I agree wholeheartedly. There's nothing like the thrill of attacking some twisties and pushing it to the limit.
Nobody here is Michael Schumacher, but a manual car with a good sound will damn sure make you feel like him.
Re:I test drove a Tesla
by DabAsteroid on Monday September 29, 2008 @10:39AM
(#318368)
the Tesla only has 1 gear, which doesn't like going much past 100mph.
It is a 2-speed car. Tesla is planning on performing a recall to upgrade the transmissions of all of the delivered 1-speed cars to 2-speed.
Re:I test drove a Tesla
by wilshipley on Tuesday September 30, 2008 @05:14AM
(#319443)
No, they originally delivered 2-speed cars that were locked in 2nd gear -- and now they're replacing that gearbox with a one-speed gearbox that's a lot stronger.
They increased the power of the engine while waiting to fix the gearbox, and found the car now accelerates fine with only one gear.
-W
Re:I test drove a Tesla
by DabAsteroid on Tuesday September 30, 2008 @07:39PM
(#320155)
Thanks for clearing that up for me, Wil. (And welcome to HN, though I am new here, also.)
Do I understand correctly that the 1.5 drivetrain tends to get hot at high speeds and is automatically throttled to prevent overheating (thermal throttled, like some CPU's) and that that is the reason that though the car can indeed reach 120 or more MPH, it cannot sustain it for very long?
I think that's what makes driving fun.. you have greater control of your cars actions and are in touch with it. I could never see myself driving something where I never have to touch the shifter once its in a forward gear.
As for the speed issue, you're right, it is slowing it down. (granted new paddle systems make that 60 milliseconds like the F430 Scuderia) But the Tesla only has 1 gear, which doesn't like going much past 100mph.