This originally happened back in the fall of 2013. Tesla was conducting test drives. My dad signed up for one, and while we were waitlisted at first, we got the chance! So on we went to the country club. Before getting there, we saw a Model S on the road, and that brings up my first point: road presence. This car looks like a luxury car (especially with those LED Headlights). Also, the car seems rare. It's now more special for me to see a Model S rather than a Bentley Continental. After that 5-second experience, we later on arrived to the site. A guy who works at Tesla gave us a nice briefing on the car. As much as we wanted to drive/ride, it was still cool getting to learn about all the features of the car beforehand. Then finally, we got to use the black, 2013 Tesla Model S P85.
The first thing I noticed was the seats. They aren't up to par with, say, an Audi A8 or Hyundai Equus. But they're pretty good. Then the car started rolling in the parking lot. Wait, absolutely no vibration? Clearly something was different. Before we got on the actual roads, I took a look at interior materials. This clearly isn't a cheap car. And that's a good thing. Somebody spending US$70K on a car shouldn't have a cheap car.
We started going 20 MPH. That was the first time that I've only heard wind noise in a car while moving. It's a weird feeling that you get used to pretty quickly. If you listen really closely with the radio off, you may even hear (yes, from the inside) the whirr of the electric motor. We ascended up a hill, and the test drive assistant allowed my dad to go wide-open throttle.
Then we were going at 53 MPH.
And that was only within a couple seconds. I will say that THAT experience was the first time I've been really pulled to the back of my seat thanks to the pickup of a car. Keep in mind that these motors provide instant torque, so it won't feel like a slouch, even in the slower models.
Afterwards, we went back to normal driving. The road was almost like a mountain road, so it was twisty to an extent. I will say that it felt like a mix of Asia and Germany. Even without the optional air suspension, the car felt smooth enough on the average quality roads. At the same time, there was not much body roll, and the car felt confident on the curves. Impressive.
Then a brick road came up. Unsurprisingly, that was the worst part of the ride. However, the car did not rattle, and it was surprisingly comfortable! Granted, many of you readers don't encounter brick roads on a daily basis. But at least it can handle the roads (without the air suspension) in a good fashion.
After the test drive, we configured a Model S (no, no order has been placed sadly). That was the hardest part about it all. This car clearly isn't a cheap car. However, with the low maintenance costs, you may be better off with this compared to other cheaper cars. There are a few must-have options. The tech package is a great buy. Parking sensors may seem useless at first, but you're likely getting cool features via software updates in the future with the parking sensors (adaptive cruise control?). The Subzero Weather Package is a must for many, and the panoramic roof is cool. Also, you want every option charge-related, like the 85kW battery, dual chargers, and the wall charger. Some options can be skipped. The car is perfectly fine without the air suspension. For some, the ultra hi-fi sound can be skipped. Forget the sport seats and premium interior lighting. Rear-facing seats aren't necessary for all people (it's for kids only). Personally, I don't like the red paint too much because the car doesn't look 'luxury' enough. And if you want the most comfort, go for the 19 inch wheels. Suddenly, you have a safe, cool car that isn't as bad in price. Range? You're not driving 200 miles a day. If you need to drive that much long distance at some point, then rent a car (just don't rent a Toyota Avalon). Overall, it's probably the best car that I've ridden in. And I would love to drive one and give a good review on it. Hey Elon, wanna give me the best gift in the world, a free Model S P85+?
P.S. Some may be concerned with the fact that the car is RWD (AWD is coming soon). The car has an extremely low center of gravity, so it holds itself down on the road very well. That, along with winter tires, and you're almost invincible.
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