Honk...?

[PopSmith]

When I test drove the Roadster I hit the horn after Ben explained how it worked. I'm pretty jumpy by nature and the loudness of the horn made me practically jump out of the car! It's definitely louder than I expected.

I'd be very concerned in a Roadster with all the trucks and SUVs around my area. They'd probably end up on top of the Roadster before they knew what the honking was about.

 

[zack]

I'm from Minnesota and every other car is a big SUV. They're constantly coming into my lane on the freeway... I have to drive very defensively and stay away from big cars.

 

[S-2000 Roadster]

Meanwhile, I seem to be having the opposite problem. I swear that I cut off at least two different people my first week of driving my new roadster. Strangely enough, nobody ever honked at me! It's possible that I really didn't cut anyone off, and these two situations were just a car coming "out of nowhere" in the lane behind me almost immediately after I changed lanes. Whatever the case, I'm doubly careful about changing lanes now, especially considering the huge blind spot.

 

[smorgasbord]

The advice given to me on my test drive was to accelerate into lane change openings.

Because no-one else can out-accelerate you into them.

 

[Doug_G]

Get the multivex mirrors; they pretty much eliminate the blind spots.

 

[scott451]

Get the multivex mirrors; they pretty much eliminate the blind spots.

I bought the multivex mirrors but never installed them because I didn't like the tape installation method. I found that if I adjusted the driver side mirror such that I couldn't see the side of my car, the blind spot was eliminated. How did you install your multivex mirrors?

 

[Doug_G]

How did you install your multivex mirrors?

I peeled off the goofy tape and used RTV to attach them. I did a thin bead around three sides, leaving the bottom open in case water gets in there. Held it in place with masking tape overnight while it cured.

I learned to use RTV on glass from a friend, who has a company that makes telescope optics. They routinely hold high-quality mirrors up to 8 inches diameter and 2 inches thick in place with a few small buttons of RTV. Done properly it doesn't distort the incredibly high-accuracy glass, yet it holds forever. And you can remove the glass by cutting the RTV with a razor blade.

 

[vfx]

I bought the multivex mirrors but never installed them because I didn't like the tape installation method. I found that if I adjusted the driver side mirror such that I couldn't see the side of my car, the blind spot was eliminated. How did you install your multivex mirrors?

When adjusted properly I don't have any blindspot issues. Would second Doug's RTV endorsement for this application. I also love Shoe Goo.

 

[tennis_trs]

When adjusted properly I don't have any blindspot issues...

Same here.
I had expected that there would be significant issues before I got used to driving my Roadster, but the visibility isn't significantly worse than on any of the several other roadsters I've owned.

 

[Ben W]

A taxi reversed into me in a traffic queue yesterday. I was stationary when I saw the reversing lights come on. I did manage to find the horn and was frantically hooting away as the taxi drove serenely back onto and up the front of my car.

Afterwards she said she just didn't see me and thought the car behind me was the closest vehicle. She seems not to have heard me using the horn.

Luckily the damage is very very slight as far as I can see. Question: it looks like superficial paint damage only, but how do you assess the possibility that there is underlying carbon fibre or structural damage? Nearest Tesla Store is 500 miles away.

Just had something happen very similar today. In a line of backed-up cars behind a parallel parking spot, and the car ahead of me (a mid-size sedan) started backing up. There was a car behind me, so I was stuck. I leaned on the horn, for what felt like several seconds, but the driver continued backing up until he tapped my front bumper. He claimed he never saw or heard my car.

Fortunately there was no visible damage, just a few mild scratches on the plastic paint guard film. But I would certainly be interested in a louder aftermarket horn, if any of you have any experience installing one into the Roadster. (I know Ian's done it, but the point is to do it for less than the price of a whole new front bumper!

 

[Dragon]

The horn is loud enough. If they tell you they didn't hear, either they lie or they were too distracted to hear it.

 

[Ben W]

The horn is loud enough. If they tell you they didn't hear, either they lie or they were too distracted to hear it.

Right -- that's why I need a horn that's loud enough to get the attention of even distracted people. (Because, if they're not distracted, I don't need the horn in the first place.)

 

[Dragon]

Right -- that's why I need a horn that's loud enough to get the attention of even distracted people. (Because, if they're not distracted, I don't need the horn in the first place.)

Maybe you scare them and they hit the gas pedal even stronger. :scared: :biggrin:

 

[Ben W]

Maybe you scare them and they hit the gas pedal even stronger. :scared: :biggrin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SihGyVAhOsY

 

[DrTaras]

I know Ian's done it, but the point is to do it for less than the price of a whole new front bumper!

Hey, hey... I think that add on was $200! :cursing:
How much did those carbon fiber fins set you back? :tongue:

 

[DaveD]

Hey, hey... I think that add on was $200!

Care to share details about it?

 

[Ben W]

Hey, hey... I think that add on was $200! :cursing:
How much did those carbon fiber fins set you back? :tongue:

$200 sounds well worth it. (literally.) Al & Ed's?

And admittedly, that fin investment stayed underwater for quite a long time. :biggrin:

 

[bonnie]

I peeled off the goofy tape and used RTV to attach them. I did a thin bead around three sides, leaving the bottom open in case water gets in there. Held it in place with masking tape overnight while it cured.

I learned to use RTV on glass from a friend, who has a company that makes telescope optics. They routinely hold high-quality mirrors up to 8 inches diameter and 2 inches thick in place with a few small buttons of RTV. Done properly it doesn't distort the incredibly high-accuracy glass, yet it holds forever. And you can remove the glass by cutting the RTV with a razor blade.

that's exactly what I did. The multivex mirrors have pretty much eliminated any blind spot - but I also accelerate into a lane change, like Smorgasbord.

Now if only I could get other drivers to eliminate THEIR blind spots ...

 

[DrTaras]

$200 sounds well worth it. (literally.) Al & Ed's?

West Hollywood but I still say, for you, the simple upgraded Tesla horn will suit your needs better

And admittedly, that fin investment stayed underwater for quite a long time. :biggrin: