Picking Up Carl's New Tesla

NOTE: We drove a LOTUS to PICK UP a TESLA. Lots of folks are complaining that this isn't a Tesla. Duh! Read the description and *actually* watch the video!

On April 20th, 2009, my friend Carl picked up his Tesla Roadster. He's been waiting for nearly 2 years for it to be completed. It's hard to imagine waiting that long for a car... so here it is! It is truly beautiful - silent and deadly. We drove to the dealer in my Lotus with the in-car camera on, then I followed him back to work and stitched this little video tribute of the day for posterity.

The pictures from the trip are up on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joenuxoll/sets/72157617107562108/

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Tesla

[jewlzorjay]

@jnuxoll

What the car like to live with? i know its a friends car, but is it literally like buying a toy or does it have some level or practicality?

[jnuxoll]

@jewlzorjay actually, it's his very comfortable daily driver. My Lotus is a bit too much of a race car now for street use (all mod'd and stiff). The Tesla is pretty awesome, as long as you only have 2 people to tote around. The charge lasts about 200-300 miles, so he pretty much has no issues. The only drawback is the extra complication for long trips - meaning you have to stop and charge (which can take several hours on a regular plug) every 300 miles. In town, it's perfect.

[againat5]

I would of kept the LOTUS instead.

[jnuxoll]

@againat5 separate owners. I own the Lotus, and my friend got a Tesla. :-)

[superglidedyna]

Turned into the Hulk at 6:31. Must have got mad.

[siik138]

I cannot believe how many people don't read video descriptions.

[vash241987]

Did the dealer give him some sort of charging unit for his telsa?

[FruityLoopsas]

I WANT TESLA :DDDDDD NOWWWWW :D

[jewlzorjay]

@jnuxoll

I'm glad to hear that, i'm a person that thinks electric is the future, hopefully this is one of thoes walkman to MP3 player things.

For the record i hear that there will be some fast charges capable of 80% charges in 20 minutes, i even heard that there might be one that can do 70% in 5 minutes. You know if Tesla are doing anything about this?

Also does the car draing quicker in the heat, and does i create a lot of heat making you hot when you drive?

I want one

[againat5]

@jnuxoll then awesome. If u own it then u must love it. I drove that car once and its nothing but pure performance. Who cares about that small engine the feel of that car is nothing to most sports cars. Also how do you get in easy its a bit of a squeeze at first.

[jnuxoll]

@jewlzorjay for the record, a Tesla Roadster arrives in California at the Tesla final assembly facility as a complete rolling chassis with no gearbox or engine - FROM Lotus. Tesla then installs their engine, batteries, and electronics. It really is a Lotus with Tesla running gear. It's *based* on an Elise chassis - but is modified a bit (longer, etc) to accommodate the Tesla guts it receives state-side.

[jewlzorjay]

@STOUTYCTR I swear Lotus helped with Chassi and body styling which was based somewhat on the Elise? i'm no car exspert but i remember them saying that on top gear.