Tesla vs V8(s)

[PKLD]

I've always wanted a V8. Ever since I was tiny and being wheeled around in a silent pram causing myself whiplash whenever an 8 cylinder car went by.

So this video is like a weird crossroads in my life. I drive an electric Leaf for my day to day car and new house plus new baby plus new business has dented my opportunity to get a V8 which iI'd hoped to do by the time I was 30...

However after watching this I'm not sure noise is going to be enough to get me in one:

http://jalopnik.com/can-a-tesla-model-s-beat-even-...

Am I just in a 'phase' or will I still want a (hate the phrase but can't think of a better way of putting it...) an 'analogue' car? 6,000 miles in my Leaf and I just look at 95% of new cars on the road and just think they're irrelevant now!

[Olivera]

I would get a V8 and also keep your electric appliance.

The model S is certainly fast in a straight line but it was mullered in a flying lap test at the red bull ring by a mini cooper s and a megane rs, so it's a mediocre sports car.

[LordFlathead]

PKLD said:

I've always wanted a V8. Ever since I was tiny and being wheeled around in a silent pram causing myself whiplash whenever an 8 cylinder car went by.

So this video is like a weird crossroads in my life. I drive an electric Leaf for my day to day car and new house plus new baby plus new business has dented my opportunity to get a V8 which iI'd hoped to do by the time I was 30...

However after watching this I'm not sure noise is going to be enough to get me in one:

http://jalopnik.com/can-a-tesla-model-s-beat-even-...

Am I just in a 'phase' or will I still want a (hate the phrase but can't think of a better way of putting it...) an 'analogue' car? 6,000 miles in my Leaf and I just look at 95% of new cars on the road and just think they're irrelevant now!

The opportunity to enjoy a V8 is diminishing every day. Stricter emissions, manufacturers going for V6's instead, higher VED, higher insurance, higher fuel consumption all equate to the silent death of the omni popular V8.

Because I grew up in a different generation, EV was not an option. I have had countless V8's from Rover, Triumph, Audi, Lamborghini, Porsche, Jaguar, and more than I can remember. Yes they make a unique noise but they are also fashion - a dinosaur in the making. In the 70's a Rover V8 made around 150hp for the 'S' model or 135 for the other tune. Today you can get 450hp out of a 4-pot Audi S3 with more to come. A modern 2.0 diesel will make more more torque than a Rover V8 and still give 60 to the gallon.. My ancient 10 year old Jaguar 2.7TDVi V6 makes 204hp and 300ft/lb or torque but still returns 50mpg on a gentle run.. the Rover V8 at a steady speed will give around 20mpg.

So, buy and enjoy the nostalgia, modern V8's will give you loads of power but beware the tuned 4/5/6 pots are not far behind. The VED will be crippling, insurance very high if the car is not a classic and it will drink fuel like George Best at a stag do.

I now have in my fleet; a Jaguar XJ diesel, a Renault Espace diesel (albeit with a jet engine in it), a Porsche 928GT and from January a Zoe.. keep the V8 as a weekend car and use the fridge for everything else, many of us on here do the same.

The Tesla by comparison is like sitting on a silk cushion with a rocket up your backside. There are zero similarities!

What's not to like? Go for it - you only live once and everyone deserves the opportunity to have owned a V8

[gangzoom]

PKLD said:

Am I just in a 'phase' or will I still want a (hate the phrase but can't think of a better way of putting it...) an 'analogue' car? 6,000 miles in my Leaf and I just look at 95% of new cars on the road and just think they're irrelevant now!

I've owned a Honda Integra Type R, a 350Z, and my last car was a modified BMW 335i running 380bhp+. Having had my Leaf now for 6 months I feel exactly the same way about 100% of non EV cars I see on the road.

The Model isn't a sports car, but than again who on earth is going to take a 4 door family 2 ton saloon saloon onto a track?? I know I'm not.

That video is turly crazy, a family saloon that costs <£10 to refuel out dragging a full blown V8 racing car....Why on earth is anyone still building ICE powered cars??

Remember the Model S / Leaf / Zoe are really only the first generation cars. Imagine how good they are going to be in 10 years time!!

My next car was going to be V8 M5, but now I cannot see my self getting anything else other than a Tesla. Most difficult decision is to either be 'sensible' and get the cheap/slower version or just go nuts and go for the crazy 90D-L

[ewenm]

I'd have the EV for the daily driver (if I had off-street parking!) and a V8 for the long trips to family and friends around the UK and Europe. For me, the first choice would be the new Mustang - driving down to the Alps, avoiding the péage, exploring the mountain roads, but still with the OH and sprog. Obviously the V8 makes little sense rationally but not everything in life has to be sensible.

[supermono]

I raised an eyebrow the other day on Park Lane on my GSX-R750 when a tesla took off from the light on an emergency start and my 20% sedate pull away which would normally leave everything modestly behind only kept level with him. Didn't want to appear a knob by "racing" him so I just kept pace, short shifting.

But fact is the seamless acceleration of the thing was impressive, as was I assume the complete silence during the operation.

[R8VXF]

As impressive as Tesla's standing start is due to the torque characteristics of an electric motor, are you really surprised that a 4wd car beat a rwd car off the line? What do you think would have happened from a rolling start of 10 - 20 mph?

I personally think that electric cars should still have a gearbox and a better source of power before I buy into them. As a concept, the electric car is the way forward, I just do not buy into the current reality of them.

[supermono]

It only beat the bike because I was being sedate, obviously it wouldn't be a match for a 750cc motorbike under any circumstances where the biker was trying.

But that doesn't change that the car was impressive 0-60. Quite what this says of the design I have no comment, each to their own. I've bought a hybrid merc but I'm by no means bought into the whole electric "scene"

[R8VXF]

supermono said:

It only beat the bike because I was being sedate, obviously it wouldn't be a match for a 750cc motorbike under any circumstances where the biker was trying.

But that doesn't change that the car was impressive 0-60. Quite what this says of the design I have no comment, each to their own. I've bought a hybrid merc but I'm by no means bought into the whole electric "scene"

Sorry, wasn't really replying to you, was responding to the OP and the video. I was in fact agreeing with you in a sense

[Amateurish]

supermono said:

It only beat the bike because I was being sedate, obviously it wouldn't be a match for a 750cc motorbike under any circumstances where the biker was trying.

I'm no motorcycle expert, but doesn't the Tesla Model S P90D have a faster 0-60 time in "ludicrous" mode (2.8s)?

[liner33]

A P85D would murder most bikes off the line, the figures that the manufacturers release on bikes are under very controlled conditions ie lightweight professional riders, bikes with minimum of fuel etc , the average rider on the average bike cant get close to them , the Tesla however will do its party trick with any numpty pushing the "go" pedal, there is absolutely NO skill involved

Sports bikes in particular are very difficult to launch well, takes a lot of practice

[strudel]

Not had the opportunity for a full bore start, but the 30-70 on a Model S test drive certainly would give my 675cc Street Triple a run for its money. There's also no drive train slack so it gets going quick.

This is an R1 vs P85D.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlSvorIF3zQ

I don't think it starts gaining until about 120kph (75mph). After that it goes though!

[liner33]

strudel said:

Not had the opportunity for a full bore start, but the 30-70 on a Model S test drive certainly would give my 675cc Street Triple a run for its money. There's also no drive train slack so it gets going quick.

This is an R1 vs P85D.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlSvorIF3zQ

I don't think it starts gaining until about 120kph (75mph). After that it goes though!

My point perfectly demonstrated, the R1 rider bogs a little but cant hit full throttle until 3rd

[MikeGoodwin]

Is it a bad time to be a petrol head? All these drag races have Tesla fan boys wking themselves to death spouting st like 'petrol engines are dead, oh but you cant do more than 60mph on a road anyway, who would want a petrol engine to pollute the atmosphere and stuff when you can have an EV that costs nothing to run....

Really hope Im not some disnosaur that doesnt like EVs based only on the fact they make no noise....

[strudel]

You can still be a petrol head and like EVs. There are crap EVs as well as good ones!

To dismiss something solely on noise is a little petulant though. To dismiss petrol cars purely on pollution is also the same.

[liner33]

MikeGoodwin said:

Is it a bad time to be a petrol head? All these drag races have Tesla fan boys wking themselves to death spouting st like 'petrol engines are dead, oh but you cant do more than 60mph on a road anyway, who would want a petrol engine to pollute the atmosphere and stuff when you can have an EV that costs nothing to run....

Really hope Im not some disnosaur that doesnt like EVs based only on the fact they make no noise....

Anyone who is any kind of motoring enthusiast could not fail to be impressed by driving a Tesla P85D they are astonishing pieces of kit , although still just as inherently flawed as ICE vehicles

[ukshooter]

I consider myself a petrol head with a Morgan Aero 8 GTN, a Lancia Flavia Vignale, a Ferrari QV Cabriolet and a Tesla S85.

I love the simplicity of driving the Tesla (day to day driving there isn't really a lot to choose between all the Tesla variants) Insane Mode, Ludicrous Mode and to come, Plaid Mode are all great fun for a bit of drag racing from the lights but the real everyday useability is the mid range which has less of a difference.

The Aero (has the prepped Alpina 4.6 V8 inside) is lightning quick, fantastic sound and great fun to drive. It is a race car, the Tesla is a fast saloon that doesn't cost anything to run.

In an ideal world, everyone needs a V8 and a Tesla :-)

If the world said only one car allowed, it would be a very difficult choice between the Aero and the Lancia even though the Lancia is a flat 4.

I'd get my EV fix by renting from time to time.

[LordFlathead]

Great comparison and car collection - best of both worlds