I thought I would give a report on my impressions about the Tesla.  First, I’m a car person.  I’ve loved them since I was a kid.  The faster the better.  I want them sleek and fierce.  I want them to look like they’re going 100 miles an hour when they’re parked.  My first car was a Dodge Charger with a 400 horsepower engine.

(Yeah, my dad was car crazy too, but wouldn’t admit it so he lived vicariously through his 16 year old daughter.)  Next up was a Fiat X1/9.  I loved that car.

Then I had a Toyota Supra.  At one point I got coerced into a Mercedes sedan because no one in our circle of friends had a four door car that could carry more then 2 people.  I got stuck with the mommy car.  That lasted only a few years and then I went to the Mercedes SLK 300.  I loved that car and drove it until the repairs were starting to cost more than the car was worth.  Then the BMW Z4.  Really fun car, but the six cylinder engine meant I was putting premium gas in the thing every 3 to 4 days.  I was also getting a cramp in my conscience.  My friend George R.R. had gotten a Tesla and I liked what I was feeling and seeing when I rode in it so I started the Tesla fund.

A conversation over dinner with a tech savvy friend made me realize that a Tesla was a lot like a computer.  They are advancing at light speed and my friend pointed out that maybe leasing rather then buying was the smarter way to go.  Less money up front and being able to replace in three years.  The next morning I went out a took a test drive.  And I was lost.  It was the smoothest car I’d ever driven, but with a sport setting if I wanted to really feel the road, and enough zip to literally get me out of trouble in seconds.  The acceleration on this car is mind boggling.  I ordered one that day.

My bronze beauty arrived on the 23rd of December.  When you pick it up they encourage you to name the car (My kind of people all my cars have had names).  The name was obvious — Loki.  It’s even the color of Loki’s helmet in the movies, and I plan to get up to mischief while driving it.

So what have I learned.  I tend to use the fish eye camera as much as I use the mirrors.  Really helpful for changing lanes since it gives you a view to the side as well as directly behind.  They give you Slacker for four years for free, and I’m able to create “radio channels” of various artists.  So far I’ve got Mozart, Adele, Kelly Clarkson.  Apparently there is no limit to the ones you can create.  The speakers are first rate.  Phone calls are much clearer and of course hands free.  I just tell the car who to call.

I love how when I walk up to the car the door handles extend.  A sort of welcoming handshake.  The car seems to be excited and happy that you are going to take it out to play.  There is no place for a key.  You just keep it with you.  When you walk away the car locks itself.  Between the front trunk, the back trunk and the fact the backseats go flat you have as much storage as most SUVs.

The control panel is a wonder.  Easy to use and you really feel like you’re in a space ship.  Seat settings, climate control, garage door, music, phone, everything is just a touch.  You can even open the sunroof by just sweeping down on the panel.  The seats in the car are incredibly comfortable.  The navigation responds to voice commands and will guide you to supercharging stations and other places to charge your car at hotels and shopping malls, etc.  Since it’s linked to Google it will find stores by name.

Elon Musk is also a man with a vision and elegance and you will not spoil that vision and his elegant interior design with your crap.  In other words there are no door pockets or a center console where you can stash stuff.  No little dust catching pockets that can get cluttered up with junk.  Because there is no drive trail there is an area between the seats for a purse or briefcase, but you will keep your crap in the glove box where it will not spoil the symmetry and clean lines of the interior.  Elon is also clearly very concerned about American’s dietary practices.  There are two cup holders, but they are small.  You won’t be ordering a Big Gulp if you’re driving a Tesla because there is no place to set that giant cup.

I still find myself checking out the prices of premium gas at stations that I drive past and then remember — “Oh wait, I don’t have to do that any longer.”  As for charging.  It’s simple.  Press a button the charger door opens.  Plug it in, go inside and let it do it’s thing.

Bottom line — I love this car.