Tesla Handles Better than a Corvette Z06 | Hacker News Reader

Tesla Handles Better than a Corvette Z06

danielodio.com

8 pointsdanielodio9 comments

The author has no idea what he's talking about. He makes several claims of fact for which he offers zero evidence in support, then goes on to specify constraints that favor his viewpoint. To paraphrase: "The Tesla handles better than a Corvette Z06, and by handles better, I mean I prefer it."

I get that the author likes the Tesla, and the Tesla is a fantastic automobile, but by every objective performance criteria, a Z06 Corvette eats its lunch. It's a silly comparison that needn't be made.

    | Metric    | Model S      | Corvette Z06 | Delta        |
    | ------    | -------      | ------------ | -----        |
    | 0-60      | 4.3s         | 3.6s         | -0.7s        |
    | 1/4 mile* | 12.6 @ 108.3 | 11.9 @ 123.5 | -0.7 @ +15.2 |
    | Slalom    | 66.8 mph     | 74.1 mph     | +7.3 mph     |
    | Skid pad  | 0.86g        | 1.06g        | +0.2g        |

* 1/4 mile measurements in seconds @ mph format

Sources:

Tesla S - http://www.edmunds.com/tesla/model-s/2012/road-test-specs1.h...

Corvette Z06 - http://www.roadandtrack.com/cm/roadandtrack/data/RT_To-the-P...

A far better comparison is the BMW 5-series hot rod, the M5. The M5's MSRP starts at $90,200. The Tesla Model S Performance MSRP starts at $87,400. Both are sedans, and both are best-of-breed in the performance category

    | Metric    | Model S      | BMW M5†      | Delta        |
    | ------    | -------      | ------------ | -----        |
    | 0-60      | 4.3s         | 3.6s         | -0.7s        |
    | 1/4 mile* | 12.6 @ 108.3 | 11.9 @ 119.7 | -0.7 @ +11.4 |
    | Slalom    | 66.8 mph     | 71.0 mph     | +4.2 mph     |
    | Skid pad  | 0.86g        | 0.95g        | +0.09g       |

* 1/4 mile measurements in seconds @ mph format

† M5 equipped with MDCT transmission

Sources:

Tesla - Same as above.

BMW M5 - http://www.roadandtrack.com/cm/roadandtrack/data/9bccd94b2e8...

By any objective measure, the Z06 and the BMW M5 beat the Model S. The Model S comes closer in performance to the M5, but it still loses pretty badly in all categories:

0-60: A difference of 0.7s in the race to 0-60 is around 2-3 car lengths, so a pretty substantial difference.

1/4 mile: In the quarter mile, we see that the elapsed time is similar to the delta in the 0-60 race, but the big difference is in the trap speed (the speed at the end of the quarter mile). The turbocharged V8 in the M5 has more power at higher speeds.

Slalom: A difference of 4.2 mph in the slalom is huge. To give some sense of perspective, a Volkswagen GTI makes it through the slalom at around 65 mph, about 2 mph shy of the Model S. The Model S loses ground to the M5 here because of its weight. The Model S weighed in at 4,770 lbs, where the M5 is 4,525 lbs.

Skid pad: Using the GTI as our point of reference again, it pulls a 0.90g around the skid pad in a Road & Track test. The Model S is again hindered by its weight, but there is probably a tire factor as well. Tires can have a significant effect on efficiency, and I'd imagine that the Model S optimizes for range, rather than skid pad grip.

So, the author likes the Model S. For every day driving, the Model S is far more car than anyone needs. However, that doesn't mean it handles better than a Z06. Saying so is either ignorance, or intellectual dishonesty.

I think you should cut/paste this to his blog as well -- so people not getting there via HN get the news.

I fail to see how the author is a credible expert on the matter of high-performance vehicles and their handling.

I agree, and I feel the author uses "handling" in a nonconventional manner. I typically see it used to refer to cornering, steering feedback, and overall nimbleness. He seems to equate it to controlling acceleration in a straight-line.

Also, the majority of supercars also come with "push the pedal and forget" multi-clutch transmissions, that make the pedal experience similar to the Tesla.

The post boils down to someone thinking the Tesla is a really cool car, which I agree with.

Interestingly the Z06 has a 50/50 weight distribution, whereas the Tesla has a higher weight distribution at the rear. Both are rear wheel drive, so if people are finding that the Tesla handles better it may just be down to the slight WD difference.

Or, they could be pretty damn close.

Or it could be confirmation bias--if you just bought a Tesla you probably want to feel good about your decision.

"I also suspect that the power from an ICE is pulsating as the cylinders fire which cause the tires to have a tendency to lose traction."

Anyone knows whether that is true? ICE uses a flywheel, cannot it fully smooth the action?

It's not true. For a modern eight-cylinder internal combustion engine with a flywheel and a balanced, counterweighted crankshaft, there's no significant pulsation present in the output power train. If there were, it would quickly destroy the transmission and rear differential.

There are a number of excellent reasons to suppress any significant pulsation in the power from an ICE, and the flywheel is the primary way to accomplish this.

Isn't it the torque curve that's smooth for electric motors and not power?

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