Tesla Roadster -- Test Drive - LotusTalk

PatrickShim · 03-21-2009, 05:03 PM

So… since I’ve been hearing so much about the new EV (electric vehicle) craze, I was quite curious about what it is all about. As I’ve been considering another Lotus, I asked myself, “What about a Tesla?”

I scheduled a test drive of Tesla Roadster. Kyrstin at the LA showroom was wonderful.

We took the car out, and drove it on the freeway, and through parts of Beverly Hills. The car was very comfortable (well, compare to Lotus). It had much better seats than Lotus, and had a ton of luxuries (again, compare to Lotus), such as Sat-Nav, heated seats and even a cup-holder!

Driving the car through the twisty part of Sunset Blvd. in Bel-Air, I could definitely feel the weight of the car. After all, the car is almost full 1,000 lbs heavier than Lotus Elise. The car definitely felt heavy, and a bit bulky.

However, the best part about the car was the straight line performance. The beauty of the electric cars is the instant torque. Unlike the gasoline powered engine, which has a high torque at higher RPM, the electric motors deliver the most torque at the lower range. You step on it, it goes.

Here (see below) is a picture of an orange Tesla Roadster next to my laser blue Lotus Elise. Don’t you think they make a nice couple?

So… time to pull the trigger and order one?

* They have a “sport” version coming out with extra performance (+40hp), upgraded suspension, black wheels, Yoko A048s… coming out soon. It is an extra $20k option. Pretty expensive option...

2006PolarBlueElise · 03-21-2009, 05:13 PM

Looks great!

I would... if I could!!!!

kestrel74 · 03-21-2009, 05:21 PM

Too bad we couldn't change our front clams to that !! Looks a lot more slippery !!

gameson · 03-21-2009, 06:30 PM

Patrick, you didn't ask Kyrstin out for a date? The car got its date. That's not so Patrick

steuspeed · 03-21-2009, 09:33 PM

That's an awful nice looking Lotus. I wouldn't switch.

PatrickShim · 03-21-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steuspeed

That's an awful nice looking Lotus. I wouldn't switch.

Thanks!

Not trying to switch. Just trying to get it a mate.

gameson · 03-21-2009, 10:34 PM

Patrick is working it on both angles... I wonder who will get its mate first?

PatrickShim · 03-21-2009, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gameson

Patrick is working it on both angles... I wonder who will get its mate first?

I don't know what you're talking about.

apk919 · 03-21-2009, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatrickShim

I don't know what you're talking about.

The Tesla has potential... let's hope that someday it realizes it.

The Lotus is already there... in terms of performance. Would I want an Elise/Exige that weighs almost 1,000 lbs more? No way... I'm already feeling guilty about my power amp and subwoofer (22 lbs total...)

cemaykan · 03-22-2009, 05:25 AM

>>It had much better seats than Lotus, and had a ton of luxuries (again, compare to Lotus), such as Sat-Nav, heated seats and even a cup-holder!

Don't get me wtrong, If this is what turns you on and you think its important to mention here...you are in the wrong car category...

Might as-well get a Cadillac hybrid at this point

EliseAtLeast · 03-22-2009, 05:53 AM

Next to the Elise, the Tesla looks like it doesn't have a face.

Baysailor · 03-22-2009, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EliseAtLeast

Next to the Elise, the Tesla looks like it doesn't have a face.

Funny you should say that... I looked at that picture and immediately thought of the ad campaign Lotus did with the faceless people.

Faceless ad campaign - looks like Lotus

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EliseAtLeast · 03-22-2009, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baysailor

Funny you should say that... I looked at that picture and immediately thought of the ad campaign Lotus did with the faceless people.

Haha. I was thinking the same thing but just too lazy to search for the pic and post it. I guess great Lotus minds think alike

.

PatrickShim · 03-22-2009, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cemaykan

Might as-well get a Cadillac hybrid at this point

Well, remember, Tesla isn't a track car. It's built as a semi-luxury sport EV.

BUELL XB12R · 03-22-2009, 10:51 AM

The Tesla is nice for an electric car, but I will never buy an electric car as long as they are still making cars with combustion engines.
And think of all the other cars in the Tesla's price range you could get.

PatrickShim · 03-22-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BUELL XB12R

The Tesla is nice for an electric car, but I will never buy an electric car as long as they are still making cars with combustion engines.
And think of all the other cars in the Tesla's price range you could get.

But I get to use the carpool lane....

SweetDaddyD · 03-22-2009, 11:34 AM

Car looks good from the front, in that color as well. Not so hot from the side where it looks like a jigsaw puzzle with body lines everywhere. Too pricey for too little range, etc. I'd be worried about the company being around in a year or two, and reliability.

cemaykan · 03-22-2009, 02:00 PM

>>But I get to use the carpool lane....

So i guess its 4pm somewhere ?

jk

03-21-2009, 05:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
PatrickShim How you doin'? Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,206	Tesla Roadster -- Test Drive So… since I’ve been hearing so much about the new EV (electric vehicle) craze, I was quite curious about what it is all about. As I’ve been considering another Lotus, I asked myself, “What about a Tesla?” I scheduled a test drive of Tesla Roadster. Kyrstin at the LA showroom was wonderful. We took the car out, and drove it on the freeway, and through parts of Beverly Hills. The car was very comfortable (well, compare to Lotus). It had much better seats than Lotus, and had a ton of luxuries (again, compare to Lotus), such as Sat-Nav, heated seats and even a cup-holder! Driving the car through the twisty part of Sunset Blvd. in Bel-Air, I could definitely feel the weight of the car. After all, the car is almost full 1,000 lbs heavier than Lotus Elise. The car definitely felt heavy, and a bit bulky. However, the best part about the car was the straight line performance. The beauty of the electric cars is the instant torque. Unlike the gasoline powered engine, which has a high torque at higher RPM, the electric motors deliver the most torque at the lower range. You step on it, it goes. Here (see below) is a picture of an orange Tesla Roadster next to my laser blue Lotus Elise. Don’t you think they make a nice couple? So… time to pull the trigger and order one? * They have a “sport” version coming out with extra performance (+40hp), upgraded suspension, black wheels, Yoko A048s… coming out soon. It is an extra $20k option. Pretty expensive option... Attached Images __________________ '06 Lotus Elise (Laser Blue/Black/Sport-Pack/Touring-Pack/Hardtop/TRD airbox/Stage-II Exhaust) - VIDEO Last edited by PatrickShim : 03-21-2009 at 05:18 PM.

03-21-2009, 05:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
2006PolarBlueElise AZ Classic Car Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: southeast of Phoenix AZ Posts: 343	Looks great! I would... if I could!!!! __________________ 2009 Ford Fusion SE 2006 Elise 2000 Honda CRV 1992 Dodge Stealth 1990 Kawasaki Vulcan Motorcycle 1953 Packard Clipper & 1940 Packard 110 Sedan

03-21-2009, 05:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
kestrel74 G-200 Driver Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: North of Detroit; Watkins Glen, NY Posts: 9,308	Too bad we couldn't change our front clams to that !! Looks a lot more slippery !! __________________ 74 Europa Zetec TC Special 3614R Elise #2292 / Chrome Orange !! / Starshield / Nitron Sport SA / RTDbrace / Uprights machined / Down Low rails / ChaseCam / V1 / SS lines w/ R4-S "My daily driver does .85 Mach" " I started flying when Sex was safe and Hang Gliding was dangerous " BUY My Europa ! http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f94/...pa-sale-43829/

03-22-2009, 05:53 AM	#11 (permalink)
EliseAtLeast Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Basking Ridge, NJ Posts: 1,218	Next to the Elise, the Tesla looks like it doesn't have a face. __________________ '08 Honda S2000 CR (Rio Yellow Pearl) '07 Lotus Exige S (Aspen White) Touring, Traction, Starshield '04 BMW 330 ci (White)

03-22-2009, 10:51 AM	#15 (permalink)
BUELL XB12R No, it's not Italian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hobbs NM Posts: 494 Images: 1	The Tesla is nice for an electric car, but I will never buy an electric car as long as they are still making cars with combustion engines. And think of all the other cars in the Tesla's price range you could get. __________________ 2005 Elise Saffron yellow, Touring, LSS, SS, Hard Top 2004 Buell XB12R 2004 RX-8 2002 Z06 (Sold) 2002 Boxster S (Sold)

03-21-2009, 06:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
gameson Track Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,999	Patrick, you didn't ask Kyrstin out for a date? The car got its date. That's not so Patrick

03-21-2009, 09:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
steuspeed Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 902	That's an awful nice looking Lotus. I wouldn't switch.

03-21-2009, 10:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
gameson Track Addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,999	Patrick is working it on both angles... I wonder who will get its mate first?

03-22-2009, 05:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
cemaykan Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 152 Images: 1	>>It had much better seats than Lotus, and had a ton of luxuries (again, compare to Lotus), such as Sat-Nav, heated seats and even a cup-holder! Don't get me wtrong, If this is what turns you on and you think its important to mention here...you are in the wrong car category... Might as-well get a Cadillac hybrid at this point

03-22-2009, 11:34 AM	#17 (permalink)
SweetDaddyD BANNED Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ATL, GA Posts: 7,644 Images: 2	Car looks good from the front, in that color as well. Not so hot from the side where it looks like a jigsaw puzzle with body lines everywhere. Too pricey for too little range, etc. I'd be worried about the company being around in a year or two, and reliability.

03-22-2009, 02:00 PM	#18 (permalink)
cemaykan Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 152 Images: 1	>>But I get to use the carpool lane.... So i guess its 4pm somewhere ? jk

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