TMC Forum Readers - I took delivery of my Model 3 on 2/14 and thought I would pen a quick post on my initial impressions, hoping that some of my points might be new to others. Now a little background before I get into it...
I have been part of the forum for 2 years now, when I was serious about getting a Tesla and wanted to learn all I could. I then became a bit obsessed with the site and checked it multiple times a day about the MX (which I ordered and took delivery of 75D in July 2016). It's how I learned what I could about the car that I ordered sight unseen and undriven! Now rinse and repeat with the M3 so I thought why not share with others in hopes it answers some of your questions.
I have been part of the forum for 2 years now, when I was serious about getting a Tesla and wanted to learn all I could. I then became a bit obsessed with the site and checked it multiple times a day about the MX (which I ordered and took delivery of 75D in July 2016). It's how I learned what I could about the car that I ordered sight unseen and undriven! Now rinse and repeat with the M3 so I thought why not share with others in hopes it answers some of your questions.
- Delivery Experience (Orlando SC) - Much more personal this time around, which was a nice change from 2016.
- Fit and Finish - I'm no engineer or architect but I did check the car throughly as I did my MX in 2016. Honestly was perfect to me. Know others have made comments about panel gaps but everything looked just fine.
- Driving
- Ride - So yes it doesn't have air suspension but the ride feels great to me. It is "rougher" but it really just feels more sporty to me, nothing to complain about here.
- Feels tighter and more nimble than the MX and I thought that was a sports car drive, but this feels more so. Probably helps the smaller size and sitting lower to the ground. But drives great.
- Night Driving - Boy that get's some getting used to for sure, but I found a setting where you can turn the lights "on" for the steering wheel arrows. That helped a lot so recommend that.
- HUD - Yep, will want to get one I think once somebody figures it out. I know I will get used to glancing to the right for speed, just think something else there in front of you will help. It's not a must have but I would like it after driving for a few days.
- Rear View Mirror - I've read lots of comments about the visibility here and I think it is fine. Yes the mirror is small but I got used to that with the MX. And yes if a car is right on your bumper you won't see their headlights but honestly that's better than getting half blinded by them. Again, don't think this is a concern at all.
- AP2.5 - Coming from AP 1.0 it generally seems just as good, sometimes better. There are spots on the drive from Orlando to Tampa (I4) where the concrete is so washed white and the lines are also white that my MX would have trouble with it. Not AP2.5, it worked like a champ.
- Windshield wipers - Having to fumble thru the screen to change the windshield wipers seemed like a terrible idea before driving, not safe. But what I didn't realize was that a quick one wipe can be easily executed from the turn signal stock so this is a non-issue to me.
- Changing cruising speed - I was worried not having the dedicated stock for AP/Cruise. Changing the speed is pretty easy on the screen, it's right under the speedometer.
- Engaging/Disengaging AP - Similar concern from above but not an issue. To engage, you pull down twice on the gear shifter. To disengage, either take over the gas/break/wheel or push up once on the gear shifter.
- Missing the energy details - I agree with others that they don't have enough options yet to see the energy usage. I particularly like in the MX seeing what I have driven since the car started, and since the last charge. There is a trip view in M3 like on the big screen in the MX, but it's not the same. I did find though that the one energy graph that folks are probably used to (the circular one with the spikes) kinda exists in the M3. Right below the speedometer is a thin line. It changes left to right based on energy usage!
- Tires are all the same! - Coming from the MX where the front and back are different, this really hurts the miles you get out of them since you can't rotate them. Happy to see they are the same size here and hopefully can get more miles before having to replace them.
- Ride - So yes it doesn't have air suspension but the ride feels great to me. It is "rougher" but it really just feels more sporty to me, nothing to complain about here.
- Interior
- I'm not a tall guy (5'11") but I have long legs and like the seat way back. Doing this means the person behind you, if they have decent size feet (8-9+) will be a bit cramped. Knee space is fine, just foot space a bit of a challenge.
- Glass Roof and Heat - Living in Florida, was worried about the all glass roof and heat. Initial impressions (traveled 2 hours in the car in 85+ degree heat) are no issues, seems to be just fine. Unlike the MX and it's huge front windshield which we had heat issues with, this seems ok.
- HVAC is Strong - In our MX this is kinda weak especially for the 2nd and 3rd row. Not so here, plenty of air strength.
- Cigarette Lighter - They need to fix this. It's located under the armrest, which is normal. Two issues - One they didn't leave a slot under the armrest where the cord can come thru while the armrest is down and two, when you plug anything of size into the lighter, you can't keep the tray that comes with it there. No space. While I don't see using this much, if you have a radar detector (for example) and want to plug in here it will be ugly.
- Interior PUP footwell lights are weak IMO - I didn't have this with the MX so I don't have anything to compare to, but the footwell lights seem way too weak. Will probably update those at some point.
- Rear HVAC is Smart - Like the MX, it only turns on when it detects somebody sitting in the back seat. Nice!
- Built in Phone Charger ROCKS! - I have read lots of post about trying to put a wireless charging pad here but honestly it's not needed. They finally made this charger usable! In the MX, I would have to take my case off to make it charge, not so here. Now I have a very minimal case but it still works which is a nice improvement.
- Frunk Light Weak - This one is really weak but not sure it can be replaced as it also doubles as a push button to open the frunk from the inside.
- Batteries
- Charge rate much faster - With my MX on a 50A circuit (charging at 40A) at home, I would get about 27 miles an hour. With M3, I now get around 33!
- Efficiency YEAH! - As I kinda expected but was still impressed, great efficiency compared to MX. I would normally on the highway run around 350-360 usage in the MX and with my 1 road trip so far was about 260. I am not a driver that looks to eek out every mile, rather I just drive how I did with an ICE car. Generally 8 miles over the limit with AC at 72/73. So in the MX I could expect to get about 87% of the range the MX said I had while my experience with the M3 is 97% under same conditions!
- Missing or Haven't figured out yet
- Can't find the calendar. I really only used this to pull up addresses for upcoming appointments but I can't seem to find it on the M3. Hope they bring it back with a software update.
- Manual - Can't find this either. Was looking for it as I tried to figure things out on the car and couldn't find it. Again assume they will add in a future update.