Anyone else bored with Tesla drivers 'racing' them? - Page 3 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

Hi folks, Wondered if this was just happening to me of late or anyone else... Yes we know Tesla's are quick off the mark, exceptionally so, but they lack character and need plugging in-they also don't possess a wonderful flat six sound track and instead have more in common with my fridge freezer. Back to my point, does anyone else have their driver's continually 'proving a point' off lights etc? Clearly everything comes back into its own when the road has a bend or two in it and there's not a load of power station-charged battery to lug around but it's fast becoming boring and tedious. Rant over but would be interested in hearing if anyone else has had similar experiences? Cheers.

Never Mostly they are conserving charge so taking it easy

Grant1979 said: Hi folks, Wondered if this was just happening to me of late or anyone else... Yes we know Tesla's are quick off the mark, exceptionally so, but they lack character and need plugging in-they also don't possess a wonderful flat six sound track and instead have more in common with my fridge freezer. Back to my point, does anyone else have their driver's continually 'proving a point' off lights etc? Clearly everything comes back into its own when the road has a bend or two in it and there's not a load of power station-charged battery to lug around but it's fast becoming boring and tedious. Rant over but would be interested in hearing if anyone else has had similar experiences? Cheers. Bless

Gary C said: Never Mostly they are conserving charge so taking it easy ^ this...

Only experience I had with a Tesla exercising it’s acceleration capability was off the A45 to join the A46 at Whitley, Coventry. I was in the left lane which filters off becoming 2 lanes and I was leaving a reasonable gap to the car in front and, my point of irritation nothing whatsoever behind me apart from a rapidly closing Tesla. Mr Tesla overtakes me and pulls in front of me, meaning I’d have to brake to reestablish the gap to the Tesla. I pull out and as I come alongside him, he floors it using his prodigious acceleration, closing the gap to the car in front preventing me doing to him what he did to me. Which wasn’t my intention as I continue, now in the right hand lane of the filter to the roundabout at the bottom and continue on my way. What a knob, couldn’t just join behind me, had to pass me, chop in and cut me up.

Most modern cars have lots of performance. In my locale the traffic lights are a scramble between Mercs, Audis and Tesla fanboys. Back in the day the yoof were driving around in Novas and Renault 5 turbos. Cheap finance changed all that - more premium, performance cars on the road accessible to practically anyone prepared to live on credit. Best leave ‘em to it and enjoy your own choice of motor.

It is a thing - but I tend to think, bless.

Umm I bought what I wanted , it does what I wanted it to , not bothered about other peoples cars so this has never crossed my mind

Done it once. There is something quite pleasant leaving a pair of neds in an S3, with only a faint hum and the Today programme as soundtrack.

I can't say I've had that problem. I have a bright green Porsche which isn't subtle and getting into races in town is just asking for trouble. So by and large I drive it slower round town than my Mondeo. Out of town on a good B road is where I open it up and I'nm yet to come across many Teslas in that environment. I passed one in a line of cars recently but they must have been happy sat at 50 as they had plenty opportunity to overtake and didn't. Fair enough. My Impreza was a pain for people wanting to race though. I didn't take people on as I value my licence and never felt I'd anything to prove, but Corsa VXRs revving beside you at traffic lights was tedious.

It takes two to tango. If it upsets you getting beaten by a washing machine at the lights, look the other way

they are as enjoyable to drive as switching on the dishwasher

YES...YES... YES. They don't seem to realise there's dragging and then there's actual 'driving'

The back of any modern sports car is fitted with a very powerful, although invisible, magnet. It attracts, Vans and pick-ups Motorcycles Cars painted black, especially with black wheels SUVs with chrome and tints Anything with an AMG badge Teslas

tracer.smart said: Most modern cars have lots of performance. In my locale the traffic lights are a scramble between Mercs, Audis and Tesla fanboys. Back in the day the yoof were driving around in Novas and Renault 5 turbos. Cheap finance changed all that - more premium, performance cars on the road accessible to practically anyone prepared to live on credit. Best leave ‘em to it and enjoy your own choice of motor. This. Not just Tesla's, but 1 or 3 series BM's, AMG-look-a-like A Classes, any Audi. They all do it. I just let them pass as I can't be bothered with it. Usually the Tesla lot are racing down the slip roads them sit at 60 once they've seen their range disappear.

it won't be long before everyone is basically comparing battery capacities at traffic lights, things will get carried away between manufactuerers super quickly as they push bigger power figures into their electric cars imo and a golf gti will have a mode for 500hp of electric power

CheesecakeRunner said: I have a Tesla. I nail it off traffic lights where safe to do so. I really don't care who is alongside me, I'm not having a race with people who don't know they're in a race. I do it because it's fun. It's also huge fun in the twisties as well.

CheesecakeRunner said: I have a Tesla. I nail it off traffic lights where safe to do so. I really don't care who is alongside me, I'm not having a race with people who don't know they're in a race. I do it because it's fun. It's also huge fun in the twisties as well. Sounds good too?

WCZ said: it won't be long before everyone is basically comparing battery capacities at traffic lights, things will get carried away between manufactuerers super quickly as they push bigger power figures into their electric cars imo and a golf gti will have a mode for 500hp of electric power No different to ICE vehicles really. 30 years ago you'd be hard pushed to imagine a Golf with 300bhp+, now everyone* has something equivalent. I think the "danger" will be when EV's become so commonplace that your average family car has huge amounts of torque on standby. At the moment if I catch up with someone plodding along at 40-50mph in a NSL I know my Focus ST has enough grunt to get quickly past, even if they're the sort of throbbing Road Captain who will try to speed up and prevent the overtake. In a few years time I might still have the power to get past but would end up at much higher speeds to do it. * ok, maybe not quite everyone, but it's not exactly unusual

CheesecakeRunner said: Yes, the stereo is awesome. Do you track it if it’s so good in twisted?

anonymous said: [redacted] Whoosh from the amazing sound system

Tesla...no. But did pee my pants at the idiot yoof who burnt me off at Sainsbury's lights with his ancient Golf diesel last Sunday morning. Late for Mass obvs

Have an X and yes leccy is the future .... but still like drive my old Manual 993 GT2 R , on track .... slow but old school fun .

Just let them get on with it and admire the amount of sheer skill and driver input required to blow you away from the lights!

For those who don’t think EV’s can be fun to drive, drive one before passing judgement. I’m not an EV owner or apologist and agree with the argument that they lack character but having driven a few, including an iPace and a Taycan, I had a lot of fun. Instant torque and a low centre of gravity make them very effective ‘point and squirters’. I am not going to trade my 992 for a Taycan but that’s only because I like the sound of a flat 6 not because the Taycan isn’t fun. The Tesla 3 gets excellent reviews for the way it drives (and it’s stereo!).

I got overtaken by a Nissan Leaf while driving my 992 the other week on a B road taking the kids to school!! I was amazed by their audacity as I wasn’t going that slow (55 ish) !! Does that count?

cervezaman said: I got overtaken by a Nissan Leaf while driving my 992 the other week on a B road taking the kids to school!! I was amazed by their audacity as I wasn’t going that slow (55 ish) !! Does that count? That's a Give Up And Sell The 992 moment, I'm afraid! You know that the driver was a parent of one of the kids at the school, too, so your kids will get constant abuse now!

NicG said: For those who don’t think EV’s can be fun to drive, drive one before passing judgement. I’m not an EV owner or apologist and agree with the argument that they lack character but having driven a few, including an iPace and a Taycan, I had a lot of fun. Instant torque and a low centre of gravity make them very effective ‘point and squirters’. I am not going to trade my 992 for a Taycan but that’s only because I like the sound of a flat 6 not because the Taycan isn’t fun. The Tesla 3 gets excellent reviews for the way it drives (and it’s stereo!). Well said

Never even given a second look at one to find out if they try. About as interested in a Tesla as I am a run of the mil Vauxhall corsa, it’s just an A to B utility vehicle.

Someone in a Tesla wanted to race me today on the A1(M). I didn’t bother. He could have beaten me. I was having more fun with the roof down singing my idiot heart out and grinning at the Porsche logo on the steering wheel.

The powerful big saloon cars of any era are typically faster than the sports cars. Bigger RS/AMG/M type things have always been able to leave a 986/7/8/2 off the lights. Some are now electric, but attract similar behaviour. My Dad used to feel smug when he could outdrag ‘Silly little sports cars’ in his big powerful Zephur Six.

Red 5 said: The powerful big saloon cars of any era are typically faster than the sports cars. Bigger RS/AMG/M type things have always been able to leave a 986/7/8/2 off the lights. Some are now electric, but attract similar behaviour. My Dad used to feel smug when he could outdrag ‘Silly little sports cars’ in his big powerful Zephur Six. Thats odd, a 1972 Zephyr 6 with about 71hp max and 1200kg against the ubiquitous 1972 MGB with about 95 hp max and 1100kgs ?

Gary C said: Red 5 said: The powerful big saloon cars of any era are typically faster than the sports cars. Bigger RS/AMG/M type things have always been able to leave a 986/7/8/2 off the lights. Some are now electric, but attract similar behaviour. My Dad used to feel smug when he could outdrag ‘Silly little sports cars’ in his big powerful Zephur Six. Thats odd, a 1972 Zephyr 6 with about 71hp max and 1200kg against the ubiquitous 1972 MGB with about 95 hp max and 1100kgs ? All before I was born! He had that and some Jag saloons too, so I could be muddling up my stories

Gary C said: Thats odd, a 1972 Zephyr 6 with about 71hp max and 1200kg against the ubiquitous 1972 MGB with about 95 hp max and 1100kgs ? The 3 litre Essex in these cars was good for 138 bhp and around 170 lb ft... MGB was 95/110...

Zetec-S said: No different to ICE vehicles really. 30 years ago you'd be hard pushed to imagine a Golf with 300bhp+, now everyone* has something equivalent. I think the "danger" will be when EV's become so commonplace that your average family car has huge amounts of torque on standby. At the moment if I catch up with someone plodding along at 40-50mph in a NSL I know my Focus ST has enough grunt to get quickly past, even if they're the sort of throbbing Road Captain who will try to speed up and prevent the overtake. In a few years time I might still have the power to get past but would end up at much higher speeds to do it. * ok, maybe not quite everyone, but it's not exactly unusual I think that's the point... there will be some horrendous TL GP incidents in next couple of years when it's so easy for idiots to reach 100 in just a few seconds in their EV... to prove what? I don't want to be near anyone else's accident, so deliberately set off 1s behind any suspected EV warrior. In any case, the time to get by is when they've settled down to 50 mph cruise to maintain their range...

MG Ant said: I think that's the point... there will be some horrendous TL GP incidents in next couple of years when it's so easy for idiots to reach 100 in just a few seconds in their EV... to prove what? I don't want to be near anyone else's accident, so deliberately set off 1s behind any suspected EV warrior. In any case, the time to get by is when they've settled down to 50 mph cruise to maintain their range... There's truth in this. Some silly f ker in one of these Jaguar EV's nearly side swiped me on a roundabout a few days ago quite simply because he was being a dick and accelerated far too hard! I really heard the whine of his motors such was the intended aggression! It wasn't a case of me pulling out on him, just the consequence of his foolish acceleration and vehicle ability. He was on my right and at a junction, I was at another junction of the RB, plenty of scope to pull on to it, but the rate at which he did was dam right dangerous and totally unnecessary spoiling the 'flow' of the RB. I hope at some point acceleration limiters become a thing.

Lincsls1 said: ... I hope at some point acceleration limiters become a thing. I don't! I would much rather that people get taught to drive properly; and then to retain this skill rather than lose it through the inclusion of more and more 'nanny state' driver assistance intervention software!

Lincsls1 said: I hope at some point acceleration limiters become a thing. It does seem odd that you can now buy "white goods" cars that have the acceleration of a supercar but are often driven by people who have no interest in cars or driving. When you see clips of catastrophic attempts by seasoned petrolheads to get things like Mustangs and M4s off the line, you can't help but wonder how "soccer mom" manages when her Tesla Model X takes off like a Lamborghini!

EV's seem to weigh about half a tonne more than the equivalent ICE. That's alot of extra mass to damage other cars when it goes pear shaped.... although with the drivers aids I guess it should go wrong less frequently??!? Do other EV manufacturers go on about their 0 to 60 times as much as Tesla? I thought the whole EV 'thing' was part of a bigger green agenda so why is that metric so important... It's all very strange

Andyoz said: EV's seem to weigh about half a tonne more than the equivalent ICE. That's alot of extra mass to damage other cars when it goes pear shaped.... although with the drivers aids I guess it should go wrong less frequently??!? Do other EV manufacturers go on about their 0 to 60 times as much as Tesla? I thought the whole EV 'thing' was part of a bigger green agenda so why is that metric so important... It's all very strange Exactly - to both points. Surely if its all about being better for the environment, then smaller, less powerful motors would be used and the same batteries would last much longer? Smaller tyres, less drag etc.. But no, Tesla are creating cars that can hit 60 in 1.1seconds. Very useful. Not. Very dangerous for average Joe I'd say.

Lot less dangerous than the 800 bhp ICE cars ....... which very young lad can crash . The EV thing is to reduce inner city pollution which kills and debilitates thousands every year ... that is all . It is the future , and yes we can drive our slow noisy ICE cars on track still , which will be more fun . I have a 993 GT2R and a Race 996 GT3 RS , both unsilenced ... Edited by hunter 66 on Monday 14th June 09:10

It will be interesting what 'fun' EV's start to come out from the big manufacturers once their initial volume seller SUV type things are established in the market. The space needs to mature a bit. At present, it seems to be controlled by a slightly crazy/unpredictable guy !!!

^^^ Great example of some issues that will occur as EV's and ICE cars mix over the next few years. Many of their drivers have never touched a performance car let alone a hyper car. It will be 'interesting'...maybe 'acceleration' limiters will be put in!!

MG Ant said: The 3 litre Essex in these cars was good for 138 bhp and around 170 lb ft... MGB was 95/110... Of course, I was thinking of the older straight 6 OHV engine The V6 might have helped a bit.

Had a nice drag off the lights at a roundabout with some white Tesla - they were in lane 2 and had a tighter rab line then me in lane 1. So I could put full power down all the way whereas I dont think he could. Was even upto about 80 when I backed off. I was in my 911 - . He did carry on at 90+ into the distance so good on him. Its always fun to have a safe drag but once into 80+ speeds pretty pointless. Had another white tesla car pull out of a T - junction in front of me when the gap was too tight - and I think he tried to floor it immediately (as he really shound't have pulled out) , it was wet, his rear went sideways for a fraction and then his car effectively stopped ! I managed to brake hard and after about 3 secs of 20mph he then shot off rapidly. (reset?) Lucky he didnt do this to a truck as it would not have stopped. If Anyone with with an EV /tesla could confirm if this sounds like his traction control kicking in and cutting all power does it take a few seconds to reset go off in ludicours mode? Edited by superlightr on Monday 14th June 11:59 Edited by superlightr on Monday 14th June 13:16

Andyoz said: It will be interesting what 'fun' EV's start to come out from the big manufacturers once their initial volume seller SUV type things are established in the market. The space needs to mature a bit. At present, it seems to be controlled by a slightly crazy/unpredictable guy !!! I agree. When the big players finally go all in to the market Tesla have created, it will be interesting to see what they come up with. I want a small sports car with ~150hp and 300 mile range in economy mode, and 300hp in sports mode with an overdriven motor with clutch engaged shaft driven cooling that has programmed torque limits at lower RPM until the fan can deliver enough cooling for the tiny over driven motor such that you need a gearbox in sports mode for max performance (weight offset by the much smaller motor than normal for 300hp) And for the motor to continue to run at a standstill to cool it and a fan that makes a nice noise as speed changes. Won't happen though

Gary C said: I agree. When the big players finally go all in to the market Tesla have created, it will be interesting to see what they come up with. I want a small sports car with ~150hp and 300 mile range in economy mode, and 300hp in sports mode with an overdriven motor with clutch engaged shaft driven cooling that has programmed torque limits at lower RPM until the fan can deliver enough cooling for the tiny over driven motor such that you need a gearbox in sports mode for max performance (weight offset by the much smaller motor than normal for 300hp) And for the motor to continue to run at a standstill to cool it and a fan that makes a nice noise as speed changes. Won't happen though sounds like my overclocked pc i use at home - also has led's in the fans and case..

superlightr said: Had a nice drag off the lights at a roundabout with some white Tesla - they were in lane 2 and had a tighter rab line then me in lane 1. So I could put full power down all the way whereas I dont think he could. Was even upto about 80 when I backed off. I was in my 911 - . He did carry on at 90+ into the distance so good on him. Its always fun to have a safe drag but once into 80+ speeds pretty pointless. Had another white tesla car pull out of a T - junction in front of me when the gap was too tight - and I think he tried to floor it immediately (as he really shound't have pulled out) , it was wet, his rear went sideways for a fraction and then his car effectively stopped ! I managed to brake hard and after about 3 secs of 20mph he then shot off rapidly. (reset?) Lucky he didnt do this to a truck as it would not have stopped. If Anyone with with an EV /tesla could confirm if this sounds like his traction control kicking in and cutting all power does it take a few seconds to reset go off in ludicours mode? Edited by superlightr on Monday 14th June 11:59 I've got a Tesla and a Porsche. First point I would make is who cares what other people think? I am sure there is a good proportion of the population who think Porsche drivers are tw@ts. Again, who cares? In answer to superlightr, I think the danger that a Tesla presents is the ability to pull out of junctions very quickly when there is a "gap". Other road users in the main flow aren't that used to it and think you are being danger (which, to be fair, you probably are if you are surprising them). I haven't had any traction control issues when turning and acceleration. I would say a dangerous element is the phantom braking that occurs when you have the active cruise on. The Tesla seems to get spooked by all sorts of things and apply the brakes, especially shadows under bridges. Porsche system is much better. Edited by superlightr on Monday 14th June 13:16

Grant1979 said: does anyone else have their driver's continually 'proving a point' off lights etc? Yes! Happens all the time. Turns out it’s my wife in her Model 3 Performance and it can very nearly keep up with my 992 C4S! Very frustrating, but I think I fixed it. I have ordered a 992 Turbo S for delivery early next year. That should solve the issue?

findtomdotcom said: Yes! Happens all the time. Turns out it’s my wife in her Model 3 Performance and it can very nearly keep up with my 992 C4S! Very frustrating, but I think I fixed it. I have ordered a 992 Turbo S for delivery early next year. That should solve the issue? should give you breathing room for 1-2 years

Interesting to watch Randy Probst , lapping in the Tesla S Plaid at Laguna Seca ..... wow it is so fast , makes the GT4 Clubsport , look very pedestrian . But personally I like very slow and noisy ....

Many Drag strips in the US now banning the Tesla S Plaid , as simply too fast for safety reasons .......... as 9 sec and over 150 , they need to fit a cage and parachute legally , so drivers have to back off and break before the line to not break the regulations .

findtomdotcom said: Grant1979 said: does anyone else have their driver's continually 'proving a point' off lights etc? Yes! Happens all the time. Turns out it’s my wife in her Model 3 Performance and it can very nearly keep up with my 992 C4S! Very frustrating, but I think I fixed it. I have ordered a 992 Turbo S for delivery early next year. That should solve the issue? Personally I would say buy a RWD 911 of any sort as it’ll be more fun. But, of relevance to your situation... When first looking for a 911 I had a couple of good chats with a guy I knew who’d been an OPC mechanic for 30 years. His answer to more or less any question was, ‘Don’t bother, just get the turbo and then it’s job done. You don’t want someone to have you in their shopping car!’ He also felt they were build to last mechanically when compared to Carreras. I’m not so sure, but then he’s got a lot of experience to draw on.

carpah said: superlightr said: Had a nice drag off the lights at a roundabout with some white Tesla - they were in lane 2 and had a tighter rab line then me in lane 1. So I could put full power down all the way whereas I dont think he could. Was even upto about 80 when I backed off. I was in my 911 - . He did carry on at 90+ into the distance so good on him. Its always fun to have a safe drag but once into 80+ speeds pretty pointless. Had another white tesla car pull out of a T - junction in front of me when the gap was too tight - and I think he tried to floor it immediately (as he really shound't have pulled out) , it was wet, his rear went sideways for a fraction and then his car effectively stopped ! I managed to brake hard and after about 3 secs of 20mph he then shot off rapidly. (reset?) Lucky he didnt do this to a truck as it would not have stopped. If Anyone with with an EV /tesla could confirm if this sounds like his traction control kicking in and cutting all power does it take a few seconds to reset go off in ludicours mode? Edited by superlightr on Monday 14th June 11:59 I've got a Tesla and a Porsche. First point I would make is who cares what other people think? I am sure there is a good proportion of the population who think Porsche drivers are tw@ts. Again, who cares? In answer to superlightr, I think the danger that a Tesla presents is the ability to pull out of junctions very quickly when there is a "gap". Other road users in the main flow aren't that used to it and think you are being danger (which, to be fair, you probably are if you are surprising them). I haven't had any traction control issues when turning and acceleration. I would say a dangerous element is the phantom braking that occurs when you have the active cruise on. The Tesla seems to get spooked by all sorts of things and apply the brakes, especially shadows under bridges. Porsche system is much better. Edited by superlightr on Monday 14th June 13:16 This is actually pretty close to what I've experienced. I'm two weeks into Polestar 2 ownership (and have a 992 C2S); the Polestar, which isn't anywhere near as accelerative as some Tesla's, still absolutely surprises people with its immediacy, I have had absolutely no loss of traction so far at all, and trust be I've tried. Nothing. Literally, a clumsy stamp on the throttle and you are gone, not even a squeak from the tyres. Damp conditions, similar, no loss of traction experienced at all (but not driven it quite as hard). Very weird / impressive / dull / funny, depending on mood. My friend followed me a couple of nights ago in his 2019 V8 Mustang (450bhp?). Turning right on a large roundabout, with a clear dual carriageway ahead, I just clumsily stamped on the throttle just past the apex and I'm gone, must have put 500-600yds on him over a mile and a half and that's with me backing off before silly speeds were reached. He was stunned, couldn't believe how it went off the roundabout and how much air it put between us. Apparently he fluffed a gear change..... I swear it would keep the 992 honest, it is very impressive and very very easy. The Tesla Plaid must be just insane. Adaptive cruise - ghost braking - yeah it does that and I get quite embarrassed by it, especially when you move back from the outside to middle lane, and it gets spooked by a 56mph HGV on the inside. I feel I need to apologise to drivers behind me. Never had adaptive cruise before, so guessing its not just an EV thing. The adaptive cruise does seem help getting the range out of it, and its extremely relaxing for daily duties.

I was in Bergen in Norway a couple of years ago. Despite being an oil town, it’s also probably the capital of EV world. Every other car seemed to be a Tesla, and the Tesla dealership was the biggest car dealer I’ve ever seen. Anyway , virtually all roads are single carriage way, 80kph limit and loads of cameras. So we’re driving round at around 70, but every so often, a Tesla is tailgating. Then at a hint of a straight, they’d blast past with their massive acceleration, but then hit the brakes and continue at the same speed we were doing. This happened over and over again.

Gary C said: Never Mostly they are conserving charge so taking it easy Same here, I've yet to see a single EV leap away from the lights. TX.

jonny996 said: they are as enjoyable to drive as switching on the dishwasher

dgswk said: This is actually pretty close to what I've experienced. I'm two weeks into Polestar 2 ownership (and have a 992 C2S); the Polestar, which isn't anywhere near as accelerative as some Tesla's, still absolutely surprises people with its immediacy, I have had absolutely no loss of traction so far at all, and trust be I've tried. Nothing. Literally, a clumsy stamp on the throttle and you are gone, not even a squeak from the tyres. Damp conditions, similar, no loss of traction experienced at all (but not driven it quite as hard). Very weird / impressive / dull / funny, depending on mood. My friend followed me a couple of nights ago in his 2019 V8 Mustang (450bhp?). Turning right on a large roundabout, with a clear dual carriageway ahead, I just clumsily stamped on the throttle just past the apex and I'm gone, must have put 500-600yds on him over a mile and a half and that's with me backing off before silly speeds were reached. He was stunned, couldn't believe how it went off the roundabout and how much air it put between us. Apparently he fluffed a gear change..... I swear it would keep the 992 honest, it is very impressive and very very easy. The Tesla Plaid must be just insane. Adaptive cruise - ghost braking - yeah it does that and I get quite embarrassed by it, especially when you move back from the outside to middle lane, and it gets spooked by a 56mph HGV on the inside. I feel I need to apologise to drivers behind me. Never had adaptive cruise before, so guessing its not just an EV thing. The adaptive cruise does seem help getting the range out of it, and its extremely relaxing for daily duties. Nah VW adaptive cruise systems work welll