7 Mistakes First-Time Slingshot Drivers Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Is it difficult to drive a Slingshot? Not mechanically — if you can drive a car, you can drive one. But a handful of car habits actively work against you at first, and these are the seven I watch for on the supervised test loop before every ride.

Mistake 1 — Fighting the AutoDrive Transmission

Why it happens: people expect the smooth, seamless feel of a CVT. AutoDrive downshifts on its own when you lift off the throttle, and it feels like engine braking. The fix: let it shift. Don't ride the brake to compensate for something that isn't a problem.

Mistake 2 — Forgetting the Rear Wheel Tracks Inside the Front Wheels on Tight Turns

Why it happens: car intuition doesn't map onto reverse-trike geometry. The fix: give tight corners more room than instinct tells you to.

Mistake 3 — Braking Like It's a Car

Why it happens: braking feel is closer to a motorcycle's than a car's. The fix: leave more following distance, brake earlier than you would in your daily driver.

Mistake 4 — Skipping Sunscreen and Sunglasses

Why it happens: open cockpit, no windshield tint, no shade. The fix: apply before you arrive, and wear actual sunglasses — squinting for two hours isn't a strategy.

Mistake 5 — Over-Driving the First Mile

Why it happens: adrenaline, plus a supervised test loop that felt easier than the open road. The fix: ease into speed over the first few minutes of the actual route instead of matching your test-loop confidence immediately.

Mistake 6 — Not Adjusting Mirrors Before Moving

Why it happens: people rush past the walkaround step because they want to drive. The fix: the extra 30 seconds is worth it.

Mistake 7 — Treating the Passenger Seat as an Afterthought

Why it happens: drivers focus on themselves and forget to brief whoever's riding along. The fix: a quick passenger briefing — hold on through turns, expect sun exposure — takes ten seconds and saves a surprised passenger.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to drive a Slingshot?

Not mechanically — but a few car habits work against you at first. The seven mistakes above cover them.

How to correctly use a Slingshot?

Steering wheel, pedals, AutoDrive — see our full orientation walkthrough for how we cover it in person.

What should you not do in a Slingshot?

Don't fight the transmission, don't brake like it's a car, and don't skip the mirror adjustment — the top three from the list above.

See It in Person

Read our full first-timer's guide, or go ahead and book the 1-Hour Drive & Go.