Gear shifting slows down a vehicle, regardless of how fast it is, since you're disconnecting the engine from the powertrain. It also is another thing you have to bother with while driving.
I think that's what makes driving fun.. you have greater control of your cars actions and are in touch with it. I could never see myself driving something where I never have to touch the shifter once its in a forward gear.
As for the speed issue, you're right, it is slowing it down. (granted new paddle systems make that 60 milliseconds like the F430 Scuderia) But the Tesla only has 1 gear, which doesn't like going much past 100mph.
It is a 2-speed car. Tesla is planning on performing a recall to upgrade the transmissions of all of the delivered 1-speed cars to 2-speed.
They increased the power of the engine while waiting to fix the gearbox, and found the car now accelerates fine with only one gear.
-W
Do I understand correctly that the 1.5 drivetrain tends to get hot at high speeds and is automatically throttled to prevent overheating (thermal throttled, like some CPU's) and that that is the reason that though the car can indeed reach 120 or more MPH, it cannot sustain it for very long?
Nobody here is Michael Schumacher, but a manual car with a good sound will damn sure make you feel like him.
It still surprises me how few manuals you see in the US, It's as if people aren't interested in driving + getting the most out of the car. If you don't enjoy driving, why not get a driver. If you enjoy driving, you want a manual.
Nothing worse than speeding up an on-ramp, and the car refusing to budge out of 2nd.
They don't get drivers for the same reason they don't have chefs and other personal assistants.
OTOH, I live out in the country and about 5 miles of my commute is on winding gravel roads. Turn off Traction Control and I have a blast without ever exceeding the speed limit!
There is a motorcycle model with clutchless shifting?
Regardless, I still wouldn't buy a manual. I drive my brother's old turbo Z and my dad's manual pickup sometimes. I've driven a friend's manual Porsche Cayman S on the tracks too. Clutches just aren't fun.
An added bonus is the speed of SMG transmissions today. My 335i's "steptronic" transmission has a clutch-lock for that real direct connection to the engine feel, plus it shifts in 100ms; which I don't think any human could actually do. The perfect throttle blipping makes it extremely smooth. Further, the fun of using paddle shifters is a huge thrill as a FIA F1 fan! :D