So I decided to pop by Tesla's Fremont facility...

So I decided to pop by Tesla's Fremont facility...

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manracer

Original Poster:

1,548 posts

112 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
quotequote all
So today I drove into San Francisco and thought it would be rude not to stop by the Tesla Fremont facility (me being a model 3 reservation holder and all) just on the off chance of spotting a model 3 and what should happen to be charging up nestled between model S's and X's...

I got talking to the owner. This is number 145, he paid $65k for it. He's just had autopilot enabled. I also saw the app for the model 3 on his phone but forgot to get pics.

I got to sit inside and must say the vegan faux leather felt really nice. In my opinion the interior looks and feels much better put together than the 2017 model s that I have been in.
Anyway enjoy the pics. Sorry about the quality!















Edited by manracer on Sunday 24th September 02:04

raspy

2,042 posts

109 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
quotequote all
Lucky you.

That screen looks gigantic. I'm also a reservation holder smile

Did you sit in the rear? The pictures make it seem like headroom might be poor in the back seat.

Blaster72

11,691 posts

212 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
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Vegan faux leather rofl

manracer

Original Poster:

1,548 posts

112 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
quotequote all
Blaster72 said:
Vegan faux leather rofl
It made me laugh too!

manracer

Original Poster:

1,548 posts

112 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
quotequote all
raspy said:
Lucky you.

That screen looks gigantic. I'm also a reservation holder smile

Did you sit in the rear? The pictures make it seem like headroom might be poor in the back seat.
Yeah it is rather large but actually when you sit in the car it doesn't feel too big. I think it is just right but obviously that's only my opinion having seen it in person.

Yeah rear headroom was fine for me and I'm 6'2. It's really deceptive, the whole interior of the car feels more roomly than it looks from the outside, which might I add seems much narrower than the model s that it was parked next to.

CanAm

11,336 posts

287 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
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Blaster72 said:
Vegan faux leather rofl
California; 'nuff said.

essayer

10,189 posts

209 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
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I hate that dash frown

anonymous-user

69 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
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I could cope with that

gangzoom

7,380 posts

230 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
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manracer said:
So today I drove into San Francisco and thought it would be rude not to stop by the Tesla Fremont facility (me being a model 3 reservation holder and all) just on the off chance of spotting a model 3 and what should happen to be charging up nestled between model S's and X's...
Lucky git smile

I saw one of the first Xs at Fremont a few years ago, cannot wait to get our 3. Will make a lovely replacement for wife's Lexus IS.

Did the owners say what it felt like to drive? I cannot wait to try the S/X power train in something 700kg lighter.

Edited by gangzoom on Sunday 24th September 07:49

manracer

Original Poster:

1,548 posts

112 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
quotequote all
gangzoom said:
manracer said:
So today I drove into San Francisco and thought it would be rude not to stop by the Tesla Fremont facility (me being a model 3 reservation holder and all) just on the off chance of spotting a model 3 and what should happen to be charging up nestled between model S's and X's...
Lucky git smile

I saw one of the first Xs at Fremont a few years ago, cannot wait to get our 3. Will make a lovely replacement for wife's Lexus IS.

Did the owners say what it felt like to drive? I cannot wait to try the S/X power train in something 700kg lighter.

Edited by gangzoom on Sunday 24th September 07:49
I genuinely didn't think i could just drive in to the factory until I spoke to security and realised the was a sales showroom on site next to the superchargers. (Which were rather busy I might add with some unimpressed Model S owners queueing up to charge)

He was only young. His dad works for Tesla, he said he has a new Merc c class too and the ride is similar. He likes the acceleration and says it handles very well, better than his Merc he feels. He was one of the first with the app ( the first 100 cars only had the RFID keys). He demo'd the controls of the app such as unlocking/locking/window opening and closing/valet mode/charging controls plus a few other things I can't remember. He loves the minimalist layout and I did too. The wood trim looks really nice in person and all the control surfaces feel very nice. The little electric switches to open the doors from the inside are interesting, I couldn't work out how to get out the car for a moment.

There were a few more model 3's behind the fence in different colours but I didn't remember to take any pictures on the way out as the O/H was starting to get a bit bored of the conversation after about 30 minutes.








Edited by manracer on Sunday 24th September 08:07

dxg

9,430 posts

275 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
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It's just struck me what the bonnet opening, windscreen shape and a-pillar angle all remind of:

A 2000's VW Beetle. Change the shape of the headlamps and you'd be there...

Z3MCJez

531 posts

187 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
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gangzoom said:
Did the owners say what it felt like to drive? I cannot wait to try the S/X power train in something 700kg lighter.

Edited by gangzoom on Sunday 24th September 07:49
I know what you mean. But the drive train (I.e. the motor) is completely different. Whether better or worse remains to be seen, but much more traditional.

Jez

NDNDNDND

2,434 posts

198 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
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manracer said:
I genuinely didn't think i could just drive in to the factory until I spoke to security and realised the was a sales showroom on site next to the superchargers. (Which were rather busy I might add with some unimpressed Model S owners queueing up to charge)

Edited by manracer on Sunday 24th September 08:07
Queueing for the superchargers? I hope none of them were in a hurry...

I thought this wasn't supposed to happen because everybody charges their car at home?

manracer

Original Poster:

1,548 posts

112 months

Monday 25th September 2017
quotequote all
NDNDNDND said:
manracer said:
I genuinely didn't think i could just drive in to the factory until I spoke to security and realised the was a sales showroom on site next to the superchargers. (Which were rather busy I might add with some unimpressed Model S owners queueing up to charge)

Edited by manracer on Sunday 24th September 08:07
Queueing for the superchargers? I hope none of them were in a hurry...

I thought this wasn't supposed to happen because everybody charges their car at home?
Yeah I there was 2 or 3 cars queueing all the time I was there but only for 5 or 10 minutes. I think word had spread that there was a model 3 there and some had come to see it according to one guy. I also have no info on the % of people who home charge in the US.

TooLateForAName

4,887 posts

199 months

Monday 25th September 2017
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The inside of that looks cheap and nasty to me.

Also 65K - what happened to 35K?

manracer

Original Poster:

1,548 posts

112 months

Tuesday 26th September 2017
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TooLateForAName said:
The inside of that looks cheap and nasty to me.

Also 65K - what happened to 35K?
It certainly doesn't feel cheap nor nasty in person imo.

A quick Google would tell you.

gangzoom

7,380 posts

230 months

Tuesday 26th September 2017
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TooLateForAName said:
The inside of that looks cheap and nasty to me.

Also 65K - what happened to 35K?
I believe Tesla are copying the Porsche approach to pricing/optionssmile.

jimmybell

613 posts

132 months

Tuesday 26th September 2017
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No pics of the boot?

I think the lack of hatchback has forced a tonne of cancelled orders.

RushDom

236 posts

109 months

Tuesday 26th September 2017
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CanAm said:
California; 'nuff said.
If I can't have my seats made from front quarter horsehide leather, then no deal. wink

manracer

Original Poster:

1,548 posts

112 months

Wednesday 27th September 2017
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jimmybell said:
No pics of the boot?

I think the lack of hatchback has forced a tonne of cancelled orders.
No it's the one shot I didn't manage to get. Id just driven from mid California and was rather tired by this point of the day. My bad.

I must admit I wasn't thrilled by the boot design, however cancelling an order for such a car is rather dramatic in my opinion. Plus, for every cancelled order it means I get my car quicker so happy days I say!