Tesla Roadster One Day Test Drive

[SlowHands]

GM-Volt.com Exclusive Test with video

by Dr. Lyle Dennis at GM-Volt.com – Feb. 23, 2009

OK I'm jealous, really really jealous.... -- Ed.

I had one of the greatest indulgent pleasures of my life the other day. For one day, Tesla Motors gave me a Tesla Roadster to do with what I wish. This was a 2008 prototype model in red.

From simply setting up a blog about the Volt concept two years ago, unbelievably I was now being handed the keys to one of the most remarkable vehicles in the history of the industry, because I it turns out, have become a voice for the advocacy of electrification of the automobile. Below is my account of the experience, and DON’T MISS my video at the bottom of the post.

It was a beautiful crisp and cold Winter morning when I drove down to a midtown Manhattan parking garage that seemed like any other. I took along a friend of mine, a fellow doctor with a deep knowledge of automotive engineering and who happens to be a surgeon with very good hands.

After dropping off my car and giving the attendant the secret password, within minutes a shiny red Tesla Roadster was the feast before my eyes.

At first sight the car seemed strikingly smaller than I imagined it to be, and not surprisingly looked a lot like a Lotus Elise. This should not be too surprising as Lotus designed the $109,000 Tesla’s body. Here before me was the car that by most accounts and in most experts opinions represent the turning point in automotive history. The vehicle is the link I think it shall one day be known as between the ancient gas powered automobiles and the future electric fleets to come...[Read More]

[chibougamoo]

(Who says electric cars can't be a ton of fun?)

[GreenVTEC]

I want!

[JusBringIt]

There was no power steering, so steering the car a low speeds required a bit of effort.

boy this car must sure be unsafe then huh

[rdprice64]

If only those Powerball numbers would match up!

I love his references to a space ship. I feel that way when driving in EV mode, but it must be even more so when you can go 55 mph and only hear the hum of the tires on the pavement.

[GreenVTEC]

Originally Posted by rdprice64

I love his references to a space ship. I feel that way when driving in EV mode, but it must be even more so when you can go 55 mph and only hear the hum of the tires on the pavement.

Only 55? You baby


I'd never go any less than 10 over the limit if I had that ride. Double that for the highway

[rdprice64]

Originally Posted by GreenVTEC

Only 55? You baby


I'd never go any less than 10 over the limit if I had that ride. Double that for the highway

Just because you can go "warp 10" doesn't mean that you should. Wouldn't you want to get the highest MPK that you could? (Miles Per Kilowatt)

[xcel]

Hi All:

___55 is certainly fast enough for me I wonder what its range is at 50 mph while DWL and DWB

___Good Luck

___Wayne

[Right Lane Cruiser]

Around 300mi or so?