Yee haw! Today I test drove launched a Tesla Roadster.
As I mentioned I'd been invited to Tesla's Santa Monica store for a test drive, and this afternoon I rode down there and hung out for a couple of hours ogling cars. And then I drove one... whoa! So you've read the reviews, you know what everyone says, there is this incredible torque right off the line, and it goes smoothly 0-60 in 3.7s and 40-80 in no time at all. But you have no idea how that really feels until you've sat in one and done it yourself. It is amazing. There is a slight whoosh and bam! you are going 60mph, with your body flattened into the bucket seats. Amazing. I could do that all day :)
The cars are truly teeny, with just enough room for two people and a storage compartment for a golf bag. Perfect for traveling from A to B, just you and a friend, but forget anything you ever thought about carrying "stuff" along. The soft top is easily removed and replaced, and leaves considerable headroom; but you will feel like you are 8 inches off the road while driving (which you are :)
The car handles well, steering is tight, and the ride is smoother than you might think considering the size of the car; I believe because of the batteries it is heavier than you might think, too. The regenerative braking makes the car feel like it has a manual transmission; you let your foot off the gas, and it slows down immediately. You basically control how fast you're going with just the accelerator, and barely need brakes.
I have to say I am left wanting one badly, not to have an electric car, but to have a car which drives like this, which oh by the way happens to be electric. Anyway it was great fun, much more than a good excuse for an 80 mile ride...
![](../images/0301/Tesla/mighty_steed.jpg)
my mighty steed
not crazy about that orange, but the carbon fibre trim is rather excellent
![](../images/0301/Tesla/cockpit.jpg)
the cockpit is big enough for you and a friend, and nothing else
![](../images/0301/Tesla/wheel.jpg)
nice wheel, and the steering is tight...
gauge on the left is speedometer, on the right is volts delivered; the green range is regenerative braking
there is a spiffy touchscreen in the middle which controls all the car's settings
![](../images/0301/Tesla/engine.jpg)
the powertrain
276 ft-lbs of torque, up to 12,000 rpm, and a single-speed transmission
![](../images/0301/Tesla/test_launch.jpg)
test launch! off we go...
![](../images/0301/Tesla/thumbs_up.jpg)
two thumbs up, whoa!
![](../images/0301/Tesla/blue_too.jpg)
cool, comes in a nice blue, too... hmmm :)
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