Help-I rented a Tesla!

[iansriv]

Going to San Diego for work and some surfing with seals. Had the choice of a BMW X5 or Tesla 3. Tom Brady talked me into taking the Tesla. I thought it would be fun and give me some idea of what it's like to live with an EV for a week. Regen braking, recharging, all that sort of stuff. Never owned an EV and my R1 is coming sometime between now and when AI takes over. I'm going through some online tutorials. I know a lot of you own/have owned Teslas. Would love your advice to a first-time Tesla driver. Thanks, in advance. Happy 4th to one and all!

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[derekmw]

Not sure what advice you need. That's super vague ask especially if you've never driven an EV.

How do you plan to take your surfboards? The seats fold down in the 3, but if it's not a short board, you're not going to fit it very well.

When surfing, I'm assuming they're giving you the key card, and if so, you can just lock the car with it and stick the key card in your wetsuit. That's what I did for 4 years in my two Model 3's.

 

[iansriv]

Not sure what advice you need. That's super vague ask especially if you've never driven an EV.

How do you plan to take your surfboards? The seats fold down in the 3, but if it's not a short board, you're not going to fit it very well.

When surfing, I'm assuming they're giving you the key card, and if so, you can just lock the car with it and stick the key card in your wetsuit. That's what I did for 4 years in my two Model 3's.

Thanks mate! I am asking about tips on actually driving a Tesla. For example, I was not aware of how the door handles open or how to open the door from the inside. Don't worry about the surf board. My friend is taking care of all that. I'm more concerned about the day-to-day driving. Cheers!

 

[Dark-Fx]

Going to San Diego for work and some surfing with seals. Had the choice of a BMW X5 or Tesla 3. Tom Brady talked me into taking the Tesla. I thought it would be fun and give me some idea of what it's like to live with an EV for a week. Regen braking, recharging, all that sort of stuff. Never owned an EV and my R1 is coming sometime between now and when AI takes over. I'm going through some online tutorials. I know a lot of you own/have owned Teslas. Would love your advice to a first-time Tesla driver. Thanks, in advance. Happy 4th to one and all!

Now this is quality Tesla content for a Rivian board.

Tesla's charging port can be opened by pushing down on the button on the supercharging/tesla destination charger handle. This does not work for CCS chargers though. I believe you could also open it from the center driver's display, but who wants to do that.

Take some time to get used to one-pedal driving. It makes a lot of sense to me. Push down to go faster, lift off to slow down.

Model 3 doors open by pushing in on the big spot on the handle to pop the rest of it out, then just pull on what pops out. Rivian's handles work a lot the same but are much bigger (and almost always mean the vehicle is lock when retracted. Not sure that's true for Tesla)

 

[MIG]

For example, I was not aware of how the door handles open or how to open the door from the inside.

Press against the fat part of the handle with your thumb to pivot the thinner part of the handle towards you, then grasp and pull the handle. That's it.

 

[NY_Rob]

Try to get your climate, infotainment and route guidance setup/running before starting off because if you're not familiar with the Tesla UI that stuff can be pretty distracting if you start adjusting while driving. Also, learn how to make the car listen for a voice command and some of the actual commands (my butt is cold, wipers to auto, I'm hot, etc..) and how the speech to text works in case someone messages you while you're driving. Learn how to re-center the nav map back to your current position in case you start scrolling ahead of where you are. learn how to switch from % State of Charge to actual "miles remaining". Learn how to have the map display all the local Supercharger locations for you.

 

[crashmtb]

Thanks mate! I am asking about tips on actually driving a Tesla. For example, I was not aware of how the door handles open or how to open the door from the inside. Don't worry about the surf board. My friend is taking care of all that. I'm more concerned about the day-to-day driving. Cheers!

Step 1; RTFM

Step two; get annoyed when stuff doesn’t quite work how you expect

 

[DJ24]

Going to San Diego for work and some surfing with seals. Had the choice of a BMW X5 or Tesla 3. Tom Brady talked me into taking the Tesla. I thought it would be fun and give me some idea of what it's like to live with an EV for a week. Regen braking, recharging, all that sort of stuff. Never owned an EV and my R1 is coming sometime between now and when AI takes over. I'm going through some online tutorials. I know a lot of you own/have owned Teslas. Would love your advice to a first-time Tesla driver. Thanks, in advance. Happy 4th to one and all!

In the same boat. R1S on order and rented a Model 3 (actually also in San Diego) a few weeks ago. Never owned an EV and it was very easy. Used several Supercharger Stations. You may want to play with the settings before leaving the rental car center. When I got mine, the regen was set to low, autopilot was not enabled and the car was set to roll at a stop (not hold). Enjoy!

 

[iansriv]

Press against the fat part of the handle with your thumb to pivot the thinner part of the handle towards you, then grasp and pull the handle. That's it.

Thanks. That was a simple example. I've been watching some online guides and have enough to go by.

 

[iansriv]

Try to get your climate, infotainment and route guidance setup/running before starting off because if you're not familiar with the Tesla UI that stuff can be pretty distracting if you start adjusting while driving. Also, learn how to make the car listen for a voice command and some of the actual commands (my butt is cold, wipers to auto, I'm hot, etc..) and how the speech to text works in case someone messages you while you're driving. Learn how to re-center the nav map back to your current position in case you start scrolling ahead of where you are. learn how to switch from % State of Charge to actual "miles remaining". Learn how to have the map display all the local Supercharger locations for you.

Great advice. Exactly what I was looking for. Cheers!

 

[bbonkk]

Going to San Diego for work and some surfing with seals. Had the choice of a BMW X5 or Tesla 3. Tom Brady talked me into taking the Tesla. I thought it would be fun and give me some idea of what it's like to live with an EV for a week. Regen braking, recharging, all that sort of stuff. Never owned an EV and my R1 is coming sometime between now and when AI takes over. I'm going through some online tutorials. I know a lot of you own/have owned Teslas. Would love your advice to a first-time Tesla driver. Thanks, in advance. Happy 4th to one and all!

I had an enterprise model 3 rental when my R1s was at the service center. The ability to supercharge was not available because they say they have no way to charge you. Since i have a Tesla charger in my garage it was no problem. You can use destination chargers that your hotel may have. Moral of the story is check with the rental agency about the charging.

 

[SASSquatch]

Never listen to Tom Brady!

 

[Monkey]

Now this is quality Tesla content for a Rivian board.

Tesla's charging port can be opened by pushing down on the button on the supercharging/tesla destination charger handle. This does not work for CCS chargers though. I believe you could also open it from the center driver's display, but who wants to do that.

Yes, there is a wireless button on the handle of the charger cord that will

tell the car to pop its charge port door -- if the car is unlocked. Has a very short range so rarely triggers anything but the closest car.

There is an icon on the center screen that does this as well and the charge port door also pops open if you simply push in on it.

Take some time to get used to one-pedal driving. It makes a lot of sense to me. Push down to go faster, lift off to slow down.

This is the big one. Sure, he can turn 1-pedal off, but it's great after getting used to it. Applies to all EVs and many hybrids.

Model 3 doors open by pushing in on the big spot on the handle to pop the rest of it out, then just pull on what pops out. Rivian's handles work a lot the same but are much bigger (and almost always mean the vehicle is lock when retracted. Not sure that's true for Tesla)

The Model 3 and Y are fully manual door handles so press in on the big side as you say and then pull on the handle portion. Pressing in on the narrow side will rock the handle and actually serves as an ice-breaker. ...Not that OP is going to need that. Inside, there are two ways to release and open the door. The primary is an electronic release -- simply press the button. There is also a mechanical release lever at the front of the door arm rest, but that is reserved as an emergency release of sorts. The reason being is the button will roll the window down a bit before unlatching the door. The mechanical release just releases and places strain on the window from the weather seal. ...All Tesla's have frameless windows, so they should be retracted a bit before opening/closing the door.

Model S door handles are more like traditional car door pull handles. They retract flush with the exterior of the car when locked.

Model X has the push-button on the exterior. And then buttons on the door and inside on the B pillar for controlling the falcon doors (also controls on the center screen).

Other than 1-pedal drive, the biggest thing to get used to from a new to EV (or non-Tesla) person is the lack of a center cluster. The dash is gloriously devoid of anything but the center display where all the info is at. It takes a little bit to get used to since it's not in the most intuitive spot to truly view while driving. IMO Tesla really should give us a good HUD. But the real issue with the display is that controls for things can be tricky to get at while driving sometimes, trying to tap on the screen while the car is moving/bouncing.

Oh, the wipers will mess with people. Typically they're on auto and work OK, but if you need to manually adjust or control it has to be done through the screen. To bring up wiper controls or to quick wipe the windshield, press the button on the end of the left stalk on the steering column (turn signal stalk).

I had an enterprise model 3 rental when my R1s was at the service center. The ability to supercharge was not available because they say they have no way to charge you. Since i have a Tesla charger in my garage it was no problem. You can use destination chargers that your hotel may have. Moral of the story is check with the rental agency about the charging.

Definitely clarify the charging situation. Although that is weird coming from Enterprise. I've rented a Tesla from them as well as Hertz and both simply passed the Supercharging cost onto my rental bill, the same way they would charge me for tolls. Hertz had the CCS adapter available as an add-on option if I wanted it for like another $10/day. LOL...

 

[iansriv]

Save the head ache. Get a convertible!

Every time I did that in Hawaii they all had sand and dirt in them.

 

[iansriv]

Yes, there is a wireless button on the handle of the charger cord that will

tell the car to pop its charge port door -- if the car is unlocked. Has a very short range so rarely triggers anything but the closest car.

There is an icon on the center screen that does this as well and the charge port door also pops open if you simply push in on it.



This is the big one. Sure, he can turn 1-pedal off, but it's great after getting used to it. Applies to all EVs and many hybrids.



The Model 3 and Y are fully manual door handles so press in on the big side as you say and then pull on the handle portion. Pressing in on the narrow side will rock the handle and actually serves as an ice-breaker. ...Not that OP is going to need that. Inside, there are two ways to release and open the door. The primary is an electronic release -- simply press the button. There is also a mechanical release lever at the front of the door arm rest, but that is reserved as an emergency release of sorts. The reason being is the button will roll the window down a bit before unlatching the door. The mechanical release just releases and places strain on the window from the weather seal. ...All Tesla's have frameless windows, so they should be retracted a bit before opening/closing the door.

Model S door handles are more like traditional car door pull handles. They retract flush with the exterior of the car when locked.

Model X has the push-button on the exterior. And then buttons on the door and inside on the B pillar for controlling the falcon doors (also controls on the center screen).

Other than 1-pedal drive, the biggest thing to get used to from a new to EV (or non-Tesla) person is the lack of a center cluster. The dash is gloriously devoid of anything but the center display where all the info is at. It takes a little bit to get used to since it's not in the most intuitive spot to truly view while driving. IMO Tesla really should give us a good HUD. But the real issue with the display is that controls for things can be tricky to get at while driving sometimes, trying to tap on the screen while the car is moving/bouncing.

Oh, the wipers will mess with people. Typically they're on auto and work OK, but if you need to manually adjust or control it has to be done through the screen. To bring up wiper controls or to quick wipe the windshield, press the button on the end of the left stalk on the steering column (turn signal stalk).


Definitely clarify the charging situation. Although that is weird coming from Enterprise. I've rented a Tesla from them as well as Hertz and both simply passed the Supercharging cost onto my rental bill, the same way they would charge me for tolls. Hertz had the CCS adapter available as an add-on option if I wanted it for like another $10/day. LOL...

Thank you! That's extremely helpful. Lots of great advice. I did ok with the one pedal driving on both of my R1 test drives. I attribute that to my first EV that I owned at the ripe age of 5. It was a red sports car. Do you guys remember the little electric toy cars?

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