Just drove a Tesla Model S

[Slowhand]

Fox body + 5kv

Lol, is that foxbody + 5 kilovolts?

But seriously, where have the people that are surprised by this thing been? The fuss about the Model S has already come and gone twice!

[Slowhand]

I thought they weren't for sale in Texas yet. Crazy.

Service center is over just off of Midway and Spring Valley. I've seen 6 in the past three weeks.

[Trip McNeely]

I'd roll one, but I'm wondering due to the lack of dealerships how the servicing is on them?

[BLAKE]

I'd roll one, but I'm wondering due to the lack of dealerships how the servicing is on them?

From what I'm hearing, as long as you're reasonably close to a metropolitan area, you should be fine. According to the guy that just bought the roadster, it's been the best, most service-oriented car purchase he's ever had. The roadster he just bought has had so many parts replaced, you could damn near call the thing reconditioned. It's just little stuff like interior parts, but apparently they do this for all the used cars that go through the dealer/service network.

I've got no dog in the fight, as I surely can't afford one. Just cool to observe how the buying experience has gone for him.

[Trip McNeely]

I really like them. I priced one out on the site and apparently they are all on lease straight from Tesla, if I'm not mistaken? I would consider one after my truck, seeing as now I live in the city, and Pittsburgh is tight.

[fitzwell]

Fox body + 5kv

Fox body + 1.21 Gigawatts. Now you're talking.

[Slowhand]

I'd roll one, but I'm wondering due to the lack of dealerships how the servicing is on them?

There are service centers in all of the major markets. The one in Dallas is right over by Midway and Spring Valley.

[1carcrazyguy]

Looked at one in a Tesla store in the mall (Colorado), about a year ago. Looked very well built and fit and finish was very, very nice! Would like to have one but way out of my price range.

[John -- '02 HAWK]

I thought they weren't for sale in Texas yet. Crazy.

they wanted to sell direct through corporate owned boutiques without having to deal with the dealership layer. TX said no

not exactly sure how they are selling them but I've seen a couple in the heb/grapevine area

[ScottJ]

There's a tesla dealer in chelsea not far from my old nyc apt, I'm going to be down there tomorrow I think, I'll see if I can snag some cool pics/info.

[Strychnine]

http://www.teslamotors.com/about/press/releases/tesla-model-s-achieves-best-safety-rating-any-car-ever-tested

Tesla Model S Achieves Best Safety Rating of Any Car Ever Tested

Sets New NHTSA Vehicle Safety Score Record
Monday, August 19, 2013

Palo Alto, CA — Independent testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has awarded the Tesla Model S a 5-star safety rating, not just overall, but in every subcategory without exception. Approximately one percent of all cars tested by the federal government achieve 5 stars across the board. NHTSA does not publish a star rating above 5, however safety levels better than 5 stars are captured in the overall Vehicle Safety Score (VSS) provided to manufacturers, where the Model S achieved a new combined record of 5.4 stars.

Of all vehicles tested, including every major make and model approved for sale in the United States, the Model S set a new record for the lowest likelihood of injury to occupants. While the Model S is a sedan, it also exceeded the safety score of all SUVs and minivans. This score takes into account the probability of injury from front, side, rear and rollover accidents.

The Model S has the advantage in the front of not having a large gasoline engine block, thus creating a much longer crumple zone to absorb a high speed impact. This is fundamentally a force over distance problem – the longer the crumple zone, the more time there is to slow down occupants at g loads that do not cause injuries. Just like jumping into a pool of water from a tall height, it is better to have the pool be deep and not contain rocks. The Model S motor is only about a foot in diameter and is mounted close to the rear axle, and the front section that would normally contain a gasoline engine is used for a second trunk.

For the side pole intrusion test, considered one of the most difficult to pass, the Model S was the only car in the "good" category among the other top one percent of vehicles tested. Compared to the Volvo S60, which is also 5-star rated in all categories, the Model S preserved 63.5 percent of driver residual space vs. 7.8 percent for the Volvo. Tesla achieved this outcome by nesting multiple deep aluminum extrusions in the side rail of the car that absorb the impact energy (a similar approach was used by the Apollo Lunar Lander) and transfer load to the rest of the vehicle. This causes the pole to be either sheared off or to stop the car before the pole hits an occupant.

The rear crash testing was particularly important, given the optional third row children's seat. For this, Tesla factory installs a double bumper if the third row seat is ordered. This was needed in order to protect against a highway speed impact in the rear with no permanently disabling injury to the third row occupants. The third row is already the safest location in the car for frontal or side injuries.

The Model S was also substantially better in rollover risk, with the other top vehicles being approximately 50 percent worse. During testing at an independent facility, the Model S refused to turn over via the normal methods and special means were needed to induce the car to roll. The reason for such a good outcome is that the battery pack is mounted below the floor pan, providing a very low center of gravity, which simultaneously ensures exceptional handling and safety.

Of note, during validation of Model S roof crush protection at an independent commercial facility, the testing machine failed at just above 4 g's. While the exact number is uncertain due to Model S breaking the testing machine, what this means is that at least four additional fully loaded Model S vehicles could be placed on top of an owner's car without the roof caving in. This is achieved primarily through a center (B) pillar reinforcement attached via aerospace grade bolts.

The above results do not tell the full story. It is possible to game the regulatory testing score to some degree by strengthening a car at the exact locations used by the regulatory testing machines. After verifying through internal testing that the Model S would achieve a NHTSA 5-star rating, Tesla then analyzed the Model S to determine the weakest points in the car and retested at those locations until the car achieved 5 stars no matter how the test equipment was configured.

The Model S lithium-ion battery did not catch fire at any time before, during or after the NHTSA testing. It is worth mentioning that no production Tesla lithium-ion battery has ever caught fire in the Model S or Roadster, despite several high speed impacts. While this is statistically unlikely to remain the case long term, Tesla is unaware of any Model S or Roadster occupant fatalities in any car ever.

The graphic below shows the statistical Relative Risk Score (RSS) of Model S compared with all other vehicles tested against the exceptionally difficult NHTSA 2011 standards. In 2011, the standards were revised upward to make it more difficult to achieve a high safety rating.

[eastsidetorino]

The repair facility for them off the Tollway and Spring Valley always has a fleet outside, and tow trucks constantly coming and going. Im not going to say the cars are poorly built (I have no experience with one) but based on what I saw, it seemed like a ridiculous amount of vehicles for a company that hasnt been selling that particular model for more than a year.

[IHaveAMustang]

I never knew they could come with an optional 3rd row...7 passengers - 0 gas...neat.

[Forever_frost]

From the website, they have Tesla Rangers that come out if you have issues and when it comes time for your service, they pick it up, leave you a loaner and bring yours back so you're never without your Tesla

[slow84lx]

One of them ran off and left me from a red light in my slow ass Mark VIII the other night. I was very impressed with the way that it accelerated. Pretty car too! It was the first one that I had seen in person.