I Drove a Tesla!

Posted by Jewel on December 9th, 2010

Just before Art Basel, the FAB folks at Tesla Motors contacted me, inviting me to an event. They had partnered with digital artist Laurence Gartel to create a very unique piece of art–a Tesla Roadster that was covered with artwork. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it to their event.

Luckily, the Tesla folks didn’t give up on me. They invited me to see the car after Art Basel and to drive a Tesla–Say WHAT? Umm…did you say that you are going to let me drive your $1ook all electric car? The one that goes from zero to 60 in under 4 seconds? THAT one? Oooh ok, I’m sure I can accomodate you on that! I was snickering even before I sent my reply.

Well, this past Tuesday was the day. I headed over to Tesla South Florida where I met Seneca Giese, who shall now be referred to as Tesla Dude. Well, when I walked in, the Gartel Roadster was front and center. I thought I heard it calling it out me. Tesla Dude wanted to tell me all about the cars–I just wanted to drive that puppy. But the strangest thing happened–what he was saying got INTERESTING. I mean really interesting. I started learning stuff!

I mean really–you can drive 245 miles on a single charge? The body of the vehicle is made of carbon fiber? Isn’t that what race cars are made of? The CEO of Tesla Motors is Elon Musk? Wasn’t he one of the co-founders of Paypal? Didn’t I see him on the news this morning on an entirely different matter? Yes I did. He’s also CEO of a company that, just yesterday, became the first private company to launch a spacecraft into orbit and bring it safely back to earth. Hmm..I have GOT to talk to him the next time that he’s in town. DEFINITELY.

Anyhow, Tesla Dude shows me all around the car, gives me the Tesla story, and takes me to a computer, where we went through the buying process. I totally pimped out my own Roadster, which will only cost me $160k. Small beans! Now, the thing about the Roadster is, they are limited production. You order it today and it’s delivered to you 12 weeks later, built in Fremont, California. But, good ole Elon Musk has a plan to bring electric cars to the masses, as he is planning to debut the Model S next. This car should be a BEAST! It’s a sedan that seats 7, has both a front and rear trunk, seats fold flat, 300 miles on a charge, 45 min Quick Charge, 17inch Infotainment screen, zero emissions, and on top of all that–SPEEDY. Zero to sixty in less than 6 seconds.

Finally, Tesla Dude announces that it’s time for me to drive. OH YEAH, BABY! He pulls the car around and shows me how to get in. He drives me a good distance away, showing me different features of the car. And I have to tell you that, in addition to everything else going on with the car, it has another feature–a SKY HIGH COOL QUOTIENT. It’s the kind of car that, when stopped at a light, you can look over at the next car, and just give them “the nod.” You know the nod. I’d never given The Nod before, I’d only been the recipient. When someone gives you the nod, you instantly hear MC Hammer in the background, singing You Can’t Touch This. THAT nod.

So, he pulls into a parking lot and we switch seats. The oddest thing to me about driving an electric vehicle is that u don’t hear anything. If there weren’t lights on, you couldn’t even tell that the car was running. Oh, and that it doesn’t have a gearshift. You push buttons. Wow! I pulled out nice and easy but soon I was rocking! I like that when you hit the gas–wait, I guess I’m not hitting the “gas”–fine then–when you hit the “electric” that car MOVES! The snap your head back kind of move. I LOVED it!

I totally fell in love with the Tesla. Totally. And I WILL be installing a PAYPAL donation button on this blog. Please help me get $160k for a Roadster. I want it bad.