Tesla at Helmingham today - awesome
Discussion
Just got back from a very wet afternoon at Helmingham classic and sports car show.
Highlight for me was that a chap from Tesla had brought the roadster to the show. For those that don't know Helmingham, part of the show is when a selection of cars drive down the (long) driveway, usually giving it some beans :-). The Tesla was one of these cars, and I have to say it really did shift - and in total silence!! Spooky, and deeply impressive...
Not only that, but the car looks great too.
Chatted a bit to the bloke, he reckons it will be launched in Europe next year but LHD only, and around 99K Euros, so very expensive :-(.
Still gets my 'best car of the show' vote....
Other highlights of the show:
- Citroen SM, unfortunately was leaving just as I arrived but looked fantastic.
- 3 DeLoreans all in a row!! Where else could you see that??
- So many Ferraris it got a bit boring - but some of them sounded awesome as they blasted down the drive (a couple were clearly driven by very competent drivers - lots of wheelspin, but kept nicely under control - the sort of behaviour that should be thoroughly commended IMO)
- TVR Tuscan 2. Not seen one of these up close before - stunning car, I want one - it was a 2006 so one of the last cars TVR built, and the build quality was amazing. Much better finished than my 04 TVR T350 (which was OK). They had really sorted things out by then it seems, but sadly too late. The owner had had the car from new, done around 20K miles in it and not had a single problem.
- Exceptionally good cakes at the Crepe stand (4 for a fiver, bargain)
Despite the awful weather, the selection at the show was better than ever. I think this is becoming one of the key classic and sports car events of the year in the UK, and only 4 miles from my house as well - perfect :-) If you've never been, then I thoroughly recommend it - a great day out in spectacular surroundings.
Cheers,
Jerry
PS no Europas there (unfortunately I had to take the Espace), thus confirming just how exclusive they are :-)
Highlight for me was that a chap from Tesla had brought the roadster to the show. For those that don't know Helmingham, part of the show is when a selection of cars drive down the (long) driveway, usually giving it some beans :-). The Tesla was one of these cars, and I have to say it really did shift - and in total silence!! Spooky, and deeply impressive...
Not only that, but the car looks great too.
Chatted a bit to the bloke, he reckons it will be launched in Europe next year but LHD only, and around 99K Euros, so very expensive :-(.
Still gets my 'best car of the show' vote....
Other highlights of the show:
- Citroen SM, unfortunately was leaving just as I arrived but looked fantastic.
- 3 DeLoreans all in a row!! Where else could you see that??
- So many Ferraris it got a bit boring - but some of them sounded awesome as they blasted down the drive (a couple were clearly driven by very competent drivers - lots of wheelspin, but kept nicely under control - the sort of behaviour that should be thoroughly commended IMO)
- TVR Tuscan 2. Not seen one of these up close before - stunning car, I want one - it was a 2006 so one of the last cars TVR built, and the build quality was amazing. Much better finished than my 04 TVR T350 (which was OK). They had really sorted things out by then it seems, but sadly too late. The owner had had the car from new, done around 20K miles in it and not had a single problem.
- Exceptionally good cakes at the Crepe stand (4 for a fiver, bargain)
Despite the awful weather, the selection at the show was better than ever. I think this is becoming one of the key classic and sports car events of the year in the UK, and only 4 miles from my house as well - perfect :-) If you've never been, then I thoroughly recommend it - a great day out in spectacular surroundings.
Cheers,
Jerry
PS no Europas there (unfortunately I had to take the Espace), thus confirming just how exclusive they are :-)
Scuffers said:
jerrytlr said:
Chatted a bit to the bloke, he reckons it will be launched in Europe next year but LHD only, and around 99K Euros, so very expensive :-(.
that's some £78K!!!!!you would have to be very committed to pay that kind of cash for one....
kambites said:
Scuffers said:
jerrytlr said:
Chatted a bit to the bloke, he reckons it will be launched in Europe next year but LHD only, and around 99K Euros, so very expensive :-(.
that's some £78K!!!!!you would have to be very committed to pay that kind of cash for one....
be intersting to know how many KW/h it takes to charger one up against how far you can go, with the price of electricity soaring, my guess is that the cost will be significant (and how far off the cost of petrol/dismal?)
Edited by Scuffers on Monday 4th August 09:09
Scuffers said:
kambites said:
Scuffers said:
jerrytlr said:
Chatted a bit to the bloke, he reckons it will be launched in Europe next year but LHD only, and around 99K Euros, so very expensive :-(.
that's some £78K!!!!!you would have to be very committed to pay that kind of cash for one....
be intersting to know how many KW/h it takes to charger one up against how far you can go, with the price of electricity soaring, my guess is that the cost will be significant (and how far off the cost of petrol/dismal?)
Edited by Scuffers on Monday 4th August 09:09
Edited by kambites on Monday 4th August 09:17
[quote=jerrytlr]Just got back from a very wet afternoon at Helmingham classic and sports car show.
Highlight for me was that a chap from Tesla had brought the roadster to the show. For those that don't know Helmingham, part of the show is when a selection of cars drive down the (long) driveway, usually giving it some beans :-). The Tesla was one of these cars, and I have to say it really did shift - and in total silence!! Spooky, and deeply impressive...
Not only that, but the car looks great too.
Chatted a bit to the bloke, he reckons it will be launched in Europe next year but LHD only, and around 99K Euros, so very expensive :-(.
Still gets my 'best car of the show' vote....
Hi, Glad you liked the car. It was great to have the chance to blast down the driveway. Couldn't get all the power down because it was pretty slippery (as the Ferrari guys ably demonstrated later!). It was great to have a chat with all the interested people and gives me a bit of a chance to try and explain a bit more about the car.
I don't want to get in a protracted discussion but I'd just like to answer a few of the later comments about the price. The technology in the car is very new and very expensive to develop and because it is, at present, very low volume Tesla can't hit the price breaks that high volume car manufacturers can get when buying components and parts. Its like when the PlayStation3 is launched at £450 but within a year is £300.....the more you can sell, the lower the cost becomes to produce and they start to recover some of their development costs.
If you weigh up the price you pay for the performance you get it helps ease the cost of the car. The sense of acceleration is really something else (having driven 340R, 240R, Exige S, Exige, Elise, Europa, Esprit as comparison) and feels quite different to other performance cars I've driven (Ferrari, TVR, Jaguar, Audi). I'm sure that in time, when Tesla are able to produce cars in greater volume you won't be paying anything like that sort of price.
Hey, I'm no eco warrior or tree hugger.....Even my Landrover has a V8 in it!
Yes, obviously, this car is going to appeal to a certain group of performance enthusiasts and probably the techie types who want the latest technology. But, as one very enthusiastic Ferrari 430 owner said...."I think it's (the Tesla) bloody great and I reckon that's the way it's going with petrol at the price it is". Well, that's his opinion, not mine, but all I know is that just because it is electric doesn't mean it can't be a real blast! Trust me!.
These views are purely my own and do not represent the views of Tesla.
Highlight for me was that a chap from Tesla had brought the roadster to the show. For those that don't know Helmingham, part of the show is when a selection of cars drive down the (long) driveway, usually giving it some beans :-). The Tesla was one of these cars, and I have to say it really did shift - and in total silence!! Spooky, and deeply impressive...
Not only that, but the car looks great too.
Chatted a bit to the bloke, he reckons it will be launched in Europe next year but LHD only, and around 99K Euros, so very expensive :-(.
Still gets my 'best car of the show' vote....
Hi, Glad you liked the car. It was great to have the chance to blast down the driveway. Couldn't get all the power down because it was pretty slippery (as the Ferrari guys ably demonstrated later!). It was great to have a chat with all the interested people and gives me a bit of a chance to try and explain a bit more about the car.
I don't want to get in a protracted discussion but I'd just like to answer a few of the later comments about the price. The technology in the car is very new and very expensive to develop and because it is, at present, very low volume Tesla can't hit the price breaks that high volume car manufacturers can get when buying components and parts. Its like when the PlayStation3 is launched at £450 but within a year is £300.....the more you can sell, the lower the cost becomes to produce and they start to recover some of their development costs.
If you weigh up the price you pay for the performance you get it helps ease the cost of the car. The sense of acceleration is really something else (having driven 340R, 240R, Exige S, Exige, Elise, Europa, Esprit as comparison) and feels quite different to other performance cars I've driven (Ferrari, TVR, Jaguar, Audi). I'm sure that in time, when Tesla are able to produce cars in greater volume you won't be paying anything like that sort of price.
Hey, I'm no eco warrior or tree hugger.....Even my Landrover has a V8 in it!
Yes, obviously, this car is going to appeal to a certain group of performance enthusiasts and probably the techie types who want the latest technology. But, as one very enthusiastic Ferrari 430 owner said...."I think it's (the Tesla) bloody great and I reckon that's the way it's going with petrol at the price it is". Well, that's his opinion, not mine, but all I know is that just because it is electric doesn't mean it can't be a real blast! Trust me!.
These views are purely my own and do not represent the views of Tesla.
I had a chance to drive the Tesla a few weeks ago.
It is deeply impressive to drive and extrememy fast..you just put your foot down and whoosh!
It sounds a bit like an airplane turbine behind your head but much quieter, the other impressive thing is the regenarative breaking. Take your foot off the gas pedal and the car will slow as if your in a low gear with a normal engine.
My tuppence worth, I have no connection to Lotus or Tesla save to say I drive an Exige S.
It is deeply impressive to drive and extrememy fast..you just put your foot down and whoosh!
It sounds a bit like an airplane turbine behind your head but much quieter, the other impressive thing is the regenarative breaking. Take your foot off the gas pedal and the car will slow as if your in a low gear with a normal engine.
My tuppence worth, I have no connection to Lotus or Tesla save to say I drive an Exige S.
Whilst the Tesla is an interesting exercise in pushing the technology one step closer to mass-market reality, I'm afraid I can only say that I hope I never see the day when electric sportscars are "the way forwards". I appreciate that the instant torque that an electric motor can muster must provide superb accelleration, but personally I'd far rather have a lightweight car with a small, economical, high-revving V6/V8 that incorporates stop-start technology and regenerative power for the electrics, than a pure plug-in-and-play, silent machine with no soul.
I've always driven 'by ear', and I hope I do for many years to come.
I've always driven 'by ear', and I hope I do for many years to come.
I just love the fact that the dude who owns the car in the oriinal post ends up replying.
I swear there must be tons of people who read but never post to these forums.
Welcome. Seriously, most people here would love to hear about your experiences with the Tesla.
What's the range like if you're blatting it everywhere?????
I swear there must be tons of people who read but never post to these forums.
Welcome. Seriously, most people here would love to hear about your experiences with the Tesla.
What's the range like if you're blatting it everywhere?????
S Works said:
Whilst the Tesla is an interesting exercise in pushing the technology one step closer to mass-market reality, I'm afraid I can only say that I hope I never see the day when electric sportscars are "the way forwards". I appreciate that the instant torque that an electric motor can muster must provide superb accelleration, but personally I'd far rather have a lightweight car with a small, economical, high-revving V6/V8 that incorporates stop-start technology and regenerative power for the electrics, than a pure plug-in-and-play, silent machine with no soul.
I've always driven 'by ear', and I hope I do for many years to come.
An ICE car only has soul because we condition ourselves to respond to certain aspects of it. TBH a diesel A4 for example has very little soul - it's a dull box that gets you from A to B. I can't wait for the next generation of electric cars - you don't need to drive them by ear anyway, it's not as if you have a range of gears to shift through (or for that matter silly flat spots in the torque/power curve). Look at all the beardies at Steam Rallies - most of them feel that oil-fuelled engines are dull.I've always driven 'by ear', and I hope I do for many years to come.
As for the current generation (if you'll pardon the double pun
), I'd have a Smart EV tomorrow for scooting round town and would love to have a Tesla (if only they weren't £75K....).S Works said:
Whilst the Tesla is an interesting exercise in pushing the technology one step closer to mass-market reality, I'm afraid I can only say that I hope I never see the day when electric sportscars are "the way forwards". I appreciate that the instant torque that an electric motor can muster must provide superb accelleration, but personally I'd far rather have a lightweight car with a small, economical, high-revving V6/V8 that incorporates stop-start technology and regenerative power for the electrics, than a pure plug-in-and-play, silent machine with no soul.
I've always driven 'by ear', and I hope I do for many years to come.
I agree with your sentiments about driving 'by ear'. However, I will disagree about it having no soul. I will be honest and say that, yes, it does lack a certain amount of aural drama when you drive it, as there is nothing quite like coming out of a tight corner in an Exige S and shifting through the gears as the supecharger whines in your ear (oh, those were the days!) But I am willing to overcome many years of preconditioning of needing a soundtrack, to experience momentous amounts of accelerarion like this car offers. (not to say you can't get the same from other sportscars). It's not a case of wrong or right just different.I've always driven 'by ear', and I hope I do for many years to come.
Look, we all get a kick from different things. Otherwise we'd all be driving the same cars and that would be....well, rubbish! So some are going to love it (techies who want gadgets!, eco-conscious car fans etc etc), some are going to hate it ("I've got petrol in me veins me, you'd never get me in some electric car") but just like some people never thought there would be performance diesel cars (ladies and gentlemen I give you the R8 TDi...) the car market is an ever changing thing. I personally do not want to stand around preaching that "some day all cars will be made this way" because they WON'T (and I bloody hope not too!) BUT this is definitely a part of the future and as many people have told me at least they are glad there will be scope for superb performance in the electric car world.
I've driven all sorts of stuff that gave me a kick in different ways but this car is serious fun and that is what most of us want from a sportscar. I grin every time I go wide open throttle in one of these things. Yes, I know, I can't just stop off and fill up every time I want to carry on the fun but then I can't take a Maybach across a ploughed field or take a LR Defender round a racetrack at speed......it's horses for courses. If Tesla sold it as "the only car you'll ever need" then you'd be free to shoot them down.
Oh, and one more point, to the person that said they have driven a Tesla.....that would most probably have been one of the first powertrains that was running lower power and a higher ratio gear (what colour was it?). The one at Helmingham was running the new powertrain and is CONSIDERABLY quicker. If you loved the old one then the new one will blow you away!
Kevin, TeslaBloke... I respect your opinions, but I'll never agree with them.
Nothing that an electric car will do for me will ever replace the feeling and soul that I as a car enthusiast, classic and modern, get from the sound of an internal combustion engine. It's inherent in everything I love about cars.
Imagine if you will the spectacle of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, cars firing up in the paddock, trundling down to the start line, pausing before the crowd in front of the house, drivers waving, before blasting off up the hill, or imagine the grid of the British Grand Prix as the lights come on ready for the off...
Now imagine it in total silence.
Nothing that an electric car will do for me will ever replace the feeling and soul that I as a car enthusiast, classic and modern, get from the sound of an internal combustion engine. It's inherent in everything I love about cars.
Imagine if you will the spectacle of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, cars firing up in the paddock, trundling down to the start line, pausing before the crowd in front of the house, drivers waving, before blasting off up the hill, or imagine the grid of the British Grand Prix as the lights come on ready for the off...
Now imagine it in total silence.
S Works said:
Kevin, TeslaBloke... I respect your opinions, but I'll never agree with them.
Nothing that an electric car will do for me will ever replace the feeling and soul that I as a car enthusiast, classic and modern, get from the sound of an internal combustion engine. It's inherent in everything I love about cars.
Imagine if you will the spectacle of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, cars firing up in the paddock, trundling down to the start line, pausing before the crowd in front of the house, drivers waving, before blasting off up the hill, or imagine the grid of the British Grand Prix as the lights come on ready for the off...
Now imagine it in total silence.
Horses for courses - for me, the silence of the Tesla was every bit as exciting as the noise of the Ferarris blasting down the drive at Helmingham - just like at Le Mans the TDis 'whooshing' past was as exciting as the Astons...Nothing that an electric car will do for me will ever replace the feeling and soul that I as a car enthusiast, classic and modern, get from the sound of an internal combustion engine. It's inherent in everything I love about cars.
Imagine if you will the spectacle of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, cars firing up in the paddock, trundling down to the start line, pausing before the crowd in front of the house, drivers waving, before blasting off up the hill, or imagine the grid of the British Grand Prix as the lights come on ready for the off...
Now imagine it in total silence.
As the OP of this thread, I do think it should be made clear (for those who haven't guessed) that the chap with the Tesla does work for Tesla. [I think it is great that you found the thread and even better that you took the trouble to reply!]
And for what it's worth, I think pitching the car at £99K Euros is an excellent strategy. It will appeal initially to high profile individuals for whom the asking price really isn't an issue. I hope Tesla will sell a good number that way, and re-invest the profit to figure out how to make an even faster version for £50K Euros :-)
Thanks for bringing the car to Helmingham, I am sure a lot of people appreciated it.
Cheers
Jerry
Mclovin said:
Lotus makes most of it and the US gets it for £50,000, we get it for nearly double when it eventually comes; where is the justice in that.
to be fair to them, you any idea how much 18650 Li-ion cells cost? and they use some 6800 of them - some 450Kg's of battery pack, then the control system and motor itself have to be found. Personally, for Lotus to get £50K for the rolling chassis and body I would suggest is where the profit is (and well done to Lotus to getting this).I love the sound of a good (sports) car. I dont see that the entire "soul" of a car is based around the sound. That is just rubbish.
The Elise has had many different power plants a none of those has changed the character of the elise into something you would have difficulty falling in love with.
The bottom line is the tesla is an elise with a different power source. What is there not to love? The quoted performance of the tesla is enough to make you stop and think about the necessity of the sound track.
The Elise has had many different power plants a none of those has changed the character of the elise into something you would have difficulty falling in love with.
The bottom line is the tesla is an elise with a different power source. What is there not to love? The quoted performance of the tesla is enough to make you stop and think about the necessity of the sound track.
TheTeslaBloke said:
S Works said:
Whilst the Tesla is an interesting exercise in pushing the technology one step closer to mass-market reality, I'm afraid I can only say that I hope I never see the day when electric sportscars are "the way forwards". I appreciate that the instant torque that an electric motor can muster must provide superb accelleration, but personally I'd far rather have a lightweight car with a small, economical, high-revving V6/V8 that incorporates stop-start technology and regenerative power for the electrics, than a pure plug-in-and-play, silent machine with no soul.
I've always driven 'by ear', and I hope I do for many years to come.
I agree with your sentiments about driving 'by ear'. However, I will disagree about it having no soul. I will be honest and say that, yes, it does lack a certain amount of aural drama when you drive it, as there is nothing quite like coming out of a tight corner in an Exige S and shifting through the gears as the supecharger whines in your ear (oh, those were the days!) But I am willing to overcome many years of preconditioning of needing a soundtrack, to experience momentous amounts of accelerarion like this car offers. (not to say you can't get the same from other sportscars). It's not a case of wrong or right just different.I've always driven 'by ear', and I hope I do for many years to come.
Look, we all get a kick from different things. Otherwise we'd all be driving the same cars and that would be....well, rubbish! So some are going to love it (techies who want gadgets!, eco-conscious car fans etc etc), some are going to hate it ("I've got petrol in me veins me, you'd never get me in some electric car") but just like some people never thought there would be performance diesel cars (ladies and gentlemen I give you the R8 TDi...) the car market is an ever changing thing. I personally do not want to stand around preaching that "some day all cars will be made this way" because they WON'T (and I bloody hope not too!) BUT this is definitely a part of the future and as many people have told me at least they are glad there will be scope for superb performance in the electric car world.
I've driven all sorts of stuff that gave me a kick in different ways but this car is serious fun and that is what most of us want from a sportscar. I grin every time I go wide open throttle in one of these things. Yes, I know, I can't just stop off and fill up every time I want to carry on the fun but then I can't take a Maybach across a ploughed field or take a LR Defender round a racetrack at speed......it's horses for courses. If Tesla sold it as "the only car you'll ever need" then you'd be free to shoot them down.
Oh, and one more point, to the person that said they have driven a Tesla.....that would most probably have been one of the first powertrains that was running lower power and a higher ratio gear (what colour was it?). The one at Helmingham was running the new powertrain and is CONSIDERABLY quicker. If you loved the old one then the new one will blow you away!
Another point on the sound thing - after years of going to races, it can actually get rather annoying to have your eardrums ripped apart and for the really loud stuff (F1, A1 etc) you'd be mad not to wear earplugs so is it really such a good thing? Interestingly I spent most of Goodwood with a set of headphones on that removed most of the noise - it didn't ruin the experience for me. It also means most racetracks have a future in the current climate, where noise control gets ever stricter.
And besides, some people tell me a 4-pot can never sound good - well they're increasingly becoming the future of the internal combustion engine.
Edited by kevin ritson on Tuesday 5th August 09:28
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