3 ms·

If you've never driven a Tesla then you really have no idea what you're talking about. You know how you get the best 0-60 time on the P90DL? You take your foot

If you've never driven a Tesla then you really have no idea what you're talking about. You know how you get the best 0-60 time on the P90DL? You take your foot and kick the accelerator. Anything less and you lose 1-2 tenths of a second because the car is already moving by the time your foot is halfway down. Take a test-drive, I guarantee you'll be singing a different tune afterwards.

sandworm101 11y ago
Telsas don't have launch control?
- disillusioned 11y ago
  They do. As of last month. It helps a bit, but it's almost entirely unnecessary.
  - mikeash 11y ago
    From the way the procedure works, it sounds like it's just a way to shave off that delay from getting the pedal to the floor. Launch control in a more typical car gets the engine to the best RPM and sets everything up to transfer that energy to the wheels in the best way possible without breaking traction. In a electric car with no clutch or transmission where it's just a matter of sending the proper massive amounts of current to the motors on command, there isn't much else needed.
    - sandworm101 11y ago
      From a standing start, an electric often needs to limit the power to the motors else they start snapping parts. That certainly happened in the tesla from day one. Then once the wheels are turning, launch control manages the traction control settings to maintain maximum acceleration, perhaps allowing for more/less slip than would be otherwise. It isn't as simple as just powering the motors.
      - mikeash 11y ago
        Power limits apply to all driving, and that's why I said "proper" rather than "maximum." For slip, there's a separate "slip start" setting that gives better acceleration. There really isn't much else for launch control to do that you don't get already.
lqdc13 11y ago
I would love to do a test drive. However, the fun part with launching is not stomping on the accelerator or going fast, but matching the RPMs perfectly at the exact time of the race start. Then letting go of the clutch smoothly but rapidly. Followed by heel-toe downshifting when turning. When you do all these things perfectly, there is this exhilarating rush. Like you are one with the machine.

sandworm101 11y ago

Telsas don't have launch control?

disillusioned 11y ago
They do. As of last month. It helps a bit, but it's almost entirely unnecessary.
- mikeash 11y ago
  From the way the procedure works, it sounds like it's just a way to shave off that delay from getting the pedal to the floor. Launch control in a more typical car gets the engine to the best RPM and sets everything up to transfer that energy to the wheels in the best way possible without breaking traction. In a electric car with no clutch or transmission where it's just a matter of sending the proper massive amounts of current to the motors on command, there isn't much else needed.
  - sandworm101 11y ago
    From a standing start, an electric often needs to limit the power to the motors else they start snapping parts. That certainly happened in the tesla from day one. Then once the wheels are turning, launch control manages the traction control settings to maintain maximum acceleration, perhaps allowing for more/less slip than would be otherwise. It isn't as simple as just powering the motors.
    - mikeash 11y ago
      Power limits apply to all driving, and that's why I said "proper" rather than "maximum." For slip, there's a separate "slip start" setting that gives better acceleration. There really isn't much else for launch control to do that you don't get already.

lqdc13 11y ago

I would love to do a test drive. However, the fun part with launching is not stomping on the accelerator or going fast, but matching the RPMs perfectly at the exact time of the race start. Then letting go of the clutch smoothly but rapidly. Followed by heel-toe downshifting when turning. When you do all these things perfectly, there is this exhilarating rush. Like you are one with the machine.