That black roadster is a black swan. 1) We've been duped into thinking the technology was not practical, 2) The only reason it's not massively disruptive is its price, and 3) Years from now new drivers will find what we have to do to maintain our current rolling crap completely ridiculous.
I test drove a Tesla
51–60 of 60 posts
Re: I test drove a Tesla
#52Re: I test drove a Tesla
#53Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't drive, but when I'm out cycling -- and I do a lot of cycling (something like 900km this summer) -- I behave like a car on the roads. I've never been hit myself, but I've had many close calls: 1) About two months back I saw a girl on a bike get hit by a guy who "didn't see her" because, as he claims, he was watching me (I was about 10m back). He was on a minor street crossing a major street. We were on the maj…
I can't tell you how many times a large truck accelerated up behind me with the horn blaring and guys yeehawing in a not so pleasant manner interrupting a nice, quite bike ride in the countryside. Sometimes they throw can's or cigarettes. Never had this happen with a truck full of females.
Glad to hear I'm not the only person who's had that happen to them. But with me, it happens in the city (I don't do much biking in the country).
In fact, it happened this afternoon, since I wrote my last post. Strange, eh?
Re: I test drove a Tesla
#54As 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…
"No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame." --- Just because it doesn't have the features you expect - doesn't mean it's not a killer product.
It's the first car they've ever built! Do you honestly think there will never be an electric track ready car? Surely this a pretty damn impressive first step.
As has been noted by others - the clutch is a misfeature - it's fun (I only drive manuals) - but I don't see it as being essential for the Tesla.
And as for the noise - agree but also disagree - a big engine sounds awesome - but honestly - the important thing about a car is how it drives - not how it sounds.. It's going to take a few years for that to happen - but it will.
Re: I test drove a Tesla
#55Carmack's cars:
http://www.automotivehelper.com/topic85593.htm
See links in the comments for pictures.
Re: I test drove a Tesla
#56I 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." It still surprises me how few manuals you see in the US, It's as if people aren't interested in driving + getting the most out of the car. If you don't enjoy driving, why not get a driver. If you enjoy driving, you want a manual. Nothing worse than speeding up an on-ramp, and the car refusing to budge out of 2nd.
Oh, I highly enjoy driving, I just don't enjoy having another pedal to mash and fiddling around with a stick while in traffic. I live in Los Angeles. You ride the 405 freeway during rush hour in a manual.
Regardless, I still wouldn't buy a manual. I drive my brother's old turbo Z and my dad's manual pickup sometimes. I've driven a friend's manual Porsche Cayman S on the tracks too. Clutches just aren't fun.
An added bonus is the speed of SMG transmissions today. My 335i's "steptronic" transmission has a clutch-lock for that real direct connection to the engine feel, plus it shifts in 100ms; which I don't think any human could actually do. The perfect throttle blipping makes it extremely smooth. Further, the fun of using paddle shifters is a huge thrill as a FIA F1 fan! :D
Re: I test drove a Tesla
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
"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 Sc…
the Tesla only has 1 gear, which doesn't like going much past 100mph. It is a 2-speed car. Tesla is planning on performing a recall to upgrade the transmissions of all of the delivered 1-speed cars to 2-speed. http://www.teslamotors.com/media/press_room.php?id=803
No, they originally delivered 2-speed cars that were locked in 2nd gear -- and now they're replacing that gearbox with a one-speed gearbox that's a lot stronger.
They increased the power of the engine while waiting to fix the gearbox, and found the car now accelerates fine with only one gear.
-W
Re: I test drove a Tesla
#58If one of my startups is ever successful this will be one of my very few "I'm rich bitches" purchases.
I'm not sure about the point of having a car I'd drive only 10 days in a year. Why not creating a company that leases Tesla cars? and the company would also have a racing circuit nearby. Now, that would be fun.
I'll drive the Tesla every day, as I do with my Lotus. Why drive a boring car to work?
-W
Re: I test drove a Tesla
#59Earlier quoted context omitted.
In about twelve seconds from a standing start, my 350Z will get me to "lose your license" speeds. Even if I had an automatic transmission, I would still never be able to get the "most" out of the car without taking it to the track. Anyway, I agree that manual transmissions are outdated and sequential shift should be standard equipment on sports cars. Motorcycles have had clutchless shifting forever, why not cars? OTO…
Motorcycles have had clutchless shifting forever There is a motorcycle model with clutchless shifting?
Guess it depends on your definition of "motorcycle" but my Honda Foreman 400 (a 4-wheeler) and so do many others.
Re: I test drove a Tesla
#60Earlier quoted context omitted.
the Tesla only has 1 gear, which doesn't like going much past 100mph. It is a 2-speed car. Tesla is planning on performing a recall to upgrade the transmissions of all of the delivered 1-speed cars to 2-speed. http://www.teslamotors.com/media/press_room.php?id=803
No, they originally delivered 2-speed cars that were locked in 2nd gear -- and now they're replacing that gearbox with a one-speed gearbox that's a lot stronger. They increased the power of the engine while waiting to fix the gearbox, and found the car now accelerates fine with only one gear. -W
Thanks for clearing that up for me, Wil. (And welcome to HN, though I am new here, also.)
Do I understand correctly that the 1.5 drivetrain tends to get hot at high speeds and is automatically throttled to prevent overheating (thermal throttled, like some CPU's) and that that is the reason that though the car can indeed reach 120 or more MPH, it cannot sustain it for very long?