I saw 2 truckloads of new Tesla's yesterday (pic heavy) (Edited)

[A HERETIC I AM]

Some of you may remember I was a Car Hauler for a number of years, I was in the business when I joined DU back in '03 and with the exception of a short stint in another profession, hauled cars on open-rack transports for ten years. I've hauled my share of exotics, from a Lamborghini Diablo to a Ferrari F-50 and a few electrics over the years, but never a Tesla. I am seeing more and more of these on the road but this was the first time I have seen a truckload of them - two loads, in fact. I was on the return leg of a trip from Jacksonville to California when I saw these guys at a truck stop in Junction, TX about 110 miles West of downtown San Antonio.

I spoke with one of the drivers and he told me he picked them up at the plant in Fremont (the former NUMMI plant in the Bay Area) CA. and they were headed for San Antonio. I asked a few questions re: the load, such as why only 4 units on the trailer (that style trailer - sometimes called a "Quick loader" or "Flat top" is capable of carrying 7 smaller cars) and he said they were heavy! Averaging 5000 pounds, so they can't put too many on or they will be overweight, hence the 7 car load instead of a standard 9 unit consist.

I asked the driver where he delivers to since Tesla has no dealerships. (Edit here; Not in the traditional sense, but they do have "Stores" where you can take a test drive, some in warehouses or other similar buildings and others in shopping malls.) He told me that often it is a rented warehouse in a business district. He was fairly well impressed with the cars even though, as a car hauler, he doesn't really get to drive them very far - just from the parking bay at the plant to the truck load line and then off the truck to wherever the dealer wants them. Usually no more than a few hundred yards altogether. In my time hauling cars I've driven several thousand units less than a half mile each!

4 on the trailer, all driven on.... (LOVE that blue color!)
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and 3 on the tractor, one driven and two backed on.
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Just a few bucks rolling down the road! The undersides are a smooth piece of material - no moving parts visible at all. And of course, no exhaust system.
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This is the Monroney sticker of the white unit at the bottom, forward position in the pic above. The price says $139,950
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This is the Monroney for the blue unit behind the white one, on the bottom rear. Price is $92,200. Both have a base price of $70,000. Note at the top right where it says "Delivered to: it indicates Tesla Motors, Inc., Fremont, CA, which is the location of the plant! This makes sense since Elon Musk has eschewed the traditional dealer network and units are ordered online via their website. (Not meant to be an advertisement for them, I just thought including the link would be of interest)
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This guy pulled in a few minutes later with only six on board. He has a Cottrell "High Rail" trailer, so called because of the support uprights on either side. This design is also capable of carrying 7 units on the trailer. This guy did not have one behind the cab - only 2 on the 'head rack' - on the tractor. Also the unit on the top rear is obviously a Mercedes so he only had 5 Tesla's. The Benz could be a dealer trade or an auction unit or even a privately owned unit. I did not speak with the driver of this truck, as we had to get on down the road.

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As I said, I am seeing more and more of these vehicles on the road, but this was the first time I had seen them being transported, so I thought I would get some pics and share with you folks.

Cool, huh?

[BlueJazz]

1. Thanks for the post. I learned a few things.

[packman]

2. 134k and 98k? - love to have one

and if I had the cash I would.

[A HERETIC I AM]

4. The driver said that model (the "S") is averaging $130K

They are coming out with the Model X which I understand will have a price point in the 60's. Still up there, but it is what it is.



http://www.teslamotors.com/modelx

[snooper2]

3. Friend of mine runs the shop at a exotic/customer car dealership here in Dallas, they bought 10

Badass car, went for a spin for a bit in it-

Cars look right at home sitting next to Ferrari and a supercharged Range Rover

[A HERETIC I AM]

5. To resell? n/t

[snooper2]

7. Yep...

Just checked their website looks like they have three left if you are interested

(Their bread and butter are custom jeeps)

http://inventory.starwoodmotors.com/web/inventory/All_years/All_makes/all_models/all_body_types/all_vehicles/?start=150

[A HERETIC I AM]

8. Ummmm...naaaah! Just bought this in March;

so I'm out of the car market for a few years!

2006 C-6, 6 speed, turned 38K on the way back from Houston where I bought it.

Not quite as fuel efficient, but a hell of a lot of fun! Not to mention about half the price of the as yet to be released model X.

[snooper2]

10. Nice, be years till I get something, My wife wants something bigger

So I'll probably retire my Dakota, take her Grand Prix, and pick up something like this..

Not exactly designed for fun

[A HERETIC I AM]

12. Ohhhhh...I dunno....

Put a couple happy, laughing, Labrador Retrievers in the back and it's fun in spades!

(Or any other dog, for that matter!)

You sure about the Mitsi? Have you looked at the Hyundai Santa Fe? Not trying to sell you a car here, I promise. I've hauled both in the past and...well...the Mitsi dealers all seemed to be struggling. It is quite possible however that I am speaking right the hell out of my ass! The last new Mitsubishi I hauled was in 2004!

Anyway...You can have fun in any car and you know it! Just leave most of your clothes at home!

[snooper2]

14. That is a Dodge Journey, 283 HP, but I'm buying used and Chrysler doesn't hold value like others

Was looking at and Exploder or a Chevy Traverse also, not sold on one just yet-


Not a fan of the Hyundai or Kia but for the money you get a lot...just don't know if I can get used to seeing a Hyundai in the driveway

[A HERETIC I AM]

22. I beg your pardon!

I wasn't familiar with the model so I right clicked on your photo, got the model name and came up with Mitsubishi.

Sorry about that!

I understand about the KIA/Hyundai thingus.

If it's any consolation, they both have plants here. Not sure if the comparable model is made here, but I think the Santa Fe is. I could be mistaken. I am 4 seconds from the answer but I ain't gonna bother!

Everyone I have talked to about newer Jeep products is happy. Looked at them?

[7962]

32. LOVE your "tag line"

[A HERETIC I AM]

34. Thanks.

It's been a running thing on this board since I joined.

[7962]

35. Obviously I know exactly what you mean!

One critical thing and you're a RWer who sleeps with a RUsh pillow

[A HERETIC I AM]

39. Yup.

If you don't toe the line, and I mean with the CORRECT toe and STRAIGHT UP on the line, you're on the wrong website!

Been accused of such things more than I can count

[hifiguy]

37. That is one SWEET car.

[A HERETIC I AM]

38. Thanks man! I could not be happier with it.

I had a '92 C-4;


Lots of fun, but it swore me off of convertibles except for weekend drivers.

My '06 is a COMPLETELY different animal. Shorter, narrower, lighter and a 6 speed.

Scary quick.

[ryan_cats]

40. Why do you hate the Earth?

Why do you hate the Earth?

Those are wonderful cars, I love that color. Does it still have the 1-4 skip?

[A HERETIC I AM]

42. Because I am a horrible person with absolutely no redeeming characteristics, THAT'S WHY!!!!

"Does it still have the 1-4 skip?"


It's a six speed manual......so...yes!

[ryan_cats]

44. You can disable it by disconnecting the solenoid. n/t

[A HERETIC I AM]

45. Ummmm...it's a manual. It doesn't have the paddle shifters.

It goes in whatever gear I shove the gear change knob into!

[ryan_cats]

46. I had a c5 with a manual

I had a c5 with a manual that would force you to go from 1 to 4 to get better gas mileage under certain conditions. If you disconnect the solenoid on the transmission, it shifts normally.

[a kennedy]

6. Saw my first one on the road last weekend.....LOVED IT. And I want one now.

Gonna be about another two or three years before I can get one though.

[A HERETIC I AM]

9. They're pretty cool, no doubt.

Saw my first (or should I say, RECOGNIZED) about 4 months ago in Arizona, heading east from Quartzite!

Google Quartzite......loooong way to Phoenix! Well........120 miles, anyway.

[RexDart]

50. At the Santa Cruz Earth Day...

at San Lorenzo Park there were about 5 of them and they are dead sexy. However I have an easy 150k plus left on my 2001 Honda Accordion, which at the rate I drive it should get me to about 2029. But I really do lust after those Tesla's in my heart.

[GreatGazoo]

11. Love the irony of the sign/icon in the top pic saying "(gaspump) all lanes"

and then the golf cart in the last pic is like 'I want to be a Tesla too.'

[A HERETIC I AM]

17. The icon is for "DEF"

for "Diesel Exhaust Fluid", a relatively new material that most modern heavy truck engines require. It is part of the exhaust system that has drastically reduced emission, including particulates.

Basically Urea - and it smells like cow pee!

The reason that sign is there is because when it was introduced a few years ago it was available only in jugs or it was only on one fuel lane via a pump. Now most truck stops have installed a separate nozzle for the fluid right next to each of the the Diesel pumps.

I was thinking about putting up a thread on this and other advances in truck technology that are allowing heavy trucks to get fuel economy unheard of 20 years ago as well as emitting almost no smoke.

[RexDart]

49. I'd love it if you did.

I never grew out of the "Big machines are freaking cool!" stage.

When I visit the in-laws in Fresno it's a two stop trip. the first is a truck stop near Los Banos, where I always try to grab whatever the big rig trader magazines are there. One will be full of esoteric highway policy news on a state and federal level, and the other will be rigs/trailers for sale. One time all the ads started saying if the truck was "CARB approved" or not. I figured that California was leading the way again with some kind of emissions/mileage rules. Then at the second stop I'd grab the free Tractor Auction hand out just to see what was happening in that field.

[left on green only]

51. Do You Mean "The Red Top"?

I drive from southern Yosemite to the Bay Area quite often, and usually The Red Top Truck Stop and Fish Museum, outside of Los Banos has the lowest price on diesel fuel along the entire route. Only problem is, I drive a 1.9L TDI with a 14.5 gal fuel tank. Now that it is broken in (157K miles), it gets 50 MPG (HWY), so I can usually drive the entire round trip using a little less than one half tank of fuel. I usually drive from start to finish in each direction without stopping; so unless I gauge it right, it often times isn't worthwhile from a time wasted standpoint, for me to stop and refuel every time I drive past The Red Top. But I have seen the trucker magazine rack there on many occasions when I have stopped. The fish museum is also entertaining, but its nothing to write home about.

The TDI Jetta Wagon is great on my wallet, but hell on my bladder. I've been driving it for 13 years, and because of the way that I take care of it, I know that it will easily be around for another 13. Only problem is, I won't.

LOGO

[Heeeeers Johnny]

13. I'm about 1/2 mile from a Tesla service center (no sales).

One of these days I'll have to stop in and ask if they'll give me a tour, walk around (even though it's 4x out of my price range).

The smooth underside is where the battery and armor plate protecting it is located

Regarding the pics, maybe it's the angle, but how close, how much clearance is there between the top of those cars and plaza roof?

[A HERETIC I AM]

55. Neither truck is close to statutory height.

that being 13'6" nationwide, though several allow you to run 14' and a couple even allow 14'6".

Based on my experience and by just looking at them, the highest on both trucks is likely the units over the cab and that's probably 13' or lower.

The fuel island canopy is most likely at least 15'

[lonestarnot]

15. Better invest in some more stock before it goes over $300.00

[lonestarnot]

16. Oh and mucho coolness. Thanks for posting!

[A HERETIC I AM]

18. You are very welcome! I'm glad you liked it. n/t

[Initech]

19. More Teslas are definitely a good thing!

I am definitely buying one if I ever get the opportunity to do so!

[lonestarnot]

20. Me want. Me want.

[Initech]

27. Yeah I would have to win the lottery first!

Although thankfully once Tesla gets that gigantic battery factory built in Reno, the Model A will be much more affordable (like 1/2 of what the P85D costs).

[lonestarnot]

30. Me too.

I thought the factory was finished and running. Haven't been keeping up with it.

[ileus]

21. I seen a new one parked at a Walmart Tuesday....

[A HERETIC I AM]

24. That strikes me as a juxtaposition for some reason! n/t

[SHRED]

23. I bought 100 shares at $23

But I sold at $83...DOH!!

[A HERETIC I AM]

25. LOL....Stop complaining!

Last edited Thu Sep 17, 2015, 10:19 PM - Edit history (1)

$60 profit is nothing to sneeze at! It could have just as easily gone the other way!

Buy a call option instead.

(Don't do what I just said without completely investigating it! That's the former broker in me coming out!)

[SHRED]

48. LOL

It's all good.
Just wish I'd bought 1,000 @ $23 and held on.

[lonestarnot]

31. Ro Fuck!

[Omaha Steve]

26. Thanks for posting

K&R!

OS

[Vinca]

28. Put me down for the red one.

I wish.

[Ilsa]

29. They look a bit like late model Impalas. nt

[A HERETIC I AM]

33. Considerably quieter! n/t

[Dont call me Shirley]

36. When I win the lottery jackpot! A 2 door, royal blue with light grey interior please!

[Glassunion]

41. Was that you who posted that time of unloading cars?

A while back?

[A HERETIC I AM]

43. I linked a thread of me loading cars in the OP....

WOW! 4 years ago! I didn't realize it was so long ago. this one;

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=1968786

I've put up a couple threads on the topic in the past. One was a photo diary of a trip from Phoenix to Denver. I would give you the link, but all the photo links are dead now.

I must have moved the pics in photobucket

[A HERETIC I AM]

56. It just dawned on me that you may have been referring to this thread;

I did a time-lapse of me loading a car hauler;

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022759013

[Glassunion]

57. That's the one. That was pretty cool.

[Zorro]

47. Got one last winter. Silver S85

I think it's a very attractive color; don't know why Tesla dropped it as an option.

I figured Tesla had completed most of its beta testing, and looked like it was going to be stable enough to be around for a few years.

I like not having to gas up, and I take a book along for some quality reading time when I hit the (free) superchargers to juice up.

Audi, BMW, Porsche, and MB see the writing on the wall and getting their electric car developments going. They'll need to have something to compete with Tesla's promised Model 3 in 2018, if it comes out anywhere near the $35k price point Elon is shooting for.

[unhappycamper]

52. Tesla opened a dealership not from from where I live.

I'm usually down that way once a week, so I stopped into the dealership.

A relatively young man (they all look young to me) and I started talking and before you know I'm in the drivers seat of a car inside the showroom and he's showing me all the neat stuff.

They also had a frame with wheels/batteries/drive motors etc. It was for a P85D (I think).

I own a Prius but every now and then I would like a little 0-60 action in under three seconds.

[beac]

53. Very cool.

I like the blue too, but it will be a long time before they come down to my price range!

Maybe someday Tesla will also make the trucks that transport them.

[LWolf]

54. What would be even cooler

would be if the average citizen could afford one.

[jmondine]

58. Just wait until the Model 3 launches

Then we will begin to see them everywhere!

[Tommy_Carcetti]

59. Great. Now price them so us normal folk can afford them.

And we'll be all good.