Observation on Tesla drivers

[masraum]

Tons around here. I've seen some that were scooting pretty good (not stoplight grand prix, but even going around corners.

Back when I still had my turbo miata, I had a Prius try to race me in a short stoplight drag. When I used to commute farther, it seemed like every Prius on the road was going 90mph which I thought was weird.

[RNajarian]

In LA there are 1,000s of them . . . Last July I saw a Tesla Model S driving in the fast lane with the autopilot (Or whatever it is called) set to 58 mph so traffic had to drive AROUND him. A driver in a BMW got in front of him and slammed on his brakes. Really startled the Tesla driver, his seat was reclined and he bolted up to see what just happened.

Maybe a funny move on the part of the BMW guy, but the Tesla Driver might have grabbed the steering wheel and turned into the center median wall.

My thoughts . . . If you don’t like driving, DON’T drive. Take an Uber, you can sleep the entire trip. If you can afford a Tesla, you can afford taking an Uber everywhere.

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by masraum

it seemed like every Prius on the road was going 90mph which I thought was weird.

^have noted this phenomenon as well. my favorite ironic moment involving a Prius was when one passed me on the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut (easily moving at 85-90mph), and I saw the driver fling a cigarette butt out the window.

[kochtools]

I think it's as simple as this: Quiet car's don't get noticed.

While I don't own a Tesla, I have rented them ... It's easy to go fast without being noticed.

Around town in the Phoenix area, we get an excellent mix of everything ... from mundane, to exotic, to utilitarian, to clapped out and dangerous.

In an every-day environment, I can say that I notice "hard driving" in the following order:

1. Lifted diesel trucks with a "tune" ... and stickers
2. Mustangs / Camaros ... occasionally
3. Nothing else outside cars-and-coffee

Saw a Tesla Model S launch really hard ... one time
Never seen a Porsche driven in anger on the street

These are all wonderful cars in some sense ... People buy what they like ... why try to force it into a stereotype?

[cstreit]

INteresting. Seeing a lot more around here now... ...and save this morning they were all driven like Grandma. I would definitely be using that big torque.

[Pazuzu]

I've also noticed that they're all driven at 50% the speed of everyone else.

ONE time I came across one, a much younger person was driving and I think they wee taking it to or from the "boutique" that we have here, he didn't look like an owner. He was romping on it a bit, and we ended up lined up at a light. I went flat out in 2 gears, but he was literally a block away by the time I hit 50mph. I cannot actually visualize how fast that thing moved from a dead stop, while not making any noise nor any tire squeal. This was before the PS4S, I don't know what he had, but I cannot understand how any non-R tire can accelerate that quickly.


I assume that when you buy one, you tear ass like a fool for the first 3 days, then it probably gets boring.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

I've also noticed that they're all driven at 50% the speed of everyone else.

ONE time I came across one, a much younger person was driving and I think they wee taking it to or from the "boutique" that we have here, he didn't look like an owner. He was romping on it a bit, and we ended up lined up at a light. I went flat out in 2 gears, but he was literally a block away by the time I hit 50mph. I cannot actually visualize how fast that thing moved from a dead stop, while not making any noise nor any tire squeal. This was before the PS4S, I don't know what he had, but I cannot understand how any non-R tire can accelerate that quickly.


I assume that when you buy one, you tear ass like a fool for the first 3 days, then it probably gets boring.

Right, I don't redline 1st gear in the boxster from every light, but it's nice to be able to if I want to or feel like I need to.

[MrBonus]

I drive mine like a maniac. You're all but invisible to cops too given how unassuming it looks and the lack of engine noise. I love it.

[Ronbo]

I have a Model 3 Dual Motor and just drive it as fast as any other car around me. Going home though on small out of the way streets with no other traffic is where I have my fun. It’s unbelievable how this car launches out of corners.

[aigel]

It is true. People flow with traffic in them and don't drive fast. Sometimes i see someone flooring it on the on ramp but it is rare. The demographic buying them is not car enthusiasts. It is tech people, someone that's into gadgets and commuters. As you guys said, they probably enjoy the automatic driving features and the screen more than the process of driving. In my area everything is so congested, it doesn't make sense to try to go fast either and the auto driving features are a blessing.

I have to say, I thought about a Model3 to drive more often and be less annoyed at stop and go, but then I priced it and decided it would be a stupid financial decision and that my bike / train commute is far superior.

G