tl;dr: as the title suggests, the P90DL makes the P85D seem like a wimp in comparison!
As some of you have been waiting to hear about, as a P85D owner, I've been trying to understand and experience (as a driver) what a P90D Ludicrous is really capable of. This is so that I could justify the Ludicrous fuse/contactors upgrade (for $5k + labor) when it becomes officially available.
Our own Pete90D generously offered his "grey ghost" P90DL up for a test drive. Thanks again, Pete!
So, we met up at the San Mateo Supercharger bright and early this morning. Both our cars juiced up to 90% or thereabouts (mine got up to 96% but, Pete's was on the dot or very close).
First off, here are the differences between the cars:
- Pete's car has the 21" grey wheels while I have the standard 19" ones.
- Fwiw, his car has the post-April PD suspension while mine was one of the first P85Ds from Dec 2014.
We had the A/C running at 67 degrees with ambient temps in the same range. There was little traffic around on the freeway. We charted out a route (should be familiar to Bay Area Peninsula locals) that took us
a) down the Hillsdale Blvd. on-ramp into 101 South while doing a 30-85 launch
b) drive down 101 to the Redwood Shores Pkwy / Holly St exit while doing short speed bursts between 65 and 90
c) turn around on Redwood Shores Pkwy to take the on-ramp (in an exit lane) to 101 South towards Whipple Ave. and do a 0-85 launch.
We took Pete's car out first, got back to the SC and retraced our steps with my car.
My observations:
- On all three fronts above, the PDL pulled strong and assertively through all speed bands while the PD was "gasping for air", particularly in a) and b).
- For a), with the PDL, I didn't even put the go pedal all the way to the metal before the 88 blind spot alert came up to make me aware of the speed while, with my PD, I felt the pedal hit the bottom while not experiencing any real power surge forward starting from 65.
- For c), with the PDL, the "mag lev theme park roller coaster" ride lasted the entire stretch and it felt as if the car had even more on tap. With my PD, there was no such sensation past 45 or so.
Boy, no wonder Tesla wants $10k more for the Ludicrous for new orders. They've checked almost all boxes on the performance front with the P90DL (some might still hold the fact that this kind of performance cannot be had at lower states of charge against Tesla).
Now, will I upgrade?! If the "$5k + labor" doesn't turn out to be $10k or more, absolutely!!! I still have to sell this to my CFO at home though - need to see what kind of collateral damage, i.e. jewelry or accessories, may do the trick.
Tesla has built an incredible machine in the P90DL and it most certainly pushes the P85D off the pedestal. :sigh:
As some of you have been waiting to hear about, as a P85D owner, I've been trying to understand and experience (as a driver) what a P90D Ludicrous is really capable of. This is so that I could justify the Ludicrous fuse/contactors upgrade (for $5k + labor) when it becomes officially available.
Our own Pete90D generously offered his "grey ghost" P90DL up for a test drive. Thanks again, Pete!
So, we met up at the San Mateo Supercharger bright and early this morning. Both our cars juiced up to 90% or thereabouts (mine got up to 96% but, Pete's was on the dot or very close).
First off, here are the differences between the cars:
- Pete's car has the 21" grey wheels while I have the standard 19" ones.
- Fwiw, his car has the post-April PD suspension while mine was one of the first P85Ds from Dec 2014.
We had the A/C running at 67 degrees with ambient temps in the same range. There was little traffic around on the freeway. We charted out a route (should be familiar to Bay Area Peninsula locals) that took us
a) down the Hillsdale Blvd. on-ramp into 101 South while doing a 30-85 launch
b) drive down 101 to the Redwood Shores Pkwy / Holly St exit while doing short speed bursts between 65 and 90
c) turn around on Redwood Shores Pkwy to take the on-ramp (in an exit lane) to 101 South towards Whipple Ave. and do a 0-85 launch.
We took Pete's car out first, got back to the SC and retraced our steps with my car.
My observations:
- On all three fronts above, the PDL pulled strong and assertively through all speed bands while the PD was "gasping for air", particularly in a) and b).
- For a), with the PDL, I didn't even put the go pedal all the way to the metal before the 88 blind spot alert came up to make me aware of the speed while, with my PD, I felt the pedal hit the bottom while not experiencing any real power surge forward starting from 65.
- For c), with the PDL, the "mag lev theme park roller coaster" ride lasted the entire stretch and it felt as if the car had even more on tap. With my PD, there was no such sensation past 45 or so.
Boy, no wonder Tesla wants $10k more for the Ludicrous for new orders. They've checked almost all boxes on the performance front with the P90DL (some might still hold the fact that this kind of performance cannot be had at lower states of charge against Tesla).
Now, will I upgrade?! If the "$5k + labor" doesn't turn out to be $10k or more, absolutely!!! I still have to sell this to my CFO at home though - need to see what kind of collateral damage, i.e. jewelry or accessories, may do the trick.
Tesla has built an incredible machine in the P90DL and it most certainly pushes the P85D off the pedestal. :sigh:
