Lifestyle
Former ‘Top Gear’ host and Tesla owner James May roasts his Model S 100D
Former Top Gear host James May has been a fan of Teslas for a while now, calling the Model S as one of the United States’ best muscle cars in the market today. May actually bought a Model S for himself, and while there are a notable amount of things that he likes about his all-electric sedan, there are a number of mildly infuriating things about the vehicle that need to be discussed.
In a recent video that references the style of popular car reviewers on YouTube, May covered six things that he hates about his Tesla Model S 100D. And in true James May fashion, the former Top Gear host did not disappoint, starting his roast with the fact that his car was “filthy.” This is on-brand for the veteran motoring host, as May is known for liking his cars clean and spotless.
Moving along, May covered a number of legitimate complaints about his Model S. The auto veteran noted that the Model S’ auto-presenting door handles don’t always work, and they still require him to press on them before they engage. May also remarked that the Model S’ automatic shutoff system, which engages after about 30 seconds or so after he leaves his car, is annoying, since he ends up having to turn on his car again after doing simple tasks such as opening a gate.
“Now why is it off? I understand that it doesn’t run like a conventional petrol (or) diesel car. You don’t start it. It’s either on or off because it’s just an electrical device. But I only got out for 30 seconds. Can it not just let me do that and not have to get the key out and double-click it and get it going again so I can simply drive it onto the drive?” May remarked.
Amusingly enough, these observations could be addressed through the vehicle’s settings, as could be seen in a number of comments on May’s YouTube video. The door handles, for example, could be adjusted by activating the vehicle’s “passive entry” feature, while May’s third complaint could be addressed by turning off the “energy saving” option and engaging the “always connected” setting.
Moving to the back of the car, James noted that the Model S’ boot, while extremely large and spacious, makes a loud sound when it closes. The former Top Gear host stated that he understands that the feature is possibly there for safety, but it tends to be extremely loud when he closes the hatch at five in the morning. So loud, in fact, that it could wake up his neighbors.
May also remarked that the rear badging of the Model S is dislikable. The veteran host stated that the Tesla logo and the word “TESLA” are both very futuristic and contemporary, which is very attractive. However, the font used for the words “Model S” and “100D” was less than appealing, as it reminds him of old Western movies that were still filmed in black and white film. And finally, May noted that when he’s driving, he sometimes hears a sound on his rear suspension that almost feels like a worn bush or driveshaft.
That being said, May noted that while he has all these complaints about his Tesla, his car has quite a good number of redeeming factors. As he was ending the YouTube video, May highlighted that while he has six things that he does not like about his Model S, there are 2,837 things that he loves about his electric car. Those things would have to wait for another video though, if any.
Watch James May’s roast of his Tesla Model S in the video below.
Elon Musk has been pretty open about the idea of FSD being the difference maker for Tesla’s future.
If Tesla succeeds in achieving FSD, it could become the world’s most valuable company. If it doesn’t, then the company would not be able to reach its optimum potential.
FSD Supervised’s safety benefits:
- But even if FSD is still not perfect today, FSD Supervised is already making a difference on the roads today.
- This was highlighted in Tesla’s Q4 2024 Vehicle Safety Report.
- As per Tesla, it recorded one crash for every 5.94 million miles driven in which drivers were using Autopilot technology.
- For comparison, the most recent data available from the NHTSA and FHWA (from 2023) showed that there was one automobile crash every 702,000 miles in the United States.
This morning, Tesla FSD proved to be an absolute godsend. I had to take my brother-in-law to the hospital in Sugar Land, TX, which is 40 miles away, at the ungodly hour of 4 AM. Both of us were exhausted, and he was understandably anxious about the surgery.
— JC Christopher (@JohnChr08117285) January 29, 2025
The convenience of…
FSD user’s tale:
- As per an FSD user’s post on social media platform X, FSD Supervised was able to help him drive a relative to a medical facility safely even if he was exhausted.
- During the trip, the driver only had to monitor FSD Supervised’s performance to make sure the Tesla operated safely.
- In a vehicle without FSD, such a trip with an exhausted driver would have been quite dangerous.
- “This morning, Tesla FSD proved to be an absolute godsend. I had to take my brother-in-law to the hospital in Sugar Land, TX, which is 40 miles away, at the ungodly hour of 4 AM. Both of us were exhausted, and he was understandably anxious about the surgery.
- “The convenience of sending the hospital’s address directly from my iPhone to my Tesla while still inside my house, then just a single button press once inside, and 40 miles later we were precisely in front of the hospital’s admissions area.This experience really underscores just how transformative this technology can be for society,” Tesla owner JC Christopher noted in his post.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
There are few things that prove an enthusiast’s love towards a company more than a dedicated short film. This was highlighted recently when YouTube’s SoKrispyMedia posted a 10-minute action movie starring Optimus, Tesla’s humanoid robot, as well as several of the company’s most iconic products.
The video:
- Shot like a Hollywood action flick, the video featured a rather humorous plot involving a group of thieves that mistakenly targeted a Tesla Model 3 driver.
- The Model 3 driver then ended up speaking to Tesla for assistance, and some high-octane and high-speed hijinks ensued.
- While the short film featured several Tesla products like the Model 3, Superchargers, and the Cybertruck, it is Optimus that truly stole the show.
- Optimus served several roles in the short film, from an assistant in a Tesla office to a “robocop” enforcer that helped out the Model 3 driver.
Future Robo-cop @Tesla_Optimus
— SOKRISPYMEDIA (@sokrispymedia) January 12, 2025
full video: https://t.co/TXpSRhcP5K pic.twitter.com/YFHZ7siAP7
Cool inside jokes:
- The best Tesla videos are those that show an in-depth knowledge of the company, and SoKrispyMedia definitely had it.
- From the opening scenes alone, the video immediately poked fun at TSLA traders, the large number of gray Tesla owners, and the fact that many still do not understand Superchargers.
- The video even poked fun at Tesla’s software updates, as well as how some Tesla drivers use Autopilot or other features without reading the fine print in the company’s release notes.
- The video ended with a tour de force of references to Elon Musk products, from the Tesla Cybertruck to the Boring Company Not-a-Flamethrower, which was released back in 2018.
Check out SoKrispyMedia’s Tesla action short film in the video below.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
Tesla definitely seems to be determined to release the coolest lineup of accessories for its coolest vehicle. As could be seen in an update to the Tesla Shop, the electric vehicle maker has now launched a metal key card for the Cybertruck—because why not?
Cybertruck keys:
- The Cybertruck, similar to Tesla’s other vehicles, is shipped with a regular key card.
- The vehicle could also be accessed and locked through a phone key.
- As per the Cybertruck’s Owner’s Manual, the all-electric pickup truck is capable of supporting a total of 19 keys.
The Cybertruck’s Metal Key Card:
- Tesla’s Cybertruck Metal Key Card functions much like the vehicle’s regular key card, but it is finished using premium stainless steel
- As per Tesla’s description of the item:
- “Convenient, durable, versatile. The Cybertruck Metal Key Card is a premium stainless-steel alternative to our traditional plastic key cards, making it easy to access your Cybertruck without your Phone Key. Ideal for when your phone is unavailable or when sharing your vehicle with a friend or valet.”
- The Cybertruck Metal Key Card costs $60.
- In comparison, the Cybertruck’s regular key card is sold for $40.
- The Cybertruck Metal Key Card comes with the metal key card itself, as well as a bifold key card wallet.
Tesla Cybertruck merch push:
- Being the company’s most eye-catching vehicle, it is no surprise that that Tesla has been releasing quite a lot of merchandise inspired by the all-electric pickup truck.
- These include a $250 levitating Cybertruck model, as well as a $35 Cybertruck wind-up racer, both of which are out of stock.
- Tesla also sells the $35 “CyberMug,” a $40 “CyberStein,” and a $50 “CyberVessel.”
- Other Cybertruck-inspired merchandise are the $60 Cyberwhistle Stealth, and the $50 CyberOpener.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.
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