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A critical part of the sales, marketing, and service function at Tesla Motors is to help inform product development and engineering decisions based on a customer perspective, a part of what we call “product marketing.” When validation prototype 10 (VP10) was built, one of the things we planned to use it for was to put a lot of miles on the car and provide marketing feedback to engineering teams for final refinements or validation. We recently scheduled rides with some of our customers to expand the feedback loop and asked them to share their driving experiences publicly on this blog. The write-ups are unedited, save for my commentary in [brackets]. The first three can be found here. Read on for two new perspectives.
Rich Chen: My E-Ticket Ride
When Zak sent the email offering an opportunity to drive the Roadster VP10 (validation prototype 10), I jumped at the opportunity. When I learned that drivers were being encouraged to share their experiences on the Tesla blog, though, I felt a bit ambivalent: I was about to have my name circulated on the Internet, as one of the blind-faith leapers who plunked down full cash payment on a product that, at the time, had existed only as a prototype described in a Wired Magazine article. What if the car didn’t live up to its promise? Will I be laughed at and mocked? I wondered, glancing nervously over at my Apple Newton.
Well folks, the drive confirms the following: I am a brilliant visionary! Wile E. Coyote, Genius! I’m going to see about that futurist job position, after all.
The car is absolutely fantastic. A terrific canyon carver and a road rocket that’s perfectly capable of serving as a daily commuter, all in a gorgeous package. All the energy-efficient goodness of the car, the way I see it, is all gravy.
You’ve noticed that the Roadster attracts lots of different kinds of people, so to share a brief profile: I consider myself a car enthusiast first, a technology enthusiast after that, and an aspiring green consumer still after that. There’s a Toyota Prius in my garage, but the space is shared with a chipped Audi Allroad and a gaggle of smog-exempt sports cars including a ‘66 E-Type, a ‘73 240Z, and an early 911. I recently sold a 996 Porsche Carrera 4 to make room for the Roadster. I’ve never driven an EV prior to the Roadster, nor have I found previous EVs all that interesting. I do have a sweet spot for Corvairs and my wife generally thinks I’m insane.
Rich Chen, no longer ambivalent, posed with VP10
Upon entering the car, I find most of the switchgear in their natural locations. The power window switches end up beneath my left arm, but I can get used to that. The Momo steering wheel has a nice heft to it, and feels very well-positioned. The wide sidesill means a snug footwell, which is bad news only if you drive in the Lotus (India, not Hethel) position. Overall, the ergonomics are not perfect but work fine – certainly closer to a Porsche than to a Citroen.
I turn the key and am greeted by an audible chime, which tells me that the car has booted up. Parking lot maneuvers are totally easy – the unassisted steering is not at all a workout thanks to the rear-biased weight distribution, and the forward creep they’ve built in means that I’m smoother with the Roadster than with my last golf cart.
With Tesla’s Aaron (Aaron Platshon, product marketing) riding shotgun, I pull the car onto Skyline Blvd. and after a gingerly moment or two, give it a full throttle in second gear (the only one available to us today, bummer) to launch us up into the hills. Yee-hah! In just a couple of breaths we’re at, ahem, quite extralegal speeds.
There is always torque available, along with more torque, and with extra torque available for later. This utter abundance of linear torque makes for a strange sensation – I’m used to thinking about finding the right rhythm for braking, shifting, and accelerating in a 5-speed car. In the Roadster today there’s none of that, since I’m driving the car in second gear only, and there’s also none of the frustrating gear hunting that automatic transmissions exhibit. It’s just that whirring motor, at varying speeds, putting gobs of power down through the tires with no transmission middleman. It’s an incredibly easy car to hustle around the corners, because the torque curve is so tall and flat, with power available at *all* times. My mind is free to wonder about other important things, like what the car would be like climbing all the way to redline – I’m only halfway up a gauge that “goes to eleven” – a whopping 13,500 rpm. [Editor’s note: Redline will be closer to 13,000 rpm in production cars.]
The throttle control felt really easy to moderate, and I didn’t feel any jerks going into regen braking. I’d keep the settings we had on the car today.
The suspension and steering feel really nicely dialed in. The road textures are communicated nicely to the steering wheel, without any jarring sensations. The feel is neither plush nor harsh – but as expected the car grips the road and carves around with no body roll. There’s some understeer but being tied to the taller gear, I didn’t get to see how it would behave with really heavy power applied coming out of the turn. Also, I unfortunately didn’t encounter any mid-corner bumps or really rough pavement segments – a somewhat less heavenly driving environment would’ve been nice to experience. I hereby volunteer to host a drive event around some seriously rutted streets around the Port of Oakland.
I would also have liked to see how the car behaves in really high speed environments – I felt the front end feel considerably lighter at freeway speeds, but couldn’t sustain the speed to confirm my suspicions. Throughout the drive today the car generally felt confident and solid, but I wouldn’t want to live with any squirreliness at high speed.
I’m really impressed at the noise/vibration/harshness characteristics of the interior – being a prototype I’d expected a lot more rattling inside the cabin, but there were none. And this is all without the roaring exhaust sounds to cover up the little sounds. Brakes are solid; no complaints whatsoever.
My drive took me from Alice’s Restaurant and headed down south on Skyline Blvd, to the intersection with Hwy 9. I didn’t use a timer but am pretty sure that was a record-breaking run for me! Between the quiet drivetrain and the competent chassis I’m struck how little drama there was to drive this car – I’d arrived feeling happy, relaxed, and convinced that I can drive this car all day, every day.
I hope those of you waiting for delivery enjoy meeting new people – even during our brief drive, people were constantly walking up to the car wanting to learn more about it.
The drive back in Zak’s (Zak Edson, member services) SRT-8 chase car had me convinced the Roadster is a driver’s car built by a company full of car enthusiasts. We had a great drive talking about the Monterey Historics, Aaron’s BMW 2002s, other Tesla customers’ rides, and how great it was to be working for an automotive *startup* at this time in history, all the while trying to keep up with the Roadster – no easy task, even if being piloted by Josh “I got passed by a Subaru but it was being driven in anger” Hannah.
Thanks to Zak and Aaron for the wonderful opportunity – I can’t wait to call this my daily driver.
Josh Hannah: Left Seat, at Long Last
I’ve certainly faced some raised eyebrows at my decision to write a check for $100,000 to purchase a car I’ve never driven, so if nothing else my thrilling test drive of VP10 was worth it just to explain that I have been behind the wheel, and come away impressed.
What I’ve hoped for from the Tesla Roadster is a car that provides a thrilling driving experience in the Bay Area, and at the same time replaces my Prius as a daily driver. Based on the drive today, I’m pretty confident the Roadster will fit the bill.
Thrilling Driving Experience
Josh Hannah cruises down Skyline Blvd. in VP10
The first requirement has an important caveat: “In the Bay Area.” A few years I owned a wonderful and landmark car – a 2003 BMW M5 – that in theory should have provided that, or so I hoped… but in practice, it did not. The M5 had loads of torque, and conquered every freeway onramp in sight. But beyond that, what do you need if you live here? It turns out (for me at least), a small, light, open-top roadster. The thrill of driving around here is on Skyline Blvd. (in Sky Londa, like today, or in Oakland, where I live) and roads of that ilk: 30-60 mph drives with lots of blind curves and modest straights.
Where the BMW didn’t fit, the Roadster is perfect. Plentiful torque, open top, light weight, great handling. And the experience live was most of what I had hoped for. The car was fast in second gear, no question. But I need that first gear, and can’t wait to feel that acceleration. [Editor’s note: customer drives were conducted in second gear exclusively.] The handling seemed surefooted with a tendency to understeer a bit when pushed. It was hard to test the true limits on the cornering: I hate to inflict that on a passenger, plus it’s not my car! It seemed like the limits were pretty high, though. And, when I misjudged a corner on this unfamiliar road and came in too fast, the car (and its mid-engine design) tolerated my mid-corner lift on the throttle much more elegantly than a 911 would! The feel for the road with the unassisted steering is great.
The team is clearly trying to find the balance in the product on the driving performance/comfort/EV efficient matrix that suits their customers best, and I don’t envy their task. For the drive today, I might have liked a slightly stiffer ride giving even less roll in the corner (there is little, but there is some). But would the average customer (or would I, even) want to trade that for less daily drivability? Overall it seems like the balance they are making on these decisions is a pretty good fit for my use for the car.
Daily Driver
I want this car as my daily driver, a tall order for a high performance sports car. What are the important elements for the daily driver, to me?
- Driving Comfort
- Drivability
- Reliability
Comfort has always been a concern. At 6’3″, would I fit comfortably? (I can barely sit in an Elise, I once owned a Miata, which was fine for about an hour of driving, tops.) The answer continues to be: Yes. Getting in and out is not super easy, and might get old if you’re running errands. This is with the top off – with the top on, it would surely get old! Once in, I found the seat comfortable, the driving position excellent and the visibility excellent. The seat angle may not be adjustable, but it’s a great position for me.
The open roof was great on this gorgeous day, and the wind (with windows up) was a non-factor. You could feel the breeze but my baseball cap stayed comfortably in place.
For drivability, I think it’s an A+. The ride was very comfortable (across the admittedly excellent road – let’s see what it does on I-880 freeway). Surprising, to me, given the level of performance. Steering was heavier than usual at low speeds since there’s no power assist, but nothing that would be annoying to me.
Reliability: I didn’t really learn anything new, but I’m optimistic about the inherent reliability benefits of an EV.
Not Tesla’s fault, but the biggest impediment to daily driver may be the number of people who want to talk to you about the car every time you leave the dry cleaner. In a basically uninhabited parking lot in the mountains, Zak constantly encountered people coming up to pick his brain about the car. In a place with no foot traffic! What will be fun at first could become tiring quickly, but I suppose I can just think of poor George Clooney, who will get distraction squared as people approach him about his car and his celebrity. Wait, does George Clooney pick up his own dry cleaning?
Other Notes, Nits, Etc.
Josh Hannah takes the high road as a Subaru passes by
I may as well get this out of the way, since Rich will no doubt bring it up in his blog: Yes, I did get passed by a Subaru Outback while test driving the Roadster. I have no real justification. I wasn’t even testing the brakes at that point. Just a little cautious driving super fast with a passenger and a prototype I guess, but that’s a lame excuse.
Nits: The Nav system, as it stands, is beyond cheesy. It’s a 4-inch screen with a 1+ inch bezel around it! I mean seriously, there’s almost as much bezel surface area as there is screen. I hope Blaupunkt saved a few bucks in getting displays from 1995. I love satnav and use it all the time in my other cars, but if this stays in production I’d delete it. Word from the guys is there are great aftermarket alternatives (single-din units where 7-inch screens slide out and flip up, I’ve seen these at CES and they’re great)… they just don’t pass the government crash test. So I may be opting for radio delete and an aftermarket install on that. [Editor’s note:We are looking at options for the NAV unit. Part of the consideration is how it integrates with the rest of the system, and the one that we currently have on VP10 fits the bill. We are always looking to improve, so we may have more on this subject later.]
For me, the (otherwise comfy) seats would benefit from more lateral support. I’m pretty thin and they have to choose seats that fit everybody, I guess. It’s not terrible, but I do slide around a bit in the corners. Otherwise the seats are great.
Parked at Alice’s Restaurant when we arrived was the Wrightspeed electric Ariel Atom. I felt like we were in the center of the EV universe!
Posted in the categories: Uncategorized, Performance, On the Road
It sounds like the Owner Test Drives are proving that the decision to buy a Roadster was a good decision. I am happy to hear that
a skinny guy found the seats a little wide… since I was skinny 50 years ago … but not now. I am also glad that the Roadster
holds folks 6′ 3″ with comfort … since I have a very long back for a 6′ 1″ guy. But, mostly, I am very happy that it drives
very nicely and is comfortable for a daily rider. Also, I was happy to see the TESLA EDITORIAL RESPONSE to the comment
about the NAV system being cheesy. Tesla will try to improve it before production cars are out. I hope they are successful
in finding a system as good as in the Prius. Thanks to the whole TESLA TEAM who is pulling a fantastic and fun EV out of the
hat….
Steve
Thanks for the additional driver testimonials. I’m not mocking your Newton, Mr. Chen. I mock the faithless and clueless at Apple who torpedoed it. The new Touch Ipod is something that the Newton could have evolved into — five years ago — had Apple maintained the momentum. But better late than never, I guess. As far as the Roadster is concerned, it appears as if Tesla is well ahead of the curve, and good on them.
It’s a little disappointing to see that the lateral support in the Tesla Seats doesn’t accommodate thin people very well… but I suppose with 2/3rds of the U.S. population overweight, the mass market is being served I guess I’ll have to put on 20 pounds or so before I place my order.
I’ve never been a huge fan of integrated navigation systems… they tend to look like antiques within a few years in an otherwise nice car. At least it’s optional
I’m happy to see that, in spite of the nitpicks, everyone’s loving the car so far
Thanks for the update, everyone…
Thanks for these further updates. Much appreciated.
In addition to the sat nav, can anyone comment on using the VDS?
Wow. I’m not a “car guy”. I’m a “transportation guy” - I’ve been an engineer with Caltrans for over twenty years, so I’m very interested in the direction of transportation, including the energy resources involved. I’m excited about Tesla’s bold and open approach, and I’m increasingly confident of their ultimate success. Electric is the way to go for most people, for most of their driving.
After reading these write-ups from men who have already spent money to buy a Roadster, I understand the “car guy” enthusiasm a bit more. With a family of four and one income I won’t be able to afford anything from Tesla for a long time. For now, I don’t need a Roadster. I need a front-wheel-drive wagon or all-wheel-drive SUV to negotiate the 18.5% grade near my home. (And yes, I live in snow country.) But after reading rave reviews from guys who spent lots of money to be early adopters, I want to drive a Roadster. Really, really want to drive a Roadster. Maybe someday…
After taking several rides as a passenger over the past year, I had the opportunity to drive VP10 on Skyline, on September 14. I’m thrilled with my decision to buy a Tesla.
My current car is a BMW M5. From a performance standpoint, I was impressed with both the acceleration and cornering capability of the Tesla. There is no lag in response, when you push down the accelerator. There is instant feedback, when you turn the wheel. From my passenger experience, I was worried that the Tesla would feel like a Go Cart, and as a result would not be relaxing to drive for a lengthy period of time. For one thing, it’s exciting enough that there is little time for daydreaming. Additionally, it actually is relaxing. I could easily have driven to Napa and hopped out with no strain. One of my surprises was that the “regeneration” that occurs when you coast or decelerate (essentially a load placed by the motor) has the same effect and sensation as a downshift in a gasoline powered car. The consequence is familiarity and confidence in cornering.
I do have a couple of suggestions. Since there is no engine noise or vibration to overwhelm or absorb other noises, essentially all chassis or suspension irregularities are noticed. The car needs to be free of any of these distractions. Most of the time, the top will be down on these cars. It’s pretty noisy. Get ready for it, because this probably won’t change.
The car was spectacular. I can’t wait for mine to arrive. That said, I am happy to wait a few extra months for production, to ensure that Tesla maximizes dependability.
The ideas and passions that have driven Tesla into existence are a welcome change. The induction of the total electric car is a very needed at this time in history. I am very excited to see such a beautiful car with such stupendous technology and capability finally on the road! As an industrial designer this is what I look for in a company that will surely become the next leading force in the market. Although I am curious about the future of the design and styling of the Tesla Roadster. Will the Roadster evolve into a more distinct identity of its own or will it continue to inhabit the body of a Lotus?
My only wish is that I could drop the small chunk of change required to get on the list… Maybe I could qualify for a scholarship.
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Editor’s comment: It’s a common misconception that the Tesla Roadster inhabits the body of a Lotus sports car. Please read our blog, Lotus Position.
“I’ve never been a huge fan of integrated navigation systems… they tend to look like antiques within a few years in an otherwise nice car. At least it’s optional ”
Absolutely agreed!!!!!!!!!!!
I find a lot of premium cars have extremely obsolete dashes that could have been avoided with a standard DIN radio and NOT integrating all of their HVAC, phone, etc into the
My buddy the audiophile’s Lexus with Mark Levinson stereo, doesn’t have an iPod hookup, satellite radio or USB connection.
BTW for any of you that dismiss an iPod as non-audiophile quality, remember that you can encode all of your CD’s with their Lossless codec, and many DIN mount radios now have a docking station that can pull music out of the iPod with much better fidelity than headphone jack. An 8Gb USB fob with 320kbs MPEG3’s have pretty high fidelity as well.
Navigation systems originally used CD’s, then DVD’s. I would assume that many will be updatible by wifi, or satellite. LCD’s are also dropping in price like rocks, so a small dinky LCD will also date a dash.
I also like the idea mentioned earlier about the hidden LCD that comes out of a standard DIN device.
I like the seat color options on the roadster . The silver car with beige or the lighter cream color interior (or two-tone combo)-that would be Nice. Silver looks like it’s very light-”aluminum” type- which I like best.
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Editor’s note: We recently posted the Tesla Roadster interior choices on our website. Check it out and let us know what you think. We have leather and non-leather choices.
Test drive posted on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6vQj6rWUBs
I love your car It is beautifullI I would like to have one but i don want to know the price
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Editor’s response: You can find the price — and reserve a 2008 Tesla Roadster — on our Buy page.
The future of automobility has arrived!
Awesome Awesome Awesome. Thanks for posting the test ride video. I had to replay it a couple times. I LIKE the silver version, it looks great. : )
Beyond the Tesla Roadster’s price, power system design, mileage on a charge and delivery date is something more important: the Roadster is a platform for improvement. The car will get better, especially its range.
Can anyone in the Tesla hierarchy give an estimated “for sale” date, for the next generation of Teslas? A price range would also be helpful. There are many of us who are salivating to own such a vehicle, but are limited by financial constraints.
Thank you.
I’m really glad to see that someone is finally building a car that will give us a chance to end our dependence on foreign oil. Unfortunately, the only people that can afford a car like this, are people that really don’t have to worry about the price of gas. Hopefully one day I will win the lottery and be able to purchase one of this cars. Till then, I’ll just keep trying to save up the money to convert a motorcycle (about $4000) or small pick-up (about $15,000) to electric. Congratulations on your test results and keep up the good work, as we know, the big oil companys aren’t wanting you to…Looking forward to when the price comes down (to the mid to upper twentys) so that I can buy one….Good luck with the rest of your tests….
I am a “regular guy” who (right now) cannot afford the price tag of the Roadster, but I am an environmentally conscious consumer and absolutely believe that electric vehicles are the way to go for the future! The only reason the auto companies have killed electric vehicles is that they still want someone to sell some sort of fuel for their cars. I fully believe that creating a high-performance vehicle was the way to go both because it gets respectability for electric cars and it helps the R&D for “regular” cars. As soon as you come out with an everyday electric-powered pickup I will be one of the first in line!! I wish you MUCH SUCCESS!!! Joe
Please don’t use Blaupunkt stereos for the production car. I think it would be better if you would use JVC (they seem to have a great contract with Lotus already with advertising all over the internet.) My preference would be the ability of using a Double DIN stereo. That seems to be the standard these days. I would love to have a cutting edge Double Din Pioneer Avic-Z2, Alpine, or Kenwood system in the car. Shouldn’t be that hard to modify the dash. Or does that mean Tesla would have to repeat all crash tests just to prove a double DIN dash is safe?
Aptera Cars is taking orders on its cute little teardrop car: EV or plug-in hybrid option. Nothing on website re. specs. or price, but google news search has price info. of about $20,000 according to some, or $27-30,000 according to others. NOW there’s trouble-in River City & elsewhere. I need to make more money so I can buy an Aptera and a Tesla Sports Sedan-seriously. Things are looking up in the auto world. I know how to make the extra cash- I’ll design the Tesla plant . Frankie Gehry’s got nothing on me -except ,of course, a lot of cash, a high fee structure (to pay for 175 high-end employees) and major brand name cachet (ditto for Antoine Predock).
(Howie wrote on September 29th, 2007 at 8:04 am
Beyond the Tesla Roadster’s price, power system design, mileage on a charge and delivery date is something more important: the Roadster is a platform for improvement. The car will get better, especially its range.)
Although the range is already fantastic to begin with. Of course it will need to be improved upon in the future in order to compete with the increased size of gas tanks for the increased size of other vehicles but I’m hoping that the market for “bigger” isn’t the road the roadster will be driving down. For the purposes that the Tesla is being marketed for, 245 miles per charge is incredibly difficult to argue with unless you commute 4 hours round trip for work everyday. Well, say that case were plausible, lets just work out the math here… 8 hour work day + 4 hours of driving = no life.
Unless one’s life happens to revolve around driving the new Tesla roadster, there are no excuses really. ; D
I read with great interest somewhere about a self-steering trailer (for backing) with extra batteries (and possibly even storage space?) to entend the range of the electric vehicle it was following. Any thoughts for something like that from Tesla? Seems a simple enough idea… Just another plug-in cable…
Awesome, now please start producing a family car, it is urgent ,for people around the world.
I passed on driving lessons when I was 16. This was in the ’70s. I thought I’d wait for a nice electric car before learning. Guess I can finally get around to it! The sedan model will probably be out by the time I learn, too!
Any updates on Tesla’s future plans for the average sedan-type model vehicle? I used to street-roadrace my motorcycle, but am now reduced to cornering my Avalon for fun! I’m holding out to replace it with a Tesla “family car”, but if it’s not available in the next year or two, I’ll probably look at getting a Lexus IS. (Can’t afford their F!) Absolutely LOVE your company!! Thank you!
steve.
My son just emailed me your website! Your Tessla is absolutely gorgeous! It’s so wonderful to see that the U.S. still has great inventors! I am hopeful that my son, a Cal Poly EE student, will be a part of this exciting technology in the future.
It’s great to finally hear more drive reviews from non-Tesla employees. These reviews are everything I expected. I have had confidence in the Roadster from the day I discovered it and this just confirms my expectations. I realize that in order to keep weight down there have been some tough decisions to make when it comes to features. Personally I would opt for adjustable mirrors over an integrated navigation system. And one of my concerns has always been the fit and adjustability of the seats. All of the previous reviews indicated that the big and tall folks would have no problem fitting into the Roadster and these reviews confirms that this is the case. Unfortunately, I’m more along the Josh line of build and was hoping that the seats would be adjustable enough to fit a smaller frame. BTW, I’m thrilled that TM is now offering a non-leather option for the interior!!!
Gillean: You might want to get your drivers license and a lot of time behind the wheel of a car before getting your Tesla sedan. It’d be no fun to crash your new electric car just because you’re inexperienced.
It seems TeslaMotorsClub.com has been down for a bit. I’m sure it will always be the best place for discussions about Tesla Motors, as it has the most members and extensive contributions. However, in case it doesn’t make it back, I put up an alternate forum here: www.tmdrivers.com
Thanks, Brent! I gather TeslaMotorsClub.com was hacked — again. I hope that Greenspeed hasn’t given up and it will be back online eventually. It is frustrating.
Just got turned on to your company and this website today, and the car is mezmerizing. As the current owner of an electric car (a GEM 4-seater) used just for local (3 to 5 mile) juants on a daily basis by me and my wife, I am most impressed with your development of the Li-ion battery, which I have been awaiting/wondering about for years. The only negatives I have with my GEM are associated with the lead-acid batteries, and if your Li-ion’s perform as described, you are on to something big here. Please don’ t overlook the lower-cost, lower-usage end of the marketplace, whom I believe would have tremendous demand for a less “performance oriented” car, which would also not require as much engineering, cost, or appointments to produce. I’d love to become an investor and customer if you decide to expand your product line… Good luck and Congratulations.
In 3 years, when I pay off my Prius, I’m getting a Tesla! I tried to get a two year note on the Prius but my wife scoffed
Can someone explain how the top works? Is there a rectractable soft top? Is it a removable hardtop? If so, does the hardtop fold to store? I don’t plan on making the Tesla my daily driver, but it still needs to run errands on a sunny weekend without leaving the top open to the elements, including the people who I might finding sitting in it when I walk out of a store.
Excellent car at the right time in history. I saw the first cars, the black and red protos, at an Aptos library talk over a year ago and was I wowed (thanks for answering my many questions, Phil). All electric in a sports car package should be enough to grab any car geek’s attention. But with performance of 0-60 in less than 4 seconds with a ~240 mile range and a relatively low mass vehicle for excellent handling - WOW!
When I did my Mech Engr senior project of redesigning a suspension, as I examined the project car I thought wouldn’t it be great if a car could be electric to get rid of all that engine mass to bring weight down, remove all of the support system clutter such as engine cooling, fuel distribution, spark generation, and everything that emitted exhaust and oils to have a clean car (in more ways than one). That was a couple of decades ago. Fast forward to today with the Tesla embracing an updated world of clean personal mobility. And no need to stop at a gas station or get a smog check!
I look forward to seeing a lower cost production car available to more people.
The top is installed or removed by hand, there is no mechanism. So. . . It takes a few minutes of work, it’s not like pushing a button or throwing a lever. The hard top is not designed to be stored in the car: it doesn’t fold and there’s really no place where it will fit. The soft top can be rolled up and stowed in the trunk. If I understand correctly, there should be a special compartment in the floor of the trunk for it, so it won’t eat into your regular trunk space.
# Ron Burke wrote on October 2nd, 2007 at 10:04 am
## I thought wouldn’t it be great if a car could be electric to get rid of all that engine mass to bring weight down
Ron, your other comments are spot on, but EVs still tend to weigh more than their gasoline counterparts.
Sure, the electric motor weighs a fraction of a gas engine, but the batteries are what is the limiting factor.
A typical battery pack weights much more than a gasoline tank. And the gasoline tank can store much more energy.
Even with Tesla’s “state of the art” Li-Ion pack & carbon fiber body, the Tesla Roadster still weighs more than the gas car it was loosely based on. 900lbs of battery pack is significant in a 2600lb car. Even with 900lbs, it carries the energy equivalent of about 2 gallons of gas, so you have to work hard to get efficiency up to a point where range is acceptable.
Tesla is showing that battery technology is close enough to make it a viable competitor now, and things are only going to improve as electricity storage technology gets better.
Scott,
I can answer your top question from experience. We got caught in heavy rain on my customer drive 2 weeks ago in Malibu. The soft top was stowed in the trunk and the 2 Tesla marketing people who were administering the drive test got it put on in about 30 seconds. One of them had never put a top on before. It’s really easy and works well.
Good luck with getting your Roadster. Its even better in person than on the website. The rest of my post-drive write up may get posted here at some time.
Brent,
I’m with Tony, thanks for the alternate site to teslamotorsclub.com. Greenspeed, any word on what happened or how we can help get that site back up?
# Dave B wrote on October 2nd, 2007 at 1:29 pm
## Brent,
## I’m with Tony, thanks for the alternate site to teslamotorsclub.com.
## Greenspeed, any word on what happened or how we can help get that site back up?
Is it a coincidence that teslamotorsclub.com was “taken down” and defaced twice by two different random hackers?
Or is someone specifically targeting that site and wants it to stay down?
Supposedly after the first “hack attack”, Greenspeed was going to change to a much more secure server technology, yet it was taken down as well. If he brings it back up again, what guarantees do we have that the hackers won’t just break in again?
Brent, do you think your server is more “hack proof” than what Greenspeed was running?
A few things: The Aptera, while a great concept doesn’t look like it would handle well. Electric cars should be about outrageous acceleration, fantastic handling, and a very quiet presence.
Think of as on a racetrack: One hear the Tesla coming, then notice it once it tries to pass. It should corner like if it were on rails, dive under, and accelerate out at a pace that leaves the other driver stumped of what just happened. - That’s how I imagine an electric car. Thank you Tesla!!
The biggest benefit of an electric car is instant, crazy, and linear torque.
Which brings me to my next point: Is the roadster track worthy? Could it handle 2 hours of track time? Would the motor survive without embarrassing the owner? (i.e. sudden sluggishness.)
Another suggestion: When trying to configure the Tesla I’ve noticed something missing: I can order Leather (2-tone, etc.) I can order Microsuede. But I CAN’T order Both. Could you fix that? I like the Suede for keeping me in the seat during aggressive cornering, while I enjoy the leather for the luxury. At the same time 2-tone suede would be nice.
#TEG2 asks…
#Brent, do you think your server is more “hack proof” than what Greenspeed was running?
I’m not sure how to answer that question. From what I understand, there’s no completely hack-proof server. At the very least, a server can be brought to its knees from a “denial of service” attack, which, as I understand it, isn’t strictly a security problem.
That said, I’ve tried to secure the server as best as I can. It doesn’t take much digging to find that it’s a Windows 2003 Server box, which is often criticized for its holes, but I have had pretty good luck by doing the usual — applying security patches as they come out, creating strong passwords, and sacrificing a chicken from time to time.
I am really excited about the Tesla brand, since the Roadster as this and other customers have noticed is good looking and good for the environment too. I, for one, hope you guys continue with WhiteStar and beat the snot out of traditional car manufacturers who would only love to see this electric car trend die like the last one did.
# T.J. wrote
# Aptera Cars is taking orders on its cute little teardrop car: EV or plug-in hybrid option.
More info and photos:-
www.autobloggreen.com/2007/10/02/interview-with-steve-fambro-from-aptera-motors/
My favourite post from the comments on this article:-
“Mr. Fambro, a Mr. George Jetson just called…he wants his car back!”
The Aptera. . . This is what you get if you follow a purely logical, hard-core engineering approach to efficiency without regard for any automotive conventions. And there’s no reason why it shouldn’t handle well. I’m just not sure if most people are ready to drive a Jetsons car, though. Like the Dymaxion Car that some have compared it with, the Aptera may still be too far ahead of its time.
# Tony Belding wrote on October 3rd, 2007 at 11:27 am
## The Aptera. . .
## I’m just not sure if most people are ready to drive a Jetsons car, though.
## the Aptera may still be too far ahead of its time.
Yes, the Tesla Roadster looks conventional enough (sans tailpipe) to not scare away anyone based on radical styling.
Along with the Aptera, take a look at the Mazda (Hydrogen Rotary / Electric Hybrid) TAIKI concept car recently unveiled:
rotarynews.com/images/fullsize/P1J03470l.jpg
rotarynews.com/images/fullsize/P1J03469l.jpg
—
I think the Aptera would look cool parked at an airport next to the private plane you were about to fly.
i.treehugger.com/images/2007-3-21/aptera-on-sidewalk.jpg
caea.free.fr/imagcoll/petitcanard/petit_canard_pcg.jpg
On the road with conventional cars it would look a bit out of place.
Re. Aptera comments above-the Aptera isn’t too far ahead of it’s time, like the Tesla it’s time is overdue-yeah, it’s about time! I read where GM will build its Volt plug-in hybrid in 2010-but I don’t want a GM product. I like the new guys on the block a heck of a lot better-it’s the principle of the thing, in addition to the product. I e-mailed Aptera with some questions and they replied: the Aptera hybrid will be gas, not diesel-since no diesel engine meets Calif. emissions. They want to sell the car for just over $20,000, but for now (this year & next perhaps) they will have to sell it for between $26-$29,000. The car will go over 80 mph. The seats, though rather thin foam, are “very comfortable”. Now all I need is the kind of spare change the Sprinkles Cupcake mavens are making-and a bigger garage-and Nanosolar panels on my roof. Update from them is that soon they will be selling their first panels-all going to big commercial users. Looks like it will be far into 2008,or later before homeowners can maybe get them. I will need them by early 2010 for Tesla sedan use. If we were a truly progressive country across the board we could have Nanosolar & other thin sheet solar carpeting rooftops all over the country (commercial & residential) in no time. But we’re a collective bunch of status quo sloths, on average-so we won’t. At least the Germans & Japanese are more awake at the switch. I really don’t get a lot of this country-what could be more exciting than all the potential of this new stuff? There are some really great things happening-put the cultural pedal to the metal. But……Nooooo!! I just read the letters to the editor in the latest “National Geograhic ” magazine -about prior issue on global warming. Jeezzzz- half the letters were from abovementioned sloths-giant sloths in fact. Just when you think they were extinct they turn up-and in this country of all places. Why us ?
We’re getting off-topic again (as usual), but I always believed that efficiency is reflected in the final price of the product. Aptera’s $30,000 price for such a limited vehicle reflects the massive amount of energy and resources used in its construction. The Tesla Roadster is even worse.
The final product might be an energy miser, but getting to that point uses enormous amounts of it. So you can’t honestly buy either of these vehicles to be more “energy efficient”; it’s a net loss.
To make an expensive car viable, it has to be more than just efficient. Tesla accomplishes this by offering the world’s most distinctive sports car, with performance competitive to others in its price range. Ignoring efficiency, Aptera doesn’t compare favorably to anything at $30k. I’m sure they’ll sell a bunch on it’s sci-fi looks alone, but for Atpera to make an impact they have to get the price down to $20k and offer a family car of some kind.
# Ryan Lamansky / Kardax wrote
# Aptera’s $30,000 price for such a limited vehicle reflects the massive amount of energy and resources used in its construction.
# The Tesla Roadster is even worse…….To make an expensive car viable, it has to be more than just efficient.
That’s right. Bring back the bicycle. Or possibly the horse. (Q: Is the horse carbon neutral? A: Depends on what you do with all the halibut)
Silliness aside, this brings up the important point that even the big features such as energy efficiency or electric power are not enough. The entire package has to “work” for the typical consumer. The Roadster is, I feel, pitched perfectly at the conventional sports car enthusiast. Crucially, these people are a little more accepting of the unconventional (such as limited trunk space or novel “refueling”) so long as the product delivers both the appropriate good looks and performance statistics.
No worries there then.
Whitestar will be trickier. A sedan - even a sports sedan - has to satisfy a wider variety of conflicting customer needs when compared to a roadster. Although sedan customers only know what they like from within the present selection of ICE sedans on offer, there is still quite a range. However, unlike sports cars, there is less room for the unconventional (I can’t see Whitestar being offered in “Very Orange”).
The Roadster is a great Sports Car. Crucially, it would STILL be a great Sports Car if you committed sacrilege and ripped out the electric drive systems and gave it a conventional ICE and five speed transmission instead.
The public SHOULD be aware that electric drive is better than ICE, but they don’t. They don’t know what they don’t know, and telling them so doesn’t help. They don’t care. EVs have a largely negative image. Even the news of winning the forthcoming Automotive X Prize will be a remote concept to many. They’ll only sit up and take notice (and pay a premium) if the entire “package” they are test driving is better.
So forget about electric powertrains for a moment. What should be the key positive impressions in a Whitestar test drive?
“So forget about electric powertrains for a moment. What should be the key positive impressions in a Whitestar test drive? ”
I think the 250 ft/lbs available at 0 rpm will add a lot of fun to a car
If they are competing against a 5 series BMW, but are actually going to put a decent sized trunk on it that may do well. I love the trunk size of the Ford 500 or “new” Taurus.
That said, one of the biggest issues to people wanting a family car is safety. So, given that Tesla will most likely be going for low weight, they will need some serious airbags, side curtains, and crash absorbing crumple zones. Unfortunately it will take a while before the average weights of vehicles on the road drop.
# Malcolm Wilson wrote on October 6th, 2007 at 11:23 am
# So forget about electric powertrains for a moment. What should be the key positive impressions in a Whitestar test drive?
To some extent, I can’t forget about the electric powertrain - I want the economy, quietness, low maintenance, reliability, and performance it provides me. I get your point though - I don’t care how I get the economy, quietness, low maintenance, reliability, and performance, as long as I get it. Those aspects, combined with comfort and styling, will sell the Whitestar.
Economy? My Whitestar will likely be in the $65,000 range, which may show a 10-15 year payback over a comparable ICEV in fuel costs. So I think the low maintenance and reliability need to be marketed as well. Not only will the car cruise past gas stations, it will also sail on by the Quik Lube and the transmission shop. And it will do it for a lot longer than an ICEV. I intend for my Whitestar to be my early retirement vehicle, and I believe my demographic will appreciate not having surprise maintenance bills or replacement costs.
Note I didn’t mention the “green” aspect. Absolutely I want a low carbon footprint. My wife wants to live off the grid. But like most Americans, I’m living too low on Maslow’s Pyramid to make that a primary selling point.
For me, the test drive and marketing campaign needs to paint images of my wife and I taking our daughter, (future) son-in-law, and (future) grand-child for a lazy Sunday afternoon drive through the countryside.
When are you going public?
Kudos on your design!! My eyes are now tuned in to the Lotus frame. Can’t wait for my first ride… Patiently waiting to see the sedan.
Robert Redford really need to get a Tesla Roadster:
www.ecorazzi.com/?p=4133
“I drive hybrid cars. I’ve had passive solar heating and wind generation in my Utah home since 1975. But I must say, I do like racing fast cars. It’s a hypocritical, weak move on my part. But I’ve always loved speed.”
I want to add my voice to the discussion for how important a good navigation/stereo-MP3/phone system is in a car. It can be done poorly, such as in my 2004 BMW M3 convertible (which the Tesla will replace), really poorly, as in the Ford Escape Hybrid, or done well, such as in my son’s Honda Civic Hybrid. If Tesla engineers need some inspiration on how to design a pleasant and effective driver experience from the electronics point of view, they need look no further than the Civic. I for one am willing to wait a bit longer until this part of the car is done well.
### TEG2 wrote “it carries the energy equivalent of about 2 gallons of gas, ”
since when does a gasoline car go 245 miles on two galons of gas?
normal cars on the road would be lucky to go 50 miles
averaging clunkers and efficient cars together maybe a 22 mpg is resonable making the Tesla comparable with an 11gal gas tank
real cars do not get the power out of gas that laboratories do.
David, that’s TEG’s point exactly. With the Roadster’s aerodynamics, regenerative capabilities, and super efficient drive train and motor, it CAN go 245 miles on the energy equivalent of 2 gallons of gas. In fact, the implication of his complete sentence was that if the weight of the battery pack can be reduced from 900 pounds, the mileage will increase.
By the way, you don’t have to have a laboratory to extract all the energy out of gas - just pour it in a bucket and set it on fire. The problem is that “normal cars” suck at using the energy in gas.
# David Squires wrote on October 13th, 2007 at 6:01 am
## since when does a gasoline car go 245 miles on two galons of gas?
They don’t - they are very inefficient. When an internal combustion engine is running it wastes most of the energy of the gasoline as waste heat.
## averaging clunkers and efficient cars together maybe a 22 mpg is resonable making the Tesla comparable with an 11gal gas tank
The “energy equivalence of approx 2 gallons of gas” is based on actual energy stored in the ESS, and doesn’t factor in any efficiencies (or lack thereof) of the different drivetrain systems.
Sure an efficient, all electric Tesla has the range of a comparable gas car with a ~10 gallon gas tank but I wasn’t trying to make that comparison.
Re: Aptera
One of my first cars was a 3-wheeler Morgan and I was the envy of many. However in the winter with snow on the ground a 3 wheeler is the last vehicle anyone should drive because up until the snow ploughs have done their job (and you’re following the tracks of other cars) you are forced to drive with the third wheel in the accumulated snow…which is a nightmare!
I guess if you live in LA or Florida it’s no big deal but up here in Canada any automobile - be it ICE or Electric is Halibut out of luck as far as I am concerned.
Peter J Hedge
Victoria, BC
Hey folks @ Tesla Motors!
Before this comment is taken incorrectly, I’d like to say that I absolutely love what you guys are doing, and if I had $100,000 laying around, I’d probably buy a Roadster. I’m a student in the field of Alternative Energy and Fuel Cells, a veteran watcher of ‘Who Killed the Electric Car,’ and I consider myself someone with a generally open mind. That said, I read one of your “button” links, and what I read was quite disturbing. The phrase in mention here is “Burn rubber, not gasoline.”
If I’m not mistaken, aren’t gasoline and rubber BOTH petro-chemicals? That being said, don’t they both come from crude oil? That being said, isn’t a company that boasts about saving fuel, becoming less dependant on oil, becomming more ergonomically and economically efficient (and you are, again, my thanks to you,) kind of going against its own word about not consuming oil products? If your tires are made of some sort of (brace for the oxymoron) synthetic rubber, then please ignore this message. I guess what I’m trying to say is if you feel like reaching out to as many consumers could be possibly interested in a Tesla vehicle (which, lets face it, is most likely environmentally-minded people,) wouldn’t it make more sense to use a catch phrase that made more environmental sense?
I understand you are trying to reach out to an audience which enjoys fast cars. I’m not naive. I’m sure you and your PR people probably had many a long arguement over using this slogan, just so people like me wouldn’t complain. That being said, what made you decide to go forth with it?
I’m more than certain you have people you pay salaries that I couldn’t dream of as a college student to come up with these slogans, but I have one that might be considered. I believe it will satisfy both speed demons and environmentalists. Check this one out:
“Tesla Roadster: Leave the open road behind, not your conscious.”
(the ‘open’ I added later, which is optional. I think it adds a certain imagery of a great stretch of road behind you, and a greater in front, maybe in a sort of desert setting, with a driver of a hot red Roadster flying along at 80 mph down I-80 towards Chicago. I think speed demons will enjoy having the ‘open,’ but is definitely not necessary.) ‘Road could be replaced with ‘city.’ That would work well like this:
“Leave the city behind, not your conscious.”
Again, just ideas to play around with, I got plenty more if you care to hear them.
Anyway, thats all I had to say for now. Thanks for listening, and again, thanks for doing everything you do.
Good luck and god speed!
Mike Russo
I was wondering how a car would be built for the buyer who wants a performance/exotic vehicle. This is it. I am happy that Lotus is involved, I believe that the Lotus engineers are the best in the world.
I’m trying to find out if this vehicle can be bought in Canada?
Pat
Congratulations. Is there further information about the warrantee service?
Mike Russo: Yes, there’s oil involved in making of tires (and probably many other parts of the car), but even so you don’t burn nearly as much oil in a Tesla as a normal ICE vehicle. I actually don’t like the “burn rubber, not gasoline” slogan because of the “comma-space-not”. That construct is a pothole in any phrase, in my opinion.
Pat Cubellis: Tesla is USA-only at the moment. Once they’ve established a foothold here, they’ll expand to other regions. No exact time line has been given, unfortunately, but given the length of Tesla’s waiting list, it’s at least a full year away.
Russo: Gasoline comes from petroleum, but not rubber. Rubber comes mainly from the sap of certain tropical trees, the bark is cut to tap the sap, and the trees produce for many years.
Tires have many components, including steel or polymer reinforcing, carbon black, sulfur, and rubber.
To you TEG2
First I have been following your blogs for quite some time and find you very informative
I had to put that statement in to show how inefficient ICE’s are
including hydrogen or bio fuels. In these alternate fuels electricity is need to produce them and inherently loss in efficientcy
So for me electric storage in the vehicle is the most logical way to go no matter how it’s stored.
My favorite right now is Altairnano lithium titanate. This battery does not need the cooling that the Tesla’s does also it has the abilitsy to be charged in ten minutes proven by the way for you nay sayers (look up Altairnano’s website) I am proud opf Tesla and thier vision I just hope that they don’t slow up in the next two years when many other manufactors put out cheaper vehicles. It is a race now to see who comes out on top.
I am rooting for Tesla but ZAP and ZEN are looking sharp and have vehicles out on the road already even if NEV’s.
Well thanks for the blogs TEG2 once TEG keep up the good work.
Mike Russo: Sorry to be the one to point this out but I think in your suggested slogan you mean conscience not conscious don’t you? Conscious is what we are when we are not unconscious… so we are awake and alert. Conscience is what we have that tells us that we should behave in a better way. In any case I think you’re obsessing too much about a little slogan. I think “Burn rubber, not gasoline” makes quite good sense in the context of a high performance electric car. It’s easy to understand exactly what is meant by this phrase and most people will very quickly see the point of it. Of course there is some CO2 production involved in making rubber since the processing of it uses electricity, which comes from a variety of sources but most people will just see the simple idea of not using gasoline in the car but still getting high performance and the slogan works very well for that.
I have seen “Who killed the electric car”, read about Nikola Tesla and his electric 1931 Pierce-Arrow car, and read all there is to read on your web site. Very impressive!!! As a result I intend to buy a Tesla Roadster or the future White Star car. The electric charging system will be at my place of business on the main highway going through Grand Rapids, Mn. It will be available for Tesla cars that need charging when taking extended road trips through Minnesota. I would expect to charge a $5.00 fee or less for the amount of electricity used to charge their Tesla electric car.
My suggestion, why not post every business in America that has a Tesla charging station available to the public on Google as well as the Tesla Motors web site. In a matter of a few months it should be possible to travel anywhere in the U.S. and find a fast Tesla charging station. Go Martin and all the rest of the Tesla Motors employees!!!!!!
I’ve watched the electric car come up from the ashes, and I’m quite envious of anyone owning one. I’m the kind of guy that can only dream of owning a sports car such as the Tesla Vehicle. Yet I want them and others to succeed, mainly because the more people that buy the lower the price will become. We’re living in a great age, where alternative fuels and technologies are springing up everywhere. I look forward to the day that we can say goodbye to the oil companies, and start to clean up our act. Good luck for the future Tesla I wish you well.
Carl
Why cant there be a 2 door with 4 seats even though the mid ship balance wont be there. You could reduce peak power a little and
still kick the magnums and g6 with a 300 mile range You would be the cats meow!
Steve Russo writes:
“If your tires are made of some sort of (brace for the oxymoron) synthetic rubber, then please ignore this message. ”
You seem to be lacking some very basic information. Real rubber comes from a rubber tree. Any rubber which is made of petrochemicals IS synthetic rubber, by definition.
Good to hear about your fully electric roadster. Any plans right now of offering an affordable elec. car, somewhere around 1/5 the price of your Roadster? If so, when would this be available to the general public?
Why is the top speed 125 mph? My guess is the tranny. Add a 3rd gear and get 200 mph.
The navigation system is ridiculous.
Everything else about the car seems top notch.
Does the charger plug into standard 115v ac household outlets?
Is there an emergency spare battery? ie: a portable, 30 mile range, get me home I don’t want to be towed today option?
Why did you go with a rear-heavy design instead of 50/50 weight distribution? The water cooled Porsches honestly handled better than the 911s… but nobody likes to admit it.
(saving my pennies to buy one of these)
Why not use a zinc bromine battery?
It´s a shame!
…well ok, lets just say it is sad, very sad, that this car is not for sale in Europe. I live in Spain, have the perfect weather, high petrol prices, great winding roads and only a Prius as an alternative. My only hope is that Lotus will do something about this.
I look forward to seeing a “Tesla Sedan” equivalent to the Honda Accord Diesel sold in Europe. If it’s roughly similarly priced, I’d certainly buy one.
One thing about any EV car (including the Tesla) is that, while it’s great for city driving, it is *not* good for long trips (e. g. San Francisco to LA). That’s because you have to stop for several hours and charge up in an EV. However, in a gas/diesel car, your fill-up takes maybe 10 minutes. Folks who travel a lot by car professionally (e. g. product demonstrators, sales engineers, etc.) would do better with, say, a VW Jetta Diesel (or the aforementioned Accord Diesel, if you’re in Europe) in real terms. But for most people, an EV would be terrific.
Is the Bush administration considering tax incentives to individuals that purchase a Tesla Roadster? Has this issue been raised by Tesla? We hear words all about the need as a nation to become energy sufficient by reducing our oil consumption. Making a purchase of an electric vehicle goes much further than a hybrid vehicle towards this goal. Are we going to have to wait for a substantial change from politics as usual before some seeing some traction on this issue? It would be a win-win for everyone.
The TeslaRoadster is a fantastic idea and It seems that the prototype car is living up to the dream, but think about this for a second. The people that can afford the Tesla at 100,000 dont worry about the price of gas. What about the people that NEED the electric car, like the middle class workers commuting back and forth to work every day. The rising cost of fuel is affecting them the most, so why design a car that caters only to the wealthy.? I paid 120,000 for my home, and your asking 100,000 for your the Tesla! I hope one day that before gas gets to be $5 a gallon, I will be able to afford an electric car, It dosn’t look like it.
I would be concerned about the ability of this car to be able to sustain a commute say 100 miles each way, be able to navigate through LA traffic (even on a law-battery.) Also the price tag I saw in a video to simply make this car seemed outrageous (In all fairness, it was a video on youtube.com that looked like it was from a promo car show overseas. Guy said it was costing $250,000 to make! YIKES! I could drive my Subaru wagon that gets 30-35 mpg and pay for one HECK of a lot of gas for that kind of money, OR buy a Mozaratti or other sports car that I’d be much happier with for that kind of money!)
I’m also VERY concerned about crash tests!!! They did show some on the site I was one, but no one said anything about the G ratings from the sensors, which is what I look at when looking at a car that I want to be safe for my family! I want a car that has adequate and reliable acceleration, that can sustain acceleration/traffic speeds around 80-85 mph on a regular basis (usually to keep from getting run over in the morning or evening commute!)
If we are going to better our resources, we need to make a car that’s not only affordable to most everyone, BUT also to advance on what cars can do now, on the street, on the track, off-roading, rock-climbing, EMS services, and so on… To leave that part of cars out is to miss the point of having a sustainable car that is usable over a wide range of uses, families, situations, etc. If I have to wonder if my car is going to work if there is a fire in the hills, or how far I’ll be able to go, then why even bother with anything that does less than a full gasoline car that has at least 1/2 tank of fuel in it? To do any less is to simply downgrade, and electric cars have enough to deal with with charging issues and crash tests, that even with those cars that have been well established, then released as hybrids are simply not cutting it safety-wise! Ever see a Prius get in a head-on? Chances of survival are about 0.
I hope this isn’t a fad and I pray to God that electric car companies aren’t spending $250,000 to simply build a car that can’t hack it for normal or even extreme uses. For that kind of money, after the price goes retail (roughly $500,000), I could buy a Carerra GT and drive 180+ mph if I wanted to on a track, also take the family to school, go to work, etc. and not have to freak out about wondering if my charge will make it! I could do ALL of those things in one day, and on a single tank of gas or less!!!
There needs to be mass improvements in these cars, and until and unless these can have sustainable power to drive free and clear (or even pull people out of repeatedly a burn area, or can do 185mph, or is a van that I can take 8 passengers in), then it really is a downgrade from what we have on the road today!
If electric cars are ever going to make it, they also need to be made safer! I saw a hybrid get creamed and the driver was a DOI (Dead on impact), which in ANY other car it probably would not have been!)
This car’s cute, but not enough power, not fast enough, not sustainable and reliable enough for me, even by the specs I’ve read.
I hope the vision is not that people will accept less because it’s an electric car… we will not… well, most of us won’t anyhow! The issue with the GPS/NAV system not being safe AND having to be after-market is a HUGE red flag! Does that mean it still will not be safe if it’s installed after the inspection!?! YIKES! That thing doesn’t weigh that much,and if there is another problem, then enlighten us all!
Seems like some SERIOUS safety issues - not only in crash, but in acceleration alone!
Cute body design - looks much like an old GT or a newer small version of a ‘vette Z06 (but without the power or reliability!)
Lets get the electric cars to be something usable and serious, not more toys like it was before! Why not H2 powered cars? The prototypes were in the museums and car shows in the late 1970’s and need to be brought back!
Some companies are using these and are looking into production… If we don’t see them mass marketed, I might start making my own! It’s frustrating to hear about a new car that’s on a sustainable fuel source, only to find out it’s substandard to anything on the road already!
how much is a 1970 worth with 25000 miles on it and in mint condution
@Carol
Carol, I don’t know whether these posts get emailed or not, but in response to your post, each of your paragraphs contain a bunch of misinformation — you should post them all separately so they get addressed.
But one thing: 0-60 in under 5 seconds is as close to as fast as you’re going to find. The acceleration from 70mph to 90mph on the Tesla may actually be the fastest ever achieved on a car for sale to consumers.
Today I had the pleasure of test driving a Tesla Roadster in NYC. Like most other prospective owners, I put my deposit down without ever having seen the car in person let alone driven it. So it was with great excitement and some trepidation that I took the 60 mile trip from Connecticut into Manhatten for the test drive.
Before reviewing the car, I’d like to comment on our hosts from Tesla. On the way into the city, my wife asked me: “Do you think that they will be nice?” I thought that it was an odd question, but she intuitively understood that I was not buying a car so much as making a life style decision and that, as with any new venture, you are putting your faith into a company and the people who comprise it as much or more so than the product itself. (Also, as a Maserati owner, we have came to expect a very high standard in terms of service and support - and automotive enthusiasm.) I can tell you that we were both incredibly impressed with the sales, marketing, and customer support team who we had the privilege of spending a couple hours with today. If they are a representative of Tesla as a whole then my decision to buy into the Tesla experience is certainly well founded. Many thanks to them all - especially Joe Powers.
As for the car - it was GREAT.
Manahttan is not an ideal location to test out the handling and acceleration of the car. However, they did route us through Central Park and we were able to quickly put it through some paces - enough to wet my appetite for a more thorough test in an area such as my fellow prospective owners out in California have enjoyed on Skyline Drive or the Pacific Coast Highway. Just as nearly everyone who has driven the car, I found the acceleration to be unmatched by anything else I have driven and this includes Ferrari’s and Maserati’s. The handling is terrific and all together it basically feels like you are driving a go-kart strapped to a rocket. Couple this with the eerie silence of the car and the total experience is unlike any other car on the planet.
The Roadster is beautiful to look at. We were driving one of the last validation models in red with black interior. It is much smaller than I expected it to be - more than a full foot shorter in length than my Spyder and shorter as well. It looks great from all angles. This model had the optional clear protective decals on it to protect the paint and you had to look very closely to see that they were there. I would love to see these made standard on all the cars as opposed to a priced option. The soft top is easily installed in less than 30 seconds and rolls up neatly in the well of the trunk.
I was very impressed with the fit and finish of the car inside and out. There have been a number of comments on the owners forum about the seats and teh dashboard, but I found them both to be perfectly acceptable. I also tested the horn out because several other test drivers had complained that it was ‘wimpy’ - it actually isn’t bad and frankly is far better than the one on the Ferrari SuperAmerica that I test drove two months ago. As always, there are areas that could/should be improved - the absence of any sort of glove box or other lockable stowage area seems like something that could easily be rectified. The GPS screen is rather small - though I think that it will prove adequate. The trunk is small, but that was expected. It could fit a few bags of groceries or a couple smaller overnight bags, but I’m not sure that a full set of golf clubs in a standard bag would fit in (for those golfers out there). I completely forgot to check out the cup holder, so cannot comment on that.
One cautionary note - the ingress/egress in this car is not easy! You are very low to the ground and the door sill is extremely wide so it will take some practice to get used to climbing in and out gracefully.
The net of all this is that I am now even more excited about getting my 2009 Roadster. I have a much higfher degree of confidence in Tesla as a company and truly enjoyed the experience today. To top it all off, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my expected delivery date has been moved up to approximately May 2009 as opposed to the original estimate of August 2009!
Rich L.