Got to drive a Tesla!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Shuboxlover 480]

if you're a car guy, it's worth the read!!!

 

Went to California for a biz trip the last couple days and on Monday I got done a little early so I decided to check out the Tesla AND the McLaren dealerships a couple blocks from the hotel.  I have seen a couple Teslas on the road in Lincoln and have always wanted to see one up close.  I walk in, they have two model S's and a chassis on the showroom floor.  Got to talking to one of the "ownership advisers" for about 1/2 hour.  All of a sudden he said "hey, you want to take one for a spin"  I said "does a bear sh*t in the woods?"  He went to go check the schedule, came back and said "you can drive a standard model now, or in about 30 minutes, you can drive the FAST one!!!"  I said without hesitation that I'll wait, he said "I like your style"!!!

 

I went and checked out the McLaren dealership a block down for the 30 minutes, and came back ready to go.  I got behind the wheel and he directed me to the hills.  At one spot he said..."now, when you get around this corner, hit it and hold hold on"  He didn't have to tell me twice...I turned the corner and put the hammer down, now...I must preface this by saying I have driven the hemi roadrunner I put together last winter and didn't figure I'd be too impressed.  IN NO WAY WAS I EXPECTING WHAT HAPPENED NEXT!!!!

 

This damn thing gets to full horsepower AND torque INSTANTLY!!!!!!!!!!!  I was going 70 before i could even think about what was going on.  I took it hard through the windy roads of the hills of Palo Alto and was SUPER impressed with the way it gripped and the low center of gravity is amazing.  I got to take it down the interstate and I hit 82 MPH before I was even half way down the short on ramp.  They have the demo cars governed at 82, the production ones top speed is around 135MPH.  The huge screen in the middle of the driver and passenger is a touch screen that controls everything but the power windows/mirrors.  For the life of the car it comes with FREE 3G service for browsing and navigation (you just can't watch You-Tube videos)  While we were driving he said "lets see what a station in Serbia is playing"  within 5 seconds, we were listening to ethnic Serbian music.

 

Now, I know the price is a bit high (the one I drove was about $110K)  but I really think they have something going here.  I couldn't have been more impressed with the car and would love to own one (they are coming out with the economy model next year at a starting price around $35K)  If you want more info on it, Google it, there is plenty out there.  I had an ABSOLUTE BLAST and would hope some of you get the chance to enjoy a test drive (or purchase one) in the future.

 

Chassis. . .

 

AC motor on the left, inverter on the right. . .

 

EVERYTHING is electric. . .power steering, brakes, AC compressor. . .

 

BIG A$$ touchscreen!!!!!

 

Front AND rear trunk space. . .

 

HEAVY loaded floor model ~$137k

 

Charging port is behind the "triangle" portion of the taillight....totally hidden!!!

 

Here is the one I drove!!!

 

Some McLaren Pics...

 

Sticker of the Orange one....$346,370!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AMC RULES 37,196]

Sounds, looks, and I'm sure it was cool...   

but I'd still rather have that black McLaren instead. 

[oldblue1993 98]

I am so jealous, If I ever pulled into a place like that they would take one look at my car, lock the doors and call the cops. 

[redidbull 54]

Top Gear USA had an episode about electric cars and the Tesla was featured. What you said is exactly what was said about electric cars in general, the torque comes on instantly. No wait. Cool story. Jim

[Duff 206]

One has just appeared in our area - probably the only one in New Hampshire at this point, but I gotta tell you, it's one impressive looking machine! Sure does turn heads when he goes down the street! 

 

Duff   

[953 nut 59,748]

   I guess electric is the wave of the future, did they say what kind of range it has for trips? Also, do they come with a trailer hitch so you can haul your herd to the shows?  

 

I had never seen a lot of info. on them, but am not suprised to see an AC motor in a Tesla, if it was DC it would be called an Edison I guess.   

[redidbull 54]

Range is 230-300 miles. Not sure about the hitch. Range on the Leaf and Focus was about 70 miles. Jim

[Shuboxlover 480]

Range is 230-300 miles. Not sure about the hitch. Range on the Leaf and Focus was about 70 miles. Jim

[AMC RULES 37,196]

  2014 McLaren P1 grocery getter.  

1 of 375. 903HP, twin turbo, plug-in hybrid.     

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/2014-mclaren-p1-driven-limit-beyond-motoramic-drives-191332780.html

[Shuboxlover 480]

THAT'S BAD A$$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks for the link!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nylyon-(Admin) 7,880]

There's several around here and they're super nice.  The Telsa has only ONE button on the dash and that's to control the emergency flashers, everything else is controlled by the touch pad.  Some things that surprised me are the lack of some standard functionality like memory seats!  I think that these cars are certainly the future and ain't nothing wrong with a high performance zero emission vehicle!

[boovuc 1,090]

Just don't plug your electric car into any person's or building's outside plug without asking.

Some guy recently plugged his hybrid into his child's school outside receptacle for 5 minutes while he went inside and retrieved his kid. He was nailed with "Theft of Services" for what was estimated at 70 cents worth of electric use. 

Fines will total 150 bucks! He doesn't think he did anything wrong! He.........is an idiot!

[oaktown1987 82]

Hydrogen on demand is a smart option

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