3 Things I Learned Driving a Tesla Model 3 Performance
I had the opportunity to drive a Tesla Model 3 Performance on and off for about a month. It’s the one with the long-range 75 kWh battery pack, the dual motors, a fancy carbon fiber spoiler on the trunk, and Tesla’s special sauce firmware that makes it go fast. It also had Autopilot (and the Full-Self Driving package).
For background information, my “normal” car is a pretty old 2000 BMW 3-Series coupe.
1. Most electric cars are slow, but Teslas are not slow
OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH DUDE!
The Model 3 is incredibly quick. Tesla claims that the 0–60 MPH time is 3.2 seconds. However, it’s actually quicker than what Tesla says. 3.1 seconds isn’t uncommon.
It’s supercar fast. It’s definitely quick enough to scare some people. But everyone usually ends up having a really great time. Check out some 0–60 launch reactions that Forrest’s Auto Reviews posted on YouTube:
Here are a couple of screen captures from the video:
2. Range anxiety isn’t a thing.
I have a really bad 90 mile commute for work (45 miles each way). But the Model 3 has 310 miles of range and that’s more than plenty.
Side note: A cheaper model (Long Range AWD) has 322 miles of range. And the “base” model (Standard Range Plus) has 250 miles of range. Even the Standard Range Plus model’s range would have been enough.
I’ve never had to go out of my way to charge (like you have to for a “regular” internal combustion car (i.e. go to a gas station)). I just plugged in when I got home and occasionally when at work. It’s just like charging my phone.
Though people tell you that needing to charge an electric car is a huge hassle, in actuality, going to a gas station is more inconvenient. In my experience, charging has never required me to take any extra time. Whereas going to a gas station necessitates me having to plan at least 10 minutes being taken out of my day.
3. Adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and automatic parking isn’t new, but Autopilot is game changing.
The first true adaptive cruise control was available in 1999 by Mercedes on the S-Class and CL-Class. It acted as regular cruise control, but it also made sure to maintain a safe distance (measured by radar) from the car in front of it.
Similarly, Honda released the first lane keep assist in 2003 on the Inspire. And Toyota released the first automatic parking assist in 2003 on the Prius.
Tesla’s Autopilot is a game changer. Autopilot (standard on all Model 3 vehicles) is a suite of driver assist functions: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, Autosteer, Autopark, and Auto Lane Change as of the time of writing.
My particular Model 3 had the Full-Self Driving package, so it also has Navigate on Autopilot and Enhanced Summon as of the time of writing.
The integration of all of these systems is seamless, making for a great experience. It’s basically magic.
Driving in traffic with Autopilot engaged removes all of the stress of driving. Auto Lane Change will make sure that you’re always in the quickest lane. And Navigate on Autopilot literally drove me on highway/freeway interchanges, to make sure that I got to my destination.
When I got to work or when I came home (after 1 to 1.5 hours of driving), I didn’t feel stressed. I felt “refreshed” comparatively speaking, because most of my commute was looking at the surroundings enjoying the view and listening to my music.
Check out a video by Scott Kubo of a Model 3 with Autopilot (and Navigate on Autopilot) engaged maneuver around a lot of vehicles on the road:
Conclusion
I completely fell in love with the Tesla Model 3 after driving it on and off for about a month (for essentially a long-term test drive).
- It’s literally quicker than some exotic supercars. It brings smiles to all of my passengers faces.
- Being able to juice up at home and work is extremeley convenient.
- Autopilot is freaking amazing.
When I returned the Model 3 to the owner, I immediately went home and ordered one for myself. (The ordering experience literally took less than 2 minutes. And I really enjoyed the haha yes porcupine.)
I got my Model 3 a few weeks later, and I couldn’t be happier!
If you’d like to get your very own Model 3, you can get 1,000 miles of FREE Supercharger miles if you use my referral link! https://ts.la/matthew18238
Further Reading?
If you enjoyed this article, check out what my commute is like as a Silicon Valley Engineer with a Tesla Model 3:
Or consider checking out the aesthetic yet functional interior and external accessories that work really well for Model 3.
- Sound & Noise Accessories:
- Interior Accessories:
- Exterior Accessories
