What a fantastic write up, thank you.

One quick question how much are they? Or are they a fortune? Another is how big is the boot. I have a s4 advant at the moment and want s6, rs6, E63 or one of these??

Thanks again

Andy

They're not cheap, Andy.

Today, basic model is around £50k (a bit more before incentives, a bit less after).

Top spec (performance setup with Ludicrous option and all the other options ticked) is the wrong side of £100k. I guess an E63 sits somewhere in between.

 

What makes or brakes the Tesla concept is more of a lifestyle thing. Range anxiety isn't that much of an issue with a decent range. If you're doing longer distances along major networks, you benefit from the free Supercharger network. Running costs are of course a lot lower. If you want finesse and effortless quiet power, they're great. If you're gonna miss the sound of a throbbing V8, then the German offerings are obviously better

 

The Model S is also a rather large car. Kind of Audi A8 size. The boot is large, over 700 litres without the rear seats folded. Fold them down, you'll get 1,645 litres of boot space. You also have extra "under floor" storage if you don't take the optional rear-facing seats. Plus you get the smaller boot in the front (around 150 litres) which is a little larger if you go for the RWD only, but that's now only available on the 70 model.

 

Richard has one and has posted a lengthy review following his ownership in his thread. Well worth a read if you haven't seen it already

 

The package is certainly the "thinking man's" smug-inducing car compared to the archaic Clarkson AMG version

 

Edit: it appears Tesla have a service centre and showroom in Stockport which isn't too far from you. Go in and take a look. Be warned if you're offered a test drive. It can end up being a compulsive purchase!

Edited 5 March, 201610 yr by Xavier

Brilliant thanks for taking the time to reply mate.

I can see it being very expensive at plus 100k, and I have already fished round about the s6 rs6, between 60k and 77k with the usual discounts. I would really miss the engine note, from a v6 to a v8 or none is a bit of a stalling point if I am honest and the charging points would really annoy me.

I have seen two of them near were I live and they do look nice, but the rs6 is my ultimate car.

A friend of mine had a bi turbo a7, sold it for a s8 then swapped two months later for an Aston Martin... I was really trying for him to get a rs6 but he wouldn't have it.. Still got a weekend test drive of one to compare..

I know I said engine note. There isn't one.

 

But there kind of is. When you really put your foot down, you do hear the a soft whine / whistle of the induction motors, not dissimilar to the Enterprise when she engages her warp engines. You do get to hear it on youtube videos

Ha ha I don't see myself as Dr spock!!!

I would really miss the engine note, it's part of the car. Not putting it down but I would rather pay the high fuel fees

I'm the same. Have driven the P85D and it's lovely BUT no intake roar, no noise, no flames on the overturn (x/flow super seven vibe)....

It really is a lovely driving experience but all things considered the autonomy, price and lack of engine sound means I am very much on the fence.

When I floor the Superb 3.6 V6 it sings....really sings.....and when I'm out hooning in my old school x/flow Caterham it's just smiles all round. I get the best of both worlds with these although I accept that I am not saving the planet as much as some would like.

If I won the lottery I'd consider an X-Type as a family hold-all, a model 3 for the eldest and a P90D as a home to work tool. I'd then spend a fortune tuning the hell out of the Skoda 3.6 Estate and add maybe 50hp to the Caterham - no need for me to have more than 200hp in a light car...

One last Tesla point. After five years (or less depending on where you read...) you need a new battery set. 40,000 Swiss francs here in Switzerland....what cost is that in the UK?

I'm the same. Have driven the P85D and it's lovely BUT no intake roar, no noise, no flames on the overturn (x/flow super seven vibe)....

It really is a lovely driving experience but all things considered the autonomy, price and lack of engine sound means I am very much on the fence.

When I floor the Superb 3.6 V6 it sings....really sings.....and when I'm out hooning in my old school x/flow Caterham it's just smiles all round. I get the best of both worlds with these although I accept that I am not saving the planet as much as some would like.

If I won the lottery I'd consider an X-Type as a family hold-all, a model 3 for the eldest and a P90D as a home to work tool. I'd then spend a fortune tuning the hell out of the Skoda 3.6 Estate and add maybe 50hp to the Caterham - no need for me to have more than 200hp in a light car...

One last Tesla point. After five years (or less depending on where you read...) you need a new battery set. 40,000 Swiss francs here in Switzerland....what cost is that in the UK?

 

Well, some say a picture is worth a thousand words. All I know is I've placed an order...

 

 

Regarding battery, I wonder where that 5 years or less stat comes from. Either way, battery tech is (a) forever evolving and ( guaranteed for 8 years unlimited mileage, so I'm happy enough with that.

Right.

 

Today, I had a second test drive. I specifically requested one with Ludicrous to see whether I want to justify the rather large price increase.

 

@sharkrider I really would love feedback on your test drive assuming you're still doing it tomorrow

 

I met with Maggie, the sales rep who was lovely in showing the car around. I pretty much knew it from the previous test drive and reading up and watching videos.

 

There were four of us in the car.

 

The roads were wet. Not drenched, but there had been showers earlier and certainly hadn't dried off.

 

It's quite something really putting your foot down in this mode. Its off-the-line is just vicious, brutal. Something you can't really do in an ICE. I'm sure launch control systems get close, but this is something else. People have often compared it to a rollercoaster, and I can see what they mean. Doing this all day long, you'd probably end up a little nauseous - but with a massive grin on your face

 

Where it's really striking is going back to normal "sport" mode which makes it the equivalent of a 90D. That's 4.3 seconds apparently. It's really quick for a large car. It's fast, really nice acceleration.

 

You then switch to Ludicrous, and it really is mind bogglingly brutal. Organs are displaced, etc. I have a feeling in-gear / rolling acceleration also improves, it's sharper, more responsive than I remember with the P85D I test drove a month or two ago.

 

So in summary:

 

I have a fascinating psychological battle in my head right now.
Do I need it? No
Would I like it? Yes
Would I actually use it more than once a month? Oh Yes!

I always thought it would be a gimmick, but the fact you can have that amount of power under your right foot is not only giggle-and-grin inducing, but actually rather addictive.

Testing normal Sport mode, you say to yourself, wow, this is a really quick car

Switch to Ludicrous mode and it's truly another level. The instant hyperspace-speed-off-the-line is, thinking about it, quite a mechanical feat of engineering and power delivery.

I'm more tempted to switch paint colour now than to untick the Ludicrous option, despite the massive price increase.

One last Tesla point. After five years (or less depending on where you read...) you need a new battery set. 40,000 Swiss francs here in Switzerland....what cost is that in the UK?

 

Not sure where you got those figures from, but established results from existing EVs like the LEAF and Tesla's predictions indicate that the battery will lose 10-15% capacity around 50,000 miles.

And a further 10% more by 100,000.

 

So if you start with a range of 240 miles (which is what I get out of my 90D Model S) I will have at least 204 after five years if I do 10,000 miles per year.

But if I do 20,000 miles per year it should still have a range of 180 at least, at the end of 5 years.

 

I don't understand the idea of needing a new battery after five years .

The Nissan LEAF's battery isn't as clever as the Telsa's and I know of LEAFs with 80-100,000 miles on them that are merrily still driving around on thier battery with a reduced range since they were made in 2011.

 

 

 

Regarding battery, I wonder where that 5 years or less stat comes from. Either way, battery tech is (a) forever evolving and ( guaranteed for 8 years unlimited mileage, so I'm happy enough with that.

 

The battery is warranty for an unlimited milage over 8 years from defects.

There is no warranty cover for natural battery degradation and the range reduction you get as the battery gets older and does more cycles if you drive more.

Edited 8 April, 201610 yr by BossFox

Regarding battery degredation, Bjørn's youtube video is quite helpful (and reassuring in my books)

 

So Tesla Model X being recalled in the USA - rear seat issues :

 

At least was caught before the car hit the UK / Europe.

 

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/tesla-recalls-2600-model-x-vehicles

Edited 12 April, 201610 yr by vrskeith

I'm hoping to see a Model X in Sunday week although it's gonig to be a LHD version I'll take a few photos.