Brakes

[kevincwelch]

Did anyone slam on the brakes during the test drive? How was the stopping power?

 

[AnOutsider]

I didn't do an extremely hard stop, but found the regen and braking both to be adequate

 

[MikeK]

If you check out the videos that people posted in the Fremont test drive thread, there were at least a couple who slammed on the brakes. I believe the one where they drove Elon's car was among them. The drivers seemed to indicate that it stopped very effectively.

 

[brianman]

The drivers seemed to indicate that it stopped very effectively.

And the passengers. /chuckle

 

[Doug_G]

Yeah, I slammed the brakes in Elon's car - after warning the passengers (see video). I hit it hard enough to trigger the ABS. It stopped quite quickly, and did not "feel" heavy. I also did a brief hard brake at 80 mph, no problem.

I think the low center of gravity helps with the braking - it reduces the weight transfer, which means the rear wheels are helping more than they would on most cars.

 

[Trnsl8r]

Here you go, from the Fremont event:

Go to the 3:00 minute mark and you'll see me slamming the breaks from about 40-45 mph or so. I was really impressed.

 

[Larry Chanin]

Did anyone slam on the brakes during the test drive? How was the stopping power?

Hi Kevin,

While driving at Fremont I didn't realize we were coming into a sharp right hand turn when coming off the straight away at high speed. I hit the brakes very hard!! They worked beautifully with no fade.

Larry

 

[capt601]

I rode with someone on a second trip who really got on the brakes hard after the "police" straightaway yesterday. They really were impressive. No lockup or antiskid cycle even with how hard he was on them. Here is the earlier video I posted. It is at the end of the run. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74eQ6JGUkCQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[Zextraterrestrial]

I slammed the brakes from about 105-110mph with 5 people in the car ....AWESOME!!!!!
I did get a tiny shimmy that felt super controllable but I didn't try swerving. So the ABS was definitely kicked in
that was on the way back in at the Factory. so it was legal and my copilot seemed fine with it
Braking from 35mph was practically instant

 

[Lloyd]

I stopped hard from 100 mph. It did fine, but I could tell the brakes were warm after. I would have liked to do a second stop from 100 to further judge fade.

 

[ddruz]

I spoke with George B. before my test drive at LA and he told me how much fun it was to floor the car then slam on the brakes along the straight away at the beginning and end of the circuit. So I did exactly that three times, once at the beginning and twice at the end. I concur that the brakes grabbed fabulously and the ABS did a great job. My copilot was astonished and all my guest's belonging got thrown forward all around the car. I told him George told me to try it. George was right, it was fun!

 

[kevincwelch]

Awesome.
Thanks for all the great responses.

 

[dtich]

yep. couldn't lock it up, i stood on em at the end of the straightaway.. felt really really solid. a quick, smooth decel just like you want, no lunge or swerve. the car was immediately just so comfortable to drive. very safe feeling on all fronts.

really wanted to feel what the car did with the dynamic stability program off, but my tesla co-pilot wouldn't let me. she almost jumped out of her seat when i pressed the button to bypass it (has a confirm step)! lol. she was great though.