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Originally Posted by equ
It's impressive what the Model 3 can do - no doubt about it... I think a rwd one would be a fairer fight. Then again, I'm not sure you can get the full juice with a rwd. It was a little concerning that it was more ragged around the edge of traction even as an AWD car, but that's a minor chink on a solid win. It's also illuminating to hear how new levels of connection are found with the tires when you are not too busy being deafened by an engine. I've read the same in electric performance motorcycle reviews, not just noise, but the reduction of vibration allowing for more traction information reaching your fingertips and brain.
I'd try to remind myself when driving it on wet or snowy conditions. It's easy for fantastic tires to hold 4200lbs in line in good conditions. When traction is low though, the CoG could be deceiving. I'm not saying it would handle worse than another 4000lb car (say my 5-series) but you have learned to expect it to handle on par with something much lighter, so it could be a matter of surprising on the downside, especially as you're used to something that runs with m3's and caymans. In a traction limited scenario, weight would come forward again and the CoG benefit will not be as full as it is in better conditions. Just a minor note I'd have to tape on my steering wheel. Traction from a dig, or any on-throttle scenario should not be a problem with decent AWD programming.
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Thankfully it didn't snow much around here this past winter, but it just digs and goes in the snow. One of the benefits of having two motors, I guess, though I suppose there are scenarios where the open e-diffs could be overpowered even there.
As the video explains a little, the raggedness on edge is a bug rather than a feature; it's Tesla programming in oversteer in certain conditions, like the Focus RS drift mode but more sophisticated and faster.
JV and Matt are right--the thing about the Model 3 is that its performance is so accessible, it makes it a near perfect daily driver. All of those times where you're idling around in your high HP M3, feeling the driveline bind, barely able to wake the turbos and or cams up...the Model 3 is just relaxing and languid there. And then when the time comes to light it up, it just...goes. No effort, no drama. Just, POW, you're gone.
There is no faster car in an urban setting.
The interior is spartan, but you get used to it in the same way you get used to any other minimalist decor. Is it "luxurious?" Yes and no, I guess. An Eames couch isn't particularly "luxurious" for its price point, but it has a clean elegance. The Model 3 is the same way. Most regular cars feel busy and extra in comparison.