M3/M4 vs. Tesla Model 3 Performance

[Kief]

Originally Posted by ZCD1

I went through the same process as you're apparently dealing with. Wondering whether I could be happy with an interior so different than the Audi interiors I'd enjoyed for 20 years, and whether the build quality would make me happy, again after 20 years of perfect panel gaps (if not perfect mechanical reliability in the earlier years).

At this point, after nearly 8 months of ownership those earlier concerns have disappeared. Are the panel gaps on my Model 3 as tight as those on the Audis? No, but they're extremely consistent. The interior is built very solidly, despite what the Tesla shorters and naysayers would have you believe. Everything feels good, the things that move do so with precision, and nothing flexes or feels flimsy. Most everyone who's been in the car sees quality and luxury, and that's what I see as well.

I actually just received a call for an opportunity for an extended test drive this Thurs until Sat. So I'm excited to have a decent amount of time to check it out in more detail!

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Originally Posted by Kief

I actually just received a call for an opportunity for an extended test drive this Thurs until Sat. So I'm excited to have a decent amount of time to check it out in more detail!

Does Tesla allow lease swaps?

[Kief]

Originally Posted by BMWModel3

Does Tesla allow lease swaps?

Good question, not sure
But this wouldn't be a lease for me

[ZCD1]

Originally Posted by Kief

I actually just received a call for an opportunity for an extended test drive this Thurs until Sat. So I'm excited to have a decent amount of time to check it out in more detail!

Enjoy!

Suggestion: drive it with Regen set to "Low" for the first few miles/hours, get accustomed to the feeling, then switch regen to "Normal". One-pedal driving is one of the best things about the car but also maybe the toughest thing to acclimate to.

Also check the tire pressure when you pick it up. 42 PSI is the current Tesla recommendation - it was originally 45. 45 is too high, in my experience.

Finally - give a good listen to the Audio system - it's really fantastic!

[Kief]

Originally Posted by ZCD1

Enjoy!

Suggestion: drive it with Regen set to "Low" for the first few miles/hours, get accustomed to the feeling, then switch regen to "Normal". One-pedal driving is one of the best things about the car but also maybe the toughest thing to acclimate to.

Also check the tire pressure when you pick it up. 42 PSI is the current Tesla recommendation - it was originally 45. 45 is too high, in my experience.

Finally - give a good listen to the Audio system - it's really fantastic!

I found the standard brake regeneration perfectly fine when I test drove it last week. I have mdct in both my X5M and M3CS, so it didn't seem unnatural to me. Appreciate the other tips.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by Kief

I found the standard brake regeneration perfectly fine when I test drove it last week. I have mdct in both my X5M and M3CS, so it didn't seem unnatural to me. Appreciate the other tips.

My #1 tip is to hammer the throttle whenever you can, take it on whatever fun roads you take your other cars, and try out the driver assist features in the left or middle lane of some limited access freeways with clear lane markings and no “left exits”

There’s a lot of noise on the net about these cars, and I personally felt a lot of apprehension leaving behind monster roll racing power, engine sounds and gear shifting. Everyone I personally know with a model 3 (especially Perfomance) has been happy with it. A good friend replaced a 700hp e63 wagon and doesn’t really miss it, and my modded 996 turbo doesn’t get much use at all these days because model 3P is so fun on public roads (and I personally don’t like going 110+mph outside of the track and risking felony speeding)

Btw, if you can do a track day in the loaner, might as well! I had a lot of fun taking mine to Sonoma.

[Kief]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

My #1 tip is to hammer the throttle whenever you can, take it on whatever fun roads you take your other cars, and try out the driver assist features in the left or middle lane of some limited access freeways with clear lane markings and no “left exits”

There’s a lot of noise on the net about these cars, and I personally felt a lot of apprehension leaving behind monster roll racing power, engine sounds and gear shifting. Everyone I personally know with a model 3 (especially Perfomance) has been happy with it. A good friend replaced a 700hp e63 wagon and doesn’t really miss it, and my modded 996 turbo doesn’t get much use at all these days because model 3P is so fun on public roads (and I personally don’t like going 110+mph outside of the track and risking felony speeding)

Btw, if you can do a track day in the loaner, might as well! I had a lot of fun taking mine to Sonoma.

Thanks man. So much for the RS5 SB

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by Kief

Thanks man. So much for the RS5 SB

If we are being honest with each other, you could get a Huracan Performante or gt2rs and within a few months you’d want to switch it out anyway

Where are you located man? I’ve been discussing starting up an exotic car club with friends just for this idea of switching cars regularly.

[Kief]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

If we are being honest with each other, you could get a Huracan Performante or gt2rs and within a few months you’d want to switch it out anyway

Where are you located man? I’ve been discussing starting up an exotic car club with friends just for this idea of switching cars regularly.

PA...but that would be an awesome club and possibly satisfy my insatiable thirst for what I don't have!

[ZCD1]

EVO Magazine has just posted their review:

https://www.evo.co.uk/reviews/201594...-establishment

Anyone who still doubts the Model 3P's qualifications as a serious competitor simply hasn't been paying attention...

[jzmundy]

I'd be lying if I said a Model 3P wasn't on my shortlist once my F80 lease is up in Feb 2020. My only hesitation? Cognitive dissonance arising from the fact I had convinced myself I'd never own such a car.

[6spdTanzM4]

I test drove the Model 3 Performance last night and this was the first time I've ever driven or even ridden in a Tesla. The price was now low enough where it got me pretty intrigued.

I went in with these preconceived notions: Sure it'll be really fast but how fast really (vs my stage 1 BM3 M4?), fit and finish probably not there, quality probably a downgrade from M4's full leather, tolerances sloppy, ipad-on-the-dash tech probably cool but meh, design meh (boring sedan-ish), etc.

In reality I was blown away. We all were giggling like school girls when we floored it. It completely blows away the M4 in acceleration and I could not believe how fast it felt even vs. nearly 500whp with the stage 1. The fit, finish, and quality was of European car caliber. Everything felt very solid and substantial (was trying to shake the center iPad and it would not move). Almost every interior piece is soft-touch or the vegan leather (steering wheel is real leather). The tech speaks for itself and the center console and software were fun and easy to use. The sound system is actually much better than the M4 Harmon Kardon system also.

The seats were a bit strange and a little like others have mentioned, you sit "on" them and not "in". They're also too soft for my liking and I couldn't actually get confortable, but I think we're also spoiled with our M seats. They do have full adjustability plus lumbar though. Also you feel like you're sitting much higher due to less of an "in the cockpit" position of the M, plus the short hood and no dash gauges (gained visibility though).

I'm not any kind of Tesla fanboy now but can say that I was very very impressed overall and would consider buying one in the future. It did totally change my attitude towards the company and what they've been able to do.

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Originally Posted by jzmundy

I'd be lying if I said a Model 3P wasn't on my shortlist once my F80 lease is up in Feb 2020. My only hesitation? Cognitive dissonance arising from the fact I had convinced myself I'd never own such a car.

Same. Props for usage of cognitive dissonance

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by BMWModel3

Same. Props for usage of cognitive dissonance

You are in a good spot to keep waiting.

EV will just get better and better due to Tesla and porsche pushing the limits , and gas sports car will too because of C8 vette. Not to mention the driver assist features are evolving and improving fast.

Either way, whether you stay gas or go electric, you benefit from waiting

Also, do you have a gas “ground up” sports car or competition car? That helps take the edge of going EV as well, if you know you can get your 6mt and roll racing fix from your gasser

[stevehifi]

Originally Posted by shiftmr2t

I test drove the Model 3 Performance last night and this was the first time I've ever driven or even ridden in a Tesla. The price was now low enough where it got me pretty intrigued.

I went in with these preconceived notions: Sure it'll be really fast but how fast really (vs my stage 1 BM3 M4?), fit and finish probably not there, quality probably a downgrade from M4's full leather, tolerances sloppy, ipad-on-the-dash tech probably cool but meh, design meh (boring sedan-ish), etc.

In reality I was blown away. We all were giggling like school girls when we floored it. It completely blows away the M4 in acceleration and I could not believe how fast it felt even vs. nearly 500whp with the stage 1. The fit, finish, and quality was of European car caliber. Everything felt very solid and substantial (was trying to shake the center iPad and it would not move). Almost every interior piece is soft-touch or the vegan leather (steering wheel is real leather). The tech speaks for itself and the center console and software were fun and easy to use. The sound system is actually much better than the M4 Harmon Kardon system also.

The seats were a bit strange and a little like others have mentioned, you sit "on" them and not "in". They're also too soft for my liking and I couldn't actually get confortable, but I think we're also spoiled with our M seats. They do have full adjustability plus lumbar though. Also you feel like you're sitting much higher due to less of an "in the cockpit" position of the M, plus the short hood and no dash gauges (gained visibility though).

I'm not any kind of Tesla fanboy now but can say that I was very very impressed overall and would consider buying one in the future. It did totally change my attitude towards the company and what they've been able to do.

Great review, exactly how I felt when I drove the car..

love the power, steering, compliance and interior is so easy to use with an awesome immersive sound system.

my only gripes were the bland exterior styling, the seats are too basic and the suspension is a bit too soft (needs adjustable shocks and stiffer springs).

If only Tesla would make essentially an 'M' version of the car it would really be something special.

[Kief]

Loving the extended test drive...

[nicknaz]

Kief, having “dog mode” to keep your Shepherd cool at all times when you need to briefly step out of the car is a clutch functionality of EV that we haven’t discussed

did you get to take it to a track day

Edit: stevehifi, can I state it another way and say you didn’t like model 3P because there not enough badges to let others know you paid more for the car than their model? I never know why my f80 had so many ///M stickers... I guess Bmw must have read your forum posts to understand what some customers really want their M for

[Kief]

So I reluctantly dropped off the Tesla M3P yesterday after our extended test drive for the past 3 days. This car is phenomenal IMHO! I would have bought one yesterday if only I could unload my wife's 2018 X5M for the same trade-in offers I have received at BMW and Audi dealerships. Tesla only gives you Carmax's appraisal, which leaves $5-6k on the table (and I'm cheap!). I can't imagine ever getting tired of the neck-breaking acceleration! Driving this car is so unlike what I've become accustomed to. The steering response is so quick, and the handling is surprisingly incredible too, but you can find yourself getting too much understeer only bc you have to modulate the ridiculous acceleration. And obviously the technology is amazing. However, the M3P certainly has some shortcomings, which many who have followed the car already know. IMHO, the fit/finish, and quality of materials/plastics, is very weak for a $60+k. And just a year ago, this same car was fetching $80k! This test model had poor body gaps, and trim pieces were about to fall off. There was also an annoying noise near the driver's a-pillar which I think was a trim piece affected by wind turbulence, or perhaps it was something in the driver's door. I'm also concerned about the sustainability of the company. With that said however, I still think I would buy one today, if I could just unload our X5M without taking such a bath. Then again, maybe just enjoy the X5M a little longer and see if my abovementioned Tesla concerns work themselves out. In case anyone is in the market for a mint X5M:

https://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1642997

[ZCD1]

Bummer about the issues with the demo model.

“Yours” wouldn’t have any of those problems because nobody would accept delivery in that condition.

Glad you got a decent feel for what makes the car such a game-changer when it comes to driving dynamics.

Mine’s still flawless at 8K miles.

[SflBimmer8484]

Priced out the Model 3 performance 3 yr lease 15k miles 922/month 0 down compared to my $66,500 f80 m3 .

F80 M3 12k miles a year ($715) tax in -0 down
Model 3P 15k Miles a year ($922) tax in -0 down

Electric car savings estimate - gas savings of $180 a month and -$30 on insurance

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by Andrew@ActiveAutowerke

Priced out the Model 3 performance 3 yr lease 15k miles 922/month 0 down compared to my $66,500 f80 m3 .

F80 M3 12k miles a year ($715) tax in -0 down
Model 3P 15k Miles a year ($922) tax in -0 down

Electric car savings estimate - gas savings of $180 a month and -$30 on insurance

What residual % did they use for the model 3? Is that $922/mo already including those energy and insurance savings? Seems like a wash with those savings put in

[SflBimmer8484]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

What residual % did they use for the model 3? Is that $922/mo already including those energy and insurance savings? Seems like a wash with those savings put in

It doesn't say. Im not using any of their savings calculations im using my own.