- 208
I've got A BMW M6, so a Model S was on my list until I learned that the damn thing goes into "limp-home overheat" mode anytime you do more than the brief acceleration runs you've tried. I've driven them several times and, while the accel is impressive, it's basically a big boat of a car with iffy brakes, that's totally unable to shed the battery/motor heat caused by even a single lap at a track.True enough. That's just my standard response to electric car hate. I guarantee most petrolheads would sing a different tune if they got the chance to drive a Tesla, and I'm not alone in that belief. If you enjoy driving, you will enjoy driving a sporty electric car very much, I have zero doubt about that. It also makes plenty of cool electric car noises when you're in the cabin.![]()
I've never seen a single one at the many tracks days I've attended. Another doctor told me he tried to take his to COTA, but the 5000lb weight so cooked the brakes that it caused several thousands worth of (not covered by warranty) damage. He got a 911 Turbo S later. It did better
These cars are fine for street driving, but they are hopeless at a track - even for mild use. And when driven hard, those batteries deplete fast.
This having been said, my next car is a BMW i8. I like it because 3 cyl's actually sound OK (plus they use that fake sound **** through the speakers) and it delivers similar-to-M6 performance with 30+ mpg. And it recharges itself. And my wife thinks it looks cool.
Guys do bring i8's (occasionally) to our track days and they do pretty good, though you have to decrease the regenerative braking to get them to turn right. Any car I own has to be able to do at least 2 laps at COTA without immolating itself. The Tesla doesn't make that grade. By the middle of Lap 1 (or any course that's reasonably long), it is well and truly done for the day (due to heat buildup triggering limp mode).
