Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Tesla’s Model S P85D Scores 103 Out of 100 on Consumer Reports’ Ratings System

techcrunch.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 228 posts

Re: Tesla’s Model S P85D Scores 103 Out of 100 on Consumer Reports’ Ratings System

#81

Post by sliverstorm »

eclipxe wrote: post #27
zippergz wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Having driven both a 7 Series and a Model S, I'll take the BMW any day. More comfortable, better handling, looks better, doesn't have a huge iPad in the dashboard, and allows road trips with far less planning needed. It's nice that the tesla has insane acceleration, but in practice that's not super useful. And gas is a small enough part of my budget that it's not material so that isn't really a factor.

"doesn't have a huge iPad in the dashboard" Why is this a bad thing?

I find basically all glowing screens incredibly obnoxious in a car in the dark... Even little things, like my highbeam indicator which cannot be dimmed with the dash dimmer.

A physical knob, too, can be sufficiently illuminated with just a tiny sliver of light on the knob to indicate its position.

Re: Tesla’s Model S P85D Scores 103 Out of 100 on Consumer Reports’ Ratings System

#82

Post by kylec »

dublinben wrote: post #58
kylec wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The P85D is, no question, stupendously fast 0-60. But is that really all you care about when driving a car? I recently was shopping for a performance car and the Tesla was never even a consideration because of all the other limitations (range, charging availability, etc). As something to show off with, the Tesla wows and amazes people. As a car to drive on a daily basis, I think it is too compromised.

Nearly all drivers go less than 50 miles in any given day. Trips longer than 70 miles (still well within the range of a Tesla) make up one percent of trips. A premium electric car like the Tesla is perfectly capable of being a daily driver for essentially anyone.

Maybe what's different in my case is that I was looking to only own one car. While the Tesla might be sufficient for what I need 90% of the time, I still need it to be able to go on long trips, because I do take them occasionally.

Re: Tesla’s Model S P85D Scores 103 Out of 100 on Consumer Reports’ Ratings System

#83

Post by killface »

beachstartup wrote: post #71
adam12 wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course it doesn't make them responsible. I just don't think someone should be driving like that unless they are on a test track.

i punch it at full throttle to 65mph every time i use an on-ramp. i bought a performance car to use it as advertised. perfectly legal, and appropriate, when traffic permits. in fact, if you don't, you're probably a shitty driver and need to learn how to merge. when you're merging into a river of steel doing 80mph and you're doing 45 because you're watching the consumption meter on your hybrid, you're an asshole.

you must live in the bay area...

Re: Tesla’s Model S P85D Scores 103 Out of 100 on Consumer Reports’ Ratings System

#84

Post by kylec »

vvanders wrote: post #56
kylec wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The P85D is, no question, stupendously fast 0-60. But is that really all you care about when driving a car? I recently was shopping for a performance car and the Tesla was never even a consideration because of all the other limitations (range, charging availability, etc). As something to show off with, the Tesla wows and amazes people. As a car to drive on a daily basis, I think it is too compromised.

It was more a dig in jest at the usual 320i/328i BMW owner who buys it more for the image then any interest in performance. (full disclosure I own an 85D and don't find anything you listed very limiting).

Right, but the Tesla is way out the price range of the 320i/328i. You can buy an M5, which does have serious performance, for the price of a P85D.

Re: Tesla’s Model S P85D Scores 103 Out of 100 on Consumer Reports’ Ratings System

#85

Post by bri3d »

dragontamer wrote: post #67
tptacek wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, there are also tons of shitty American cars you could have bought to get better 0-60 times for the dollar. The point is there are other metrics than 0-60, and in fact 0-60 is --- at least within a given bracket of cars --- a pretty cheap metric to optimize.

I'm a fan of "fastest Laguna Seca Lap". But I know a bunch of "American Muscle" guys who only care about 0-60. But I prefer statistics that include a combination of good turns, tight handling, AND strong acceleration. Tesla performs horribly on Laguna Lap, but so do all the American Muscle cars. You basically need a low-weight car with high acceleration to do well. Other raceway times are also interesting. But that's…

The problem with lap times is that they're really an OEM tire shootout and not a car comparison. Plus, most factory touring cars are aligned for even tire wear and understeer. With most cars you could probably manipulate lap times by several percent just by adding front camber.

Re: Tesla’s Model S P85D Scores 103 Out of 100 on Consumer Reports’ Ratings System

#86

Post by rebootthesystem »

adam12 wrote: post #53
johnnyg wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think Telsa providing a given feature set makes them responsible for the misuse of it.

Of course it doesn't make them responsible. I just don't think someone should be driving like that unless they are on a test track.

No different from guns. It's about how and who is using them, not the guns.

I've owned one or another fire-breathing twin-turbocharged performance cars most of my life. I have never caused an accident. In fact, to echo what someone else said, some of the most dangerous situations I find myself in with alarming frequency is getting on the 5 fwy right behind someone who merges onto the freeway at 45 mph with semi-trucks buzzing by and refuses to push down on the accelerator. I couldn't even count the number of times I've seen, played out right in front of me, all the makings of a horrific accident because of a slow driver. Good fast drivers are more aware (they have to be) and just get out of the way. Slow drivers are dangerous.

That said, if these people were doing this on surface streets they are dangerous morons. It's no different from someone shooting a gun up in the air.

Re: Tesla’s Model S P85D Scores 103 Out of 100 on Consumer Reports’ Ratings System

#87

Post by kbenson »

pimlottc wrote: post #60
dmix wrote: post #33

This is offtopic but the video of peoples reaction using the 'insane' button in the Model S P85D was some really great marketing for Tesla: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpaLgF1uLB8 The feature is a novelty but it makes for great social media bait. I never share links about cars with family/friends but I felt compelled to this time. It's entertaining because the car is completely silent while it pins them back in t…

One thing that bugs me about that video - are they really going 60-70 mph on normal city streets?

At least in some[1] it's obvious that he's not on a regular street from the guard rails to the side. I imagine he might be on an onramp.

1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQl9OjPFDdc

Re: Tesla’s Model S P85D Scores 103 Out of 100 on Consumer Reports’ Ratings System

#88

Post by Someone1234 »

kylec wrote: post #62
eclipxe wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"doesn't have a huge iPad in the dashboard" Why is this a bad thing?

When it comes to in-car controls, you want to be able to use them without taking your eyes off the road. To this end, knobs that you can grasp for and feel the current setting are great. Knobs without a tactile indication of the current setting are OK, as you can find them without looking and only glance down to see that you are selecting the appropriate setting. Buttons are worse because you have to glance down to f…

I have to say I agree.

We have a car made in 2000, it has knobs and dials for everything, you can configure the AC/heat completely without looking at it after some familiarity with the controls. The radio you can configure the station and volume without looking.

We also own a Prius made in 2014. They've either turned everything into a flat button, or worse it requires the touch screen to configure. And while the Prius does many more things than the 2000 car, the 2000 remains more configurable while driving by a mile.

The Prius largely tries to not have you configure the AC/heat at all while driving by having an automatic mode and you can set the target temp', but this completely ignores other scenarios where people want to be hit with hot/cold and don't care what the actual temp is, or that the temp doesn't measure the sun hitting you on your bare arm constantly making you feel hotter than you actually are.

Ultimately cars were better ergonomically designed pre-touchscreen, when they did less. Maybe in a few years I'll be able to voice control the AC/heat, but until then it is a step backwards.

Re: Tesla’s Model S P85D Scores 103 Out of 100 on Consumer Reports’ Ratings System

#89

Post by punee »

loceng wrote: post #12
3327 wrote: post #6

what a bullshit report. I mean I like tesla but this report starts with bullshit and ends with bullshit. 103/100 ? 200 mile range?

In highschool, grade 11 computer science I got 101% end of year grade; the average of the class was 100%: the person who got 99% was barely in class however completed their assignments, and I got 101% because I would quickly finish my assignments and then was happy and excited to help others if they were running into trouble. I quite wish my other classes were scored that way as well... TL;DR There's nothing wrong gi…

/r/iamverysmart

Re: Tesla’s Model S P85D Scores 103 Out of 100 on Consumer Reports’ Ratings System

#90

Post by mikeash »

kylec wrote: post #80
mikeash wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you drive more than 250 miles in a day on a regular basis? When you do drive that far, do you do it on routes that aren't covered by Tesla's Supercharger network? As a daily driver, the Tesla is easier to deal with than a normal car. With a normal car, you have to worry about how much gas you have, when and where you'll stop to fill up, etc. My Model S is full in the morning every time. For trips that exceed the r…

I live in Massachusetts, and I regularly visit my parents in Maine, which is about 270 miles away. There are no Superchargers along the route, at my parents' house, nor indeed anywhere in Maine. I also live in an apartment, and there is no electric car charging here, so I'd probably have to frequent the local Supercharger to keep it topped off. The "etc" covers things like not having physical controls for adjusting t…

If you can charge at your parents' place (a dryer outlet would do fine) then you should be good to go in that respect. Maybe wait until the Seabrook, NH supercharger is done so you can top up on the way, since 270 miles one way is pushing it. Or buy the CHAdeMO adapter and patronize one of the stations in Portland. CHAdeMO isn't as fast as a Supercharger, but it's fast enough to be a practical bridge for road trips.

Lack of charging at home is a big problem for sure. I would not buy a Model S if I couldn't charge it where I lived. Many apartment building owners are amenable to installing chargers, but many aren't.

Note that you don't necessarily need a garage, just dedicated parking somewhere reasonably close to electrical infrastructure. Houses with at least carports or driveways are pretty common places to live.

"Never take road trips further than 250 miles" needs a strong amendment. "Never take road trips further than 250 miles where charging can't be done at the destination and you're outside the supercharger network and away from CHAdeMO stations." Sure, it happens, but it's pretty rare. If you're staying within the Supercharger network, or you stay within one-way range and can plug in at your destination, then trips over 250 miles are no problem.

Post reply on HN