[aviswanathan]

I can attest to this. Initially, I was extremely skeptical that the Tesla was anything great (electric cars haven't been the highlight of the automotive industry despite repeated attempts by established manufacturers). A few weeks ago, however, I had the chance to drive a family friend's Tesla and I was stunned.

The Model S seems like a car from the future. Forget the fact that it's completely electric and charges via an alien-like, glowing plug. The interior with the large, beautiful touch screen, a voice-activated system (that, contrary to Siri, actually works) coupled with access to the internet, and the gorgeous trim and accents really make the Tesla a standout.

Moreover, it's every geek's dream. You can remotely control the car with a smartphone app, monitor the car's efficiency and performance via beautiful graphs, and even have presets for charging cycles.

Best of all, the pickup is like none other (as one would imagine). Flooring it in a Tesla has a completely different meaning. Pure acceleration and no roaring engine noise.

I think it goes without saying that I'm very excited about this company.

[technoslut]

After test driving a Tesla, I agree with much of what you said and one is the engine noise. I prefer sports cars and especially the sound of a V8/12. To me it's better than listening to music.

I do understand that those purchasing a luxury vehicle have different expectations. Those in sedans appreciate cabin silence more than others.

[fein]

I personally believe that the importance lies in awareness more than anything else. I generally don't run the radio in my car (even though its a piddly 1.8t GTI) because listening to the engine is important. There are all sorts of audible clues to the state of your car that get completely drowned out with the radio blaring.

I have a feeling that this is part of the source of some of the ridiculous "I've been driving my car and the brakes are magically broken" stories involving people who have run their pads and rotors down to bare metal and wonder why they didn't realize this was happening. Same goes for oil leaks, knocking, worn belts, etc.

We have a huge number of drivers in the US, and the 99% have absolutely no clue what the hell is going on with an item they use on a daily basis, hurtling down the freeway with 3000 pounds of steel at 70 mph.

[manmal]

My dad (working in automative industry) told me that tire pressure sensors were invented solely for the US market, because people in every other nation manage to check their tires every once in a while, while Americans drive until their tires "implode".

[minikites]

I think that's pretty unfair. You shouldn't have to care passionately for every object you use on a daily basis.

How often have you checked the quality of your drinking water? By your standard, you have no clue what the hell is going on with a substance you use on a daily basis and put into your body.

How much do you know about the supply chain of the food you eat? Do you ever use commercial rail or air travel?

Globalized civilization makes life too complex for anyone to know what the hell is going on with each thing they use on a daily basis.

[fein]

The difference here is that all of your examples do not leave me directly responsible for other peoples lives.

I'm talking about awareness of an object with which you can end someones life with a mistake/ poor upkeep, and be 100% directly responsible. It is, at this point, ones duty to do everything rational to prevent that possibility.

Just like your travel example: The pilot should (and does hopefully) know exactly what the state of the plane is. There is a reason that pre-flight checklist exists.

[hyperbovine]

It's a generational thing, I think. Two thoughts come to mind when I hear a V8/12 roaring down the street: "out-of-touch boomer" and "sea level rise". Literally nobody I know my age wants anything to do with those fossil burners. Electric (or something better, I hope) is the future.

[obviouslygreen]

I don't think it's a "generational" thing. I'd be more inclined to call it an upbringing/environment difference, in addition to a preference based on how you actually want a car to drive (which is very different than just "how powerful is it").

The "out-of-touch boomer" judgment is just petty. credibility--;

[nathan_long]

Whenever I hear ANYTHING roaring down the street, I fantasize about playing earsplitting polka on the driver's lawn at 3am.

[esse1972]

Out of interest, which age group are you in?

[acchow]

> To me it's better than listening to music.

I humbly submit that you haven't listened to the right music.

[beachstartup]

I humbly submit that you haven't been driving the right cars.

[lanstein]

There has to be a market for a company to add a V12 sound to the Tesla S.

[technoslut]

Well it was a secondary underlying theme to the lousy movie "The Dilemma".

I'm sure it can be done but the question is whether someone wants it. Many in that class would probably adjust quicker to the silence of EV's than a lie.

Do keep in mind that engine noise is not only beneficial to the driver but cyclists, other motorists and at crosswalks as well.

It's not a problem that is easily solved and satisfied by all parties.

[jquery]

> Do keep in mind that engine noise is not only beneficial to the driver but cyclists, other motorists and at crosswalks as well.

As a pedestrian, I disagree. Cars make far too much noise. People will adapt to them being quieter by using their eyes and looking both ways. I look forward to the day when living in a city doesn't mean hearing a constant drone of traffic.

[rjurney]

I almost get hit by hybrids when not paying attention. Cars need to make noise like natural gas needs to have a scent added. Safety.

[beachstartup]

sure there's a market, it consists of ferrari, maserati, lamborghini, aston martin, and AMG.

[orangethirty]

Music hath nothing over Ferrari V12 engines.

May I present the sounds of a Ferrari Formula 1 V12 from 1994. Turn up your speakers. Get a hair brush ready. All of your body hair will stand up as the wonderful sound of God's engine crawls up under your skin and makes your essence tingle in pleasure. You might want to smoke a cigarette afterwards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBXUOomynxw

[jquery]

It sounds like Optimus Prime farting.

I think you're projecting your own emotional attachment to speed onto a very unpleasant sound.

[orangethirty]

Have you ever been to a Formula 1 race? Or even any auto race?

[jpatokal]

I lived a stone's throw from the Singapore GP for several years. The racket was godawful and basically made the neighborhood unlivable for the three days the circus lasted.

[hyperbovine]

Sounds like a bumblebee completing digestion of a large burrito.

[wiredfool]

Eh, I prefer V8's with open headers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_itM5B9fvo

[orangethirty]

Now I have a new life goal. (:

[gtCameron]

I don't care how good the music is at the time, I still turn it off and roll down the windows every time I drive my M5 through a tunnel.

[MartinCron]

To me it's better than listening to music

I've completely flipped my thinking on this. Once you start to look at some cars and motorcycles not as vehicles, but as musical instruments, the emotional response and the economics start to make more sense.

[nathan_long]

Nobody's tuba has ever drowned out my conversation or hurt my ears from three blocks away.

If these enthusiasts could pipe the engine noise into their cabin and muffle it outside, I'd be a lot more sympathetic.

[slantyyz]

>> I prefer sports cars and especially the sound of a V8/12.

Isn't this the reason why Ferrari is saying they have no interest in producing an electric car?

[arh68]

> Moreover, it's every geek's dream. You can remotely control the car with a smartphone app, monitor the car's efficiency and performance via beautiful graphs, and even have presets for charging cycles.

Yuck. If that's a geek dream, I'll take the nightmare. Smartphone app? Beautiful graphs? I want raw data over RS-232, csv, text/plain, not opaque layers of App Stores and flashy (unreusable) charts.

[aviswanathan]

I believe the raw data can be exported as well - the graphs are just nice to be able to glance through and quickly digest

[secabeen]

Yep. Someone's even hacked the API: http://docs.timdorr.apiary.io/