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Is it okay to drive the Model 3 hard?
- Thread starter tyfosho
- Start date
There is a road near my home - starts with about a 1/2 mile stretch of straight road, and then five sharp "20 mph" curves within the next mile, then another straight stretch. Speed limit is 40 but I've always had to slow down to at least 25 to take these in any other vehicle.
Anyway the other night I'm coming home late and when I turn on this road, some dingus in a gigantic-normous Ram pickup is tailgating me to a silly degree (doing 48 in a 40) over the first stretch, no other cars in sight. Like, this a-hole was right in my back seat. So I proceed to do what I always do in the M3, which is not slow down at all on the switchbacks.
I reach the end, and Mr. Ram is a good 200 yards behind. Hopefully a future Tesla customer...
That was just the most satisfying example, but I drive on several roads like that multiple times per day, and 5k miles later the car drives even better than the day I got it. Bonus: actually getting places quicker!
Anyway the other night I'm coming home late and when I turn on this road, some dingus in a gigantic-normous Ram pickup is tailgating me to a silly degree (doing 48 in a 40) over the first stretch, no other cars in sight. Like, this a-hole was right in my back seat. So I proceed to do what I always do in the M3, which is not slow down at all on the switchbacks.
I reach the end, and Mr. Ram is a good 200 yards behind. Hopefully a future Tesla customer... That was just the most satisfying example, but I drive on several roads like that multiple times per day, and 5k miles later the car drives even better than the day I got it. Bonus: actually getting places quicker!
corduroy
Active Member
Can you describe what you mean be squirrelly? Like wobbling, or shaking the steering wheel?
There was some pretty serious wobbling, sometimes the car jerked left and right on a perfectly straight road. The steering wheel was fine and I had no problems controlling it but I definitely didn't feel like I would be happy doing anything other than going straight like that with these tires.
Not hate. Just stating facts. It was more for some of the newer folks here. I've heard the rationalization over and over so many times here about fewer moving parts than ICEVs with transmissions == more reliable yet that obviously didn't prove to be the case for the first few years of Model S.
As for whether they understand 6 sigma, let's just say a 3 that a guy at my work picked up at Tesla Model 3 Event: Hundreds Of Cars Delivered, More Stock Inbound had numerous noticeable exterior alignment problems (e.g. trunk is off, rear glass is off, one rear door off, frunk is slightly off). Right as I walked up, I could see the frunk had alignment probs. Was actually somewhat comical to both of us.
Red - paint quality issues is pretty terrible.
10 Least Reliable Cars had the Model X as being dead last. The previous year, the X was middle of the bottom 10 at 10 Least Reliable Cars, instead of being dead last.
Too early to tell. Model 3 hasn't been in the hands of real customers for very long yet.
Again, see my comparison with Leaf, which has now much older than any Tesla Model S.
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Atari2600
Active Member
So after a bunch of hard launches will they dial back my car to "save the battery"?
Will there be an ESA for the Model 3?
I suffer from compulsive first car at red light drive like it's stolen disorder. There is no cure as I have a fever for more accelerator.
Will there be an ESA for the Model 3?
I suffer from compulsive first car at red light drive like it's stolen disorder. There is no cure as I have a fever for more accelerator.
Only negative facts. You're a hater. Mine had zero issues, only summons on Android.
JeffK
Well-Known Member
What I worry about when driving a vehicle hard is not the engine/motors as much as the suspension.
On other cars (specifically two different non-Tesla makes and models), I've had wheels fall off from bad ball joints.
On other cars (specifically two different non-Tesla makes and models), I've had wheels fall off from bad ball joints.
I do baby over speed bumps as I would any front-end, especially because of the vehicle weight. Gives the impression I'm a careful driver before I tear off. I just replaced my struts (myself) on my Murano. Never heard of front end issues on the Teslas though. I'm sure someone here will find one though.
Seems like this is the worry club. I enjoy the hell out of this car. Changed my life. Go have fun, quit worrying!
No on both.
Right, so your vehicle at this point in time is representative of all Model 3's in the wild before and after. And, yours will have "zero issues" from this point forward. None of the others are relevant because it didn't happen to you, yet.
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Sure there have been.
Tesla Upper Control Arm CRACKED
Another front suspension control arm failure
Cracked forelink?
Model X Front Suspension Failure
Power Steering falling apart I believe turned into Tesla voluntarily recalls 123,000 Model S cars over faulty steering component. Power Steering falling apart pointed out the Land Rover Evoque had a recall for this. Power Steering falling apart has a pic of the parts having a Land Rover logo on them.
BTW, ignore the weirdo Keef who has an ax to grind (or maybe some mental issue) and seems to be behind finding pics of wrecked Teslas, jumping to (the worst) conclusions and filing fake safety complaints w/NHTSA. That's a waste of everyone's time. Only legitimate safety defects should be reported to the proper authorities, not fake ones.
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Perry
Active Member
There is no such thing as too hard. Although looking at all the Model 3 drivers on the road here in CA, you'd thing they are all grandmothers. I have not seen anyone drive a Model 3 as it should be driven. I must be a unicorn.
For me, ~775 Wh/mi on every trip. I drive my new P3D like its the last ride to the junk yard. I am either flooring it or braking but never coasting. I currently get less than 100 miles on a full battery. I figure, I'll try breaking as many motors as I can before the warranty expires. After that I my change my driving style a little. But yea you can drive it as hard as you can. Other than tires and brakes there shouldn't be any problems Tesla can't fix under their drive train warranty.
For me, ~775 Wh/mi on every trip. I drive my new P3D like its the last ride to the junk yard. I am either flooring it or braking but never coasting. I currently get less than 100 miles on a full battery. I figure, I'll try breaking as many motors as I can before the warranty expires. After that I my change my driving style a little. But yea you can drive it as hard as you can. Other than tires and brakes there shouldn't be any problems Tesla can't fix under their drive train warranty.
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Perry
Active Member
Hell yes, I did the same thing. I inched slowly out of the Fremont Delivery parking lot like a cautious driver then floored it till I hit 140mph. Almost ran off the road as it had a slight chicane, when I realized that the suspension is not as sporty as the motors. It dips and jumps at high speed curves. Will have to definitely replace that suspension.
Perry
Active Member
In a way that's good for us fast drivers as their slow driving will create good rapport between cops and this model car so we won't stand out.
I don't know if you're serious or not, but oh boy, you're going to get plenty of tickets and maybe even some reckless driving charges if you get caught. A friend of a friend in CA got one of the latter for doing some speed below 140 mph. I'd have to ask him what the speed was but it was likely somewhere above 95 mph.
I've never had a speeding ticket but over a decade ago in San Jose, I was pulled over by SJPD for "taking off too fast" from a stop sign near home. This is in a 35 mph zone and I was driving a '93 Dodge Caravan V6 (only ~142 hp FWD w/3-speed automatic), not exactly a rocket. Luckily, I only got a warning.
From what I understand, for gunning it, you could get ticketed for exhibition of speed (23109(c) of Law section).
BTW, there is no "drive train" warranty beyond basic warranty + drive unit and battery pack warranty: Vehicle Warranty | Model 3. Example would be half shafts wouldn't be covered beyond the basic warranty just like they weren't on this guy's S: Clunking sound is costing me a bundle to fix out of warranty.
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Perry
Active Member
I agree that the suspension is to soft. I bottom out and hit the rear stoppers with a thunk almost every day. This car screams for replacement sport coil-overs.
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