In my typical daily commute, there are three intersections (in each direction) where two lanes merge down to one lane within a few hundred feet after the stoplight. So, every single day, I have up to six opportunities to try and beat an ICE off the line before the merge. Most often, the stoplight is green as I approach and go through the intersection. So there's no racing off the line in those instances. When I am stopped at a red light, I'm usually not the first in line. So, conservatively speaking, I probably get at most one (maybe two if I'm lucky) opportunity per day to demonstrate my Meepster's abilities. Having owned my iMiEV for over two years now, I think I can honestly count on one hand the number of times I've beaten an ICE off the line. And each of those winning times, my conditions for winning (which I listed in a prior post) have always been met.
BarryP, to be honest, would you say the times you've won off the line it was a real race? By that I mean both you and the other driver had your go pedals mashed to the floor and there were no obstacles or impediments preventing a full, complete, and fair "race"? Here's what happens in almost every off-the-line opportunity I've been involved in. It's pretty much always a scenario where drivers are racing to be the first to the merge after taking off from the stoplight. Since there is a very short distance to the merge, it can never be a "true" race where each driver has clear, unimpeded track all the way to the "finish line." Someone eventually (very quickly, actually) has to give in and let the other car merge. So, in my case, it's never really a matter of beating someone off the line as much as it is realizing (in a very short amount of time) that this is stupid and can get dangerous very quickly.
In these situations, unless you or the other driver are complete, total jags and are hellbent on running the other car off the road if necessary, someone usually lets off the accelerator, eases in with the other traffic, and just goes about the remainder of the commute. A long time ago I had detailed in another thread an instance where I raced a pickup driven by one of those complete, total jags who did not take very kindly to me trying to beat them off the line. Since then, I rarely ever try to race anyone. And the few times I have gotten the urge since then, I have usually lost or had to give in. It's just not much fun to try anymore because of the real and credible likelihood that I'll embarrass myself in my Meepster.
Now, if someone could develop a mod/hack that would give our iMiEVS "Insane" or "Ludicrous" modes, then I'd be stomping the go pedal off every red light and taking deep personal satisfaction in seeing other drivers' faces turn red in anger/embarrassment (in my rear-view mirror, of course)!!!
