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Within a week of the 1,000 horsepower Model S Plaid being released someone leaped into a house, killing two people and a dog. I've been a performance automotiv

Within a week of the 1,000 horsepower Model S Plaid being released someone leaped into a house, killing two people and a dog. I've been a performance automotive enthusiast for decades, competed in autocross for years, visited the Houston drag strip many times, and own a 500 horsepower Tesla, and I still agree there should be some kind of power to weight ratio limit on cars used on public roads.

cbg0 5y ago
You make this weird assumption that he leaped into that house because the car had 1000 HP instead of the fact that he was an idiot. The report said he was driving at 113 MPH, which is easily achievable in most modern cars way below even your 500 HP Tesla. A bit off-topic, but having seen a picture of the aftermath of the house (https://www.tampabay.com/news/crime/2021/10/08/man-who-crashed-tesla-into-house-killing-2-was-going-116-mph-troopers-say/ https://www.tampabay.com/news/crime/2021/10/08/man-who-crash...) I have to say I'm glad we build houses out of brick where I live. While there are no guarantees at that speed, it would have definitely slowed the car down more than wood framing.
- willis936 5y ago
  I don't think bricks will do much against 110,000 Ns. If a wrecking ball weighs 13,000 lbs it needs to be going 41 mph to have the same force as that Tesla. http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=weight%20of%20a%20tesla%20model%20S%20%2A%20113%20mph%20%2F%2013000%20lbs http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=weight%20of%20a%20tesla...
sliken 5y ago
Why? Scion FRS (famously underpowered, mentioned in every review I've seen) is the car in the USA that in 2021 was the most (at fault) accidents per car sold. Not even 200HP last I looked. I've got a M3P and after keen observation of ever Tesla I see on the road they are the last car I worry about safety wise. The ones I worry about are mostly WRXs, riced out Hondas, and Minivans. Seems like it's a very popular opinion that "my car is fast, but faster cars are insane" ... without much data to prove it.
- spike021 5y ago
  This is such an interesting response. I have a Subaru BRZ (basically the same car as the FRS). I've participated in FT86 (BRZ/FRS) communities for years now and the constant factor in crashed ones is almost always the age/immaturity of the driver. Most times it also boils down to simply not knowing how to operate the (or a) car properly on the road. It is _because_ this car is so "underpowered", that young people think they can get away with driving so terribly, that they inevitably crash/get into accidents. Meanwhile when I see Teslas lose control or get crazy, they are almost always being driven by 25-50 year old people, sometimes even older. This is a bad comparison, honestly.
  - sliken 5y ago
    Heh, not sure I'd say because it's under powered. I had a WRX, was active in the community, and even did a track day at thunderhill.' The FRS is cheap, looks fast/sexy, and is fun to drive... which encourages exploring the limits. Thus new enthusiasts explore (and cross) the limit. Not sure another 25% HP/torque would really make it safer. Maybe another 2x-3x would be enough to scare people into being careful. Trick is most don't know where the limit is, after crossing the perceived limits a few times, they are in for a surprise when they find the real limits.
    - spike021 5y ago
      Oh, I feel the exact same way actually. I was just saying underpowered since the person I replied to did. I'm actually a huge defender of its stock power :P. You can find me on /r/cars fiercely defending it and getting downvoted to oblivion quite often. I even tried an E85 tune for a bit but honestly stock tune is perfect for me with the 2017+'s gearing ratio. It feels snappy, feels great to rev high, etc. I've known people to turn off traction control thinking they can handle it and then they don't even think about situations like the road surface being too cold or damp from light drizzle/rain. Known two young guys who wrecked with those exact situations.
giantg2 5y ago
Or perhaps just more thorough driver education for driving on publics roads regardless of car type. Most people don't understand vehicle dynamics the same way (or really at all) as someone who participated in AutoX.
- rascul 5y ago
  When I got my license in Maryland, the class mostly just reviewed the book. The logged hours weren't even looked at. The written test was 20 multiple choice questions, I think I needed around 15 correct. The driving test was a closed course where I had to do little more than use turn signals, stop at a stop sign, and turn around in a box. At some point between deploying with the US Army and moving states, I had an expired license and I had to redo a written test in Texas to get it back. That test was just as much a joke. My point is that drivers licenses seem have such a low bar and, anecdotally and quite possibly related, many people are really bad at driving, and it seems like something that can be improved.
  - giantg2 5y ago
    I agree that tests are a joke. I think most accidents are the result of poor decisions, and many of those poor decisions are based on ignorance. If the test included more materials and basics of vehicle dynamics (like CDL does with loads, grades, and gearing) then maybe they would not be ignorant, and the test might actually get them to study and learn. It seems like driver education requirements are more thorough in countries with lower fatality and crash rates, even if speeds are higher. At least having done autoX we know the limits of our vehicles, and even more importantly of our skills. Understanding how a small change in conditions can drastically change performance and create an unsafe situation is hugely valuable, as is the mindset to pay attention to it.
- adrianN 5y ago
  Here in Germany we have more thorough driver education than in the US. There still are lots of dangerous idiots on the roads. It's much too hard to lose your license once you have it.

cbg0 5y ago

You make this weird assumption that he leaped into that house because the car had 1000 HP instead of the fact that he was an idiot. The report said he was driving at 113 MPH, which is easily achievable in most modern cars way below even your 500 HP Tesla. A bit off-topic, but having seen a picture of the aftermath of the house (https://www.tampabay.com/news/crime/2021/10/08/man-who-crashed-tesla-into-house-killing-2-was-going-116-mph-troopers-say/ https://www.tampabay.com/news/crime/2021/10/08/man-who-crash...) I have to say I'm glad we build houses out of brick where I live. While there are no guarantees at that speed, it would have definitely slowed the car down more than wood framing.

willis936 5y ago
I don't think bricks will do much against 110,000 Ns. If a wrecking ball weighs 13,000 lbs it needs to be going 41 mph to have the same force as that Tesla. http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=weight%20of%20a%20tesla%20model%20S%20%2A%20113%20mph%20%2F%2013000%20lbs http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=weight%20of%20a%20tesla...

sliken 5y ago

Why? Scion FRS (famously underpowered, mentioned in every review I've seen) is the car in the USA that in 2021 was the most (at fault) accidents per car sold. Not even 200HP last I looked. I've got a M3P and after keen observation of ever Tesla I see on the road they are the last car I worry about safety wise. The ones I worry about are mostly WRXs, riced out Hondas, and Minivans. Seems like it's a very popular opinion that "my car is fast, but faster cars are insane" ... without much data to prove it.

spike021 5y ago
This is such an interesting response. I have a Subaru BRZ (basically the same car as the FRS). I've participated in FT86 (BRZ/FRS) communities for years now and the constant factor in crashed ones is almost always the age/immaturity of the driver. Most times it also boils down to simply not knowing how to operate the (or a) car properly on the road. It is _because_ this car is so "underpowered", that young people think they can get away with driving so terribly, that they inevitably crash/get into accidents. Meanwhile when I see Teslas lose control or get crazy, they are almost always being driven by 25-50 year old people, sometimes even older. This is a bad comparison, honestly.
- sliken 5y ago
  Heh, not sure I'd say because it's under powered. I had a WRX, was active in the community, and even did a track day at thunderhill.' The FRS is cheap, looks fast/sexy, and is fun to drive... which encourages exploring the limits. Thus new enthusiasts explore (and cross) the limit. Not sure another 25% HP/torque would really make it safer. Maybe another 2x-3x would be enough to scare people into being careful. Trick is most don't know where the limit is, after crossing the perceived limits a few times, they are in for a surprise when they find the real limits.
  - spike021 5y ago
    Oh, I feel the exact same way actually. I was just saying underpowered since the person I replied to did. I'm actually a huge defender of its stock power :P. You can find me on /r/cars fiercely defending it and getting downvoted to oblivion quite often. I even tried an E85 tune for a bit but honestly stock tune is perfect for me with the 2017+'s gearing ratio. It feels snappy, feels great to rev high, etc. I've known people to turn off traction control thinking they can handle it and then they don't even think about situations like the road surface being too cold or damp from light drizzle/rain. Known two young guys who wrecked with those exact situations.

giantg2 5y ago

Or perhaps just more thorough driver education for driving on publics roads regardless of car type. Most people don't understand vehicle dynamics the same way (or really at all) as someone who participated in AutoX.

rascul 5y ago
When I got my license in Maryland, the class mostly just reviewed the book. The logged hours weren't even looked at. The written test was 20 multiple choice questions, I think I needed around 15 correct. The driving test was a closed course where I had to do little more than use turn signals, stop at a stop sign, and turn around in a box. At some point between deploying with the US Army and moving states, I had an expired license and I had to redo a written test in Texas to get it back. That test was just as much a joke. My point is that drivers licenses seem have such a low bar and, anecdotally and quite possibly related, many people are really bad at driving, and it seems like something that can be improved.
- giantg2 5y ago
  I agree that tests are a joke. I think most accidents are the result of poor decisions, and many of those poor decisions are based on ignorance. If the test included more materials and basics of vehicle dynamics (like CDL does with loads, grades, and gearing) then maybe they would not be ignorant, and the test might actually get them to study and learn. It seems like driver education requirements are more thorough in countries with lower fatality and crash rates, even if speeds are higher. At least having done autoX we know the limits of our vehicles, and even more importantly of our skills. Understanding how a small change in conditions can drastically change performance and create an unsafe situation is hugely valuable, as is the mindset to pay attention to it.
adrianN 5y ago
Here in Germany we have more thorough driver education than in the US. There still are lots of dangerous idiots on the roads. It's much too hard to lose your license once you have it.