seems they are having some legal issues selling them as they dont use "dealerships" as I understand it...this has all the other car manufacturers in a tiff.

also thought they were upwards of 6 figure cars :lol

sure do look nice!

simpsontruckdriver · Aug 12, 2013

yes, they are expensive, and they do not have any gas engines (all electric). The government is pitching in a good amount. I think they only have an 80-100 mile range, so it would be an "in-town" car. Other than the price and the range, many like the idea of no gasoline used! From what some have said, they are also very comfortable to drive.

TS

rickandcindy23 · Aug 12, 2013

They supposedly go 265 miles or so between charges. We could drive to and from Colorado Springs to see the grandkids without charging.

timeos2 · Aug 12, 2013

With the larger available batteries range is 250-320 miles. They got a very good rating - 99 of 100 highest ever from Consumer Reports. Looks to be a really good & unique car & company. If I had the money I'd get one in a heartbeat.

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Ken555 · Aug 12, 2013

Lots of Tesla's on the roads in LA. I sat in one a while ago in a showroom, before they started shipping, and the interior is fantastic. It's no wonder it's earning all sorts of awards. The technology is amazing, and if I could afford one I would buy one instantly, and I know others who feel the same.

Tesla has a nice twist on the affordability calculator many car vendors offer on their sites, as Tesla includes savings in ways which may be appropriate for their target audience - time. Take a look at it.

I don't drive enough to justify an electric car (most I drove in a single year over the last 20 years was 9,000 miles) but I want one, anyway. Lately I'm curious about the newer BMW electrics being released soon.

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hypnotiq · Aug 12, 2013

Tons of them around up here in the Seattle area.

While I think the Tesla is cool (as well as the Karma Fisker) and I've driven both, if I'm dropping 6 figures on a car, I'm buying a R8 before I buy a Tesla.

Different strokes, different folks.

l2trade · Aug 12, 2013

I am sold on everyting about the Tesla Model X, except what I expect the price will be. The $5k reservation price is fully refundable, so I am tempted to get in line and start saving $5k/month until it is ready to pay for the rest of it.

I sat in the Model S this weekend. It is pretty cool too, but not for me at current pricing.

simpsontruckdriver · Aug 12, 2013

One small issue with electric cars. Because there's no engine sound, blind pedestrians have been known to walk out in front of them.

TS

Passepartout · Aug 12, 2013

simpsontruckdriver said:
One small issue with electric cars. Because there's no engine sound, blind pedestrians have been known to walk out in front of them.

TS

Not just full electrics, and not just blind pedestrians. We are especially careful around any pedestrians when in our Prius. Of course at low speed it- and all hybrids are electric. People just don't hear you coming and will step out in front of you or walk behind you as you back out of a parking place.

I can't ever remember a close call with a blind person, but plenty with fully functional, able bodied dummies who don't look around themselves.

Jim

csxjohn · Aug 12, 2013

Passepartout said:
Not just full electrics, and not just blind pedestrians. We are especially careful around any pedestrians when in our Prius. Of course at low speed it- and all hybrids are electric. People just don't hear you coming and will step out in front of you or walk behind you as you back out of a parking place.

I can't ever remember a close call with a blind person, but plenty with fully functional, able bodied dummies who don't look around themselves.

Jim

How many of them were using their phones Jim? I've seen a number of people lately almost get whacked by gasoline engine autos because they were looking down at their phones.

I have read that the auto makers are going to start incorporating different sounds when their electrics are on the move. Won't help those I'm talking about.

gnorth16 · Aug 12, 2013

The model S is very nice and recently saw one in Winnipeg. I followed the guy for a few extra blocks before turning around for work! Very nice!!! My concern is that the extreme cold weather up here affects the battery - both daily operations and longevity. Oh ya, and the $$$$ as well...

heathpack · Aug 12, 2013

Passepartout said:
Not just full electrics, and not just blind pedestrians. We are especially careful around any pedestrians when in our Prius. Of course at low speed it- and all hybrids are electric. People just don't hear you coming and will step out in front of you or walk behind you as you back out of a parking place.

I can't ever remember a close call with a blind person, but plenty with fully functional, able bodied dummies who don't look around themselves.

Jim

Or dummies driving electric cars who don't look behind them before they back up?! I was nearly run over by my neighbors while walking a the sidewalk on my street. I was not distracted, not on a cell phone, not wearing ear buds. Just walking along and they started backing up. They must have been sitting in the car for awhile because I didn't see them get in. They either didn't look or I was in their blind spot. Fortunately I am able bodied because I had to seriously scramble to avoid being run over. If I was infirm in anyway they would have run me down.

Lol, it's funny how the *other* guy is always such a nincompoop.

No way would this deter me from getting a Tesla S however- totally want one. Just don't really need a new car right now and it's more than we'd really want to spend.

H

ScoopKona · Aug 12, 2013

Spending nearly $100K (for the performance model) in order to save money on gasoline doesn't make a lick of sense to me.

If I wanted to be the greenest, thriftiest person on the board, I would go with one of the 80mpg VW TDI diesel models. It's all about total impact on the environment and total cost of ownership as far as I'm concerned.

Blues · Aug 12, 2013

ScoopLV said:
If I wanted to be the greenest, thriftiest person on the board, I would go with one of the 80mpg VW TDI diesel models.

I'd love to learn more about the 80 mpg TDI diesels. I just looked at VW's web site, and they claim 43 mpg. Can you point me to a reference to the 80 mpg versions?

-Bob

timeos2 · Aug 12, 2013

ScoopLV said:
Spending nearly $100K (for the performance model) in order to save money on gasoline doesn't make a lick of sense to me.

If I wanted to be the greenest, thriftiest person on the board, I would go with one of the 80mpg VW TDI diesel models. It's all about total impact on the environment and total cost of ownership as far as I'm concerned.

I isn't just about being green. This is a car that got THE best rating ever from CR. That is saying it is something very special.

Sea Six · Aug 12, 2013

I see Teslas around here, too - they are really nice looking cars, and very quick. I would be concerned about where to get service, especially as I travel around. I read that Tesla is opening recharge stations at strategic intervals along interstates, which is a good thing. I doubt I would spend that much on one. I also think I wouldn't be happy in the lower cost options, like the Nissan Leaf. I'm thinking I'd be happier in the middle of the road, so to speak, with a Chevy Volt. I like having the gas option available if the batteries run down. I don't know, so much to think about before I make a move.

x3 skier · Aug 12, 2013

For $70K++ for a car, I wouldn't be worrying about a CR rating.

Did CR have comments about battery life and replacement time? Is there a warranty on the battery pack? Since the battery is a large percentage of the cost of the car, I would hope it is a 100000 mile life at least before a replacement is required.

Cheers

Elan · Aug 12, 2013

x3 skier said:
For $70K++ for a car, I wouldn't be worrying about a CR rating.

Did CR have comments about battery life and replacement time? Is there a warranty on the battery pack? Since the battery is a large percentage of the cost of the car, I would hope it is a 100000 mile life at least before a replacement is required.

Cheers

Battery warranty is 8yr/125k miles, or 8yr/unlimited miles, depending on which battery pack is installed.

ScoopKona · Aug 12, 2013

Blues said:
I'd love to learn more about the 80 mpg TDI diesels. I just looked at VW's web site, and they claim 43 mpg. Can you point me to a reference to the 80 mpg versions?

-Bob

There are many, many stories out there about TDI systems approaching and breaking 80 mpg. It's all about driving smart (not hypermiling, just smart). Here's one:

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2012/05/84-mpg-couple-break-mileage-record-with-passat-tdi.html

Ken555 · Aug 13, 2013

Blues said:
I'd love to learn more about the 80 mpg TDI diesels. I just looked at VW's web site, and they claim 43 mpg. Can you point me to a reference to the 80 mpg versions?

-Bob

I rented a VW Golf in the UK last year, prepaid the tank on advice of the rental manager when I told her where I was going, and proceeded to get ~65 miles per gallon. I only used 1/3 of the tank. Manager refunded the prepaid fuel, and I went next door (literally) to fill it up myself.

When I returned to the US, I looked up the car online and also only saw ~45 mpg vehicles. I know they make one that does more, since I drove it! A diesel is definitely on my list of considerations, along with electric, when I next purchase a car...which is likely end of year or early next year.

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Ken555 · Aug 13, 2013

ScoopLV said:
Spending nearly $100K (for the performance model) in order to save money on gasoline doesn't make a lick of sense to me.

What's wrong with the non-performance model? They look plenty powerful to me.

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ricoba · Aug 13, 2013

Saw one just yesterday in the Whole Foods parking lot in Torrance, CA.

Just a few weeks prior in the same parking lot, I saw a Fiskar Karma, which was much cooler looking and much more rare.

ScoopKona · Aug 13, 2013

Ken555 said:
What's wrong with the non-performance model? They look plenty powerful to me.

Fine, spending $65K on a sedan in order to save on gasoline doesn't make a lick of sense to me, either. I have far better uses for $65K.

I'm happy to let others subsidize development of electric cars. When the total operational cost is considerably lower, I'll buy one (likely pre-owned, so that others can pay for the depreciation, as well).

Does anyone own or have opinions about the Tesla Model S 85?

rickandcindy23

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rickandcindy23

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TUGBrian

simpsontruckdriver

rickandcindy23

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timeos2

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Ken555

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hypnotiq

l2trade

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gnorth16

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ScoopKona

Blues

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Sea Six

x3 skier

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Elan

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ricoba

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