Why does Roadster have a Tow Mode?

smorgasbord · Nov 13, 2014

Why not just put the car in neutral?

I know Model S outsmarts itself by detecting no driver and automatically parking, but Roadster has no such AI attempt. So, why a Tow Mode? Why not just let the driver put the car in Neutral?

marco2228 · Nov 13, 2014

When you put it into neutral and remove the key, the gearbox gets locked.

Panicopticon · Nov 13, 2014

As I've experienced, there are times when the car will not shift from park using the buttons (in my instance due to a software version mismatch). However, it would go into tow mode enabling it to be moved and ultimately flat-bedded home.

wiztecy · Nov 13, 2014

Either way works, shifting in neutral with the key still on, then move the car or use tow mode. I've seen tow truck operators use both. Tow mode once activated does not need the key.

ChadS · Nov 13, 2014

Panicopticon said:
As I've experienced, there are times when the car will not shift from park using the buttons (in my instance due to a software version mismatch). However, it would go into tow mode enabling it to be moved and ultimately flat-bedded home.

Same here. I had an issue once where the car would not switch out of park, but Tow Mode worked.

wiztecy · Nov 13, 2014

ChadS said:
Same here. I had an issue once where the car would not switch out of park, but Tow Mode worked.

Never an issue on the 1.5, no buttons.

Panicopticon · Nov 14, 2014

I'd be curious to know if the 1.5 shift lever actually uses a mechanical linkage or not. My guess is not, very few (automatic) shift levers are physically connected to the transmission these days.

dhrivnak · Nov 14, 2014

Why does the Roadster have a tow mode, and in my case a hitch???

To pull the gas cars out of the ditch when they have issues

.

wiztecy · Nov 14, 2014

Panicopticon said:
I'd be curious to know if the 1.5 shift lever actually uses a mechanical linkage or not. My guess is not, very few (automatic) shift levers are physically connected to the transmission these days.

No, doesn't use mechanical. However it does appear to be more robust and allowing you to do more than the push buttons without complaints. If you're slightly rolling and do a gear select change the buttons will not allow it and beep, for the shift lever its more forgiving. But that's mostly I would presume be just down to software programming differences.

smorgasbord · Nov 14, 2014

wiztecy said:
If you're slightly rolling and do a gear select change the buttons will not allow it and beep...

Actually, when I really want to impress someone, I do a California "sushi" rolling stop, go into Neutral, press the accelerator, and ask the passenger to hit "D" whenever they're ready.

What's fun is that people typically lean forward a bit to hit the "D" button, and the acceleration throws them back.

But, the car has to be slightly rolling forward at the time.

BTW, thanks all for the inputs on Tow Mode.

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Why does Roadster have a Tow Mode?

smorgasbord

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marco2228

... fixing Roadsters

Panicopticon

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wiztecy

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ChadS

Last tank of gas: March 2009

wiztecy

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Panicopticon

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dhrivnak

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wiztecy

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smorgasbord

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