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I'm thinking about buying a Tesla Roadster. If you could please take a minute and list the best and worst things about it, I'd really appreciate it. I want to go into this knowing what I'm in for. Oh, and if there are certain options to get or avoid, I'd appreciate the advice.
Worst things:
It's not easy to get in and out of.
It only seats 2 people.
My larger friends ( 6'4" tall and heavy set ) don't fit well.
Best things:
I love driving again. I love driving in traffic. I love driving when the roads are clear. I love driving without touching the brake pedal.
I love plugging it in. I love never going to the gas station.
I agree with everything richkae said. The Roadster is not the most practical car in the world with it's tiny trunk but it's amazing to drive. You'll find yourself wanting to drive on errands or anywhere just to get in the car. It's really fun to drive.
Pros: it's as fast as sticky tires can move a human off the line without going super car. It's full of energy every day I leave the garage. I am supporting new green tech while having fun. When you see another on road it's a rare day. Almost 10k miles and still want to drive it daily. The acceleration thru traffic is great. Driving with 'go' pedal as regen is set very well with braking.
Cons: it's small, turning radius is limited, radio reception sucks, sticky tires are expensive.
Thank you, that's very helpful. I really like the idea of a fun second car which does some good while satisfying my mid-life crises urges in a way that doesn't end up in divorce court. I guess it's good it doesn't have a back seat
Seriously though, are those the only negatives? That's not bad. I've read on this board that noise can be a bit of an issue. Is that still the case? How about maintenance?
Thanks again. I plan on joining the ranks soon!
They've done a simple mod to the wind seal on the front of the door, which has made a big difference. There's still tire noise at high speed, but not so much that you have to yell at your passenger or anything.Originally Posted by Los
I've had some minor service glitches, but they were covered under warranty and the service has been awesome.
Your rear tires wear out pretty fast. But that's mainly because you're having a lot of fun!
Wind noise has been more of an issue in my car even with the fix but it's still worth it. This is a real sports car, not a refined Lexus or Mercedes coupe. Definitely test drive it before you buy one but you'll be hooked once you do.
Pros: It gives you that tingly feeling every time you floor it. The traction control magically delivers maximum acceleration without breaking free from the road. You've got so much extra oomph on the freeway you can easily squirt through small spaces and get away from tight spots, like when you're next to a giant SUV that can't see you and is coming into your lane. If you like amusement parks, you'll own one of your own. It's exceptionally quiet at low speeds so it's great for observing nature and looking around at the sights. Conversations are more exciting. People will walk up to the car in awe. If you park it where you can see it in a restaurant, it's very entertaining to watch the crowds that form.
Cons: Everyone's lights are in your eyes. You're sitting with your eyes below crotch level and that perspective changes everything about the road. People in big vehicles may not be able to see you. You'll need to avoid being next to them. Potholes are shocking and must be avoided at all cost. Unfortunately, they're very hard to see from such a low angle until you're right up on them. Driving in a city with a pothole problem is a real chore. You begin to plot routes that take you pretty far out of your way to avoid certain areas. Trunk space is small and pretty shallow... shopping for groceries means asking for the bags to be filled only halfway. You have to remind passengers to watch their heads. The door latches on the frames can catch on things. The heater isn't exactly hot, but can be warm. You'll need to do some modifications to the car (adding insulation in cold areas, etc) to make it perfect. The 200 mile range quickly drops to 120 or less if you do jack-rabbit starts and spend a lot of time testing the car on the freeway. Charging does take some time...
Although I do not own a Tesla, I am seriously considering buying one. I twice drove the car.
Pros: In addition to the no-gas/oil appeal and the comments that were mentioned, I consider a major pro the ability to get a While Carpool sticker (not applicable to everyone of course). I live in California and have driven a Prius with a Yellow sticker that allows me to have solo carpool access, something I am now used to. It saves me a lot of time, and the Yellow sticker program expires at the end of June, meaning that then, all Yellow sticker cars (like mine) will be booted back into traffic. However, White sticker cars that use no gas, such as the Tesla, will be allowed until at least 2015.
Cons: In addition to those mentioned, like difficulty getting in and out and limited interior/trunk storage space, I find it unfortunate that the speedometer is blocked by the top of the steering wheel. Since the seats and steering wheel really do not adjust (other than to move too far forward) or tilt, that leaves looking at the smaller middle screen. However, I like being able to clearly see my speed while looking forward. Actually, although I like the look of the Tesla dash, I really became used to the large digital nicely lit display on my Prius. If I am going to get a ticket, I would prefer that it be because I was intentionally speeding rather than just not knowing I was going too fast LOL. Another con to me is the lack of a good cup holder. I understand that others find a way to tilt the cup when inserting it and make it work etc. However, I like having a fixed standard cup holder as I drink coffee on the way to work each morning.
The biggest positive is similar to what some have already said, the car just is a joy to drive, and I look forward to driving it every day. In addition, I appreciate doing my small part for the environment, moreso in setting an example than any effect of my car itself.
I really can't argue with any of the negatives mentioned here. Luckily for me so many of the negatives don't really matter to me, because of my lifestyle (no kids, no hauling stuff, having owned plenty of sports cars before (noise, tire life, stiff suspension don't bother me a bit). The only ones I would change if I could are the ingress/egress, turning radius, and a brake improvement (although most solutions would require the brakes being warmed up to be better, which doesn't really help you for everyday driving or emergencies.
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