Looking for thoughts on Model S LR (refresh) vs. M3P

[CorporateB]

I've been eyeing the S since the refresh tease early this year, but having never driven a post-2016 S, I'm not sure what to expect compared to my M3P. I love the sportiness of the M3P, and don't really want to lose much of that, but the quality of life changes in the S seem appealing. I do a lot of highway driving, and will be doing a lot of long road trips in the future. The M3P is awesome and feels like the perfect size, but I'm willing to pay for the quality of life upgrades in the S if they're as good as they seemon paper.

The major [on paper] benefits of the S seem to be:

• Lower noise floor (this is my chief complaint with the 3, it's really loud above 70, at least relative to my previous BMW)
• Suspension -- the M3P suspension is so stiff that you can feel all of the grooves of the LA freeways
• Range -- The range comparing the M3P on 20's to the S on 19's is pretty nice on road trips. I know even an SR+ is good enough with planning, but the extra range is really nice especially in and around California where there may be a wait for chargers
• Better sound sytem
• More space/more comfortable for passengers

The downsides:

• Yoke (not a fan, but it doesn't seem too bad)
• Cost, of course. I have the price locked in before the two price increases, so I am getting it for $10K less than the current 'sticker' price.
• More 'boat-like' handling? The last S I drove was a 2016, so I assume the refresh is much better but how does it compare to the M3P?

I've been looking for threads and videos where this is discussed. I'm looking for a more direct comparison if possible, I see a lot of S -> refresh S comparison and old 3 vs. old S, but looking in particular the refresh S vs. M3P.

Any insights and/or links would be welcome. Thanks!

 

[bmms8]

@JADCa can hopefully chime in. He has both.

 

[2101Guy]

for downsides I think you forgot to include no stalks..

 

[planetary]

I'm not sure the Model S has a better sound system. I've not been able to hear for myself yet. Reports are mixed, ranging from "it's great!" to "it's almost as good!" to "my M3/Y is noticeably better".

However, I've noticed the M3 sound is really optimized for the front, especially the driver. Rear passengers get noticeably lower sound quality, IMO. Maybe the S is more uniformly optimized? Maybe it'll improve with software, e.g. around the same time we get ANC? Who can say.

 

[headcase]

I'm not sure the Model S has a better sound system. I've not been able to hear for myself yet. Reports are mixed, ranging from "it's great!" to "it's almost as good!" to "my M3/Y is noticeably better".

However, I've noticed the M3 sound is really optimized for the front, especially the driver. Rear passengers get noticeably lower sound quality, IMO. Maybe the S is more uniformly optimized? Maybe it'll improve with software, e.g. around the same time we get ANC? Who can say.

Tesla vehicles in my opinion always have the sound stage sitting too much forward, practically in the dashboard. The downside with trying to center the soundstage across the front and back speakers is that the rear speakers always sound underpowered to me. I’m hoping the new setup on the refresh doesn’t suffer that as much, as I didn’t get to adjust fade / test that yet in the car I was in.

I think the new sound system is a definite improvement from the previous generation Model S, but I’m withholding final judgement until I have a few weeks of driving my own car with tracks I’m familiar.

 

[JADCa]

I've been eyeing the S since the refresh tease early this year, but having never driven a post-2016 S, I'm not sure what to expect compared to my M3P. I love the sportiness of the M3P, and don't really want to lose much of that, but the quality of life changes in the S seem appealing. I do a lot of highway driving, and will be doing a lot of long road trips in the future. The M3P is awesome and feels like the perfect size, but I'm willing to pay for the quality of life upgrades in the S if they're as good as they seemon paper.

The major [on paper] benefits of the S seem to be:

• Lower noise floor (this is my chief complaint with the 3, it's really loud above 70, at least relative to my previous BMW)
• Suspension -- the M3P suspension is so stiff that you can feel all of the grooves of the LA freeways
• Range -- The range comparing the M3P on 20's to the S on 19's is pretty nice on road trips. I know even an SR+ is good enough with planning, but the extra range is really nice especially in and around California where there may be a wait for chargers
• Better sound sytem
• More space/more comfortable for passengers

The downsides:

• Yoke (not a fan, but it doesn't seem too bad)
• Cost, of course. I have the price locked in before the two price increases, so I am getting it for $10K less than the current 'sticker' price.
• More 'boat-like' handling? The last S I drove was a 2016, so I assume the refresh is much better but how does it compare to the M3P?

I've been looking for threads and videos where this is discussed. I'm looking for a more direct comparison if possible, I see a lot of S -> refresh S comparison and old 3 vs. old S, but looking in particular the refresh S vs. M3P.

Any insights and/or links would be welcome. Thanks!

I think you have it about right. The new S is not boatlike at all. It actually handles quite well, but is BIG and you can't hide that.

They both have amazing sounds systems. It really comes down to personal preferences at this level.

The yoke is really only an issue for the internet. You won't care at all driving it, I think it is better in fact after a month. The turn signals are not as intuitive, but work ok. I hate the horn, but never use it so it doesn't really matter. Still the horn is probably the biggest mistake they made in my opinion. I just don't understand why they couldn't have the usual horn button under the airbag like every other car.

I get at almost 40% more usable range on my LR vs my 3P. With only limited info on the LR, it seems to get around ~320? usable highway miles on a charge with 21" rims vs the ~230 miles for my 3P with 245 wide 20" tires with my driving speed and style in SoCal. Both enough, but the LR is more enough???

It really isn't much different than asking if the BMW M3 is better than a 750il. Kinda depends what you want from the car, not that either is really better. For road trips I think you will be much happier in the bigger, plusher, much higher range S. When you hit a very tight windy mountain road, you will occasionally miss the 3P.

 

[YHZ-Owner]

I've been eyeing the S since the refresh tease early this year, but having never driven a post-2016 S, I'm not sure what to expect compared to my M3P. I love the sportiness of the M3P, and don't really want to lose much of that, but the quality of life changes in the S seem appealing. I do a lot of highway driving, and will be doing a lot of long road trips in the future. The M3P is awesome and feels like the perfect size, but I'm willing to pay for the quality of life upgrades in the S if they're as good as they seemon paper.

The major [on paper] benefits of the S seem to be:

• Lower noise floor (this is my chief complaint with the 3, it's really loud above 70, at least relative to my previous BMW)
• Suspension -- the M3P suspension is so stiff that you can feel all of the grooves of the LA freeways
• Range -- The range comparing the M3P on 20's to the S on 19's is pretty nice on road trips. I know even an SR+ is good enough with planning, but the extra range is really nice especially in and around California where there may be a wait for chargers
• Better sound sytem
• More space/more comfortable for passengers

The downsides:

• Yoke (not a fan, but it doesn't seem too bad)
• Cost, of course. I have the price locked in before the two price increases, so I am getting it for $10K less than the current 'sticker' price.
• More 'boat-like' handling? The last S I drove was a 2016, so I assume the refresh is much better but how does it compare to the M3P?

I've been looking for threads and videos where this is discussed. I'm looking for a more direct comparison if possible, I see a lot of S -> refresh S comparison and old 3 vs. old S, but looking in particular the refresh S vs. M3P.

Any insights and/or links would be welcome. Thanks!

Get the M3P. It's a better car than the refreshed Model S in pretty much every way.

 

[Dinosaurus]

Get the M3P. It's a better car than the refreshed Model S in pretty much every way.

As an owner of a Model 3 LR AWD with a friend who has an M3P, and a new owner of a Model S Plaid. I'm going to have to vehemently disagree with you.

 

[WilliamG]

Get the M3P. It's a better car than the refreshed Model S in pretty much every way.

I just traded in my M3P for the Plaid. The Model S is better in many ways, and the 3P is better in different ways (mostly size and toss-ability). Interestingly, I put the Plaid around a sweeping curve today at... some speeds I wouldn't have dreamed possible, and uh... it goes round like like it's on rails. The 3P definitely feels lighter, but the Plaid handles well - it's just always going to feel like that much of a bigger car. Size-aside, the Model S is just a much nicer place to be, period.

 

[thale10]

Is the LR the same around curves? or does plaid have something that the LR doesn't. I have a 2020 Raven S and its not great around corners.

 

[WilliamG]

Is the LR the same around curves? or does plaid have something that the LR doesn't. I have a 2020 Raven S and its not great around corners.

I assume it’s exactly the same. The suspension is entirely new for the refresh - cornering is fun in this machine!

 

[Greeney]

I assume it’s exactly the same. The suspension is entirely new for the refresh - cornering is fun in this machine!

I'm 14% sure the Raven and Palladium suspensions are the same.

 

[WilliamG]

I'm 14% sure the Raven and Palladium suspensions are the same.

They're not as far as I'm aware. Someone had some pictures - don't think there's any common components between them. Someone else can chime in on this if I'm wrong, of course.

 

[headcase]

I'm 14% sure the Raven and Palladium suspensions are the same.

It’s been confirmed in tear downs that the refresh Model S has an all new second generation adaptive suspension. Feels like it too, based on my personal experience.

 

[JADCa]

Is the LR the same around curves? or does plaid have something that the LR doesn't. I have a 2020 Raven S and its not great around corners.

I believe the only difference is the Plaid does have torque vectoring which helps at the limit that the LR doesn't, but that would rarely be noticed on the street. The Raven is quite a bit different.

 

[Rupe]

One thing I noticed is that the glare from 3 windows is obvious on the M3 touch screen, but definitely less so on the S Refresh, even though it’s bigger by 2in. The interior & center console are nicer as well. LR 0-60 is 3.1 and on par with the M3P. AA traction tires really make the difference around non-track corners.

 

[Dirty Dog]

As an owner of a Model 3 LR AWD with a friend who has an M3P, and a new owner of a Model S Plaid. I'm going to have to vehemently disagree with you.

I have a M3LR, was thinking of the new S, what are your thoughts?

 

[Dinosaurus]

I have a M3LR, was thinking of the new S, what are your thoughts?

Quieter. Faster. Comfier. Roomier. Displays are much more responsive. Ventilated seats are amazing to me. Regen braking seems smoother. Sound system is a lot better, especially given recent updates. My M3LR didn't have a power trunk, so I'm loving that. I think my frunk is smaller, but my 3 was pre-hear pump. Despite the Plaid, I'm getting roughly the same Wh/mi efficiency and have longer total range. Yoke and turn signals take some getting used to, but it's second nature to me now.

 

[Issaction]

Quieter. Faster. Comfier. Roomier. Displays are much more responsive. Ventilated seats are amazing to me. Regen braking seems smoother. Sound system is a lot better, especially given recent updates. My M3LR didn't have a power trunk, so I'm loving that. I think my frunk is smaller, but my 3 was pre-hear pump. Despite the Plaid, I'm getting roughly the same Wh/mi efficiency and have longer total range. Yoke and turn signals take some getting used to, but it's second nature to me now.

What's your average Wh/mi since owning the car? Obviously we will keep in mind that it's a Plaid so it probably wasn't driven with optimal efficiency

 

[JADCa]

My 3p was 268 after 25k miles, my LR is 275 after 2k miles. I actually think the LR is will be better in the long run.