West Hartford resident and automobile reviewer John Lyons is the founder and chairman of New England Concours d’Elegance.

By John Lyons

Tesla seems to still be a bit of a mystery here in Connecticut. While there are a few on the roads, many wonder what all the fuss is about.

“Is Elon Musk a snake oil salesman?” seems to be one common theme. The answer (and the car) I have discovered are profoundly more complicated.

Elon Musk was born in South Africa and became a millionaire before he turned 30 when he sold his company to then computer giant Compaq. Not shy for a challenge, he then got involved with several projects including SpaceX and Tesla which, in 2008, unveiled its first car, a roadster.

He continued on battery and software development and rolled out the Model S in 2013 to incredible accolades and a fair amount of skepticism but rave reviews from the motoring press.  The car has evolved and matured since then and it is time and become a global success … except in Connecticut it seems.

Why aren’t there more Teslas in Connecticut you ask? Because of laws on the books preventing manufacturers from selling directly to the public, cars must be sold through independent car dealerships.  This law is designed to protect dealers and with Tesla’s direct-to-customer sales strategy, it is in violation of the statute.

The other questions seem to be about Musk himself. I made the mistake of viewing him as a car builder for many years. When the value of Tesla surpassed that of Ford (which sold 2.5 million cars last year in the USA vs. Tesla which sold 76,230 cars worldwide in 2016), I was very skeptical. Then, I realized, Tesla is a technology company selling cars, not a car company selling cars and that distinction is significant.

Teslas are modern computers offering performance that bests virtually every other high production car built. Teslas can receive software updates with no owner or driver involvement. Recently, during Hurricane Irma, Florida owners received an update which preserved and extended battery life to aid in evacuations. If that is not a (smart) technology company, I don’t know what is. I fully expect to see Tesla software technology in many other cars in the not-too-distant future.

I recently travelled to Santa Monica, CA, and was based within a mile of a Tesla store. Once I discovered it, I spent parts of several days there admiring the Model S and the Model X.

The S is a performance based four door sedan and the X is their alternative to a minivan or SUV but with gullwing doors. This was prior to the introduction of the Model 3.

Side note: Musk has a sense of humor. His intention was to call the first four cars the S, the E, the X, and the Y. Yes, it spells what you think it does. Unfortunately, Ford owned the Model E trademark so Musk had to settle for the similar numeric version, a “3.” S3XY with the “Y” still in development.

I was invited to drive the S and happily accepted. The Model S has two wear items on the car: tires and an air filter. Everything else is virtually maintenance free.

Tesla touch screen. Photo credit: Tesla Motors

I was able to drive the P100D which included several options. My favorite option, and a nod to the movie “Spaceballs,” was “Ludicrous Mode.” Yes, that is the official name. What it does is just as … er … ludicrous. It offers an extended range of 315 miles and acceleration of 0-60 in 2.5 seconds. Only a couple of options are available including auto pilot and full self-driving functions as well as rear facing seats and a carbon fiber spoiler. For those truly worried about a North Korean nuclear attack, the bio weapon defense mode option is a must.

Sitting behind the wheel is like getting into the most comfortable computer ever. It features a huge touch screen which operates virtually every function on the car. After setting my mirrors and seat, I am ready to go. The touch screen system is magnificent. You can connect it with your smartphone and have the car fully ready when you get in. You can start the air conditioning or heat, and have everything ready. The screen tells you your daily schedule and is virtually as functional as the best smart phones on the market. If you buy a Tesla, plan on a significant learning curve to master the system.

The driving experience was equally as impressive. The car accelerated at a clip that could literally make one car sick. I did test ludicrous mode but did not allow my kids (who also drove the car) to use it. It is aptly named.

I had only one complaint with the car. The braking. Like many hybrid and electric cars on the market, Tesla uses a regenerative braking system. There are two settings with the standard setting making passengers feel like the driver is driving two-footed, the secondary (reduced) setting much more like a standard car which I found to be much more preferable.

Pricing: The Model S ranges from around $69,500 to nearly $150,000 for a fully optioned P100D. They can be purchased by going to Tesla.com and filling out a simple form. They drop ship the car to you and send over a technician for instruction on how to use and drive. I should mention that Tesla has never had a recall so reliability is not an issue.

Will there be stores in Connecticut soon? Who knows. There are whispers of “service centers” opening up in state in the coming months but until the law changes or Tesla agrees to have a dealer network, seeing one on a street near you will still be the exception, and not the norm.

One last hint: If you are planning on buying one, check out a store and ask for one that has a “price adjustment” on it. That is Tesla-speak for ‘”discount.” There are plenty out there that are relative bargains when compared to their list pricing.

New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts all have Tesla stores and all can register a car in state for you.

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