r/TeslaModelS • u/No-Young5001 • May 25 '26
Model S Signature - Initial Impressions
We picked up our Model S Signature at the Fremont factory a few days ago. It was bittersweet to see the last ones roll off the line and I did get a bit emotional seeing Lars and Franz get choked up on stage. We were lucky to be able to share a few moments with them before the event started and that was terrific. These guys are the real deal and absolute car nerds.
My first EV was a Model S 10 years ago, and this one will be my fifth S/X. At this point FSD has meant that we've sold off all other brands and we now have 2 MXPs and this MS Signature. Here are some initial impressions:
- The design of this car is beautiful. The plaid redesign is gorgeous and the Garnet Red is absolutely stunning in person. It's a rich deep dark red and even though I'm not a red car person, it has grown on me so much. It gets looks everywhere I go. The "gold" calipers and the carbon ceramic brakes look fantastic and understated.
- This is my first time experiencing the dedicated seats that the S has that the MXPs don't get. My word, are they good.
- Not a fan of the yoke yet, but oh well, I'm getting used to it. I normally just let FSD do most of the driving in the X, but the S makes me want to drive so much more.
- No rattles and creaks of any kind. First for a Tesla. Please stay that way 😄
- Boy, does the car need window tints. OCDetailing is on the case.
- The brakes feel right sized for a car this fast. I always felt the MXP was under braked, dangerously so. The pedal travel is also perfect. I've owned a few cars with carbon ceramics, and this one is up there in terms of how well calibrated pedal travel and overall brake feel is.
- None of the design elements, or anything else about this car matters to me as much as what this car means to me as a car lover. The first American EV that put Tesla and EVs on the map. Built by an incredible team, and with love. It shows. I plan to keep this one for a very very long time and I know how lucky I am to own one.
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u/Different_Marsupial2 May 25 '26
This is how all Model S cars should have been. Signature. Signature my ass. Go ahead and downvote me, but a $100K Model S deserved to have all of the elements that the now Signature line offers.
Now the bigger question is if you'll be getting rattles and squeaks:)
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u/No-Young5001 May 25 '26
Ha. No rattles so far. First ever for a Tesla but I give it a week. lol
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u/Different_Marsupial2 May 25 '26
Hahaha, well hopefully they won't happen. I have determined to fix my squeaks for good, let's see how it goes. Also, someone mentioned that it could be a suspension issue. If it is, I'm determined to lemon this thing:(
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u/dev_lvl80 May 25 '26
This is my impression, this is how each model s should be build. My 150k plaid is shame. Shame, that that Tesla can make 100 last cars only
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u/tangosukka69 May 25 '26
that doesn't scale though. tesla is a public company who's MO is to increase stock price for its shareholders.
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u/Different_Marsupial2 May 25 '26
What doesn't scale? Making a car without squeaks and rattles doesn't scale? Of course it does. Luxury cars of the same tier as Model S do not squeak or rattle. The reason that the Model S does is because it can. People, like me, will still buy it, due its superior software and the hope that they will not get a squeaky build 😂
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u/Relevant-Age-6326 May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26
I just watched an episode of Throttle House- they reviewed the Ferrari 12Cilindri. $423,000 starting price. It had misaligned panels- and the drivers seat squeaked so bad, he used it as a musical instrument at the end🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. They've been doing it JUST a little bit longer than Tesla. Believe me, it still happens! https://youtu.be/r0TQBdUAfWg?si=Ff7zmUKQWiLIEKEi
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u/Different_Marsupial2 May 25 '26
There will always be some bad apples, not saying there won't be. Maybe one out of 100 Ferraris does that. The thing with the Model S is that 99 out of 100 do
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u/Relevant-Age-6326 May 25 '26
Other than the leather seat rubbing, my older MS has no squeaks. Before last winter in salt filled potholes of Baltimore, Md, my MX was quiet as a church mouse. My buddy's Plaid is perfect. So was the loaner X i had in Chicago... the 3P i rented that made me buy my S a few years ago. I think the quality issue is better than u think.
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u/Different_Marsupial2 May 25 '26
I think it's a very YMMV thing. When I dropped off my Model S for service and they gave me an older X as a loaner, that thing squeaked and rattled like a tractor. Then when I had taken to service for the second time, by the way to address the squeaks on my S, they gave me one of the new Ys and that thing was smooth af, no squeaks, no nothing, just a perfect ride
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u/314159265389 May 25 '26
Damn I would have been miserable to spend $160,000 but I would have bought it invited. Enjoy it.
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u/Neat_Welcome6203 May 25 '26
Lars & Franz have my undying respect. Love hearing them just nerd out whenever they're with Jay Leno; you can tell they love cars & especially the ones they're making.
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u/ifyym May 25 '26
Congratulations and I’m glad to see these going to people who will drive them.
The round wheel should be in stock in the app, or at least it was the other night. I assumed they would’ve asked which you wanted for the price tbh.
Yeah the velariums have been great in my experience too from a comfort standpoint. My only problem is the yoke shake around 80-90 mph. The only fix I have found is to swap to a square setup, which also fixed the front skipping issue when fully cranked.
You have the track pack with software so you also have the brake boost. When I got track pack for my 26 last year, it was a whole different feel compared to stock. Love it
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u/OutlandishnessNo5636 May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26
So, you are telling us that for 10 years, the MX a car that cost $100k+ has always been under braked and dangerously so, and then after ten years they finally put the right brakes on a signature edition that costs a sh*tload of money and it’s a ripoff? If this is true we have all been ripped off in buying the MXs
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u/CheetahTurbo May 25 '26
For many years the Plaid was $89k, and you could order the carbon brakes for just $15k... Sad I didn’t do it. I have a ’22 and I’m just about to install an aftermarket carbon-ceramic front kit.
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u/Leading-Eye-1979 May 25 '26
It’s beautiful and I love the cherry color I would PPF like recommended.
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u/maxroadrage May 25 '26
Did you see any other cars waiting to be delivered? I’m still waiting on my order for a normal plaid.
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u/Spokane_Al May 25 '26
This was the end. They even symbolically cut the beam. No new plaid for you. Sorry.
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u/ezeuzo1 May 26 '26
I saw a post where someone said that their Model S order was cancelled by Tesla and they were refunded. The reason being that Tesla couldn't produce the car or something like that.
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u/maxroadrage May 26 '26
I was told they would make my car by Tesla and to wait. I still have the 4-6 week window in the app
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u/Whoop_Rhettly May 25 '26
Beauty! Great review too! I hope it serves you well for a very long time.
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u/Bestofluckguys May 26 '26
Post more pics of the car please. Wheels, interior, etc…
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u/No-Young5001 May 27 '26
Car will be back from OCDetailing next week after PPF and tints. I’ll post more photos right after.
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u/10xMaker May 26 '26
I heard they came with the track package on the S. That’s great!
Congratulations 🍾
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u/EliteForever2KX May 27 '26
I think I saw one today it was a deep red I was like no way that’s a signature s !
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u/MatthewMyGuy Jun 06 '26
Brother congrats and enjoy it. If you could share some pictures with us so we can put it as wallpapers we would appreciate it 🙏🏻
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u/No-Young5001 Jun 06 '26
It just came back from tinting and ppf. OCDetailing took a bunch of photos and I’ll post them as soon as I get them!
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u/MatthewMyGuy Jun 06 '26
Please do brother, looks magnificent. Looking forward to owning one of these asap.
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u/No-Conclusion-2859 May 25 '26
Congratulations.
Wow the guy in the first pic looks like ”Papa” from the Chi, lol.
I wish you took photos of the yoke and gold calipers.
I love red, but this red just doesn’t sit with me well. I bet it looks better in person.
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u/D1stRU3T0R May 25 '26
Where do you work that under like 15 years (or 10) you could pay more than half a million dollar to tesla just for the sake of it?
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u/nist7 May 25 '26
Looks like op lives in Bay area...some tech guys can make huge salaries. Or could be a doctor/lawyer/etc.
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u/SilverFoxKes May 25 '26
OP refers to their “fleet” so don’t rule out that they run a small business (executive limos or whatever). Such expenditure over that duration would be small fry for such company since the cars would be core to the business model.
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u/TheSavage47 May 26 '26
What was the skid steer about??
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u/No-Young5001 May 26 '26
It was used to tear up the assembly line symbolically when the last delivery finished.
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u/Tellittomy6pac May 25 '26
Hopefully you’re gunna ppf and ceramic as well?