Reviews
Book Review: “Owning Model S” – The Definitive Guide to Buying and Owning the Tesla Model S
Nick Howe, early Model S owner and Tesla evangelist, is widely known to be the man and legendary Godfather behind the ever so popular Tesla Delivery Checklist, a collection of useful tidbits and online information that every new Tesla owner must have. Reading through the guide can only be described as something unequivocally addictive that it conjures memories of a time in my childhood when I stumbled upon the ultimate guide to Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out.
Update: See our review of Nick’s 2nd Edition ‘Owning Model S’
The left side of my brain tells me that I should probably discover things organically on my own while risking countless hours of frustration and inefficiency. However every other ounce of my being was hemorrhaging with curiosity, especially knowing that the holy grail to defeating Iron Mike himself was found on page 52. Mike didn’t stand a chance with me.
The new, 200+ page, full color Owning Model S – The Definitive Guide to Buying and Owning the Tesla Model S is that book for me and likely that book for all new and existing owners that seek a wealth of knowledge of Tesla Motors, its history and the amazing Model S. I mean, who wouldn’t? Seriously.
The Book – “Owning Model S”
Owning Model S is a great looking book with its deep and rich glossy cover. The book is about the size of a Kindle or iPad mini and in my opinion the perfect size for those looking to balance reading with being able to quickly locate information at a glance. At just over 200 pages, it’s slim enough to fit easily within the Model S glovebox yet not overly thin to the point that it lacks information. It makes for a great complement to the existing Tesla Owner’s Manual.
Nick provides valuable insights and technical information ranging from Model S battery range and performance tips to information on how to set up your charging infrastructure as shared by other Model S owners and club members. There’s an absolute wealth of information packed into this book!
New Owners
New and would-be Model S owners will surely appreciate the ‘Configuring and Ordering’ section of the book. This section provides a great overview on each of the optional Model S upgrades and analysis on why it should or should not be purchased.
Are you debating between the standard suspension and Smart Air Suspension optional upgrade? Why should you buy the Tech Package? How about the High Power Wall Connector and Twin Chargers? Should I get it?
New Tesla Model S owners will inevitably be faced with these types of decision points before making their purchase, followed by an onslaught of commonly asked questions by passers-by once they become the proud owner. Owning Model S does a fantastic job answering all of these questions and more.
Existing Owners: Deep-dive into the Model S Technology
- Inside secrets on maintaining, preserving and caring for your Tesla.
- How to identify which Supercharger bay to use when pulling into a station that’s occupied with other Model S’.
- The “Tesla Two Step” – where do you stand in order to unlock the charge port without triggering the door handles from appearing each time.
- How to properly care for the exterior of the car without damaging the paint.
- What should i put in the cubby under the touchscreen?
- Did you know that the charge port illuminates in 6 different colors each with its own meaning?
- HomeLink Tips
- Tips & Tricks Galore. The list goes on …
Today Tesla is considered the quintessential electric vehicle, the benchmark for all others to come. Nick has done an incredible job capturing the essence of what it’s like to buy and own the Model S by providing a valuable maintenance guide, performance handbook and technical reference source, to help you understand and care for your Tesla Model S.
Owning Model S – a book and a pure labor of love.
“I wrote this book-to share my experiences and to help you make the most of something that is so familiar, yet so different.
This book sets out to dispel the myths that surround this engineering marvel, and to help you through the journey of evaluating, configuring, and ultimately owning Model S.”
– Nick Howe
If you’re interested in obtaining a copy of your own, Owning Model S is available for $24.95 through OwningModels.com.
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The Tesla Model Y has won U.S. News award for “Best Luxury Electric SUV,” beating out a heavy lineup of worthy battery-powered sport utility vehicles.
The Model Y first was delivered to owners in early 2020 and was the automaker’s answer to the widely-popular crossover SUV sector. A sibling of the first mass-market vehicle the company offered, the Model 3, Tesla’s Model Y has quickly become the company’s best-selling electric car, and that’s saying something considering it is not the most affordable Tesla vehicle and starts at $62,990.
U.S. News recognizes Tesla’s influence in the changing automotive market, identifying that it was likely the catalyst in bringing EVs to mainstream status. Despite the rapid expansion of the EV segment, Tesla has remained at the top of the hill, fending off worthy competitors like Volkswagen, Ford, and General Motors, who have spent decades developing some of the best automotive technology the world has seen. However, Tesla has also managed to stay above tech-focused and savvy automotive startups entering the electric sector, with battery powertrains being their only focus. Rivian and Lucid, two of the most notable names to fit that description, still have not managed to catch up with Tesla.
The Model Y effectively expanded Tesla’s product line to include a new body style. While the Model X has been offered for seven years, the falcon-wing door-equipped SUV is still only produced for sentimental reasons, according to CEO Elon Musk. It also is much more expensive than the Model Y, and starts at $114,990.
Tesla plans to produce Model Ys with both 4680 and 2170 cells at Gigafactory Texas this year
Those who do not quite have the means to spend over $100,000 on an all-electric SUV have plenty of options, but if a consumer is looking for luxury, the Model Y may be the best choice. U.S. News highlights that, while the Model Y does offer less overall cargo and utility room than the Model X, it still boasts many of the same tech features that Tesla has been known to put in its cars. The Model Y has plenty of performance too, and its premier trim level will get you from 0 to 60 MPH in just 3.5 seconds, while still having over 300 miles of range and a 155 MPH top speed.
“Despite the onslaught of new competitors, the Tesla Model Y is one of the most capable and well-rounded luxury electric SUVs that you can buy at the moment,” U.S. News writes. “If you’re in the market, this is an option that’s well-worth a test drive.”
I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.
The Tesla Model Y has captured Cars.com’s “Best Electric Vehicle of 2022” award, beating out several worthy competitors to be named the best EV of the year.
The Model Y is Tesla’s newest addition to its purchasable fleet of vehicles, and the first all-electric crossover to come out of the Fremont factory in Northern California. Tesla developed the Model Y to be a mass-market vehicle capable of handling a variety of tasks. Not only is the vehicle lightning fast in typical Tesla fashion, but it also packs enough cargo space to give full-sized SUVs something to sweat about. It is truly Tesla’s most well-rounded vehicle, suitable for nearly any lifestyle and at a price point that won’t break the bank.
“Tesla is an electric car innovator, and the Model Y reflects that leadership with its efficiency, charging capability, range, and options,” Cars.com’s synopsis of the Model Y said. “It checks a lot of boxes for consumers who have been considering making the jump to an EV.”
The Tesla Model Y. (Credit: MotorTrend)
EVs are still a small slice of the overall passenger vehicle market in the United States. While EV adoption is continuing to grow at a fast rate, Cars.com says that about a third of active car shoppers are considering an electric vehicle. Additionally, the site stated that occurrences of searching for an EV on Cars.com have doubled in the past year, while inventory levels of EVs have dropped 30 percent since 2021, showing there is plenty of interest from consumers.
The Model Y may be one of the most appealing options for those who are considering switching to an EV from a gas car. Cars.com notes the Model Y’s incredible efficiency, which is paired with 326 miles of EPA-rated range in the Long Range All-Wheel Drive variant. Not only will the Model Y get you to where you need to go in a minimal number of charging stops, but it also gets better with age. The vehicle, like the rest of Tesla’s fleet, receives Over-the-Air software updates to upgrade vehicle capabilities, fix bugs, or increase performance.
The Model Y is also great for those who have a focus on purchasing cars with a focus on American manufacturing. The vehicle was ranked third on the 2021 American-Made Index, trailing its sibling in the Tesla Model 3 and Ford Mustang.
Cars.com’s list is void of the Lucid Air, Rivian R1T, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Kia EV6. The publication noted demand and production growth of electric vehicles will allow more models to be considered for the award in the future.
I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E has won Consumer Reports‘ award for the Electric Vehicle Top Pick. The Mustang Mach-E displaces the Tesla Model 3, which has held the award for the past two years.
CR credits the Mach-E’s rich heritage with the Mustang brand and its obvious popularity based on sales figures to determine the vehicle was in the running for the top pick. After Ford’s introductory EV, the Mustang Mach-E, solidified its prowess in the electric sector by earning the best Overall Score, which factors road-test score, predicted reliability, owner satisfaction, and safety, Consumer Reports had enough evidence to choose it over Tesla’s mass-market EV.
“Make no mistake, the Model 3 is still a great choice, and Consumer Reports recommends it. It shines with the latest technology, a long range, an impressive charging network, and a driving experience closer to a high-performance sports car than a sedan,” CR said. “But the Mustang Mach-E is also very sporty, plus it’s more practical and easier to live with. The Ford is also quieter and rides better. Both cars have large infotainment center screens, but the Mach-E’s is far easier to operate and doesn’t require multiple steps to activate routine features, such as using the defroster or adjusting the mirrors, as with the Tesla. Also, the Mach-E has an edge when it comes to reliability, according to first-year results in our Annual Auto Surveys of CR members.”
The report notes that the Mach-E is more similar to the Model Y than the Model 3, which is a fact. The two vehicles were the one-two punch in the electric crossover SUV sales figures for the U.S. last year, with the Model Y beating the Mach-E.
Consumer Reports also said the Mustang Mach-E gained two additional points to the vehicle’s Overall Score due to the fact it has an active driving assistance system with an adequate driver monitoring system. Any vehicle that has these features gains two additional points. However, CR did not award Tesla Autopilot the two points because the system “can still be used if the driver is looking away or using a phone, as long as there is at least one hand resting on the steering wheel.”
Tesla activated its cabin-facing driver monitoring system in September as part of software update 2021.32.5. Drivers noted that the system worked adequately, alerting drivers following a brief look away from the road to glance at a cell phone or the floor of the vehicle. However, in CR’s in-house study, the publication stated that GM’s SuperCruise did a better job of monitoring drivers during vehicle operation.
Ford has a lot to be proud of as the Mustang Mach-E was its first crack at an EV, and it went pretty well. Mustang Mach-E sales totaled 27,140 vehicles in 2021, according to Ford. While it was not the best-selling EV crossover last year, it was one of the best, and it made a real splash on the passenger market.
I’d love to hear from you! If you have any comments, concerns, or questions, please email me at joey@teslarati.com. You can also reach me on Twitter @KlenderJoey, or if you have news tips, you can email us at tips@teslarati.com.
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