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A/ I don't work for TESLA!!!!! I'm a retired French teacher, whose professional engineering career ended with being a technical rep in pneumatic control/fluidics!Admit it. You work for Tesla.
I too think the TD5 is just about at the right balance. The electronics are useful and are pretty robust and reliable, but are very basic by modern standards and so can be worked on and around by the DIY mechanic, as long as they have access to the knowledge of the gurus on here. If I was crossing the Empty Quarter I would probably prefer a 300Tdi, but for European travel, I think the TD5 is a great balance. Of the other stuff - I like TC, ABS and HDC, they add a great deal of safety and capability, but I made sure my cab has CDL as well. They can be troublesome, it is true, but failure in the field should not leave you stranded and they are MOT-essential. SLS and ACE are nice to have, the truck handles better, tows better, rides better and is probably better off road. But for overlanding they are an unnecessary complication that could potentially leave you stranded. As they are not required for the MOT, my truck has had them removed, and I don't miss them at all.
B/ I am glad you agree about crossing a desert in a 300tdi and ensuring you have cdl, as to what is an MOT requirement, that depends purely on what the car was fitted with.
C/ I have towed my massive box trailer with both my 300tdi and my TD5, apart from the extra power, there is no difference at all, and I am talking journeys of 600 miles in each direction.