View Full Version : Boss got his new Tesla this weekend
And I got to drive it this morning. It's a total kick in the pants. The instant torque is sweet. The seats are really comfortable and hold you well. I want something like them for my c5.
http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/jeff+w-albums-2011+tesla+roadster-picture1068-a.jpg
http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/jeff+w-albums-2011+tesla+roadster-picture1070-a.jpg
http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/jeff+w-albums-2011+tesla+roadster-picture1079-a.jpg
http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/jeff+w-albums-2011+tesla+roadster-picture1074-a.jpg
http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/jeff+w-albums-2011+tesla+roadster-picture1077-a.jpg
http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/jeff+w-albums-2011+tesla+roadster-picture1085-a.jpg
:cool: At the moment, that is the only non-gasoline/non-diesel vehicle I'd ever consider driving :cool:
I saw one on the roads around here a few weeks back--very sweet :dance:
mrvette
05-31-2011, 7:54pm
Better watch it, when a Tesla gets coiled it can strike!!!!
:lol:
nhlgopens
05-31-2011, 7:55pm
:cool1:
Fastguy
05-31-2011, 7:55pm
Cool, so is it just a single speed trasnmission?
Stangkiller
05-31-2011, 7:58pm
No concern about top gears experience with the car?
Cool, so is it just a single speed trasnmission?
It is a single speed. Only the first year (2008) production was 2 speed IIRC.
No concern about top gears experience with the car?
Top Gear's experience was complete BS and was just for entertainment.
Rotorhead
05-31-2011, 8:00pm
Top speed?
Top speed?
Top speed is 125mph. Plenty for most situations.
:cool: At the moment, that is the only non-gasoline/non-diesel vehicle I'd ever consider driving :cool:
I saw one on the roads around here a few weeks back--very sweet :dance:
It was a trip hearing the electric motor wind up behind your head. It was a pretty cool experience. The car doesn't have power steering, which is great when moving as we all know, but the steering is incredibly heavy <5-10mph. That, combined with needing to be a contortionist to get in and out of it, would make it a difficult DD.
Any woman in a skirt/dress WILL be pulling a britney spears getting in/out of it.
khblair
05-31-2011, 8:17pm
its very cute. i like the looks of it
Omega Man
05-31-2011, 8:27pm
Range?
Rotorhead
05-31-2011, 8:31pm
Range?
243 miles according to the web-site
CertInsaneC5
05-31-2011, 8:51pm
Looks sweet. But i wish it had a manual gearbox in there. :cheers:
VatorMan
05-31-2011, 8:57pm
Looks sweet. But i wish it had a manual gearbox in there. :cheers:
:rofl: So how the hell would you know when to shift? It's not like there's a RPM limiter on the battery and I'm sure the electric motors have a high limit.
Looks sweet. But i wish it had a manual gearbox in there. :cheers:
:skep:
:rofl: So how the hell would you know when to shift? It's not like there's a RPM limiter on the battery and I'm sure the electric motors have a high limit.
The motor maxes out at 14k rpm
243 miles according to the web-site
gimme a pickup that will do that...preferably in a Tacoma size...and I'll buy it.
SubZero
05-31-2011, 9:41pm
neat stuff :cool:
Rotorhead
05-31-2011, 9:50pm
gimme a pickup that will do that...preferably in a Tacoma size...and I'll buy it.
My 2007 Frontier gets 370 miles on 20 gallons, and It's rated to pull 6500lbs which I've done.
Omega Man
05-31-2011, 10:31pm
243 miles according to the web-site
NFW. I want the real numbers.
jeff w
05-31-2011, 10:48pm
NFW. I want the real numbers.
It really depends on which "mode" you drive in. I don't remember what Tesla calls it, but it's essentially an "Eco" mode, where acceleration is reduced in favor for longer range. In this mode, 240 miles is possible. In the "Standard" mode, 150-180 miles is more realistic.
jeff w
05-31-2011, 10:49pm
Looks like... a Lotus?
It's based on the Elise. In fact Tesla buys the rolling chassis from Lotus. The majority of the car is actually assembled in England.
Omega Man
05-31-2011, 10:57pm
It really depends on which "mode" you drive in. I don't remember what Tesla calls it, but it's essentially an "Eco" mode, where acceleration is reduced in favor for longer range. In this mode, 240 miles is possible. In the "Standard" mode, 150-180 miles is more realistic.
That sounds real. I can believe that.
150 - 180 miles would actually be "useful" range for me, as opposed to the current Nissan LEAF. I could get to work and back evey day with a nice range cushion.
Too bad the T-car costs so much... where's good old economy of scale when you need it?
jeff w
05-31-2011, 11:40pm
150 - 180 miles would actually be "useful" range for me, as opposed to the current Nissan LEAF. I could get to work and back evey day with a nice range cushion.
Too bad the T-car costs so much... where's good old economy of scale when you need it?
:iagree: Tesla hopes that the Model S and the newly announced Model X, which both are planned to be in production for 20k+ units at the Fremont plant, will be able to get their vehicles into a price point that many more people can afford.
Between basically buying a rolling chassis Elise, the battery packs, the all carbon fiber body, and only producing 1600 roadsters as of this month, it's not hard to see why the roadster costs as much as it does.
LilRedCorvette
05-31-2011, 11:54pm
Cool cars....there is an orange one that has come to some of the shows around here...
onedef92
06-01-2011, 8:55am
It's based on the Elise. In fact Tesla buys the rolling chassis from Lotus. The majority of the car is actually assembled in England.
It's got substantial Toyota contributions too, doesn't it? :confused:
My 2007 Frontier gets 370 miles on 20 gallons, and It's rated to pull 6500lbs which I've done.
my Tacoma gets a solid 20 MPG...and does everything I need/want it to do.
I'd like all electric...so I can just plug it in at night & avoid the gas station stop.
Olustee bus
06-01-2011, 9:14am
I would have to put playing cards between the spokes. Thats just me.
I want one to match my Elise!!!!!:hurray:
onedef92
06-01-2011, 9:29am
I want one to match my Elise!!!!!:hurray:
Yeah, Gina's logged some cockpit hours in that there Elise. Remember the year at CI you treated me to a cruise in yours? :seeya:
6SpeedBowtie
06-01-2011, 9:39am
I had an opportunity to experience the instant torque the Tesla provides. It's a heck of an experience and a whole lot of fun. If I had that kind of money burning a hole in my pocket it'd be added to the stable for sure.
Yeah, Gina's logged some cockpit hours in that there Elise. Remember the year at CI you treated me to a cruise in yours? :seeya:
Yeah!!!!! Loved that curvy road behind the Hampton!:hurray: good times Jules!
It's got substantial Toyota contributions too, doesn't it? :confused:
Tesla bought the Toyota plant in Fremont, CA. where it plans to produce its new models, the S and the X. It's unclear at this point how much sharing will go on between the two companies. AFAIK the Roadster does not use Toyota parts.
Yeah!!!!! Loved that curvy road behind the Hampton!:hurray: good times Jules!
The handling + steering feel is awesome.
Joecooool
06-01-2011, 10:20am
It's got substantial Toyota contributions too, doesn't it? :confused:Toyota builts the motor for the Elise, they don't have any parts on the Tesla.
Chuck A
06-01-2011, 10:34am
Very nice, indeed
onedef92
06-01-2011, 10:44am
Toyota builts the motor for the Elise, they don't have any parts on the Tesla.
Thanks for the clarifications, ya'll. :seeya:
onedef92
06-01-2011, 10:44am
Yeah!!!!! Loved that curvy road behind the Hampton!:hurray: good times Jules!
We must do that again sometime. :seeya:
Olustee bus
06-01-2011, 11:50am
That sounds real. I can believe that.
I don't know O-man, still, lots of gheyness goin on there.
jeff w
06-03-2011, 12:09pm
Took a group photo with the Leaf, Tesla, and the Vette. Man the Vette looks big compared to the Tesla.
http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/jeff+w-albums-2011+tesla+roadster-picture1088-group-photo.jpg
BuckyThreadkiller
06-03-2011, 12:22pm
I was next to one leaving Cars and Coffee a couple of months back and he dusted me off the line and lit out like a giant RC car (which I guess it basically is). It was impressive for a collection of laptop batteries and a motor the size of a pony keg.
clutchdust
06-03-2011, 12:43pm
Anybody know how much coal you have to burn to recharge one?
onedef92
06-03-2011, 1:22pm
Anybody know how much coal you have to burn to recharge one?
How much is the optional integrated solar panel/rear spoiler and shit?
How much is the optional integrated solar panel/rear spoiler and shit?
AFAIK this is not an option on the Tesla, but it IS on the Nissan Leaf, which our company car has. Not sure what that option costs tho.
I was next to one leaving Cars and Coffee a couple of months back and he dusted me off the line and lit out like a giant RC car (which I guess it basically is). It was impressive for a collection of laptop batteries and a motor the size of a pony keg.
The "pushed in the seat" feeling that my c5 produces at ~4500rpm is what the Tesla does at almost any rpm or speed. The instant torque is amazing. The normal roadster has run a consistent 12.7@105 in the quarter mile.
Boss let me take the roadster out on the hwy today, and god damn what a blast it is. Only real complaint I have is that at my height, my eye line is right into the top windshield cross member. Other than that the car is an absolute blast.
It gets up to 100 mph in a hurry. Passing power is always available. Took it out on some twisty roads and it handles really well too. I am really impressed with it. You don't know what you are missing if you haven't driven one.
TexasBulldog
06-10-2011, 11:17pm
to anyone who saw the Top Gear episode where Jermey clarkson kind of bashed on the Tesla, turns out Tesla company has filed a lawsuit against them.
I think they are great cars. Ive driven one and i felt a little big in it but it was an absolute blast.
Im a huge fan of electric power, especially some 300mph RC airplanes using LiPo batteries and brushless motors. The Torque available is just shocking.
NEED-A-VETTE
06-11-2011, 1:28am
We have a couple of dealers not too far from us. One here in Los Angeles and another in the Newport Beach area. I see them zipping around quite a bit, especially around Orange County. They look like a lot of fun! Haven't seen an orange one yet, though.
CertInsaneC5
06-11-2011, 5:10am
Took a group photo with the Leaf, Tesla, and the Vette. Man the Vette looks big compared to the Tesla.
http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/members/jeff+w-albums-2011+tesla+roadster-picture1088-group-photo.jpg
Wow. I never knew they were that small. No wonder they are so fast, what with the instant torque and that small footprint.
Curb wieght? :waiting:
Wow. I never knew they were that small. No wonder they are so fast, what with the instant torque and that small footprint.
Curb wieght? :waiting:
2600-2700 lbs.
oyealiz
06-11-2011, 11:29am
Wow. I never knew they were that small.
Looks like Gina's Elise sitting by a vette. Before she got hers, I saw three in the mall one day, snapped a picture and sent it to her. I said "Look, tiny vettes!" :lol: That's what they looked like sitting there! :yesnod:
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