Oh yeah, I'm definitely coming in with the attitude to "best myself" and push the car around a bit to see what it'll do. I'll probably end up driving at the BMW one first, which unfortunately isn't as laid back as the Porsche club. They tend to more "serious" about their times. But whatever, that's their choice.
For tires the plan was to just run the stock 18" (see "best myself" plan above
) and yes definitely bring the front up to maybe 48psi? Or 50? (keeping an eye on them run to run). Indeed the last thing I want to do is roll over a tire, do damage, and need to go home on a flatbed. I figure I'd leave the rear at maybe 44psi or so.
If you are comfortable with it, let one of your more skilled friends drive your car with you in the passenger seat.
My understanding is they only allow those that are certified as A-X instructors to ride along (or drive while you ride), and my friend isn't. The policy is because they've had issues with people bringing buddies along, looking to show off, and two idiots in the same car = stupid^2.
Fortunately they seem to have at least a few certified people show up, so may be able to get some direct front row feedback.
I just suspect they'll be Model 3 (and EVs in general) noobs so wanted to get an idea of how the Model 3 compares to other AWD "at the edge". It's been awhile since I drove AWD (last was a G35x) but just driving the Model 3 on the street I've thought it might be a bit more prone to understeer when first pressing the throttle early to pull myself out of the corner. Am I just imagining that, maybe it is simply a function of more power than I've bought tires for? (where "bought" is "came with the car").
How symmetrical is the Model 3's front/rear power split, has anyone determined if front/rear is like they list the KW of the two different drive units or does different gearing choices and the control system programming actually make it effectively 50/50 anyway during say 0-40mph range?
Normally AWD means you wait a bit later into the curve to start breaking into the turn (exaggerated late apex). So going a bit more outside in the first 1/3 of the turn, get around, and then you usually could get on the throttle a earlier on the back half and not worry too much about a bit of understeer happening. Not only does the line tend to have more room for pushing your front end to the outside of your turn but the front tires would bite back in as you got closer to straightened out. Is this target coming out smaller to hit/later because of so much torque and the EV drive units having it there quicker, maybe?
P.S. One thing I
love about the Model 3 AWD is turning out righthand from our neighbourhood approach onto the highway by stomping from the dead stop perpendicular to the highway. It just sucks 90 degrees around as it squats, dead straight into the lane, and launches.
But that's from a much lower starting speed. It's a lot trickery doing it left across 2 lanes plus the center lane because you cross the road crown at quite a clip.
