raptor5244
Active Member
Nice writeup, you summed it up well.I am 50 and have owned a lot (and I mean a lot) of "sports cars" over my life. I worked my butt off as a kid and bought a used RX-7 at age 16 as my first car. I owned nothing but RX-7's (all gens) and a twin turbo 300Z for the first 12 years of my driving life. Big JDM guy. Owned several German sports cars (all with manuals) and a number of WRX/STI's. Briefly owned a BRZ, Focus RS and then recently owned a C7 Z51, GT350, ND1 Miata, Camaro SS1LE, and a MKV Supra. Had a C8 on order and then test drove the Surpa and fell in love. The Supra was my very first automatic and my favorite car I have owned in quite awhile (I never connected with the GT350 or Z51 from a driver's perspective, really liked driving the SS1LE but never connected with the exterior styling/interior). The Supra had everything I was looking for. I usually do 2-5 track days a year with my cars and a few auto-x events a year when I can. I usually mod the suspension of everything I buy
Shifted to a work from home job and when I do drive now I am hauling kids. As much as I liked the Supra I never drive it unless it's quick errands. I was considering the new G80 M3/M4 but we have two other PHEV vehicles (I have a 4xe Wrangler and my wife a Pacifica Hybrid) and I became intrigued with electric motors. Drove a Model YP (neighbor) and was very impressed. Ordered a Model 3P slightly after and here I am.
Initial impressions. Car drives lighter than it is (likely do to the 50/50 weight and batteries being so low). Steering is heavy and has a synthetic feeling but I like the initial turn in and response. Some body roll but the car is well controlled and balanced. Compared to other cars I have owned I find the suspension to be a touch too soft, but with my kids in the car it is comfortable, especially on crappy CT roads.
That torque. Car pulls so hard down low and from a dig I have a hard time getting the car to lose traction. I love the instant torque at nearly every speed when you hit the accelerator. Passing people even on a large incline is nothing with this car. I love the sightlines with the short sloped front end and compared to cars like the Supra and Camaro and Vette, the car has so much more visibility.
I love the seating position. You sit low but the seats are comfortable. I do wish they had more side bolstering though and offered something like a true more aggressive Recaro seat. I also love magnetic dampers found on my C7 and GT350. I really wish Tesla offered an option for magnetic dampers on the Model 3P. It would match well with their tech and ability to adjust constantly to the road and driving profiles.
I want to drive it stock to at least one track event or auto-x event so I can baseline stock vs changes. Leaning towards some coilovers (likely MPP) and some bushing upgrades along with maybe some camber arms. Nothing too crazy as I will be driving kids a lot in this car.
I will say the biggest issue. My wife. She never touched my other cars and will not stop driving the Tesla. We have put 1K miles on it in the past couple weeks and she has logged about 70% of them. She loves the car and fights me to drive it
In terms of "sports car". I am not sure where the Tesla sits for me. While you lose the visceral feel of the exhaust and I sometimes miss shifting gears (or even paddle shifting) the car is really fun to drive and plenty nimble for it's weight/size. I think with a few minor mods I will like it even more.
Sounds like you are addicted to cars, same here. The upcoming manual trans option in the 2023 Supra has me intrigued but then there is the new Nissan Z.