Model 3 Performance Owners' Feedback
Discussion
I'm keen to put down some thoughts on my M3 performance so far (just under a month of ownership) to see if a) the experience is consistent and b) to create a platform for general ownership advice.
So here's a few observations:
1. The high beam assist is horrendous. Doesn't dip for taillights until the last minute, doesn't dip at all in villages, takes forever to dip for on-coming traffic. Perhaps I have a calibration issue or this is consistent with others?
2. Does anyone know how much charge affects performance? It's clear that below c.60 miles it limps along. But below 200miles I'd say there's still a small dip. Anyone have any facts on this?
3. Mine fully charged gives a range of 302 miles. Tesla claim higher so a bit odd.
4. My actual range is way less. When driving conservatively on the motorway, I get 3/4 of whatever it says. When commuting, I get half. So my actual range I'd say is closer to 1/2. For reference, I don't hang about and commute across a B road but even still, very poor.
5. My sensor on the wipers barely works so I need to use manual. Needs to go in but that's a total ball ache so I haven't bothered.
6. I've lost all sounds twice now and had to do a factory reset, which they talked me through on the phone. Seems to be sorted now.
7. The seats need an slidy adjustment thing under the thighs, like on Audi/BMW etc. As it stands, the seats really aren't very comfy.
8. Does anyone know the actual range reduction implications for running A/c and heated seats. My commute is short enough for me not to really worry about this but on a longer journey I was running with the A/c off to make the trip on one charge there and back.
9. Anyone know how to make the map go to 3D? It auto does it now and again but I'd rather that was the main view.
10. Voice command is woeful. Given how good Siri is and how few buttons there are, it's a weak area for the car.
11. Autopilot is too jumpy. I can put up with it but it can be twitchy with the brakes. I'd like to think I was a courteous driver so on the motor way, I'm very conscious of over-braking and causing people to queue up. However, that's impossible as every time you lift off the throttle, your brake lights come on. Must be a nightmare to sit behind!
I have loads more than this, but these are the main things
So here's a few observations:
1. The high beam assist is horrendous. Doesn't dip for taillights until the last minute, doesn't dip at all in villages, takes forever to dip for on-coming traffic. Perhaps I have a calibration issue or this is consistent with others?
2. Does anyone know how much charge affects performance? It's clear that below c.60 miles it limps along. But below 200miles I'd say there's still a small dip. Anyone have any facts on this?
3. Mine fully charged gives a range of 302 miles. Tesla claim higher so a bit odd.
4. My actual range is way less. When driving conservatively on the motorway, I get 3/4 of whatever it says. When commuting, I get half. So my actual range I'd say is closer to 1/2. For reference, I don't hang about and commute across a B road but even still, very poor.
5. My sensor on the wipers barely works so I need to use manual. Needs to go in but that's a total ball ache so I haven't bothered.
6. I've lost all sounds twice now and had to do a factory reset, which they talked me through on the phone. Seems to be sorted now.
7. The seats need an slidy adjustment thing under the thighs, like on Audi/BMW etc. As it stands, the seats really aren't very comfy.
8. Does anyone know the actual range reduction implications for running A/c and heated seats. My commute is short enough for me not to really worry about this but on a longer journey I was running with the A/c off to make the trip on one charge there and back.
9. Anyone know how to make the map go to 3D? It auto does it now and again but I'd rather that was the main view.
10. Voice command is woeful. Given how good Siri is and how few buttons there are, it's a weak area for the car.
11. Autopilot is too jumpy. I can put up with it but it can be twitchy with the brakes. I'd like to think I was a courteous driver so on the motor way, I'm very conscious of over-braking and causing people to queue up. However, that's impossible as every time you lift off the throttle, your brake lights come on. Must be a nightmare to sit behind!
I have loads more than this, but these are the main things
Terminator X said:
Frimley111R said:
JJMatrixx said:
lHowever, that's impossible as every time you lift off the throttle, your brake lights come on. Must be a nightmare to sit behind!
I
Is that for normal driving?I
TX.
You can turn off brake regen so it coasts like a normal car but that would be daft.
RobDickinson said:
Phil. said:
Thank goodness for an honest current EV review.
Um 4 out of 11 points are EV related and those are all about range and mostly because the Op doesnt have a clue how to drive an EV.AC/heater wont have a significant impact on large battery EVs.
te.110 wh/m? No chance. Turn all batery drains off that you can, and it's 250 wh/m.
A/c won't significantly impact range? Talk s
te.Don't have a clue how to drive an EV? That's not the point of this post. The point are my observations of real world living - I didn't get the car to baby it around and not put the heated seats on.
SWoll said:
Surprises me how little research some people do before a purchase?
Car is on a 2 year lease so I probably do less research than if I was to buy it. Overall, I'm happy with the car and it's just my daily driver for a 26 mile commute. So the EV issues won't affect me. Point of the post was to see if other people are having some of the same issues or if I've got a lemon. Looks like the feedback is pretty consistent though.
Zcd1 said:
JJMatrixx said:
I'm keen to put down some thoughts on my M3 performance so far (just under a month of ownership) to see if a) the experience is consistent and b) to create a platform for general ownership advice.
4. My actual range is way less. When driving conservatively on the motorway, I get 3/4 of whatever it says. When commuting, I get half. So my actual range I'd say is closer to 1/2. For reference, I don't hang about and commute across a B road but even still, very poor.
3/4 of the rated range on the highway sounds about right and lines up with my experience. ~240 miles @ 80 mph.4. My actual range is way less. When driving conservatively on the motorway, I get 3/4 of whatever it says. When commuting, I get half. So my actual range I'd say is closer to 1/2. For reference, I don't hang about and commute across a B road but even still, very poor.
1/2 of the rated range range in commuting is odd indeed, since the regen should be extending the range significantly. My car has indicated as much as 360 miles of projected range when I've been driving in town (no highway) and staying ahead of traffic.
Zcd1 said:
JJMatrixx said:
It's really not surprising in the slightest.
It is to me because I've never come close to that type of energy consumption, and I don't exactly mooch about...Good thing the car is still at least 3x as efficient as an equally powerful ICE vehicle would be under similar use...
Range anxiety update...
I arrived at work with about 26 miles of range (long story as I'd been driving a lot that day and didn't have a full charge to start with). Anyway, I live 13 miles from the office so that shouldn't be an issue. Went to the car 4 hours later and the range had dropped to 22 miles and a snowflake appeared and a warning saying 'cold, battery performance will be affected'. First time I had the car when it was cold and first time I'd seen that message.
Anyway, I drive 3 miles on the motorway and it comes down by 10 miles, I get 8 miles from home, says I've got 10 miles to go. I'm stting it at this point.
I roll the dice and eventually drive 3 miles with the car saying 0 miles one it!!!
Have since been caught out again and drove 5 miles on it saying 0 miles to empty.
So a couple of things....
1. I know this is bad for the battery and wasn't intentional so haters don't hate.
2. WLTP range is 329 miles. Full charge says the range is 300 miles. So I suspect in normal driving with the heater etc on, you can go about 15 miles before the car cuts out. Wouldn't like to try that though!
I arrived at work with about 26 miles of range (long story as I'd been driving a lot that day and didn't have a full charge to start with). Anyway, I live 13 miles from the office so that shouldn't be an issue. Went to the car 4 hours later and the range had dropped to 22 miles and a snowflake appeared and a warning saying 'cold, battery performance will be affected'. First time I had the car when it was cold and first time I'd seen that message.
Anyway, I drive 3 miles on the motorway and it comes down by 10 miles, I get 8 miles from home, says I've got 10 miles to go. I'm s
tting it at this point.I roll the dice and eventually drive 3 miles with the car saying 0 miles one it!!!
Have since been caught out again and drove 5 miles on it saying 0 miles to empty.
So a couple of things....
1. I know this is bad for the battery and wasn't intentional so haters don't hate.
2. WLTP range is 329 miles. Full charge says the range is 300 miles. So I suspect in normal driving with the heater etc on, you can go about 15 miles before the car cuts out. Wouldn't like to try that though!
Zcd1 said:
FurtiveFreddy said:
...Why not try switching to % for a while and see how you get on?
Definitely this - switched mine within the first few days of ownership and haven't looked back.Only change that would make sense to be is changing the setting to projected miles, rather than range.
Quick update on tyres...
I put Goodyear Eagle F1s on the rear...don't do this!
I have 3 months left to go on the lease so just wanted a cheap option. However, long term these will do your head in as they are way noisier - I was told that the Michellins have foam in them and are stamped TO for Tesla and these are the tyres to fit, but I went against the advice due to the short lease period remaining. If you own the car, or will have them on longer, 100% replace with the TO stamped tyres!
I put Goodyear Eagle F1s on the rear...don't do this!
I have 3 months left to go on the lease so just wanted a cheap option. However, long term these will do your head in as they are way noisier - I was told that the Michellins have foam in them and are stamped TO for Tesla and these are the tyres to fit, but I went against the advice due to the short lease period remaining. If you own the car, or will have them on longer, 100% replace with the TO stamped tyres!
LordGrover said:
As you're coming towards the end, would you recommend BEV for your usage, and Tesla in particular?
What's next?
I'm a massive petrol head...had GT3s, RS, R8 v10s, 911 classics etc.What's next?
BUT...as a daily driver I think it's hard to beat due to speed and cost of ownership. The Tesla has been great - I've had very few complaints and the tech is amazing, beyond the autopilot. Even little things like using the sketchpad to practice my son's spelling driving to school - a very different experience to most cars. My M3P looks crap though as it doesn't have the performance upgrade pack, which is now standard (albeit list price is up about £9k!). So it never felt special, just a quick, fun car.
btw, I do about 10-12k miles per year and have used a Supercharger once...so charging from home is easy and essentially it's felt like I've had a full 'tank' every day.
Porsche Taycan 4s Cross Turismo now on order and massively excited about that tbh
FurtiveFreddy said:
LordFlathead said:
Tesla Plaid is officially a thing as of today. How about one of those?
Not until 2022 for the UK.And tbh, as much as I've enjoyed the Tesla, it feels largely cheap and unrefined next to German equivalents. As I'm coming to the end of my lease, two things have become an issue - i) brake shudder. They've since upgraded the brakes so shouldn't be an issue but a bit annoying. ii) I'm now getting a suspension creek that needs dealt with. On all the German cars I've had of late, things like this haven't arisen.
I also really don't like the 'leatherette'. I appreciate the sustainability aspect but I'm looking forward to that nice new smell of leather again.
....and I also expect the Plaid will be dirty dear when it comes out on a lease anyway.
ntiz said:
JJMatrixx said:
I'm a massive petrol head...had GT3s, RS, R8 v10s, 911 classics etc.
As someone who clearly like their performance cars, how do you rate the driving experience of M3P?I have a Model S that I have never really enjoyed as a performance car. It’s very fast A to B but I have never just gone for a drive in it. Having to give my wife my RRS so the Model S is going for something for me. Thinking of replacing with M3P through my company so I can afford a Exige. But don’t really want one unless it’s more fun than my Model S.
Plan B would be a something like an BMW M3 and the lotus has to wait.
Would be great to have the opinion of an owner.
BUT, as a daily driver it's still amazing as I have some B road commute and nothing will hold you back. And then when I hit the motorway, auto pilot on and it's just great. But yeah, as a driver's car it sucks.
SWoll said:
Definitely more fun than the Model S, better steering + body control and feels considerably smaller and lighter.
Even so I've rarely gone out for a drive just for fun, but with an Exige in the garage not so much of an issue I'm sure.
I think to go for a drive just for the sake of it you need an emotive exhaust note and to be banging through the gears. So fast as it is, it's numb in that regard.Even so I've rarely gone out for a drive just for fun, but with an Exige in the garage not so much of an issue I'm sure.
otolith said:
JJMatrixx said:
I think to go for a drive just for the sake of it you need an emotive exhaust note and to be banging through the gears.
Dunno, I assume people with bland turbo fours driving through a DSG still go out for a drive for the sake of it.Maybe they don't?
aparna said:
JJMatrixx said:
I think to go for a drive just for the sake of it you need an emotive exhaust note and to be banging through the gears. So fast as it is, it's numb in that regard.
When you say performance without the upgrade pack? You mean the 18 inch stealth?Have you ever tried track mode? I have a track day coming up, and wondering if my P without the package is worth taking on a track, or if I should take the opportunity to hire.
Edited by aparna on Tuesday 15th June 11:56
That's a good point about the track mode - I haven't actually tried it for the b roads...it's a good point, I'll give it a go and see if it makes a difference to the random braking.
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