Prius to Tesla Transition Part 4 – Transition complete

It’s been quite a week. I drove the car home, and then did all the things I normally do with a car. As I become more familiar with the car, I like it a lot more.

Summon

One of the big sighs of relief came when I found that the car was able to park itself in my garage, something I found difficult to do myself. Now I can monitor parking from outside the car with a perfect view of everything. Should something go wrong, I can abort the process with a press of the key fob. I just wish I had tried that sooner.

Interest

Within 25 miles of where I live is the BMW factory and the North American Headquarters for Michelin (also an R&D facility). There are lots of car people around, and a lot of BMW’s on the road, a surprising number to me. Whether it’s my peculiar geographical location or something else, my car is turning heads. I drive conservatively, +5 MPH on the Interstate, and when cars pass me I see some rather extreme head turns. One Audi driver turned his head, and I could see him catching me in his rear view mirror. I was at the county recycling facility dumping paper and plastic. The fellow parked next to me said that he had taken a test drive in a Model S, and owning one was on his bucket list. I’ve had at least four people ask me about the car in detail. I had no idea that so many people are interested in Tesla.

Music

In the Prius, even though it had the premium JBL sound system and a 6-CD changer, I rarely listened to music, rather more to news radio (NPR) and audio books on a long trip. This morning on the way to church I asked the Model S to play some songs by Enya, and it dutifully streamed some from the Internet. The combination of the smooth driving, the low noise, and the smooth music was a very pleasurable combination. I own a fair amount of music, mostly classical, and I plan to put it on a flash drive and listen while I’m driving on the Interstate.

Prius compatibility

I turned off Mild Regeneration and Creep, things that make the car drive more like a Prius. I’m starting to accelerate more briskly than I did with the Prius. I washed the Tesla, something I rarely did with the Prius. I’m still interested in mileage, in this case reduced energy consumption per mile. Today I passed 500 on the odometer.  My average consumption is 274 W-hr/mi. That’s better than the EPA combined estimate. I don’t know whether it is just the kind of driving I do, or if I am just an energy-efficient driver having driven a Prius with it’s energy consumption displays for 12 years. Whatever it is, it pleases me. I have removed the Energy app from the Instrument Panel (it was usually on in the Prius unless navigating) as not providing any information I need. I ended up doing what most Tesla photos show: I put the Music app on the Panel, something I didn’t think I would do.

Transition complete

As of today, I declare my transition complete. The only thing I have left to do with the Prius is to find out how much it sold for, and deduct the donation on my taxes. To answer the question I raised in my first post in the transition series: if I had it to do over, I would have not gotten the air suspension, and I would have gotten the all-wheel drive version. Maybe I would have gotten red too, like my old Prius.

Update:

The Prius sold for $4,200.

About Kevin

Just an old guy with opinions that I like to bounce off other people.
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8 Responses to Prius to Tesla Transition Part 4 – Transition complete

  1. Kevin says:

    I don’t live in a particularly cold place, so my experience is limited. I know that some folks really like the heated steering wheel that comes with the cold weather package.

    What do I know? Today is Christmas Day and the temperature is 64.

  2. Peggy says:

    I too am coming from a Prius to a model S. Haven’t got my car yet. But you made me feel better about not getting the smart air suspension. I did get dual drive though. Hope I don’t regret getting the cold weather option for the heated back seats. But ever how I feel about it after it comes it’s what I chose it will have to be ok. Your blogs are really helping with my Tesla education. Thanks

  3. Kevin says:

    The interview was held this morning.

  4. Emily Hey says:

    Would you be willing to talk to a reporter about your experience switching from a Prius to a Tesla? If so, please email me!

  5. Les Isozaki says:

    What is your referral code. I’m planning to order in December with a January delivery so it has a 2017 model year.

  6. Kevin says:

    Well there’s never been a better time to buy a Model S, since today Tesla announced that all production cars going forward will have the hardware for fully autonomous driving (software to follow). You get the hardware whether you buy the features or not.

    The Model S now comes with some super GoodYear foam-filled tires to make the to make the ride quieter. I really don’t know how much of a factor the smart air suspension is, but if I had it to do over, I probably would have gotten all-wheel drive, and not gotten SAS. SAS is fine, but I don’t know that it adds all that much.

    If I get another referral before December I get a duffel bag. 😉

  7. Les Isozaki says:

    Thanks for all the information that you’ve provided.

    I’ve enjoyed reading your blog as I appear to be on a similar journey. I’m in my 60’s and headed towards buying a MS 60 kwh.

    I saw that you were debating whether or not to get the Smart Air Suspension. After driving your MS for a while now, would you have purchased the SAS option?

    I’d like to thank you by using you as my referral if you haven’t already met the maximum. Please let me know.

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