First Drive: 2008 Tesla Roadster

**Tideland Prius** · 01-24-2008, 01:41 AM

So how fast is the Tesla Roadster really? In a few seconds, we're gonna find out because framed by its porthole-size windshield is a deliciously straight stretch of Skyline Boulevard, a knockout snake of a road we've never heard of before in the coastal hills above San Carlos, California. San Carlos, in case you're not Google-Earthing at the moment, is the inviting, northwestern Silicon Valley 'burb where Tesla decided to settle its unpretentious research and development quarters about four years ago. Through the trees, we occasionally glimpse Stanford's 285-foot-tall Hoover Tower some seven and a half miles away.

Okay, then, I've got the brake pedal stapled to the floor. The mirrors are scoped for innocent traffic. Coast is clear. Dip into the accelerator and...remember that Mark Twain quip about the coldest winter he ever knew being a summer in San Francisco? Ditto that for this San Carlos place. Except it's now December, the Roadster's top is AWOL, and an Arctic front is leaning in from the gray Pacific. But back to business.

2008 Tesla Roadster - First Drive - Motor Trend

Video: First Drive: 2008 Tesla Roadster Video

mr_zorg · 01-24-2008, 03:46 PM

*jealous* I want one so bad... Anybody got a spare $100k to give me?

dipper · 01-24-2008, 04:20 PM

The latest update I got was production is supposed to start this spring. The 2-speed tranny is not going to make it. They are going to put in a 1-speed tranny and sell to the first batch with promise to retro-fit when the final spec tranny is ready (still a 1-speed, but can do 4 sec 0-60 as promised). Until then, the 1-speed tranny is going to do 0-60 in less than 6 secs. No info of top speed.

Interesting to see what the final specs are going to look like compare to what Tesla promised originally.

daniel · 01-24-2008, 08:49 PM

That's great news that they've gone to a single-speed. I opposed the two-speed tranny from the first time I read about it: Just one more thing to go wrong, and had they gone with a one-speed from the start the first buyers would be driving Teslas today. But they wanted to have faster acceleration and a higher top speed than they could get with a single gear ratio.

I rode in one (as a passenger) when I visited them last year. It was locked into second gear due to work being done on the car, and it still had powerful acceleration. I wonder whether this single-speed release will be the old second gear, or a ratio in between.

I met someone who claimed to have inside info, who told me that they were going to drop the price a bit, and then told me there would be "surprising news," but she refused to say any more.

I want one. I'd buy one today. But if you get on the waiting list now, you have at least a year and a half wait, since the 2008 production run is all sold out. And we really don't know when they'll actually get to production. My Xebra is fun, but a Tesla would be more fun. After all, it has 33% more wheels.

h2photo · 01-25-2008, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_zorg

*jealous* I want one so bad... Anybody got a spare $100k to give me?

I was just thinking the same thing....

01-24-2008, 01:41 AM	#1
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,407 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 215 Thanked 327 Times in 228 Posts Friends: 22	First Drive: 2008 Tesla Roadster So how fast is the Tesla Roadster really? In a few seconds, we're gonna find out because framed by its porthole-size windshield is a deliciously straight stretch of Skyline Boulevard, a knockout snake of a road we've never heard of before in the coastal hills above San Carlos, California. San Carlos, in case you're not Google-Earthing at the moment, is the inviting, northwestern Silicon Valley 'burb where Tesla decided to settle its unpretentious research and development quarters about four years ago. Through the trees, we occasionally glimpse Stanford's 285-foot-tall Hoover Tower some seven and a half miles away. Okay, then, I've got the brake pedal stapled to the floor. The mirrors are scoped for innocent traffic. Coast is clear. Dip into the accelerator and...remember that Mark Twain quip about the coldest winter he ever knew being a summer in San Francisco? Ditto that for this San Carlos place. Except it's now December, the Roadster's top is AWOL, and an Arctic front is leaning in from the gray Pacific. But back to business. 2008 Tesla Roadster - First Drive - Motor Trend Video: First Drive: 2008 Tesla Roadster Video __________________ 2005 Tideland Pearl Premium Package 25/10/04 VVT-i Emblem, Sport Pedals, All-Weather Mats, Cargo Mat, EV Mod, JDM Prius Footwell Lighting, DICE iPod Kit 2008 smart fortwo passion coupé - sold (6.1L/100km) 2010 Blue Ribbon Metallic Technology Package 29/08/09 All-Weather Mats, Homemade Console Pads "Ask an Expert" on Facebook I am not employed by Toyota, and the opinions expressed by me as a Prius Expert are not those of Toyota. Last edited by Tideland Prius; 01-24-2008 at 06:33 PM. Reason: Add video link

01-24-2008, 03:46 PM	#2
mr_zorg Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NorCal Posts: 334 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 0	Re: First Drive: 2008 Tesla Roadster jealous I want one so bad... Anybody got a spare $100k to give me?

01-24-2008, 04:20 PM	#3
dipper Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 600 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: First Drive: 2008 Tesla Roadster The latest update I got was production is supposed to start this spring. The 2-speed tranny is not going to make it. They are going to put in a 1-speed tranny and sell to the first batch with promise to retro-fit when the final spec tranny is ready (still a 1-speed, but can do 4 sec 0-60 as promised). Until then, the 1-speed tranny is going to do 0-60 in less than 6 secs. No info of top speed. Interesting to see what the final specs are going to look like compare to what Tesla promised originally.

01-24-2008, 08:49 PM	#4
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 11,278 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 59 Thanked 201 Times in 127 Posts Friends: 0	Re: First Drive: 2008 Tesla Roadster That's great news that they've gone to a single-speed. I opposed the two-speed tranny from the first time I read about it: Just one more thing to go wrong, and had they gone with a one-speed from the start the first buyers would be driving Teslas today. But they wanted to have faster acceleration and a higher top speed than they could get with a single gear ratio. I rode in one (as a passenger) when I visited them last year. It was locked into second gear due to work being done on the car, and it still had powerful acceleration. I wonder whether this single-speed release will be the old second gear, or a ratio in between. I met someone who claimed to have inside info, who told me that they were going to drop the price a bit, and then told me there would be "surprising news," but she refused to say any more. I want one. I'd buy one today. But if you get on the waiting list now, you have at least a year and a half wait, since the 2008 production run is all sold out. And we really don't know when they'll actually get to production. My Xebra is fun, but a Tesla would be more fun. After all, it has 33% more wheels. __________________ Daniel Primary car: 100% Electric 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera. Estimated range at 55 mph: 81 miles total or 64 miles to 80% discharge. Top speed 70 mph. Secondary car: Zap Xebra SD, also 100% electric. 1.9 cents per mile. Range: 40 miles total, or 32 miles to 80% discharge. Top speed 35 mph. Faster downhill. Both EVs use electrons generated from water power. Gas guzzler for when I have to travel farther than 60 miles: 2004 Prius. "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." -- Emma Goldman "Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think long and hard before starting a war." -- Otto von Bismarck