Result is in, future vs the past
 

I finally had a chance to test my Model 3 Performance against my old 370z at Laguna Seca. I had purchased the Model 3 to replace my Z as my dual purpose car for a host of reasons. I had high hopes for the new car as the paper specs look way more impressive and it was more expensive, I had to justify the purchase somehow right.

Anyway as expected, the Tesla completely destroyed the Z in terms of lap times. It drove like a GTR more than the Z did with the massive traction advantage and power under throttle. That's the good side, but the future still has a lot of short coming. For one, the performance drop-off between lap 1 and 2 is more than half a second. The drop off between lap 2 and lap 6 are several seconds. (I should add even with the giant performance difference, it was still faster than most cars) With a gap that big, you have a very limited gap in which you can squeeze the most out of the car. If you think the Z is annoying with the fuel starvation issue, the Tesla requires a 15 min trip to the supercharger after each session. Forget about hanging out at the track, you are lucky to be able to make it back before the next session. The Z had the oil temp issue, well the Tesla had battery and inverter temperature issue. At the end of the day, I think we are at a cross road between future and now. The future is going to win out, but there are still drawbacks that it has to work out. The good thing is that most are solvable problems, I think it is a matter of time.

For all the problems on the Tesla, spongy brakes and everything else, there was no ice mode!!!!

The Tesla was around 3 sec faster on the 1st lap, the Z was 3 sec faster than the Tesla after the car ran through half the battery. That's the range you are talking about.

I dont care if the model 3 can fly. Give me engine rumble, give me steering feedback. Give me heritage and mechanical engineering. Dont need a computer on wheels. Even if it could jerk me off while doing 200mph and faster than a Koenigsegg. No thanks!!

There is always a guy running a slow Triumph blocking the track.

They should make an e class track so u don't have to be on the same track as our triumphs.
Thats a whole different level of enthusiasm, not related to engine cars. Consider the Duracell or energizer forum. Lol :tup:

I don't like moving pylons, I don't have a problem not seeing them. I fail to see the attraction of spending a lot of money to go on track and run slower than my mom's Prius.

https://youtu.be/dzPo3e-0VhU

Only one of these, from a sensory perspective, looked like, sounded like and I related to as fun. It wasn't the silent tire squeeler with a battery pack. U can get a 20k used z, 5k in suspension mods and 13k in a turbo. Not only do you get the satisfaction of building tweaking and creating more performance. Its your work that gives you a sense of accomplishment...

You'd have to pony up another 30k to get a battery with the power to keep up with the Z.

Lastly, the new Z is months away...
It starts under 40k. With a more lithe and track conducive design from what I can see. With the hood longer n the engine further back. Its gonna fix the front heavy flaws of the z34 for less than 40k, soooo...

https://youtu.be/NCYFJXMFqiQ

Enjoy your car though.

I am from a different camp, I care more about result than noise. If noise means more fun, I guess you can strap a giant muffler to any Chevy Spark and call it a race car.

You do know the Tesla in your video is a RWD or regular AWD model right. There are other faster models out there. I think my SUV is faster than the long range AWD model.

BTW this post isn't about what is better, but just putting things in perspective of what new tech vs old tech do against each other. You don't need to take offense to it.

Does Tesla pump 8V engine sounds through the stereo system like other companies do?

Not from the factory, apparently you can pay someone $2k for it. https://evtuning.com/products/millte...-tesla-model-s

I just get the same tire and road noise like the z....

Not trying to offend, but the problem with results was the concern I had when I first read your post. But to hear you say this, I am confused what the Model 3 does for you if you care about results. Unless you simply are referring to the experience driving e-power on the track and not comparing different times in the car.

To me, it seems like it would be extremely frustrating to be driving a different car around the track every lap, which is what appears to be happening since the power isn't consistent. You can't even tell if you improved your lap times :icon14:

But for me, getting out on the track is like getting out on the golf or disc course. If I'm out there, it's already a win. Tracking positive results is just the icing on the cake :tup:

/
 

That's basically what I wrote in my original post. The car is fast as f, but only for a very limited time. The joke of them not being able to perform is certainly not true anymore. Do they have room to improve? absolutely. That's why I said it is the future vs the past, we are somewhere in the middle at this point.

As you said, getting out on track is fun no matter what. I don't care if it makes noise or no noise. What's fast is fast, slow is slow. The Model 3 Performance can perform closer to a GTR than a Z, that's a fact. Your point about them not consistent is absolutely true. I was frustrated that I didn't get to improve my time because I ran into a moving pylon on lap 1. At least with modern technology, you can easily review the data and see how much you can improve roughly. It's the drawback of having cheap speed, I guess you can just buy a Mustang GT and be done with it....

I don't see any e-vehicles making any Cannonball Runs anytime soon. Lack of range, too long to recharge and lack of recharging stations. Once they fix that. Then I might think about one.

Some people love a visceral experience that is connected to their senses.

I guess others like sterile experiences, where achieving the goal is more important than the experience of shortcutting that goal.

Working for something (engines)
Vs
Paying for something (ev battery)

So yeah, legitimately, it is the future vs the past.
Without a doubt the past likes to have interpersonal connections with our cars.
Vs
The future where its just ill buy it n say I'm the fastest. So I gotta be the best.

hmm, that last bit might make me consider a tesla :rofl2:

Wow, your wish came true!

Warning, probably nsfw
https://jalopnik.com/this-blowjob-ma...t-i-1844296987

They'll be fine. You just need a 2500 mile extension cord.

In for 1

LMAO... I have a woman for that. But enjoy yourselves! :rofl2:

Actually just going back to the original part of this post, I can report some more interesting facts about this car.

I completed a 20 minute session without any other cars, here are a few more things i learned or confirmed.

1. Your fastest lap will likely be lap 1, the car is simply too heavy for it to go faster in lap 2 barring driver improvement. The trick is to get your tires ready and prepare for a qualifying lap on your first lap.

2. You can go maybe 2 hot laps before everything overheats and you have to cool it down. If you cool the car, you can do another hot lap. Once again, none of the laps will be as good, but it will run another lap just fine. I did 2 hotlaps, 1 cool down, 1 hotlap, 1 cool down and 1 more hotlap. I did it in a 2.25 miles track, it would suck if you are at VIR or something. It will work, just not ideal to squeeze the maximum from the car in terms of lap times.

3. When I say the car becomes slower toward the middle and end of the session, it doesn't mean the car is slow slow. It is just slower. It is still faster than most cars out there.

4. There is no way around it, you pretty much have to quick charge after every session. You can do 1 qualify lap every session if you want to avoid it, but there is no way around it. I was using 9% of the battery each lap at the track at full song.

I read something similar some time back. Do you have the upgraded b pack?

I come bearing gifts for when you are on the track. You can play this...
:rofl2:

https://youtu.be/x4EAa0Z2cHY

Nope, all stock, just upgraded my driving and squeeze an unexpected second out of it. Matter of fact, I found another couple tenths on the table that I can easily get. I will be ready for another improvement next run.

I will pass on the noise. If I go faster without the noise, why do I need it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXquOGsS9K0

I did struggle pretty bad in an autocross, not sure if noise helps either