Sport model vs non-sport performance?

[daniel]

... the times when I floored the Roadster Sport while in standard mode really felt disappointing, I don't think it would scare anybody.

... you have a really high bar for "won't scare anyone". I did a demo spin on Friday, and as soon as I floored it my passenger started stomping on an imaginary brake pedal. It was in Standard mode.

I did my demo drive in a sport, as noted above, and also as noted above drove in standard and range modes, never performance mode. And I never actually floored it, but the acceleration did scare me a little when I punched it moderately hard. I'll report what happens when I get my (non-sport) Roadster and see if I've got the courage to floor it in performance mode.

I WANT IT NOW!!!

[benji4]

I've only driven a Sport once (my test drive) so I'm no expert on it. It's possible that Base and Sport accelerate the same in Standard mode.

But if that's the case, you have a really high bar for "won't scare anyone". I did a demo spin on Friday, and as soon as I floored it my passenger started stomping on an imaginary brake pedal. It was in Standard mode.

Maybe my problem is I just got too used to it... One thing I can tell you for sure is that in performance mode when I floor it it scares me even as the driver at peak acceleration at 0.76g. The car almost feels a bit unstable at that point, like it's pushing too hard for its design. The passenger always will scream at that point shouting something like 'Oh my god' or 'holy s***'. For them it's a bit more shocking than for the driver since the driver is initiating it and knows what to feel. This is without fail. By the way, the best I was able to do in a sport was 0.81g.

[Doug_G]

The passenger always will scream at that point shouting something like 'Oh my god' or 'holy s***'.

With my Base Roadster, at least, I don't think an inexperienced passenger would notice the difference between Standard and Performance. Unless they're a sports car nut I use Standard mode, and I'm still running about 40% "Holy S***", 30% "Oh my god", 10% "WOW", and the remainder various random things including giggling (funnily enough the gigglers are usually male).

By the way, the best I was able to do in a sport was 0.81g.

Wow, did you drive off a cliff?

[S-2000 Roadster]

For both the sport and the non-sport (both of which I've had quite a bit of experience with), you really need to be in sport mode in order to get shocking acceleration off the line. In performance mode, assuming you charged in performance mode as well + a number of other considerations, the sport will get you from 0-60 in 3.7 seconds, and he base model gets you there in 3.9. The sport feels quicker right of the line also, but just by a hair. In standard mode for both cars, you'll be at least a second slower to 60 -- perhaps in the 5 second range which is still quick mind you, but it won't knock your socks off.

I don't think anyone here has agreed with you on this. Here's my story explaining why I disagree with you:

I own a Tesla Roadster 2.5 (non-Sport), and first the first couple of days I didn't even use Performance mode. I also only learned recently that you don't get full torque unless you floor the accelerator. Due to my ICE training, I habitually never floor a car, but rather ride the accelerator to provide just enough gas - probably a habit from vintage carburetors that would lose vacuum pressure otherwise. Despite my naivete with electric motors, I took my new car to show off to a couple of brothers in town who have way more experience with sports cars than I do. They've owned Subaru WRX and various other turbocharged vehicles, and currently have a Nissan GT-R that I've never even ridden in. I took them each on a drive around the block, including an uphill 0-to-60. Their unanimous conclusion was that the Tesla Roadster is potentially a GT-R-killer. I repeat, this is a non-Sport Roadster 2.5 driven in Standard mode uphill without completely flooring the accelerator.

If that's not shocking acceleration, then I don't know what you expect.

[benji4]

I don't think anyone here has agreed with you on this....

Sorry, I definately was not correct in my first post, I think my brain was turned off. One thing I can tell you for certain though -- I have hit 0.76g in my non-sport twice so far in performance mode (also charged in performance mode), but only 0.68g so far max in normal mode (normal charge). I have never tested yet charging in performance mode and sprinting in normal mode.

But you're right, especially for a passenger, this really is shocking acceleration in either case. When charging in normal mode (which is all I do these days), the best I've done is 0.74g -->



I have tested a lot more in performance mode than in normal mode however. I'm going to do some further testing of this over the weekend to get it clear. I really wish the VDS had a 0-60 timer -- the best I can do is bring a light passenger with me to time it.

I find that the car generates the most g-force when you floor the accelerator very slightly after take off rather than all at once. I did hit 0.81g in a sport with a Tesla sales rep with me in the car, and he said that it beat the previous high he had seen of 0.80g.

[Doug_G]

I have hit 0.76g in my non-sport twice so far in performance mode (also charged in performance mode), but only 0.68g so far max in normal mode (normal charge).

Charging and running in Standard, 0.68 sounds very reasonable for a Base Roadster. Charging in Standard and running in Performance I've seen 0.72, but I've not checked very often so I doubt this is optimum. I've never done a Performance mode charge.

I find that the car generates the most g-force when you floor the accelerator very slightly after take off rather than all at once. I did hit 0.81g in a sport with a Tesla sales rep with me in the car, and he said that it beat the previous high he had seen of 0.80g.

Cool! I'll have to try your technique.

[S-2000 Roadster]

Okay, so let me see if I've got this right:

[snip]
Charging in normal mode fills the batteries to only 80% (which will be plenty for me 99.9% of the time) and keeps them at a lower temp, both of which are good for battery life.

Charging in Standard (normal) mode actually fills the batteries to 90%. If you also drive in Standard mode, which only lets you drain the battery to 10%, then I suppose it's accurate to say that you are using the middle 80% of the battery. But the key is that you can switch to Range mode at any time and access 90% of the battery, even starting with a Standard charge. Thus, the Tesla "80%" is more than the Nissan Leaf 80%

Driving in performance mode keeps the batteries at a higher temperature, allowing more current, but also shortening their life.
Driving in range mode or standard mode keeps the batteries cooler, but what's the difference between these two? Maybe range mode also limits acceleration?

Range mode does limit power, but I think that it also allows the batteries to get warmer as it drains more current out of them. I've been told by Tesla employees that driving in Range mode lets the batteries run hotter and shortens their lifespan. But I've been told by other Tesla employees that the hotter Range mode is not true. One hypothesis from the forum was that Range mode runs the cooling system as little as possible to save the energy for range, and thus the batteries end up hotter.

Battery degradation will be gradual. If I charge in standard mode but drive in performance mode for the first month, it probably won't shorten my battery life an awful lot, and after that I'll probably stick to standard or range for driving except when giving people rides.

I messed around with Standard and Range mode at first, but was warned against driving around in Range mode. So, now I just use Standard mode all of the time. I really only use Performance mode if I'm giving a demo and even then only when I remember it.

I recommend that you spend your first month in Standard mode, both for charging and for driving. Use that first month to learn everything else about your new car. If you take a long road trip, then the occasional Range charge is actually good exercise for your battery. I tend to start my trip as soon as the Range charge is done so that the battery never really sits around with 100% charge. All of this switching modes just takes your attention away from the road and from the other aspects of the vehicle to which you should really be paying attention.

The salesman told me he only advocates the battery replacement agreement for people who are really worried about the battery. He suggested I not get it. Now, THERE'S a switch: A car salesman who tells you not to buy the extra stuff!

Tesla hires people who are nowhere near the typical car salesman in attitude. I bought my car from the same fellow as you, but I get the impression that everyone at Tesla is more interested in finding people who will be happy with a Roadster rather than trying to sell as many as fast as they can.

[S-2000 Roadster]

I have hit 0.76g in my non-sport twice so far in performance mode (also charged in performance mode), but only 0.68g so far max in normal mode (normal charge). I have never tested yet charging in performance mode and sprinting in normal mode.

But you're right, especially for a passenger, this really is shocking acceleration in either case. When charging in normal mode (which is all I do these days), the best I've done is 0.74g

I'm totally guessing here, but I imagine that charging in Performance mode has no benefit unless you drive hard immediately after charging. The reason I say so is that the temperature of the battery will change if there is a long time between charging and driving. Admittedly, I really don't understand what a Performance charge would do for you unless you're literally sitting on the race track connected to a charger.

I have tested a lot more in performance mode than in normal mode however. I'm going to do some further testing of this over the weekend to get it clear. I really wish the VDS had a 0-60 timer -- the best I can do is bring a light passenger with me to time it.

A video camera weighs less than a light passenger. The trick is to secure the camera so it keeps the frame on the VDS at all times. I guess you'd also need a clock in the video frame with a second hand ... tenths of a second would be even better.

[Doug_G]

Range mode does limit power, but I think that it also allows the batteries to get warmer as it drains more current out of them. I've been told by Tesla employees that driving in Range mode lets the batteries run hotter and shortens their lifespan. But I've been told by other Tesla employees that the hotter Range mode is not true. One hypothesis from the forum was that Range mode runs the cooling system as little as possible to save the energy for range, and thus the batteries end up hotter.

The one time I ran Range mode for a road trip, the batteries stayed quite cool the whole trip. First tic. PEM was on second tic, motor on third.

[Doug_G]

A video camera weighs less than a light passenger. The trick is to secure the camera so it keeps the frame on the VDS at all times. I guess you'd also need a clock in the video frame with a second hand ... tenths of a second would be even better.

I'm not sure if the VDS screen will do the job for you; the speed updates somewhat slowly.