Dodge Charger Hellcat vs. Tesla Model S 4WD

[wemay]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy


Tesla makes a good car for roads where 99.999% of people operate their cars.

As James May says that stupid Nuremberg lap time thing ruins road cars, you know where people drive them on public roads.

I wish car mags would do real road tests, how good is the vehicle in rush hour traffic? How good does the suspension absorb massive road heaves and pot holes, etc. How does it do in a crowded Costco parking lot in terms of parking first than holding lots of [censored].


Excellent post! Especially since our roads are increasingly deteriorating. Also, any reference to James May and his common sense approach, is a good one.

 

[chrisri]

4wd electric car with maximum torque from zero rpm against relativity primitive rwd car with modest traction. And with a poor driver on top of that. Result is not unexpected.
What do you guys think about Rimac Concept One? Supposedly it's better car than Tesla?

 

[A_Harman]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
I don't really care about how a car goes around VIR, I care about how comfortable it is idling down to the local store at 30mph or less. My grandmother on a scooter could go around VIR, the time would be as relevant to me as a Tesla.

Tesla makes a good car for roads where 99.999% of people operate their cars.

As James May says that stupid Nuremberg lap time thing ruins road cars, you know where people drive them on public roads.

I wish car mags would do real road tests, how good is the vehicle in rush hour traffic? How good does the suspension absorb massive road heaves and pot holes, etc. How does it do in a crowded Costco parking lot in terms of parking first than holding lots of [censored].


Anything is comfortable enough to idle down to the local store at 30mph. My 1972 GMC pickup is fine for that, has a better ride than my Camaro and Dodge Ram, is easy to park because it's a shortbed, and it holds a lot of stuff in the back. Perhaps you should start looking for old pickup trucks. I got mine for 1/5 the cost of the average new commuter car, money which can be used to pay for fuel because it gets 13 mpg. How long would it take for me to spend $20k in fuel?

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy


Tesla makes a good car for roads where 99.999% of people operate their cars.


As does Dodge/Chrysler with the Mercedes-derived LX cars. They are fantastic road cars with a far lower repair cost than a Benz.

 

[Cujet]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
How about a race from, say, Virginia Beach, to Boston?

A reasonable day's drive...and I chose a route that has electric charging stations...at least through NJ and CT...

I just can't see buying a car that can't go beyond the local area...when the infrastructure catches up, sure.


And, you've hit upon the crux of the problem. Electrochemical energy storage has finite limits. In fact, it has theoretical limits (absolutely unreachable, ever) that are not all that "fantastic".

A tankful of Jet A is a wonderfully energy dense source of power. Capable of moving 500 humans, in a one million pound machine, at 80% the speed of sound, for 14 uninterrupted hours, in absolute comfort, and with absolute safety.

The same weight of batteries can provide 15 minutes of flight in that same aircraft.

 

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted By: A_Harman
But would people pay to see "Top Electric" dragsters? No spectacle there, and not much noise. Unless they can figure out a way to make big, blue lightning bolts shoot from the motors.


^^^

YES, the above says it ALL, despite the "future" belonging to current/hybrid power.

 

[donnyj08]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy


Tesla makes a good car for roads where 99.999% of people operate their cars.


As does Dodge/Chrysler with the Mercedes-derived LX cars. They are fantastic road cars with a far lower repair cost than a Benz.



+1 the Tesla is cool, but at the end of the day id Rather fire up that hellcat and hear the glorious sound of a force inducted V8 engine. No electric engine can ever replace the overall intoxicating experience of a 700Hp V8 street car.

 

[whip]

Originally Posted By: AZjeff
Sour grapes?

Yes, it's sour grapes. Similar to the person that complains his Corvette won't tow his boat.

 

[SteveSRT8]

You guys are always hilarious.

We all still get to buy exactly what we want to. I choose track capable cars due to my preference for that ability. Others choose their cars for their own reasons. They may not match mine. I really do not care.

I give up NOTHING in my sig car except fuel economy. The car is certified as a ULEV and has every option a loaded Lincoln or Cadillac would have, whisper quiet, carries 5 of us in regal comfort, has a huge trunk, fantastic reliability and low ownership costs, and can go 180 mph and run the road course all day long. Ask someone who owns one, like Overkill. It's a nice package for those who want a capable sedan.

What I don't like is folks who imagine they know what others are thinking. That betrays an interesting thought pattern that I do not agree with. I have no issue with Tesla, but I am unwilling to accept the compromises required to own one...

 

[VNTS]

I thinks some people are just jealous

Anyone knocking an SRT product, especially one like the Challenger, isnt a car person.


Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
You guys are always hilarious.

We all still get to buy exactly what we want to. I choose track capable cars due to my preference for that ability. Others choose their cars for their own reasons. They may not match mine. I really do not care.

I give up NOTHING in my sig car except fuel economy. The car is certified as a ULEV and has every option a loaded Lincoln or Cadillac would have, whisper quiet, carries 5 of us in regal comfort, has a huge trunk, fantastic reliability and low ownership costs, and can go 180 mph and run the road course all day long. Ask someone who owns one, like Overkill. It's a nice package for those who want a capable sedan.

What I don't like is folks who imagine they know what others are thinking. That betrays an interesting thought pattern that I do not agree with. I have no issue with Tesla, but I am unwilling to accept the compromises required to own one...

 

[raytseng]

Originally Posted By: hattaresguy


I wish car mags would do real road tests, how good is the vehicle in rush hour traffic? How good does the suspension absorb massive road heaves and pot holes, etc. How does it do in a crowded Costco parking lot in terms of parking first than holding lots of [censored].


The magazine you're looking for is consumer reports. Where they do judge a a car on it's appliance-ness. Fewer cupholders? dropped down a grade. Can't fit as much Costco run? dropped down a grade.

 

[wemay]

Originally Posted By: chrisri
4wd electric car with maximum torque from zero rpm against relativity primitive rwd car with modest traction. And with a poor driver on top of that. Result is not unexpected.
What do you guys think about Rimac Concept One? Supposedly it's better car than Tesla?


Says everyone pulling for the losing car...

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy


Tesla makes a good car for roads where 99.999% of people operate their cars.


As does Dodge/Chrysler with the Mercedes-derived LX cars. They are fantastic road cars with a far lower repair cost than a Benz.




The power of a hemi. The fuel consumption of a sixxer and runs at 140mph down the road and feels pedestrian at that speed.
I've had mine doing the 160mph needle and I ran out of courage before the car ran out of pedal. It's the only car I've ever in my life driven where I truly felt it was more than I can handle.
In stock for a charger RT is speed limited to 200km/hr. A tuning device removes that pesky limiter and allows the car to attempt flight.
I a, a mustang guy but I just can't say enough about the charger when hemi equipped. It's a grocery getter that is extremely stable at very high speeds and is great on horrid roads. It does everything well.
I still love mustangs. I just can't justify buying one anymore.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
You guys are always hilarious.

We all still get to buy exactly what we want to. I choose track capable cars due to my preference for that ability. Others choose their cars for their own reasons. They may not match mine. I really do not care.

I give up NOTHING in my sig car except fuel economy. The car is certified as a ULEV and has every option a loaded Lincoln or Cadillac would have, whisper quiet, carries 5 of us in regal comfort, has a huge trunk, fantastic reliability and low ownership costs, and can go 180 mph and run the road course all day long. Ask someone who owns one, like Overkill. It's a nice package for those who want a capable sedan.

What I don't like is folks who imagine they know what others are thinking. That betrays an interesting thought pattern that I do not agree with. I have no issue with Tesla, but I am unwilling to accept the compromises required to own one...



My point exactly. The charger/300 chassis is fabulous on real roads including washboard and potholes. It handles great right out of the box. The SRT versions are track ready whereas the RT line would benefit with different shocks,not that for most drivers the RT is already more car than they can handle.
Heck look at the charger/300 and compare them since their first models were introduced.
Mine has every available option except flashy seat,though mine are heated with power and leather. I've got the entertainment system which I just love. The kids watch movies,with headphones so o don't have to hear what they are watching yet I still am able to listen to whatever I want thru the stereo.
I've had 5 adult in the car driving 15 hours to Kelowna and I never heard a single complaint about room,however the shortest person sat centered
It handles beautifully no matter what conditions present themselves whether it's a winter blizzard or a torrential rainstorm.
It's a drivers car. Period. Don't let the extra doors fool you. A driver gives up absolutely nothing with one of these. Style,performance and all the little luxuries are all in.
And when one considers the price it's a no brainer.
My car is almost at 90000 miles,not kms. It's had fluid changes and winter tires. That's it for maintenance. And rides very tight with no squeaks to be heard whatsoever.
Find me a car with this kind of durability for the price I paid with the same function and fun factor and I'll trade up tomorrow.
There isn't one. I can take my kids to hockey with room to spare and once o drop them off I can enjoy the 400tq that makes my face sore smiling so much.
It's the whole package that sells it.

 

[Benito]

Not all 300's are cheap though:

http://www.obamas300c.com/

 

[AZjeff]

But you all miss the amusing part. the 1/4 mile is the bare-chested, in-your-face, All American pinks throwdown. The car equivalent of boxing. And the geek-boy, wine & cheese fancy smancy golf cart beats the HELLCAT HEMI.

It just ain't right JimBob.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Its the future, no doubt in my mind. The fact that these cars have only been out a few years and already have this kind of performance is amazing.
IMO the horseless carriage as daily transportation as we know it is close to end of life, not a bad thing if modern tech can give us a better alternative.

The first Tesla vehicle was a roaster, its performance was pretty fast too, IIRC it was in the high 4 or low 5 seconds to 60 MPH.

 

[DoubleWasp]

I'd rather have the Hellcat.

 

[whip]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
What I don't like is folks who imagine they know what others are thinking. That betrays an interesting thought pattern that I do not agree with. I have no issue with Tesla, but I am unwilling to accept the compromises required to own one...

I don't know what you think, but I do read your post. They all seem negative towards Tesla.

 

[AZjeff]

Steve, it's very cool that you track your SRT. Don't know if that means strip only or road course too but no matter, you run it. A great thing to have the means and desire. Thing is, probably 99% of SRTs, HELLCATs, Z28s, etc will never see triple digits much less any kind of track so they'll never be used as intended (or to their potential). The Tesla isn't a track car or strip car, never intended to be. They'll be used more in line with their purpose. For it to have this kind of performance in any venue is pretty special. Not so much for you guys with the fire-breathing cars, but it's good technology and interesting to the rest of us. People that buy them know the limitations and still buy so they must be OK with it.

If I could own a Tesla I could probably also put a Hellcat in the garage...