Thoughts at Thirty-Eight Thousand Miles

I’m amazed at how fast the mileage adds up with a daily commute of 70 miles, and a few road trips here and there. But it's also an amazing vehicle, with over-the-air updates making it even better along the way. I think back to the early days, when the only way to satisfy the AP Nag was to tug on the wheel, and now just a click of the volume control keeps it at bay.

When we took delivery, it was the only configuration available: Rear Wheel Drive (Single Motor), Long Range battery (310-mile rated range). Later, they started delivering All Wheel Drive Dual Motor versions, with a Performance option on top of that. Then last fall, a Mid Range model with a 260-mile rated range. A few weeks ago, Tesla started taking orders for the long-promised $35,000 Standard Range (220 miles), and a Standard Range PLUS (240 miles), and they have since discontinued the Mid-Range model (rated at 260 miles). And a recent software update has upped the rated range on the LR RWD to 325! So it is now quite a varied line-up, with prices ranging from $35,000 to $58,000, before Autopilot ($3,000) and Full Self-Driving ($5,000 on top of AP) options. (And with the announcement of the slightly larger Model Y, with deliveries begininning Fall 2020, Elon Musk's vision of EV's for the mainstream is becoming a reality.) I should point out that the "Autopilot" that is available now is not "Enhanced"...It features Traffic-Aware Cruise Control and steering assist in your lane. Lane changing, Navigation on Autopilot and Summon are part of the new Full Self-Driving option, though you get to keep the functions you have already purchased. For those who wonder if AP without Lane Changing is worth it, I’d say it is. The TACC does wonders, even in stop and go traffic on the freeway. And when you want to change lanes, just break out with the steering wheel, and tap down on the gear stalk to re-engage AP. But here’s a tip: it makes it smooth to re-engage AP if you are already centered in the lane when you re-engage, so the car doesn’t have to lurch to find the middle.

So, my observations, one year out?

It's still clean, quick, and sure-footed. I use the Enhanced Autopilot for 90% of my driving, which is commuting on good Phoenix, Arizona freeways. While wonderful on urban freeways, EAP was especially useful on an 850-mile one day road trip we took last month. At the end of the 18 hours, I was tired from the long day, but not exhausted from the driving. EAP really reduces the exertion. (Granted, this was on good roads, where I was not having to dodge potholes. Your mileage may vary.)

Another positive observation: after 38,000 miles, we've experienced only about 1% battery degradation. That is, when new, charging to 100% would get a 310-mile rated range, it showed 306 miles of range last week. And with a recent software update, the LR RWD battery is rated at 325 miles, so it is even better than new...that's almost negative degradation!

So that’s where we are at one year down the road to the future! Many more to come!