. . . CB claims to be disliked on Tesla forums since he’s critical. His current and previous car ownership includes the F80 M3, F30 335i, and E92 333i. He also shares that he’s had an opportunity to drive nearly every car in the segment, with specific mention of the BMW 3 Series, C AMG45, Audi S4, Audi S5, and new Alfa Romeo Giulia.
So, what does CB have to share? He begins:
“Well, today I was able to borrow this baby and spent a day driving it on mountain roads, within San Francisco, and cruise it down 101. Here are my impressions. I’m going to score individual categories relative to other competitors in this class, so I won’t be rating the Model 3’s cost against a Civic, its luxury against an S class, or its handling against a 911.”
CB provides a fair amount of text related to each of his chosen categories, but let’s start with a breakdown of his scores:
- Drivetrain (9/10)
Steering (8/10)
Suspension/Chassis (9.5/10)
Interior Quality/Fit and Finish (5/10)
Technology/User Interface (Exclude Auto Pilot) (2/10)
Auto Pilot (10/10)
Despite the terrible tech score and marginal interior quality score, CB is impressed with the car overall. In fact, he may even buy one! Below are some key takeaways from his experience:
- Instant torque makes the Model 3 a “star around town.” It beats all competitors in this aspect. However, at speeds over 55 mph, it’s not quite as impressive.
Steering is well-weighted and provides great feedback. Weight gets heavier as turn-in increases, but it’s not as predictable as he’d hoped, which causes a lack of confidence when pushing the car hard.
Suspension puts the Model 3 among the “cream of the top in this already sporty segment.” The Tesla’s extreme balance reminds CB of BMW’s best days.
Steering wheel is ugly, though cabin materials are decent. The minimalist design is subjective, and build quality is very solid, but the interior quality can’t stand up to class leaders.
$5,000 for Premium Upgrades is “outrageous.”
The car is “very bare bone” in terms of tech features.
User interface is high res and responsive, but still “a complete mess” for usability. CB thanked Elon Musk for Autopilot, which helps with the lack of a decent interface experience.
It seems CB is truly enamored with the Model 3’s Autopilot system. He shares:
“The best driver assist in this segment, bar none, end of story. Is it perfect? Not even close. Is it the best money currently can buy? By far. . . .”