Tesla Towing A Car Beats Alfa Romeo 4C In 1/4 Mile

I laugh every time someone says their *insert random American muscle car name here* is better/faster than a Tesla (under some random condition).

It's like how video cards were benchmarked before HardOCP changed the way it was done, you have to change your thinking.

You've also got to remember that Tesla have not set out to compete with or replace the muscle car. That day will come when battery tech improves, then your muscle car will be reduced to being just a noisy, smelly looser... permanently.
 
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So a 7 passenger suv towing 4000lbs beats a 2 passenger sports car in the quarter mile... that's freakin' impressive no matter the details.
 
Given Tesla's quality issues one should not be throwing stones ;)

Get a reliable Alfa said no one ever. Alfa has made great looking unreliable cars for decades (and still does) before Tesla was a twinkle in Musk's eye so I'll throw boulders all day long.
 
So they raced it against what's nearly the lowest power modern sports car you can buy? Plus the Tesla costs 2x as much. They might as well have raced it against a Miami.

Because you would be surprised the impact this makes to the automotive illiterate. The Tesla is a short endurance racer, you are only going to get a few runs before heat becomes a problem, no less runs out of power, and this is just drag racing, put it on a circuit and this becomes more of a problem. This is also the Ludicrous Mode upgraded Tesla, which is like a much more expensive factory performance package, and is 3 times the price as the 4C, I mean seriously, what did they expect? Its GTR Nismo price range, or Atom V8 price range, or you could get a Z06 Z07 package car (already 10 seconds in the 1/4 mile) and have 40-50k left over for upgrades.
 
Get a reliable Alfa said no one ever. Alfa has made great looking unreliable cars for decades (and still does) before Tesla was a twinkle in Musk's eye so I'll throw boulders all day long.
Not to mention that Alfa's been around since 1910 while Tesla's barely 10 years old. :confused:
 
From the old school, old guy perspective:
Cars were never really all that fast when you bought them. So you it was up to you to make a car fast.
From that perspective it is not what you BOUGHT, it is what you BUILT.
So you shake hand with the guy that brought the turbocharged 4cyl Ford Pinto that kicked the ass of most of the cammed up V8s at the drag strip. He really accomplished something worth while.
 
From the old school, old guy perspective:
Cars were never really all that fast when you bought them. So you it was up to you to make a car fast.
From that perspective it is not what you BOUGHT, it is what you BUILT.
So you shake hand with the guy that brought the turbocharged 4cyl Ford Pinto that kicked the ass of most of the cammed up V8s at the drag strip. He really accomplished something worth while.
What you BUILT aka keeping up with the times. Us that like working on our cars need to teach the youngen how to reapect their elders.
 
Darwin is going to kill you, and I'm gonna laugh.

Eventually you will be dead too and i'll laugh...maybe I won't because I might be dead. Why is length of life so important to people and quality not? Probably why places, ironically enough, that have all you can eat buffets do so well. Probably a regional thing of quantity over quality.
 
Even before the electric car interest started heating up -- the US electrical grid system is in need of a massive massive overhaul, it's kind of scary just how old and antiquated some of our distribution grid is.

I remember an article (Wired, maybe?) that said the electricity infrastructure folks spend less on research than the dog food folks, percentage wise. That seems wise, as this while electricity fad is surely on its way out.
 
I dont expect non-car people to understand. I get that statement all the time. :ROFLMAO:

Ive driven on the autobahn several times and have seen 150+ far too many times. And track events used to help out. Hey some people do drugs, some get drunk, some like sky diving. My people like driving fast. :p
I'm a car guy, and I still don't understand your logic.

You're doing double the speed of everyone else on the road and you think some track days and autobahn time is going to save you?

LO Fucking L.
 
one can twist and turn and twist again the argument.. the undeniable fact is that ICE engines are old tech that has been outdated pretty much since ever. yes they are a product of human history, and its mistakes. ICE engines are shit technology running mostly on yet another bad choice of fuel. Again mistakes of human history.
 
one can twist and turn and twist again the argument.. the undeniable fact is that ICE engines are old tech that has been outdated pretty much since ever. yes they are a product of human history, and its mistakes. ICE engines are shit technology running mostly on yet another bad choice of fuel. Again mistakes of human history.

Mistakes? Hardly. You can't build the hi-tech magical future in a vacuum. You have to work towards it with intermediary steps. Enough with the self-loathing. If you hate fossil fuels and cars, go live like the Amish.
 
Mistakes? Hardly. You can't build the hi-tech magical future in a vacuum. You have to work towards it with intermediary steps. Enough with the self-loathing. If you hate fossil fuels and cars, go live like the Amish.
yes mistakes.. ICE engines will be intermediary to nothing but planetary destruction.
 
Mistakes? Hardly. You can't build the hi-tech magical future in a vacuum. You have to work towards it with intermediary steps. Enough with the self-loathing. If you hate fossil fuels and cars, go live like the Amish.
don't have to live with the amish or any crap like that, I can see things for the shit that they are and be perfectly happy with them.. my next car might be a v8 Mustang for all i care. doesn't prevent me from trying to understand things a deeper i guess so to speak.
 
... I've never really understood these "my car goes this fast" compensation fests. Over here, you see tons of Porche cars and occasionally a Ferrari (there's a dealer in town actually) or something like that. When I was younger, I used to be like "oh boy, it's my dream to get one of those!" As time went on and I actually drove out on the streets, I then spent more time trying to figure out what the hell the purpose of me getting one of those cars would be. I know this is an oft-repeated argument that many use, held in some disdain by those within auto circles... but when my average speed on any given road in the area is 30-50, at the absolute maximum, with cars filling roughly every lane so there's no real purpose in even trying to pass (aside from maybe getting two cars ahead, oh boy)... what the hell's the point? It would be a worthy investment if I wanted to do some sort of unofficial racing, but otherwise? I don't get it. I really like my hatchback Subaru because it's economical, functional, and very convenient, with plenty of storage space. The only other thing I would ever possibly consider is a cheap, beat-up pickup truck for hauling larger things.

</uncalled for rant>
You know what they say: if you have to ask...
Also: a Tesla has 2 pedals, while a real sports car has 3! I die a little inside every time I see a C7 Corvette with an automatic.

In all seriousness, the Tesla is a fine piece of technology but, even if it was affordable (which it's not), it doesn't do everything well. For crying out loud it weighs almost 5,000 lbs.
You can buy the 4C with a manual in Europe, 3 pedals and everything. Unfortunately you can only get the automatic in the US that is 300 pounds heavier than European spec.
 
I'm a car guy, and I still don't understand your logic.

You're doing double the speed of everyone else on the road and you think some track days and autobahn time is going to save you?

LO Fucking L.
I have no problem with the guy risking himself -- that's his choice. Just as long as he doesn't risk any other people on the highway as killing an innocent family would be a pretty douchy move.
 
I'm a car guy, and I still don't understand your logic.

You're doing double the speed of everyone else on the road and you think some track days and autobahn time is going to save you?

LO Fucking L.

It's ok. That .000001% of driving is really important, never mind the fact that his car would get rest 99.9999% of the time by a Tesla in normal day to day driving :)
 
I dont expect non-car people to understand. I get that statement all the time. :ROFLMAO:

Ive driven on the autobahn several times and have seen 150+ far too many times. And track events used to help out. Hey some people do drugs, some get drunk, some like sky diving. My people like driving fast. :p


To hell with all the things that are completely out of your control that can happen on a public road, i wouldn't even think of it without competition tires. Of course me and my non-car people professional racing friends, are just idiots lol.

No professional race driver would ever associate with the behavior your describe, period. Enjoy your "car-people" which probably consists of 19 year old single dudes with civics.
 
No professional race driver would ever associate with the behavior your describe, period. Enjoy your "car-people" which probably consists of 19 year old single dudes with civics.

Many pro racers have been caught racing on the street, I remember one NASCAR driver was pulled over on his way home after a race doing 110MPH, not racing, just speed drunk, after doing 200mph for so long, 100mph seems slow. Kyle Busch long before that actually lost his license for 45 days and probation for getting a ticket doing 128MPH in his LFA, this was normal day to day however and not speed drunk and he admitted to speeding and reckless driving. Pro rally drivers have been ticketed and even arrested for street racing, as its common for them to just drive the (not even street legal) rally car from one stage to another, many of them driving just like they were on course.

If you think pro drivers never do or have done stupid things, well, you are deluding yourself.

These days not many pro drivers will do these things because of risk to career, normal people do this and they get hit with a night or so in jail or a massive fine, a pro driver would make news and probably lose sponsors, and as such his job. They also have top end lawyers to help get out of most tickets and keep it hush hush.
 
For the complainers saying it is only in a straight line, Tesla does OK in Autocross as well:
Autocross in a Tesla Model S

"Until recently my competition has come from a 2013 M3. There have only been a few times that he has run faster than me but the competition between us has been pretty tight. Now I am being challenge by a 2014 CTS-V coupe driven by a man that comes from a racing family and has raced his whole life! In the last autocross I managed to top his time by over 1 second so I am holding my own pretty well. "

I'd love to see what the engineers at Tesla could do if they had the resources to waste building a Sports/Track car. They build Luxo-Barges right now and they do pretty damn good.
 
Many pro racers have been caught racing on the street, I remember one NASCAR driver was pulled over on his way home after a race doing 110MPH, not racing, just speed drunk, after doing 200mph for so long, 100mph seems slow. Kyle Busch long before that actually lost his license for 45 days and probation for getting a ticket doing 128MPH in his LFA, this was normal day to day however and not speed drunk and he admitted to speeding and reckless driving. Pro rally drivers have been ticketed and even arrested for street racing, as its common for them to just drive the (not even street legal) rally car from one stage to another, many of them driving just like they were on course.

If you think pro drivers never do or have done stupid things, well, you are deluding yourself.

These days not many pro drivers will do these things because of risk to career, normal people do this and they get hit with a night or so in jail or a massive fine, a pro driver would make news and probably lose sponsors, and as such his job. They also have top end lawyers to help get out of most tickets and keep it hush hush.

I didn't realize we were considering people who drive in a circle(oval) to be "pro racers".
 
Vehicles have more to do with dreams than reality. Tesla is a real world contender.
Shifting is a skill. So what?
The fast way, consistently, around a track is traction control, antilock brakes, and 4 wheel drive. And no one would watch it.

I have more fun driving a Miata than a Corvette. But in real world traffic, stop and go commuting, an automatic sedan is much better.
Teslas' are performance cars, by all accounts fun to drive. Accept it.

I have a motorcycle that will do over 155. It is so competent it is not an event.
I had an 81 last year good for 105. it was fun doing semi legal driving (ie traffic speeds).

Racers operate at a different reality than most people, and do it well.

The days of gas are numbered. Doom and gloom no. ..
 
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I dont expect non-car people to understand. I get that statement all the time. :ROFLMAO:

Ive driven on the autobahn several times and have seen 150+ far too many times. And track events used to help out. Hey some people do drugs, some get drunk, some like sky diving. My people like driving fast. :p

About 4 years ago. I watched someone like you die on the Autobahn. It was some guy doing about 160MPH, I was doing about 100 (and boy do you have to stand on the breaks a lot when you do 100MPH+ on the Autobahn), and he passed me like I was standing still. Unfortunately some guy pulled in to the fast lane doing about 80-90MPH (which is what MOST people do on the Autobahn), and the fast guy went in to the back of the slower guy and killed himself and the other guy instantly. Driving fast on public roads is for morons, you will get away with it, until...
 
I didn't realize we were considering people who drive in a circle(oval) to be "pro racers".

Both of those drivers have massive racing careers they are just most known for NASCAR because it is the most public race series here in the states. Kyle Busch was offered the driver position for one of the US F1 teams but turned it down. Not to mention the WRC drivers I also mentioned. And if you think NASCAR drivers are not pro, or good drivers because they "go in a circle" then you have never seen them drive a car and probably have very little to no racing experience.

Vehicles have more to do with dreams than reality. Tesla is a real world contender.
Shifting is a skill. So what?
The fast way, consistently, around a track is traction control, antilock brakes, and 4 wheel drive. And no one would watch it.

I have more fun driving a Miata than a Corvette. But in real world traffic, stop and go commuting, an automatic sedan is much better.
Teslas' are performance cars, by all accounts fun to drive. Accept it.

The days of gas are numbered.

As someone who is into electronics and LOVE the idea of electric or fuelcell cars, no, just no, we are a LONG way from real performance electric cars that can compete at current levels. I have a Miata, and its great, though I would probably take the vette, and manual is fun, even in stop and go, but that is personal preference, and I am not a auto or paddle hater, I actually love dogboxes or sequential boxes, where you never use the clutch (even though it is there). I have been around a lot of electric racing cars, these are purpose built, tube chassis, and they have trouble even getting close to ICE cars, and when its circuit racing its MUCH slower than other ICE in the same chassis class and much shorter races because of battery tech just not being there.

I welcome the electronic race car, but people are fooling them selves by saying it's very near. I will be long dead before there is an electric car that can keep up with a normal ICE sports car on the track and in the same price range.
 
I welcome the electronic race car, but people are fooling them selves by saying it's very near. I will be long dead before there is an electric car that can keep up with a normal ICE sports car on the track and in the same price range.

First off, Race Cars are not Teslas business. They build street cars and EVs are the future of street cars, and it is coming fast.

As far as race cars, most real racing is strictly class based, so they usually don't have truly open racing.

But there are some exceptions. Last year, The overall winner of the Pikes Peak (open to just about anything with wheels) was driving an EV (So was #2):
Rhys Millen wins Pikes Peak under all-electric power
 
First off, Race Cars are not Teslas business. They build street cars and EVs are the future of street cars, and it is coming fast.

As far as race cars, most real racing is strictly class based, so they usually don't have truly open racing.

But there are some exceptions. Last year, The overall winner of the Pikes Peak (open to just about anything with wheels) was driving an EV (So was #2):
Rhys Millen wins Pikes Peak under all-electric power

I also said sports cars, which is what people here were talking about, along with racing. Pikes Peek is also not a normal race, it's more like a long up hill drag race, electric does well here because most cars are running it in under 10 minutes, 10 minutes is not a very long race and well within what can be done. It is also uphill so the torque curve of the motors helps and it is also high altitude where it does not suffer power loss like the other NA ICE engines do. There are also many unlimited classes, but the point was that these would beat and replace ICE cars, when in reality, the electric cars running the same chassis and weights are putting in laps fast slower than the ICE cars, or the laps are close to the same but are very VERY short. The TT Zero is probably the best example of this tech, but even then, they only do a single lap, but the laps are huge, single lap takes 22-23 minutes with an AVERAGE speed of 100mph, which is fast, not close to the liter bikes (17mins), but still.
 
Also: a Tesla has 2 pedals, while a real sports car has 3! I die a little inside every time I see a C7 Corvette with an automatic.

In all seriousness, the Tesla is a fine piece of technology but, even if it was affordable (which it's not), it doesn't do everything well. For crying out loud it weighs almost 5,000 lbs.


Tesla isn't trying to pretend that their 7 Passenger Luxury SUV/CUV/Minivan replacement is a "Real Sports Car". Just that it is damn quick, and they were not involved in this towing stunt.

As someone who never owned anything but Manual Transmission cars, I recognize their days are numbered. EVs of course will not have Manual Transmission and can be forgiven that.

But you can't even buy a New Ferrari, McLaren, or Lamborghini, with a Manual. Audi's "Sports Car", the TT, doesn't come in Manual in the USA. Manual Transmission as a defining characteristic of a sports car is no longer valid.
 
I also said sports cars, which is what people here were talking about, along with racing. Pikes Peek is also not a normal race, it's more like a long up hill drag race, electric does well here because most cars are running it in under 10 minutes, 10 minutes is not a very long race and well within what can be done. It is also uphill so the torque curve of the motors helps and it is also high altitude where it does not suffer power loss like the other NA ICE engines do. There are also many unlimited classes, but the point was that these would beat and replace ICE cars, when in reality, the electric cars running the same chassis and weights are putting in laps fast slower than the ICE cars, or the laps are close to the same but are very VERY short. The TT Zero is probably the best example of this tech, but even then, they only do a single lap, but the laps are huge, single lap takes 22-23 minutes with an AVERAGE speed of 100mph, which is fast, not close to the liter bikes (17mins), but still.

As I said, more actual racing is class based, regulating everything, so there is usually no real on track racing between technologies. But there is multi-lap Formula E, for actual, multi-lap E racing.

BTW TT-Zero 2015 time was 18' 59 (119 MPH). They are improving at a rate significantly higher than gas engines, so they will likely beat them in a few years.

But yes for long multi-lap racing, liquid fuels are best. But so what? Nascar won't go EV?
 
Tesla is capable of charging up 170 miles of range in 30 minutes using DC fast charging. Gas has one advantage, a 75 year head start on infrastructure. I can afford neither of these cars, but one thing I do own is a 2017 volt.... and it's interesting to hear the things people who don't know the technology have to say "I hear it takes a full day to recharge".... nope. the EVSE that comes with the car is capable in stock form of accepting 240V input. Can charge my volt from empty to full in about 4 hours nothing special needed except setting up a dedicated 240V circuit.

Even before the electric car interest started heating up -- the US electrical grid system is in need of a massive massive overhaul, it's kind of scary just how old and antiquated some of our distribution grid is.

Well 4 hours is still a hell of a lot longer than 2 minutes at the pump. Electric cars are cool for people who drive short distances in the city. Anything else and you're screwed.
 
I understand your points, but I was simply talking about the marginal gains of a supercar specifically. There is fun associated with many other hobbies, and I do understand decking cars out to a degree (lights, head unit, looks, etc). My issue is the whole horsepower/supercar thing. Simply... I don't see where you could ever possibly use such an engine in most/all real life scenarios. Let's say that I have some almonds. Then I opt for some much more expensive (let's pretend they are for the purposes of this) chocolate almonds. But I can't eat chocolate in my household for <inert arcane reasons here>. So I simply strip the chocolate and eat the almonds... for what purpose did I get chocolate covered almonds? To me that's what a supercar is like. I can't really push it to its potential, and use it for all it's worth. To me that's just like throwing money away for no real gain to myself.
Be happy that supercars and sportscars keep being developed, with ludicrous horsepower. All that technology feeds down into your excellent hatchback. If there wasn't supercars, sportscars, and racing, your hatchback would probably have to make due with 75 horsepower.
 
I have no problem with the guy risking himself -- that's his choice. Just as long as he doesn't risk any other people on the highway as killing an innocent family would be a pretty douchy move.

Definetely not. I ALWAYS wait till its clear and a nice clean straightaway. Im not one of these idiots that goes weaving in and out of traffic. I dont even speed on local roads. In fact my gf hates me for not being aggressive in traffic! Lol
 
Tesla isn't trying to pretend that their 7 Passenger Luxury SUV/CUV/Minivan replacement is a "Real Sports Car". Just that it is damn quick, and they were not involved in this towing stunt.

As someone who never owned anything but Manual Transmission cars, I recognize their days are numbered. EVs of course will not have Manual Transmission and can be forgiven that.

But you can't even buy a New Ferrari, McLaren, or Lamborghini, with a Manual. Audi's "Sports Car", the TT, doesn't come in Manual in the USA. Manual Transmission as a defining characteristic of a sports car is no longer valid.

I never said Tesla was trying to pass off their SUV as a sports car, I'm more responding to the comment "Tesla makes a bomb ass car that does everything everyone wants it to besides drive across the USA freely" made by nysmo on the first page. I've said it twice already in this thread and I'll say it again: the Tesla vehicles do lots of things well, but they aren't a universal tool that is perfect for every situation. I'm sure for some people the model X is the ideal vehicle. Even if I could afford it, I wouldn't consider it because it doesn't do anything that interests me.

I was being a little tongue in cheek about manuals. I'm well aware that they are niche product these days. I also have never owned anything but a manual. I don't begrudge anyone their autos or dual clutch electronically controlled performance transmissions, I just personally am not that interested in them. Would a fancy transmission in a Ferrari shave a tenth here and there off of shift times? Sure. Would I trade that for the feeling of being in control of a performance machine? Nope.
 
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As someone who is into electronics and LOVE the idea of electric or fuelcell cars, no, just no, we are a LONG way from real performance electric cars that can compete at current levels. I have a Miata, and its great, though I would probably take the vette, and manual is fun, even in stop and go, but that is personal preference, and I am not a auto or paddle hater, I actually love dogboxes or sequential boxes, where you never use the clutch (even though it is there). I have been around a lot of electric racing cars, these are purpose built, tube chassis, and they have trouble even getting close to ICE cars, and when its circuit racing its MUCH slower than other ICE in the same chassis class and much shorter races because of battery tech just not being there.

I welcome the electronic race car, but people are fooling them selves by saying it's very near. I will be long dead before there is an electric car that can keep up with a normal ICE sports car on the track and in the same price range.
Well there is Formula E. Those cars can top out around 130-140 MPH and are pretty quick around a circuit. The issue is that they have to physically switch cars mid-race because one can't make it to the end on a single battery pack and the races are still pretty short (usually no more than an hour). The racing is pretty competitive, though, and I am quickly becoming a fan of the series.

In the near term it is all about hybrid technology. In a couple of years all cars in all classes of the WEC will be using hybrid technology. All of P1 already does. F1 is using hybrid twin-turbo V6 engines and they're going to move to 4-cylinders in a few years. It's happening, but the range is still an issue for pure electric much like it is on public roads. We either need a new battery technology or another form of regenerative power that doesn't rely on fossil fuels before we get there in competitive racing.
 
Also: a Tesla has 2 pedals, while a real sports car has 3! I die a little inside every time I see a C7 Corvette with an automatic.

In all seriousness, the Tesla is a fine piece of technology but, even if it was affordable (which it's not), it doesn't do everything well. For crying out loud it weighs almost 5,000 lbs.

All the rags claim the automatic performs just as well as the manual surprisingly with no real perceived difference in track times with professional drivers. (And I had a C6 Manual with the Z51 package I took to the track) I do personally find that hard to believe, as an automatic can't predict when you are turning into the apex of the curve and need the additional torque out of the slush box to accelerate back up...but hey I digress.
 
All the rags claim the automatic performs just as well as the manual surprisingly with no real perceived difference in track times with professional drivers. (And I had a C6 Manual with the Z51 package I took to the track) I do personally find that hard to believe, as an automatic can't predict when you are turning into the apex of the curve and need the additional torque out of the slush box to accelerate back up...but hey I digress.
That's what automated manuals with flappy paddles or a selector switch are for ;). Even the SelectShift automatic in my Mustang will let me bounce off of the rev limiter without shifting, by the way.
 
Tesla is capable of charging up 170 miles of range in 30 minutes using DC fast charging. Gas has one advantage, a 75 year head start on infrastructure. I can afford neither of these cars, but one thing I do own is a 2017 volt.... and it's interesting to hear the things people who don't know the technology have to say "I hear it takes a full day to recharge".... nope. the EVSE that comes with the car is capable in stock form of accepting 240V input. Can charge my volt from empty to full in about 4 hours nothing special needed except setting up a dedicated 240V circuit.

Even before the electric car interest started heating up -- the US electrical grid system is in need of a massive massive overhaul, it's kind of scary just how old and antiquated some of our distribution grid is.

Congrats you just paid $30K for a chevy cruze (same frame). Don't do the cost analysis to break even on gas savings...it will make you cry.
 
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