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Old 05-09-2013, 05:58 PM   #111
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I realize the bots posted this already, but the CR review is out -- they gave it a 99 out of 100. The full article is behind their paywall, but here's their video discussing it:

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Old 05-09-2013, 06:10 PM   #112
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I realize the bots posted this already, but the CR review is out -- they gave it a 99 out of 100. The full article is behind their paywall, but here's their video discussing it:

The green screen they're using makes my eyes hurt.

I dunno; they blow past some issues that, in more typical CR reviews, would be cited as bugs rather than features. No map pockets? Uh, ok. Maybe I can learn to live with that, but is it really an example of innovative design? The cupholders don't work? Again, probably not a deal breaker, but is it something to hold out as a positive? No spare tire? I suppose in a car that can't really go outside the range of AAA, that's not a huge deal, but it it pissed me off in the M3 and it would piss me off here.

I'm not knocking the car; I'm growing increasingly intrigued by them. But something about that review suggests to me that these guys have let their geeky side get carried away here.
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Old 05-09-2013, 06:32 PM   #113
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I dunno; they blow past some issues that, in more typical CR reviews, would be cited as bugs rather than features. No map pockets? Uh, ok. Maybe I can learn to live with that, but is it really an example of innovative design? The cupholders don't work? Again, probably not a deal breaker, but is it something to hold out as a positive? No spare tire? I suppose in a car that can't really go outside the range of AAA, that's not a huge deal, but it it pissed me off in the M3 and it would piss me off here.

I'm not knocking the car; I'm growing increasingly intrigued by them. But something about that review suggests to me that these guys have let their geeky side get carried away here.
I agree with your comments. They come across as giddy about how Tesla re-thought certain things. But they are giving them a pass on a couple things.

I'm basically OK with the no map pockets thing -- although I wished they had put in some more storage cubbies some place (like the Boxster's little cubbies underneath the arm rests on the door -- which I find extremely useful). The center arm rest looks like it would fold up and have storage in it -- but instead its fixed with place to put anything.

As for the cup holders, I have a feeling that those will frustrate me -- they are not placed well (up high and far back -- just in front of the center arm rest). Additionally, Tesla recently made a design change to them that removes the spring-loaded tensioners on the inside (think of the E46 cup holders -- basically the same thing). So now new owners are complaining that bottles wobble and spill. There are some DIY enhancements some people are doing -- like installing Audi or VW cup holders underneath the tray below the Big Screen -- which doesn't look too bad, and I may even try that myself (and may even buy a spare tray so I can permanently install it and reverse the design)

There are also now a couple 3rd parties making a center console to go in the flat space below the Big Screen, and Tesla will start selling one this summer -- and all 3 of the designs have cup holders in them...

At the same time, its unpossible for the Tesla cup holders to be worse than those in the E39. I made it through that car, so I'll make it through the S too...
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Old 05-10-2013, 01:17 PM   #114
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Was cool that they loved it so much but some of the stuff they mentioned wasn't very innovative. Regardless pretty much everyone who sits in or drives one seems to fall in love..from regular people to professional auto reviewers and engineers.

Thought they made a great point on how tesla is showing features like a hatchback and rear facing seats are desirable when done right.

Bmw, arguably, has tried a few "innovative" things over the years but more often than not just ends up pissing people off.
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Old 05-10-2013, 01:32 PM   #115
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Was cool that they loved it so much but some of the stuff they mentioned wasn't very innovative. Regardless pretty much everyone who sits in or drives one seems to fall in love..from regular people to professional auto reviewers and engineers.

Thought they made a great point on how tesla is showing features like a hatchback and rear facing seats are desirable when done right.

Bmw, arguably, has tried a few "innovative" things over the years but more often than not just ends up pissing people off.
German "innovation" comes across differently than Asian/North American "innovation".

Germanic innovation --> you're too stupid to know this, but you need this.
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Old 05-10-2013, 03:26 PM   #116
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OK... This is moving fast. VIN is now assigned and displayed on MyTesla -- so I'm guessing my car goes into production next week.

Next milestone is when I can log into the Tesla iPhone app. Means the car is "alive" and connected...
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Old 05-11-2013, 09:43 AM   #117
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For most companies, they won't have any data for these cars in their system so it will default to "cost new" rating which essentially means it is rated based on original MSRP rather than specific claims history on that model. Eventually it'll catch up as they get more popular, but my gut tells me you'll get reasonable rates for a car that expensive.

And Electric is a small carrier. Out of curiosity, you might want to try getting a quote through a few larger carriers for your current car vs a Tesla to see what they say. Odds are the big guys are more likely to have their acts together which would suggest their rates will be higher. The small companies will likely treat it as a default model, or decline to write it at all.
Now that I have the VIN, I was able to get an insurance quote from Electric... Sounds like they did the "cost new" rating approach you described, although they applied an EV discount.

Quote is $25/month higher than our current policy -- which is about what I was expecting. Our premium went down ~$30/month at the start of the current policy, so still less than we were paying just a few months ago...
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Old 05-12-2013, 02:30 PM   #118
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The emails from Tesla keep on coming... Received one yesterday saying "Your Model S is headed to production", and is scheduled to be complete on May 24. The email also included the VIN (which I had from the MyTesla website on Fri) and contact info for my delivery specialist.

So May 24 is the Fri before Memorial Day, so I'm guessing it will go on a truck the Tues after Memorial Day (the 28th), and arrive in the area on the 29th. I'm guessing I can schedule delivery for Sat June 1 then (so the lower sales tax will apply).

That gives me ~2 weeks to sell the Porsche or Carmax it. I asked for a trade-in quote from Autonation (Tesla's partner), and should get that in the next couple days and will be good for 30 days, and I can drop the Porsche off after delivery of the Tesla. AZ has a sales tax benefit on trade-ins -- so is worth $1700 to $1800 depending on the trade offer (but if Carmax offered more than that, I can just Carmax it and have the same value)...

I had the Porsche detailed last weekend, and just gave it a quick rinse-off bath this morning. Need to keep it looking good...
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Old 05-12-2013, 02:32 PM   #119
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The emails from Tesla keep on coming... Received one yesterday saying "Your Model S is headed to production", and is scheduled to be complete on May 24. The email also included the VIN (which I had from the MyTesla website on Fri) and contact info for my delivery specialist.

So May 24 is the Fri before Memorial Day, so I'm guessing it will go on a truck the Tues after Memorial Day (the 28th), and arrive in the area on the 29th. I'm guessing I can schedule delivery for Sat June 1 then (so the lower sales tax will apply).

That gives me ~2 weeks to sell the Porsche or Carmax it. I asked for a trade-in quote from Autonation (Tesla's partner), and should get that in the next couple days and will be good for 30 days, and I can drop the Porsche off after delivery of the Tesla. AZ has a sales tax benefit on trade-ins -- so is worth $1700 to $1800 depending on the trade offer (but if Carmax offered more than that, I can just Carmax it and have the same value)...

I had the Porsche detailed last weekend, and just gave it a quick rinse-off bath this morning. Need to keep it looking good...
in layman's terms, is the 300mi range of the Tesla S because the battery pack is, for example, triple the size of the one in the Leaf?

or did they also have further innovations in the battery composition or regen?

it's spectacular range, so i'm just curious how they do it.
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Old 05-12-2013, 03:09 PM   #120
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Quick update... Just got a call from Autonation -- they are offering $27k for the Boxster. Sales tax benefit is $1900 (based on 7.05% AZ and Scottsdale tax rates as of June 1) -- so puts the "value" of the trade just under $29k.

For reference, some recently closed eBay auctions on '08 Boxster S seem to be selling no higher than $30k, so this is pretty decent for a trade offer. It also needs new tires (which the Autonation form asked about status), so if I sold private party, I'd have to ask for $1k less just since it needs new tires within the next couple months.

I'll probably take it over to Carmax one afternoon this week and see what their offer is -- if they offer anything over $29.5k, I might just do that (and get a rental car for 1-2 weeks while waiting for the Tesla)

AutoNation will need to do a visual inspection that needs to be done at least a week before the Tesla delivery, so I'll need to schedule that once I have a delivery date for the Tesla...
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