Tesla moments

[heidiola]

Our son is learning to drive (not yet allowed to drive our S) and while he was driving us home from a family camping trip in the Leaf, I was reading aloud some of posts in this forum. We discussed the joys and perils of driving and then had the perfect demonstration of what we expect: on the other side of the street was a pretty new S stopped at a light with a newer BMW right next to it. Frisky BMW wanted to play & took off at the green. Tesla driver didn't take the bait; she accelerated smoothly and kept it at the speed limit. (Was probably smiling to herself about what she *could* do if she had really wanted to; I know I do!)

Message to son: just because you can dust someone, doesn't mean you do it. Knowing what you and your tools are capable of is not the same as showing off. And when it comes down to it, the Leaf (when not in ECO mode) could surprise people off the line...but we're not going to advertise it on a public street.

If he builds his skills and hones his reaction times and eventually wants to do performance driving, we can talk about safer options....

 

[shellderp]

Our son is learning to drive (not yet allowed to drive our S) and while he was driving us home from a family camping trip in the Leaf, I was reading aloud some of posts in this forum. We discussed the joys and perils of driving and then had the perfect demonstration of what we expect: on the other side of the street was a pretty new S stopped at a light with a newer BMW right next to it. Frisky BMW wanted to play & took off at the green. Tesla driver didn't take the bait; she accelerated smoothly and kept it at the speed limit. (Was probably smiling to herself about what she *could* do if she had really wanted to; I know I do!)

Message to son: just because you can dust someone, doesn't mean you do it. Knowing what you and your tools are capable of is not the same as showing off. And when it comes down to it, the Leaf (when not in ECO mode) could surprise people off the line...but we're not going to advertise it on a public street.

If he builds his skills and hones his reaction times and eventually wants to do performance driving, we can talk about safer options....

Suite yourself, I'll smoke that bmw any day

 

[Saghost]

Suite yourself, I'll smoke that bmw any day

I'm with heidiola. I know full well that I now have the power to outrun anyone except a supercar or highly modded turbo car, and I have no need to prove it to anyone.

Unless, of course, I need their lane for some reason...

 

[RogerHScott]

Message to son: just because you can dust someone, doesn't mean you do it. Knowing what you and your tools are capable of is not the same as showing off. And when it comes down to it, the Leaf (when not in ECO mode) could surprise people off the line...but we're not going to advertise it on a public street.

Reminds me of one of my favorite sayings: civilization is knowing the difference between what is possible and what is desirable.

 

[DavidB]

There have been many mature and considered posts lately, and I applaud you (plural) for your wisdom.

 

[icefree]

Well, with all the smart and mature posts above...I'll switch it up a bit...

I was driving back from Atlanta yesterday and I stopped in the Virginia Welcome center rest stop to use the facilities. I get back to my car and I'm getting ready to back up and head out to the highway and this guy (mid 20s?) and is dad tap on my window. I roll it down and he looks in at me and says "Can you launch this thing?" I parked near the end of the lot, so there weren't any cars between me and the highway, so I said "sure". I back it up a little further, and he's holding up his phone taking a video. I ask if he's ready, then I floor it and zip out of there at a fairly rapid pace (uh, but well below the speed limit of the parking lot, if any LEO is reading this). I look back and all I see is his jaw dropped, holding is phone, waving, as I left them behind.

Just doing my part to bring a little joy to the people!

 

[RogerHScott]

Just doing my part to bring a little joy to the people!

Or, as John Lennon said: "Power to the people. Power to the people, right on!"

 

[Hugh-SG]

SRT drivers are are THE MOST COMPETITIVE (and aggressive) bozos on the road, IME.
(That's in Australia, of course.)

No worries digger! Aggressive Idiots also exist up here in Canada. Stuff someone with a small brain and tiny ego into an over powered petrol guzzler and you have an accident waiting to happen tearing up the roads beyond where Burke and Wills would have ventured.

Err rooo mate! (Translation for readers in the US of eH! an Aussie form of catch you later pal)

 

[Hugh-SG]

Our son is learning to drive (not yet allowed to drive our S) and while he was driving us home from a family camping trip in the Leaf
...snip, snip....
If he builds his skills and hones his reaction times and eventually wants to do performance driving, we can talk about safer options....

Nice to see "responsible parenting" still exists in this world. Well done sir.

I do not have a Performance model, but I keep my "X" in Chill mode for 98% of my driving. I reserve "Standard" for those times I need Falcon like acceleration to join a fast moving stream on a busy day.

Again congrats on teaching your now not so young youngster (they do grow up too fast), on how to use an automobile responsibly .

 

[Dogen]

Nature’s almost got the logo right.

 

[Dogen]

Wife calls it “Mothla”.

 

[tga]

I'm visiting my parents in CT. My dad just got back from the local fish market. There was only 1 car in the lot, a white Model 3. He parked my parents' red S next to it and went inside to buy dinner.

Turns out the 3's owner was Franz's parents!

 

[brucet999]

I'm visiting my parents in CT. My dad just got back from the local fish market. There was only 1 car in the lot, a white Model 3. He parked my parents' red S next to it and went inside to buy dinner.

Turns out the 3's owner was Franz's parents!

Franz "of the wooden houses" parents? What a coincidence!

 

[tga]

Franz "of the wooden houses" parents? What a coincidence!

I don't get the reference? Franz as in Franz von Holzhausen.

 

[mongo]

I don't get the reference? Franz as in Franz von Holzhausen.

Holz hausen in German means wood houses.

 

[tga]

Holz hausen in German means wood houses.

Oh, yeah. If I had thought for a minute instead of posting, I probably would have figured that out...

 

[bmah]

Every so often, even in the Tesla-land that is the SF Bay Area, I get a surprise. Just backed my Model S into a parking space at work, pulled my backpack and lunchbox out of the frunk like I do every day. I hear a guy yelling to me from across the parking lot, "Your car has a trunk in the front?!?" This started a 10 minute conversation about how much storage the Model S has, and how being electric leaves a bunch more interior space because there's no ICE, transmission, etc.

If any non-Tesla person asks me, I put my stuff in the frunk because it's easier to get to when I back into parking spaces, also it's marginally more secure (or at least more obscure) than the trunk. But another reason is to spark conversations like that.

Bruce.

 

[Electroman]

Hmm.. I have never even opened the frunk in my 3 years of driving Teslas. Not once, except when the sales guy showed me how to open and close when I picked it up.

 

[Brass Guy]

Hmm.. I have never even opened the frunk in my 3 years of driving Teslas. Not once, except when the sales guy showed me how to open and close when I picked it up.

I sure hope they didn't leave you a surprise package of brownies in there!

I use mine all the time. It's convenient when backing in, keeps smelly things away from the cabin, also keeps cooler when the car's in the sun.
Occasionally will still spark up a conversation too.

 

[kavyboy]

Hmm.. I have never even opened the frunk in my 3 years of driving Teslas. Not once, except when the sales guy showed me how to open and close when I picked it up.

I use it for stuff I want with me, but that I don't want in my way: Car cover (I attract hail storms), UMC on long trips, tire patch kit, pub glasses for local breweries, etc.