# Teslas really are not great cars **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 30, 2025, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339 "2025-03-30T09:18:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 27
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2026, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/521 "2026-02-23T23:19:25Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > > [@puzzlegal](#): > > > > One foot driving isn’t really practical unless you also use cruise control. > > Your experience is your own of course but you’re an outlier in this case. DesertDog had a similar experience. > [@DesertDog](#): > > If I open the throttle to a point where I’m going 65mph down the interstate, it stays at 65 and I watch the consumption rise and fall with the grade, at least in the flat part here. It might lag on the 6% grade up I-17. > > I use cruise control to maintain that speed. If I don’t, over time I tend to east up and the car slows down. It probably depends on the car more than on the driver, honestly. 🤷‍♀️ ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/522 "2026-02-24T07:02:28Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > So I think you are agreeing with me. One foot driving isn’t really practical unless you also use cruise control. Except I do the same thing when I drive my ICE. I don’t see how one-foot driving is a factor. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/523 "2026-02-24T16:38:27Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > I would be shocked if using the parking brakes because the standard brakes exploded is a problem that happens to more than 1 in 10,000,000 people in their lifetime. Also, if you are truly using the parking brake in an emergency situation, all I can say is it is better than nothing, but not by much. Those back tires will immediately lose traction and you’ll be skidding and it doesn’t take much for that to happen. You will probably end up running into something slightly slower than if you didn’t pull that handle in that emergency. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/524 "2026-02-24T16:43:52Z")
When I drove a manual car, there were a couple of occasions where I had to start from a very steep hill and I would use the e-brake to help get started. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/525 "2026-02-24T17:05:03Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > You will probably end up running into something slightly slower than if you didn’t pull that handle in that emergency. Gently applying pressure to the rear brakes with the parking brake lever will eventually stop the car, but it will take a much longer distance than just using the normal brake pedal. If instead of just yanking the lever up as much as it will go, you hold in the release button and pull it until the car starts to slow, you can bring the car to a stop without skidding. This will even work with the foot pedal kind of parking brake, it is just very awkward to use one hand to hold the release lever, and a foot to press in the parking brake. The complaint is that the new style electric parking brake _only_ has the yank it to maximum setting. There is no way to gently apply pressure. To keep on topic. In my older Model 3 the electric parking brake can be applied by pressing and holding the “park” button at the end of the gear selector lever. Pushing and holding this while the car is in motion will lock up the rear tires. I assume there is an on screen button to activate the parking brake on newer Teslas that don’t have a gear selector lever. I have no idea how easy that might be to activate while the car is in motion. I’ve not tried engaging the electric parking brake lever on an ICE car. Perhaps next time I rent a car. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2026, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/526 "2026-02-24T17:23:31Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > When I drove a manual car, there were a couple of occasions where I had to start from a very steep hill and I would use the e-brake to help get started. They purposefully took us up a steep hill with a stop sign on our driving test. I used the e-brake to get going and got dinged for it. Stupid. > [@echoreply](#): > > Gently applying pressure to the rear brakes with the parking brake lever will eventually stop the car, but it will take a much longer distance than just using the normal brake pedal. I agree. But in an emergency when the normal brakes blow up (that was the scenario that started this side tangent), most people aren’t thinking straight and most likely have never slowed their car by pulling that lever. Learning on the job in an emergency leads to more emergencies. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/527 "2026-02-25T00:47:45Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > I’ve not tried engaging the electric parking brake lever on an ICE car. Perhaps next time I rent a car. I inadvertently did that a few years ago on the car I then had. I’d pulled into the parking lot of my building and while doing 10-15mph pulled the trigger on the parking brake, not the “raise convertible top” trigger next to it. Instant 4-wheel max braking w no antiskid. I probably rolled about a foot before stopping. Ouch! Loud screech too. 🤦‍♂️ I would not test that above ~20mph except as the only car in a large parking lot w no islands or light stanchions nearby. You’ll be ballistic until the speed gets to zero. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/528 "2026-02-25T03:20:36Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > > [@wguy123](#): > > > > You will probably end up running into something slightly slower than if you didn’t pull that handle in that emergency. > > Gently applying pressure to the rear brakes with the parking brake lever will eventually stop the car, but it will take a much longer distance than just using the normal brake pedal. > > If instead of just yanking the lever up as much as it will go, you hold in the release button and pull it until the car starts to slow, you can bring the car to a stop without skidding. This will even work with the foot pedal kind of parking brake, it is just very awkward to use one hand to hold the release lever, and a foot to press in the parking brake. > > The complaint is that the new style electric parking brake _only_ has the yank it to maximum setting. There is no way to gently apply pressure. Exactly. My brake cylinder exploded as i was driving, and i safely slowed the car, got it out of traffic, and parked it. There’s zero chance i could have done that with an on/off brake. I see why electric cars that have regenerative braking and a regular brake can be legally driven without a usable additional brake. But I’m shocked to learn that ICE cars without any usable back-up braking system are street legal. > [@wguy123](#): > > , most people aren’t thinking straight and most likely have never slowed their car by pulling that lever. Learning on the job in an emergency leads to more emergencies. Rather to my surprise, i pulled it off. It was freaking terrifying, of course. But I’m not the best in the world at thinking in an emergency, so if i could do it, i bet most drivers could. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/529 "2026-02-25T04:03:04Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > But I’m shocked to learn that ICE cars without any usable back-up braking system are street legal. How many non-EVs have manually actuated e-brakes these days? I’ve driven ICE cars with a push button e-brake. Are those considered usable backup braking systems? Not trying to argue, but if the backup brake is an on/off switch with no articulation, that’s not much. I think my EV with a rapid decel due to the motors is a better emergency braking system. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/530 "2026-02-25T05:39:19Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > How many non-EVs have manually actuated e-brakes these days? Wow, I had a totally non-scientific look around, but wow. Yeah, still pretty common on sports cars, but rare even on economy cars now. The Versa still has one, though. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/531 "2026-02-25T11:37:08Z")
I think you are agreeing with me. I don’t think the push button brake is a useful backup system. I’d never seen it before this car. I’m surprised cars without a backup that can be used if the main brakes fail are street legal. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/532 "2026-02-25T13:37:05Z")
Agree’ish. 😉 Electronic e-brakes are not solely a Tesla, nor EV thing and can also be found in plenty of ICE. Therefore, that particular complaint isn’t a Tesla thing. It’s a new car thing. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/533 "2026-02-25T15:21:12Z")
I’m sure I’ll find out if I’m wrong in just a minute, but I don’t believe any manufacturers these days claim that the hand-operated auxiliary brake in modern vehicles is an _emergency_ brake. It’s called a _parking_ brake by their terminology, and any thought of that system being an emergency-first backup plan is legacy thinking. Dual circuit master cylinders are the actual safety mechanism in modern cars. That said, a quick browse through the manual for my wife’s car, conveniently equipped with a parking brake button only, suggests that if you use the switch while driving it operates differently that if you use it while parked. It says, while providing little detail, that the computer engages the _Emergency Stop Assistant_, the same term used for the computer-aided braking engaged automatically when the radar detects that you are about to rear end someone. In that case, while the manual is vague, it reads as if the computer engages the standard brakes during this operation, then and only then setting the parking brake once stopped. 1. > Pull the (P) switch and hold it. The vehicle brakes hard while the switch is being pulled. > > The indicator light in the instrument cluster illuminates red, a signal sounds, and the brake lights illuminate. > > A Check Control message is displayed. > > The parking brake is engaged when the vehicle is stationary. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/534 "2026-02-25T15:37:26Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > I’m sure I’ll find out if I’m wrong in just a minute, but I don’t believe any manufacturers these days claim that the hand-operated auxiliary brake in modern vehicles is an _emergency_ brake. It’s called a _parking_ brake by their terminology, and any thought of that system being an emergency-first backup plan is legacy thinking. Yep. I tried bringing this up earlier. > [@Pleonast](#): > > A _parking_ brake is not an _emergency_ brake. A parking brake is an additional brake to prevent a car from moving when it’s not being operated (that is, when it’s parked). An emergency brake is an additional brake to use when other braking systems fail (for instance, in an emergency). In the past, the same brake could be used for both purposes, but as you note, that is no longer true. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/535 "2026-02-25T15:53:15Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Yep. I tried bringing this up earlier. Aw hell, sorry I missed that. > [@Pleonast](#): > > In the past, the same brake could be used for both purposes, but as you note, that is no longer true. In this age of computerized everything, it sounds like it still is true, in a certain sense, but not in the way everyone imagines. I know my wife’s car has what is now a common system, the part where the car says “This loser driving me isn’t paying attention, I’m gonna panic brake NOW’“ and now that I’ve looked at the manual, looks like the p-brake button just engages that subroutine immediately. Basically, an “I don’t care how, just stop!” button, ---
**Author:** ![mplo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mplo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mplo)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/536 "2026-03-19T20:29:02Z")
I, too, have heard and read thad Teslas are really dangerous cars! I wouldn’t get one if someone paid me to do so. ---
**Author:** ![mplo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mplo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mplo)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/537 "2026-03-19T20:34:51Z")
To be truthful, I’ve never been sold on the idea of using cruise either. It sounds too much like a case of taking the driver on a cruise, if one gets the drift. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/538 "2026-03-19T20:51:15Z")
> [@mplo](#): > > I, too, have heard and read thad Teslas are really dangerous cars! I wouldn’t get one if someone paid me to do so. Do you realize you are replying to yourself? ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/539 "2026-03-19T20:56:28Z")
Also, they aren’t really that dangerous. Certainly there’s plenty to criticize, as this thread shows, but there is a rather large excluded middle between greatest ever cars and deathtraps. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2026, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339/540 "2026-03-19T21:01:14Z")
The insurance cost is high because they are expensive to repair, not because they are more likely to crash. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339.md?page=26) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/teslas-really-are-not-great-cars/1016339.md?page=28)