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I test drove a Tesla

wilshipley.com

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Re: I test drove a Tesla

#11

Post by menloparkbum »

jamongkad wrote: post #8
jasonlbaptiste wrote: post #5

Let's also give Wil tons of credit. No VC it seems and a great piece of software with delicious monster.

I'm surprised he can even afford a Lotus Elise. But do you think he was able to afford those cars by Delicious MOnster alone? Or were they a purchase from his earnings at Omni?

He sold $250K worth of delicious library in 1 month, according to the interwebs.

http://developer.apple.com/business/macmarket/deliciouslibra...

Also, OMNI did a bunch of high hourly rate contracting throughout the 90s, even before they sold products.

Re: I test drove a Tesla

#12

Post by jonny_noog »

there wrote: post #10
jamongkad wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm surprised he can even afford a Lotus Elise. But do you think he was able to afford those cars by Delicious MOnster alone? Or were they a purchase from his earnings at Omni?

a lotus elise isn't that expensive a car; brand new they're only about $45-50k. my lotus exige was only $57k new. though the tesla roadster, while initially based on the lotus elise chassis and body, is about double the price of an elise. i'd be more surprised if he was actually able to find one for sale since i thought all 2008 models were spoken for. though i don't think his article actually said he was buying one,…

Well, he did say:

"The Tesla I drove was an engineering prototype but is said to be very close to the one I'll get next year."

So I guess he's getting a 2009 model or something.

Re: I test drove a Tesla

#13

Post by menloparkbum »

jonny_noog wrote: post #12
there wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

a lotus elise isn't that expensive a car; brand new they're only about $45-50k. my lotus exige was only $57k new. though the tesla roadster, while initially based on the lotus elise chassis and body, is about double the price of an elise. i'd be more surprised if he was actually able to find one for sale since i thought all 2008 models were spoken for. though i don't think his article actually said he was buying one,…

Well, he did say: "The Tesla I drove was an engineering prototype but is said to be very close to the one I'll get next year." So I guess he's getting a 2009 model or something.

In an another post he mentions getting on the Tesla waiting list, quite some time ago. So long ago I can't be bothered to dig it up out of the archives.

Re: I test drove a Tesla

#15

Post by froo »

My brother used to race his Porsche, so after reading the article I found myself wondering "How long til people start trying to circuit race these things"

Anyone care to put an estimation on a time frame? I'm thinking somewhere around 2010-2012.

I think someone putting some serious effort in trying to set up a series would help in a greater adoption of the electric car.

Re: I test drove a Tesla

#16

Post by vaksel »

The whole quiet thing creeps me out about the Tesla. Its a sports car you are supposed to hear the engine roar. + the whole quiet thing greatly increases your chances of some soccer mom side swiping you

Re: I test drove a Tesla

#17

Post by PStamatiou »

As a car nut that has spent time on a race track (exhibit a: http://flickr.com/photos/pauls/sets/72157594286920410/ ) in various sports cars, I see a strong dichotomy between Tesla owners/gawkers and real car guys. Yeah the Tesla accelerates faster than most people will have ever experienced before and it's neat with its whole 1 gear thing, instant torque and of course being all electric. But it will be the laughing stock of any track day.

First off, as Wil pointed out, it doesn't like staying at 100mph+ for very long. That naturally makes it not a track friendly car. It will get passed up easily on the straightaways at some tracks (ex you can hit 140+ on the back straight at Road Atlanta). And the brakes will get roasted and it will run out of battery after just a few sessions. Not to mention that there's no fun in driving a car and not shifting gears and toying with the clutch, and of course being deafened by the loud sound of a free flowing V-8,10,12,whathaveyou

Okay, just my little rant. In summary the Tesla is not a car guy's car, it's a SV show-off car.

Re: I test drove a Tesla

#18

Post by corentin »

vaksel wrote: post #16

The whole quiet thing creeps me out about the Tesla. Its a sports car you are supposed to hear the engine roar. + the whole quiet thing greatly increases your chances of some soccer mom side swiping you

So I assume smug geeks are immune against bad driving?

Re: I test drove a Tesla

#19

Post by cbrinker »

I love my 335i coupe, but I think I would trade it for a Tesla in a heartbeat. I am so excited that a company is embracing alternative fuels (electricity especially) in aims of making a supercar.

Gear shifting slows down a vehicle, regardless of how fast it is, since you're disconnecting the engine from the powertrain. It also is another thing you have to bother with while driving.

Re: I test drove a Tesla

#20

Post by PStamatiou »

cbrinker wrote: post #19

I love my 335i coupe, but I think I would trade it for a Tesla in a heartbeat. I am so excited that a company is embracing alternative fuels (electricity especially) in aims of making a supercar. Gear shifting slows down a vehicle, regardless of how fast it is, since you're disconnecting the engine from the powertrain. It also is another thing you have to bother with while driving.

"It also is another thing you have to bother with while driving."

I think that's what makes driving fun.. you have greater control of your cars actions and are in touch with it. I could never see myself driving something where I never have to touch the shifter once its in a forward gear.

As for the speed issue, you're right, it is slowing it down. (granted new paddle systems make that 60 milliseconds like the F430 Scuderia) But the Tesla only has 1 gear, which doesn't like going much past 100mph.

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