I have PMT and a Tesla!

[umblecumbuz]

I have PMT and a Tesla!

Since the dawn of the car, manufacturers and specialists have worked hard to extract more performance from the engine. Whether supercharging, chipping, mapping or otherwise, a huge tuning industry has grown up.

Now, with the advent of electric cars which can easily hit 60mph in under 3 seconds, concerned voices are being raised, suggesting limits on such hypercar performance (recent Jaguar and Ford spokesmen for instance). In the hands of the average motorist, young or old, such blinding acceleration can become dangerous, producing mayhem and added danger on our roads.

It doesn't take much imagination to envisage the results of a young driver, having just passed his test, being let loose in such a projectile - or a weekender driving on wet roads, not realising the jet-power under his right foot - or even the experienced driver or white van man taking out his traffic frustration with a bootful of acceleration.

A sea change is coming I think. Where will the likes of Brabus be if performance-limiting acceleration is introduced? Or how much extra could such tuning firms provide when the standard family car is already so blindingly fast?

Just my random thoughts ...

 

[Naraic]

When they force us all to have a "black box" fitted...the end will be nigh.

 

[00slk]

The modern family car is now quicker than a 1968 Gran Pix race winning car, to think that Lewis Hamilton's race car now has the performance for winning, in a few years our cars will be quicker.......You are right, they will start governing these new motors to speeds more common with safety. AMG did it with the SL55 but you could have this reduced at a price. Soon the government will be taxing cars on 0-60 figures not emissions and unlimited top speeds. So electric cars in the end will be more to tax and run when power charges goes up through the roof! So my 2 pence worth is, keep your petrol car while you can, it will be cheaper in the long run to own and enjoy.

 

[Capra]

It's the same problem with sports bikes, a young chap I knew without any experience did his direct access test and then picked up an R6, that didn't end well! He wasn't killed and didn't kill anyone else, but he was very very lucky.

 

[00slk]

It's the same problem with sports bikes, a young chap I knew without any experience did his direct access test and then picked up an R6, that didn't end well! He wasn't killed and didn't kill anyone else, but he was very very lucky.

Doesn't have to be a sports bike either, I am an old rider from way back and after not riding for nearly 40 years I rode my son's new 50cc and nearly killed myself on that! Luckily I was able to avoid any damage to scooter and myself, but so glad I had a helmet on so no one recognised me

 

[Craiglxviii]

When they force us all to have a "black box" fitted...the government will fall at the next election.

FTFY!

 

[umblecumbuz]

When they force us all to have a "black box" fitted...the end will be nigh.

Nah ... there'll be black box cheat devices on the Bay!

 

[flowrider]

We already have 155mph speed limiters on cars so why not introduce a limit on acceleration capability. It's the next step, followed by immobilisers that the Police can invoke at will.

 

[John Laidlaw]

I see a business opportunity here...
“JDL underperformance Ltd”
Services:-
Performance downgrades
Chip removal
Speed limiters set
Mid range torque removed
0-60 times ruined
Weight addition
Wallowy suspension downgrades

 

[flowrider]

Who wants to be overtaken from the lights in their MSL hyper tuned AMG by a Nissan Leaf!

 

[John Laidlaw]

Who wants to be overtaken from the lights in their MSL hyper tuned AMG by a Nissan Leaf!

Noiselessly......

 

[mercedes13156]

Who wants to be overtaken from the lights in their MSL hyper tuned AMG by a Nissan Leaf!

It's alright! We have Leaves as pool cars at work. If you get passed by one, don't worry. It'll be sitting at the side of the road a few miles on after running the battery dead. Ours had a full range of 82 miles when new and only if you were very careful. Five years on they're down to about 70 miles max, but even before you get out of the car park, it's down to 60. If it's wet and you need to use the wipers, knock 10% off. If you need the heater, knock off another 15%. No one knows how to use the radio because you don't dare. I've occasionally seen one creeping back to base at 30mph in the rain and very poor light with the side lights on and the windows steamed up.

On the other hand, we've got a leccy Golf and it's actually a decent car with 120 miles capacity.

 

[A.J.]

It's alright! We have Leaves as pool cars at work. If you get passed by one, don't worry. It'll be sitting at the side of the road a few miles on after running the battery dead. Ours had a full range of 82 miles when new and only if you were very careful. Five years on they're down to about 70 miles max, but even before you get out of the car park, it's down to 60. If it's wet and you need to use the wipers, knock 10% off. If you need the heater, knock off another 15%. No one knows how to use the radio because you don't dare. I've occasionally seen one creeping back to base at 30mph in the rain and very poor light with the side lights on and the windows steamed up.

What a useless piece of equipment that is then, can't even get to Norwich and back from here in the rain and poor light then !!

 

[Craiglxviii]

Having seen the state of Leaf for the next 7 years... I kinda doubt it all. Except the range thing. They’re fixing that.

 

[mercedes13156]

Ah! The price of going green. At the time they were £35k each. Plus £175 / month to hire the battery, then 2p per mile for the leccy. When we worked it out, you could buy three little Fiesta diesels outright and fuel them for a year for a bit less than the amount that one Leaf cost to run. One of the guys left the thing switched on while he went off to a meeting and returned to find it "deeply discharged", or "dodo dead". It had to be trailered away to the dealership and it apparently cost £9000 to put back on the road. You're not supposed to drain them dead apparently.

This morning I followed a Tesla for about 20 miles in my Kuga from the Edinburgh Tesla workshop onto the M9, M90 and A92. It sat at a constant 75mph except for a spot of overtaking where it just took of like a bullet for a mile. I wouldn't mind one of them.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Draining them dead does something chemically inside the battery so I believe.

 

[Westheath]

I see a business opportunity here...
“JDL underperformance Ltd”
Services:-
Performance downgrades
Chip removal
Speed limiters set
Mid range torque removed
0-60 times ruined
Weight addition
Wallowy suspension downgrades

Some of this already exists, I often set rpm and speed limiters to fleet vehicles.
Block access via OBDII to the ECU

 

[John Laidlaw]

Some of this already exists, I often set rpm and speed limiters to fleet vehicles.
Block access via OBDII to the ECU

Spoilsport! That’s another door closed!

 

[Westheath]

Its been around for years before electronics
just weld a bolt under the throttle pedal
then grind off length to suit

 

[bembo449]

all my companies vans etc are limited to 70mph and have been for a few years , I will always detest tesla's , no matter how quick they are or how much range they eventually come with , they have no soul or charisma and I'd love to know what eco footprint of making just one leaves , the ban fossil fuel brigade never tell you this information . . . . . . .