Tesla Roadster • Hacker News Board

Re: Tesla Roadster

#471

Post by sandworm101 » Fri, Nov 17, 2017, 2:05 PM UTC

DennisP wrote: post #406

in3d wrote: post #365

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sounds really good on paper but the production is scheduled for 2020, so it’s unfair to compare it to the cars currently on the market. No other manufacturers announce cars so far ahead so it seems at least partly like a hype for Tesla investors. Acceleration is just one part of what makes a great sports car. And how is the acceleration past 100 mph? That’s the traditional weakness of electric cars and it matters mor…

MotorTrend's review of the Model 3 makes me optimistic about the Roadster: "What’s blanching, though, is the car’s ride and handling. If anybody was expecting a typical boring electric sedan here, nope. The ride is Alfa Giulia (maybe even Quadrifoglio)–firm, and quickly, I’m carving Stunt Road like a Sochi Olympics giant slalomer, micrometering my swipes at the apexes. I glance at Franz—this OK? “Go for it,” he nods.…

And so how many Gs can it sustain on a flat corner? The faster a reviewer talks, the less we should listen. Give it to the Stig and let us see exactly how it laps.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#472

Post by fma » Fri, Nov 17, 2017, 2:05 PM UTC

dEnigma wrote: post #395

rkangel wrote: post #331

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The sound is satisfying for reasons that are entirely separate with its association.

Do you have any sources for that? Personally, I don't find sports car sounds satisfying at all, so I guess those reasons don't apply to everybody.

It's kinda why someone would buy a Harley Davidson...they have a distinctive sound associated with power.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#473

Post by repsilat » Fri, Nov 17, 2017, 2:09 PM UTC

jfindley wrote: post #464

warpdude wrote: post #428

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> F1 tires are nothing like road tires. Agreed, but they don't need to be. Remember, the magic number here is ~1.4G, for a 1.9s 0-60. The Pilot Sport Cup 2 – a track-friendly R-compound tire used in the webcast car and in the videos – can pull close to that on a skidpad (i.e. less than optimal conditions), meaning the grip is there. > I think it's straining credulity to believe that an electronic traction control sys…

> Agreed, but they don't need to be. Remember, the magic number here is ~1.4G, for a 1.9s 0-60. The Pilot Sport Cup 2 – a track-friendly R-compound tire used in the webcast car and in the videos – can pull close to that on a skidpad (i.e. less than optimal conditions), meaning the grip is there. That's lateral grip, which isn't the same at all. Longitudinal grip, which is what's important here, is very different. The…

> AIUI, increased grip due to weight scales linearly, whereas the increase in power required (and thus the increase in grip required) scales geometrically

The high-school physics model of grip has them both linear, but more sophisticated models may show a difference.

(Interestingly, more mass on a vehicle does help when it is towing something heavy.)

Re: Tesla Roadster

#474

Post by lafar6502 » Fri, Nov 17, 2017, 2:09 PM UTC

wintermute2001 wrote: post #125

Am I the only one who's worried that Tesla is really starting to bite off more than they can chew? Right now their finances are a mess, they are publicly struggling to produce their most important car ever, their CEO is spending time figuring out how to dig holes underneath LA...and now they're announcing a semi truck and a roaster in the same day? Don't get me wrong, Teslas are incredible cars. But this seems like a…

just dont give them money upfront and maybe the reality will take care of the rest.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#475

Post by PunchTornado » Fri, Nov 17, 2017, 2:10 PM UTC

dkhenry wrote: post #448

wintermute2001 wrote: post #125

Am I the only one who's worried that Tesla is really starting to bite off more than they can chew? Right now their finances are a mess, they are publicly struggling to produce their most important car ever, their CEO is spending time figuring out how to dig holes underneath LA...and now they're announcing a semi truck and a roaster in the same day? Don't get me wrong, Teslas are incredible cars. But this seems like a…

You have been reading too many finance blogs. Their finances are far from a mess, they are just not what finance people like to see. They have cash on hand and a roadmap to execute on. If they don't execute they will go out of business, and they will take my money as an investor with them. I'm OK with that and as long as they continue to have a path to profitability I am all on board. I want to see them burning money…

Exactly. As a small investor in them I fully support them. Even if I lose all my money I know it went to cool research that has benefit the progress of science in a cool way.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#476

Post by stevehawk » Fri, Nov 17, 2017, 2:11 PM UTC

wastedhours wrote: post #444

semi-extrinsic wrote: post #394

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And how is the acceleration after 100 mph? This. If you're buying a supercar to actually drive on a track, this is key. Any specs relating to what happens below 100 mph are worthless. If you spend any significant percentage of time going so slow, you need to spend ~$8k on a BMW E36 M3 instead, and learn how to drive. But if you buy a supercar mainly to park in front of Harrods, 0-60 time is... still worthless.

Not to be a Tesla apologist, but how many people track their supercars? Or at least proportionally to road use? An Aventador is pretty crummy as a track car, and its performance is all but unusable on the roads (unless, ahem, liberties are taken). A lot of the appeal is in the perception of performance and that initial acceleration. It's putting your foot down with a passenger, or breezing someone at the lights whils…

More than a few race tracks in America are basically pet projects of the super rich. They operate as for profit entities and do their best to be profitable or at least break even, but really they exist for the entertainment of the billionaire owners groups.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#477

Post by saturdaysaint » Fri, Nov 17, 2017, 2:14 PM UTC

rottyguy wrote: post #410

tdiggity wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Founder series limited to 1000 requires full deposit, that's $250 mil Base model requires $45k deposit. Not sure what semi requirements are. Even if they are biting off more than they can chew, they can gauge reaction and devote more/less to this. I'm thinking that these ventures give their engineers a space to get really creative and push the envelope. And, these advancements make their way into the mainstream model…

What's even more amazing is that F or GM couldn't possibly do this. First mover advantage plus the allure of someone like Musk is what is needed. I know many bash him for spreading himself too thin among all his other ambitions but it gives him good will capital (which can translate to economic capital) when needed.

"First mover advantage" is a concept that applies to platforms, and not to a millionaire status symbol/fashion statement. Most people spending $200,000+ on a vehicle want to be among the only people at the country club with it. This looks like a hot car, but I wouldn't hesitate to test drive Aston Martins or Ferrari's if I was playing with that kind of cash.

Also, GM and Ford do highly profitable business with the wealthy - Ford pickups are the most owned vehicle among millionaires and Cadillac keeps turning profits that Musk should envy.

Re: Tesla Roadster

#478

Post by pwdisswordfish » Fri, Nov 17, 2017, 2:15 PM UTC

davidwhodge wrote: post #187

speeq wrote: post #68

Close up video of Tesla Roadster launching from zero: https://twitter.com/DavidHodge/status/931391188065705984

Hey folks. I was the one that took that video. let me know if you have any questions.

Do you not understand what 0 mph is or why do you use scummy clickbait titles?

Re: Tesla Roadster

#479

Post by lafar6502 » Fri, Nov 17, 2017, 2:15 PM UTC

nodesocket wrote: post #39

200K is actually good value, seeing as gas supercars that are near it in terms of performance (except slower) often cost over $1M. EDIT: Tesla probably should fix their homepage going to a what appears to be the live stream page. I'd have to imagine they are losing valuable pageviews and sales. Tesla.com should be redirecting to either the Semi or Roadster landing pages. Screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/L9oN5

I dunno. check the value of previous model of tesla roadsters and if their owners want to keep them

Re: Tesla Roadster

#480

Post by Unklejoe » Fri, Nov 17, 2017, 2:18 PM UTC

Has the 8 second quarter mile been confirmed to be done in stock trim (i.e., no special tires or other modifications)?

The reason I ask is because that is EXTREMELY impressive. I tune EFI systems on race cars as a hobby, and any car in the 8 second range usually needs to run slicks or drag radials to have enough traction.

Even all wheel drive cars (GTRs, DSMs, EVOs, etc.) usually run 4 slicks once they get to that speed.

It seems very hard to make a pass like that on regular street tires, even with AWD.

EDIT: To add, I'm not knocking Tesla here, as there are very few cars that can actually run an 8 second pass off the showroom floor without any modifications at all. Even if they had to put slicks on the car to reach that time, that still puts it on par with 1000 HP dedicated drag cars.