Tesla Motors. Anyone test driven one yet?

[86-tundra]

I drove a tesla roadster S a few years ago. Ridiculously fast. Totally unpractical though.

and man.. there is something to be said about a great sounding exhaust. that thing sounds awful. like you're in the jetsons. just doesn't inspire me to drive it hard at all.


teslas are ALL over the place in austin. I would say I see more tesla than mustangs here. And that's no exaggeration.

[86-tundra]

I drove a tesla roadster S a few years ago. Ridiculously fast. Totally unpractical though.

and man.. there is something to be said about a great sounding exhaust. that thing sounds awful. like you're in the jetsons. just doesn't inspire me to drive it hard at all.


teslas are ALL over the place in austin. I would say I see more tesla than mustangs here. And that's no exaggeration.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by jebuwh

Haha are you coming to the meet on Saturday at gmr? He might be bringing the car then!

Details!

[Gunman]

I know someone with a P85, nice car, never driven/ridden in it though, but she loves it.


There is a Tesla Roadster around town too, I've seen it once, NASCAR Cup driver owns it.

[jebuwh]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Details!

For the meet?! Check the southern California section, gmr canyon cruise thread. We are going to have a ton of people I'm hoping. This Saturday

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by Re~Mix

You do know how electric motors work right? Tesla's don't lose power or torque as much as a conventional car. Acceleration is nearly identical from 30-60 as it is 60-90.

But they don't have any power up top. Now, below 100mph, sure there's lots of power immediately available, but at the top end, it gives out. I don't think it's aerodynamics or a governor that limits the top speed to only 125-130 mph.

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by dem00n

The biggest misconception with the Telsa S is that they're very fast, yes...one out of three models are.

There's three models to choose from with the S.

The 60 kWh (302HP), 85 kWh ( 362 or 412 hp). The P85 is the fast one, 4.2 0-60 time.

I had a very small stint in one, too compare to it to my dads A7, the Tesla feels like it's size and it feels heavy, the A7 doesn't feel like it's size. But at the same time, they both aren't cars meant for handling, i like the A7 more because i'm an Audi fanboy and well...dat ass. The ride for comfort is better in the Tesla, i don't find the car to be engaging at all to be frank. That's the point of a luxury car...

But if you're a tech guy, then the Tesla is your baby. Still a great car, i'm just not a big luxury guy.

Do be reminded, the charge for electric cars is extremely crippled in cold and hot temperatures.

Well, I did say that if I get one in the future, it'll be for a family car. I can comfortably haul people, save gas, and still have performance.

My daily will still be my BRZ. I don't think a fully electric car will have anything like the pure handling of the 86. It's too 'refined.'

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by SirBrass

I don't think a fully electric car will have anything like the pure handling of the 86. It's too 'refined.'

Umm, ok...

[jebuwh]

Originally Posted by SirBrass

But they don't have any power up top. Now, below 100mph, sure there's lots of power immediately available, but at the top end, it gives out. I don't think it's aerodynamics or a governor that limits the top speed to only 125-130 mph.

I think most people in a year of driving aren't exceeding 100mph more than a handful of times. Just saying. For a daily driver car, they are incredibly fun, fast, and handle great for how big and heavy they are.

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by jebuwh

I think most people in a year of driving aren't exceeding 100mph more than a handful of times. Just saying. For a daily driver car, they are incredibly fun, fast, and handle great for how big and heavy they are.

No doubt.

I know some are going to scoff at this, but as a way to get a "general impression", it isn't bad (though obviously nothing beats a test drive where you actually get to drive it), but I drove this in GT5/6 at the Nurburgring, and in the long straights where you simply go WOT, it can easily be beat by even a BRZ, b/c of the limited top speed and massive power loss up top, power:weight being equal (which is how I race in GT: PP limitations). In the corners, all things being equal, this thing is awesome. But that's a video game. Real life tends to impart different impressions. Plus, in the game you've got no butt dyno .

On shorter tracks or tracks where the straights aren't that long and you're not going above maybe 110, I'm sure this thing is absolutely fantastic.

Thinking about this, I think this car could benefit from a transmission. That would help it stay in the optimal power range where it delivers immediate torque. I'm thinking a basic CVT would let it keep top-end power by keeping engine revs in the high torque area (basically keeping the revs beneath 6k), after the speed of the car would otherwise force the engine out of its "comfort zone." Until that point, the cvt would keep the same reduction ratio the car originally has. Only problem would be any parasitic loss, but I'm sure that can be mitigated against. It'd be very expensive, but I'm thinking from a pure "how does one keep the advantages of a fully electric drivetrain but not get the torque loss when the engine is in the higher revs".

For every other use, the engine speed limitations aren't an issue, indeed.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by SirBrass

Only problem would be any parasitic loss, but I'm sure that can be mitigated against.

It can't be. That's the problem Also the "powerband" is a lot "wider" than in a gasoline engine so you don't need CVT at all. I actually love how CVTs run vs. a normal automatic, it's a shame their efficiency is inherently limited.

On the Roadster they considered using a 2 speed gearbox but they decided to ditch it. Consequently the performance isn't as good as it could be up top. On the Porsche 918 you see the same thing, single speed at the front wheels, they just disengage the motors at 126mph or something. With a 2 speed transmission you'd be able to retain drive and regen braking at the front axle up to like 200.

I'm sure it'll come someday, right now they are more focused on using electric drive for normal street applications.

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

I'm sure it'll come someday, right now they are more focused on using electric drive for normal street applications.

Makes sense. That's where the market is for EVs. Gotta make plenty of money in order to reinvest it to develop small market items like solid performance vehicles.

If they start getting even more successful with the regular street application cars, then they can start on performance cars once they've gotten the ROI on the Model S and Model X and they then basically turn into pure profit generators.

[dpesce]

Awesome lady who saw me taking pictures of her car gave me a ride in her Model S P85; the instant torque threw me against the back seat -- amazing! Later found out that this woman was Leilani Munter, a part-time ARCA series driver. It was awesome and the technology in that car is so cool. The 17" screen is pure sex!

[Gunman]

Originally Posted by dpesce

Awesome lady who saw me taking pictures of her car gave me a ride in her Model S P85; the instant torque threw me against the back seat -- amazing! Later found out that this woman was Leilani Munter, a part-time ARCA series driver. It was awesome and the technology in that car is so cool. The 17" screen is pure sex!

The pic I posted, with the "EFF OIL" tag, is Leilani's car, I guess she narrowly avoided a speeding ticket today in it.