Model 3 long range vs other premium sports sedans

[Siciliano]

Hi everyone,

I'm very interested in buying a used 2018/19 M3, but I'm just struggling with choosing between the Tesla and other sports sedans within the same price range, such as 2017 Audi S6, 2018/19 Jaguar XF, and a few others. My 3 year lease is ending in Feb, so I have some time to make a decision, but I'm already thinking about it.

I guess a lot of it is personal preference, but I'm really torn. I'm a tech LOVER, so that's a huge reason why I'm looking at the Tesla over other cars...I've actually been interested in the M3 since it came out, but I keep ending up getting other cars! There's just something looks-wise about the Audi S6 that is really appealing (I used to own an S7, but I want something a little cheaper), and the S6 is just as fast as the long range M3, WITH the speed upgrade. The Model 3 is a really nice looking car, but IMO the Audis are nicer looking.

As far as long term ownership, I've talked to quite a few Tesla owners and I've been told there is really barely any maintenance when compared to ICE sports sedans, so I assume I would be better off with the M3 in the long run?? Tesla's 8 year battery warranty is really amazing, but do other components tend to break down also? Do you guys know what the warranty is for everything other than batteries?

I basically just want someone to talk me into choosing the M3! lol For all of you guys that are M3 owners, what drove your decision to choose it vs other (fast and attractive) premium sports sedans???

 

[SlimJim]

If you have audi s6 at the light next to my LR AWD+, you would have to have it on launch control and be revving it to match my maybe a quick start or not there is no way to tell silent Tesla that will beat you to the next light. Thats the difference between a 3.8 sec ice vs 3.8 sec tesla.

 

[Apprunner]

Just get a Performance 3 and it'll be a noticeable upgrade in speed over your S6.

 

[RayK]

@Siciliano

My previous car was a 2000 BMW 323i bought new. Had the Sport-Premium package, HID headlights, 5 speed transmission and leather seats. I buy, never lease. If I had to estimate, I'd say I spent $60K on that car over the 18 years I had it (initial cost, parts replaced out of warranty and disregarding registration, insurance and the gas and oil I put into it); so roughly $3300/yr. I tend to drive my cars into the ground and the Bimmer was no exception. I liked that car; the way it handled, the adequate power, the fairly good gas mileage (22mpg combined). However the bits-and-pieces that broke over the years, some things multiple times (don't get me started on the window regulators), left me a little disillusioned. I kinda knew about the high maintenance cost going in; they don't say BMW stands for "Bring My Wallet" without a good reason. Had 193000 miles on it when it was finally replaced by my 2018 LR RWD.

As far as maintenance on my Model 3, the only things I've had to replace in the exactly two years since I've owned it are:

• two rear tires; one had a puncture that was not fixable - replaced both since they were worn
• going to re-fill the windshield washer tank as I'm getting a warning that it's low
• going to replace the windshield wipers; nothing really wrong with them it's just because they're now two years old

I've been to the service center for the following (no cost repairs):

• tire pressure monitoring system was not calibrated correctly upon delivery of the car; reset performed
• adjusted driver side rear window as it was making contact with rear quarter window

Tesla Service repaired the following over-the-air:

• Software updates were not being applied; they re-formatted the SD card OTA

And I've had mobile service come out to my house for:

• HW3 upgrade

The 3 has been amazing as far as monthly operating costs are concerned. The car only has 18K miles on it right now, mostly because the last 10 months I've been semi-retired and the last few months we're under SIP rules. I spend about $0.07/mile for Supercharging, or about twice as much than what I did for gas in the BMW when gas is $3/gal. When I finally install my HPWC in the garage, my running costs should be lower; the Supercharger that I go to is $0.28/kWh. I'm half way through the 4 year / 50K mile basic warranty and have otherwise not required its use.

The 3 is vastly better in acceleration than the 323i, but I guess that's not really saying much. I'd have to give the BMW an edge in handling, when it was also two years old. Most of that is possibly due to the tires I had on it. Toward the end of its life, the suspension needed some work but I didn't want to pour any more money into it. I also have to rate the BMW a bit higher in the "luxury" component. I've no experience with any Audi.

Have you ever driven a 3? In my case, a little more that a year before I got my car Tesla sent an invitation offering a test drive of an S or X. I had never been in a Tesla before so I signed up. Went with the P100D S since it was somewhat closer to a 3. Loved it. Took it out on the highway and local streets with the Tesla rep. When the 3 was finally being produced I rented one for a weekend through Turo.com. That gave me a much better experience with the car. So I knew what to expect when my car rolled off the assembly line. If you haven't yet driven a 3, get your hands on one and then try driving one of your Audi in the same day. I'm predicting you'll choose the Tesla over the German import. Looks and styling be damned.

 

[SlimJim]

I cannot believe you could drive a e46 without getting the control arms repaired for 18 years. I used to have a 2000 325i. I sold it before needing new control arm bushings.

 

[RayK]

Replaced bushings twice I believe. Like I said, I wasn't going to pour any more $$$$ into that pit.

 

[Siciliano]

@Siciliano

My previous car was a 2000 BMW 323i bought new. Had the Sport-Premium package, HID headlights, 5 speed transmission and leather seats. I buy, never lease. If I had to estimate, I'd say I spent $60K on that car over the 18 years I had it (initial cost, parts replaced out of warranty and disregarding registration, insurance and the gas and oil I put into it); so roughly $3300/yr. I tend to drive my cars into the ground and the Bimmer was no exception. I liked that car; the way it handled, the adequate power, the fairly good gas mileage (22mpg combined). However the bits-and-pieces that broke over the years, some things multiple times (don't get me started on the window regulators), left me a little disillusioned. I kinda knew about the high maintenance cost going in; they don't say BMW stands for "Bring My Wallet" without a good reason. Had 193000 miles on it when it was finally replaced by my 2018 LR RWD.

As far as maintenance on my Model 3, the only things I've had to replace in the exactly two years since I've owned it are:

• two rear tires; one had a puncture that was not fixable - replaced both since they were worn
• going to re-fill the windshield washer tank as I'm getting a warning that it's low
• going to replace the windshield wipers; nothing really wrong with them it's just because they're now two years old

I've been to the service center for the following (no cost repairs):

• tire pressure monitoring system was not calibrated correctly upon delivery of the car; reset performed
• adjusted driver side rear window as it was making contact with rear quarter window

Tesla Service repaired the following over-the-air:

• Software updates were not being applied; they re-formatted the SD card OTA

And I've had mobile service come out to my house for:

• HW3 upgrade

The 3 has been amazing as far as monthly operating costs are concerned. The car only has 18K miles on it right now, mostly because the last 10 months I've been semi-retired and the last few months we're under SIP rules. I spend about $0.07/mile for Supercharging, or about twice as much than what I did for gas in the BMW when gas is $3/gal. When I finally install my HPWC in the garage, my running costs should be lower; the Supercharger that I go to is $0.28/kWh. I'm half way through the 4 year / 50K mile basic warranty and have otherwise not required its use.

The 3 is vastly better in acceleration than the 323i, but I guess that's not really saying much. I'd have to give the BMW an edge in handling, when it was also two years old. Most of that is possibly due to the tires I had on it. Toward the end of its life, the suspension needed some work but I didn't want to pour any more money into it. I also have to rate the BMW a bit higher in the "luxury" component. I've no experience with any Audi.

Have you ever driven a 3? In my case, a little more that a year before I got my car Tesla sent an invitation offering a test drive of an S or X. I had never been in a Tesla before so I signed up. Went with the P100D S since it was somewhat closer to a 3. Loved it. Took it out on the highway and local streets with the Tesla rep. When the 3 was finally being produced I rented one for a weekend through Turo.com. That gave me a much better experience with the car. So I knew what to expect when my car rolled off the assembly line. If you haven't yet driven a 3, get your hands on one and then try driving one of your Audi in the same day. I'm predicting you'll choose the Tesla over the German import. Looks and styling be damned.

Thanks for the insight man. Yes I've actually had a few clients that took me for rides in their M3s. The most recent was a LR+ with the performance boost... I was IMPRESSED to say the least. Even my S7 with stage 1 ECU upgrade wasn't *quite* as visceral - the acceleration was just dumbfounding.

I am thinking more and more that I will opt for the LR M3, and I will definitely get the boost upgrade. Even though the S6 (imo) is nicer looking, I know it's not that visceral, and I won't have to worry about 1,000 ICE components breaking down. Also Audi's warranty isn't that great at all - I think it's 4 year/50,000 miles, so considering I'm looking at 2017's the damn thing would be out of warranty like a year after I bought it.

 

[Felix89]

My previous cars were two BMW e46s, an Audi S5, and a BMW m240i. All manual transmissions, which I love.

Just got my M3P on Tuesday. So, I only have a few days in the M3, but my reason for buying it and initial impressions are:

- Wanted an EV for a while. Pre-pandemic, I traveled every week (combo driving and flying), and was always concerned about EV range and the need to charge mid-week while traveling. I believe the combo of Tesla’s supercharging speeds, range, and # of locations have now gotten to the point where the occasional mid-week charge wouldn’t be a problem.

- After a M3 AWD test drive, I realized it was both a great driving experience and dramatically different than any car I’ve ever driven. I also drove a Model S, but it was too big for my tastes. When I got back in my m240i after the test drive, I missed being in the M3.

- From a maintenance perspective, the e46s had the control arm issues mentioned by SlimJim and a few other minor issues, but were great for the ~150k miles I owned each. The Audi had several AC issues and electrical gremlins. M240i was a great car with no issues. Maintenance was never a problem with the BMWs.

- The M3P’s speed is so abrupt, it’s alarming. It also handles extremely well. It’s definitely bigger and heavier than the m240i, which is go-kart fun. The M3P feels just so much more advanced, and can feel both sporty and refined.

Looks are subjective. I think the S5 was better looking. From an ICE vs EV perspective, I’ll always want to have a sporty manual transmission car to play with on the weekends. However, the M3P is so fun to drive, advanced, and environmentally friendly, I’m sold.

 

[Knightshade]

the S6 is just as fast as the long range M3, WITH the speed upgrade.

It's really not.


2020 Audi S6: Less and More Than the S7.

Audi claims the S6 runs from zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, which is a tenth quicker than the heavier S7. In our testing, an S7 found 60 mph in 4.1 seconds

So they're suggesting 4.0 for the 2021 S6. Keep in mind they test with 1 foot rollout

The LR AWD with boost runs about 3.5 with 1' rollout.

The advertised boosted LR AWD at 3.9 is WITHOUT rollout, and slower than most folks actually measure when testing (3.7ish is far more common)


Moreover- it'll do that speed (with any reasonably high state of charge) repeatably just by flooring the go pedal- no need for special launch modes, or sport tires, or revving to a certain rpm.


I've not found a reliable 1/4 mile time for the latest S6, but what I have found suggests mid-high 12s maybe?

The LR AWD with boost runs high 11s.

 

[DwightKSchrute]

Hi everyone,

I'm very interested in buying a used 2018/19 M3, but I'm just struggling with choosing between the Tesla and other sports sedans within the same price range, such as 2017 Audi S6, 2018/19 Jaguar XF, and a few others. My 3 year lease is ending in Feb, so I have some time to make a decision, but I'm already thinking about it.

I guess a lot of it is personal preference, but I'm really torn. I'm a tech LOVER, so that's a huge reason why I'm looking at the Tesla over other cars...I've actually been interested in the M3 since it came out, but I keep ending up getting other cars! There's just something looks-wise about the Audi S6 that is really appealing (I used to own an S7, but I want something a little cheaper), and the S6 is just as fast as the long range M3, WITH the speed upgrade. The Model 3 is a really nice looking car, but IMO the Audis are nicer looking.

As far as long term ownership, I've talked to quite a few Tesla owners and I've been told there is really barely any maintenance when compared to ICE sports sedans, so I assume I would be better off with the M3 in the long run?? Tesla's 8 year battery warranty is really amazing, but do other components tend to break down also? Do you guys know what the warranty is for everything other than batteries?

I basically just want someone to talk me into choosing the M3! lol For all of you guys that are M3 owners, what drove your decision to choose it vs other (fast and attractive) premium sports sedans???

I rented a model 3 lr for a long weekend from Turo which sold me. Consider that once you decide between a sr, lr or p.
for standard maintenance, it's rotating tires, cabin air filter, desiccant for a/c.
I was looking at a bmw 330 and Audi s4 and genesis g70. The economics for me in New Jersey were compelling as there is no sales tax and a 5k rebate. I like the model 3 driving better also

 

[Siciliano]

Thanks guys, you have definitely made me lean much more heavily towards the M3.

@DwightKSchrute I assume you have to be a NJ resident to get the sales tax exemption? That would be amazing...

 

[Dolemite]

Another E46 asshole checking-in. Former 330i ZHP owner. 6 MT. Well-pampered. Loved the damn thing to death. Most balanced ICE car you can buy. Period. Peak ICE, IMO. (Fight me IRL.) Just the right looks, size, economy, practicality, comfort. Bought used. Drove it 10+ years. 100K+ miles. Far more reliable than most examples. No major issues. Endless compliments. Endless nickel & diming me. One day, the subframe had a crack - that was the end of that. German engineering my ass. Those days are gone. The chassis cracking? The ONE thing I can't fix? From regular use? A company that practically invented the sports sedan segment? Is this a joke?

Going in, you should know: Tesla still struggles in the Quality Control department. (Byproduct of technology geeks thinking they know everything.) But, overall, when I compare my Tesla's issues vs. the issues my BMW had over the same mileage, I'll happily deal with Tesla's piddly bullshit. I've really only had one problem w/ my Model 3 - turned out to be an annoying non-issue. Search wheel clicking. Dumb.

My P3D- is on bog-standard suspension and econo-MXM4s (coilovers + wheels/tires + other misc. suspension components will be installed soon, be patient!). Vaporized ///M 6 series whatevers, Dodge poopcats, Evos, brostangs, etc. My last victim was a 535i GT that had a head-start ~20 MPH roll. I was at a dead stop w/ 200 lbs of cargo. He didn't even get past my front passenger door before it was over. I think my SOC was something like 40%? Not even on the same planet. I remember I couldn't even keep up with those in my ZHP. Bonus: Perfect, consistent launches. Every. Single. Time. Bonus bonus: zero mechanical guilt. Always in the right gear. Always firmly in the powerband. No exploding transmissions, shredded differentials, thrown rods. Anyone who doesn't realize we're witnessing the genesis of an entirely new performance category is a moron. Sorry econo-peoples - you've accidentally'd a monster. What I save in petroleum, I make up in tires.

Moving on. My dad used to own a 528i 5 MT. I used to take it out when I was 15, without a license (never got caught). I liked cars, but didn't know *sugar*. But driving that car felt... special. It taught me there's more to driving than meets the eye. Even with its bottle cap wheels & all-season tires, it felt... different. Even an over-hormoned 15 year-old understood. I feel for peoples who say "I hated driving until my I drove a Model 3!" Ever driven an Exige? Prolly not.

Fast-forward to today. The Model 3 is closer to what German sports sedans used to be vs. German sports sedans today. Svelte/simple/understated/unassuming. Will wipe the floor with far louder & more expensive cars. No "LOOKET ME!" The German brands have forsaken the enthusiasts that made them what they are today. "We need to evolve with our consumer base!" said the top-floor Marketing Research dipshit. Result? The new 3 series is nearly ~186" long. My dad's '99 5 Series was ~188". All of the Audis look the same (electric razors -Sin City). Mercs are sold with fistfuls of Viagra ("we're still desirable!"). All German cars today are laden with stupid, pointless features that I, as a performance-oriented driver, could give a **** about. Got an F30 while getting my 9th Takata recall performed... Why are they measuring PSI down to the tenth? I thought I was OCD. Inline 4 turbo? In a BMW?! Oh, I can get a turbocharged I-6? Do I want that? My E46 was built back when they cared, and cars were simple(r). The back-office corporate Finance douche still hadn't a clue a world existed outside the Accord. Yet, it STILL leaked oil like a sieve by ~50K miles. It's unfathomable what these more "modren" engines must be like, today. 15 cat converters from start-to-finish!

Time to get a new car.

BMW/Audi/Merc wasn't even on my short list. Test-drove an STI... how old is the EJ engine by now? LOL! No ebo? Subaro no care. Sales guy had no clue what I was talking about - doesn't matter. You'd be an idiot to buy an STI over the new WRX as a DD. Test drove the WRX. HELLISH rev-hang. (Our political overlords have ruined manuals as well.) They sure know best! Don't belive me? Thanks Jason. Test drove a CTR. Car was a RIOT! Those side bolsters would look like *sugar* in 20K miles. But the real issue... the looks. :/ And the dealer mark-up. I'm not gonna pay you $10K over MSRP to arrive at client sites in a hopped-up Civic that looks like something from 9 Fast 9 Furious.

WTF IS THIS?

We used to rip on Mustangs for having fake hood scoops... now this. IN AN AUDI.

Time went on. There was a Tesla dealer on the way home. Everything sucks. The legacy autos have forsaken me. **** it. Wife, let's give it a shot. O what's this? A P3D? What's that? Whatever. It doesn't make any noise!!! That's neat. Let's take it onto the highway... put my foot down. WHAT. THE. ****. IS THIS!? Let's try it again, just to make sure I wasn't imagining things. 110+. Sales girl's getting a little uneasy, but she's cool. I ask: Is there a way to get this thing without the 20" donks? Yeah! About $5K less right now without the wheels! (and other pointless bits, come to find out, but that's OK. Built not bought brah!).

Are you listening, BMW? **** you. I'm the kind of guy who can keep any car running - indefinitely, as long as there's a HF nearby. I never thought I'd buy a new car. EVER. Swore against it. That's for morons who can't even change their oil. I was swayed. I bought a new car. I did. Was it a BMW? NO!

A 580 HP car that hits 60 in 3 seconds flat with none of the typical maintenance bullshit. No valve adjustments every 50K miles. No turbocharger heat soak. No carbon buildup & walnut blasting to clean your fancy DI engine. No debates about oil catch cans. No making sure it's warmed up before driving hard. No feeling like an idiot shuffling to & from work in a 500+ hp machine that gets <15 mpg in stop & go traffic that seldom sees over 35 mph. And it comfortably seats 5 people & has a crazy amount of space vs. a similarly-sized conventional car. It's the perfect high-performance DD with none of the drawbacks.

Most importantly - everything else sucks in comparison. There's nothing as good, especially at the same price point. It's either too dated, too watered-down/boring... Most manufacturers have simply forsaken the enthusiast & are computerizing every facet of the driving experience. Might as well take it all the way & go for the car that takes this concept to the extreme, but wraps it up in a novel & thrilling driving experience. "We know what millennials want!" No. You don't. But Tesla does, apparently - their chassis department consists of 4 guys who understand the way things should be (I think one of them has a 2002?).

(Disclaimer: many beer. sorry for hemingwayprose)

 

[holmgang]

This forum lives its life 1/4mi at a time. For those 12 seconds or less, they're free.


These are different classes of cars. The Audi is roomier and more comfortable, particularly for high speed cruising.


Jags...well personally I'd never have one, unless somebody gave me an F type.

 

[silenteski]

I spend about $0.07/mile for Supercharging, or about twice as much than what I did for gas in the BMW when gas is $3/gal

You must mean “about half as much”. Or are you saying you had a BMW that got ~85 mpg?

 

[DwightKSchrute]

Thanks guys, you have definitely made me lean much more heavily towards the M3.

@DwightKSchrute I assume you have to be a NJ resident to get the sales tax exemption? That would be amazing...

Definitely for the rebate you need to be a resident with Nj license. Not sure about the tax exemption

 

[Siciliano]

Yeah I totally get the beemer love. I used to own a 330xi back in the day and loved it. A very good friend of mine was an M3 fanatic buying M3 after M3 whenever his lease was up, *many* times before the lease was up lol the M3 is probably the nicest ICE car dollar for dollar, not to mention BMW leases (especially demo specials - thousands of $$ discounted because it has 500 miles on the OD?? Sign me up!)

That said, I really really miss my S7. Before that I had never had a car even remotely as fast or jolting w/nearly 600hp and well over 600 ft/lb of torque after the simple APR tune. After that warranty was up I traded it in for a (don't roast me) Maserati Ghibli SQ4. It wasn't as fast as the S7 but I've NEVER had a car with such a mesmerizing exhaust note. A lot of ppl hate on that car calling it a poor man's Ferrari lol but it was very fun to drive. Everyone stared at it, and again, that exhaust note was seriously intoxicating.

After that I toned it WAY down to my current car, a small ass Jaguar XE turbo diesel. The demo lease special was just too good to turn down - I figured it was time to have A MUCH lower monthly pmt. Peppy, but worlds apart from the Maserati, and from the S7... forget about it.

So here I am, the lease is up in February and I really think I'll be choosing the Model 3. Like nearly all of you, I'm a car guy - I've had a lot of cars over the years and I've lost a shitload of money along the way...but the ride has been very fun so far!

 

[DwightKSchrute]

Another E46 asshole checking-in. Former 330i ZHP owner. 6 MT. Well-pampered. Loved the damn thing to death. Most balanced ICE car you can buy. Period. Peak ICE, IMO. (Fight me IRL.) Just the right looks, size, economy, practicality, comfort. Bought used. Drove it 10+ years. 100K+ miles. Far more reliable than most examples. No major issues. Endless compliments. Endless nickel & diming me. One day, the subframe had a crack - that was the end of that. German engineering my ass. Those days are gone. The chassis cracking? The ONE thing I can't fix? From regular use? A company that practically invented the sports sedan segment? Is this a joke?

Going in, you should know: Tesla still struggles in the Quality Control department. (Byproduct of technology geeks thinking they know everything.) But, overall, when I compare my Tesla's issues vs. the issues my BMW had over the same mileage, I'll happily deal with Tesla's piddly bullshit. I've really only had one problem w/ my Model 3 - turned out to be an annoying non-issue. Search wheel clicking. Dumb.

My P3D- is on bog-standard suspension and econo-MXM4s (coilovers + wheels/tires + other misc. suspension components will be installed soon, be patient!). Vaporized ///M 6 series whatevers, Dodge poopcats, Evos, brostangs, etc. My last victim was a 535i GT that had a head-start ~20 MPH roll. I was at a dead stop w/ 200 lbs of cargo. He didn't even get past my front passenger door before it was over. I think my SOC was something like 40%? Not even on the same planet. I remember I couldn't even keep up with those in my ZHP. Bonus: Perfect, consistent launches. Every. Single. Time. Bonus bonus: zero mechanical guilt. Always in the right gear. Always firmly in the powerband. No exploding transmissions, shredded differentials, thrown rods. Anyone who doesn't realize we're witnessing the genesis of an entirely new performance category is a moron. Sorry econo-peoples - you've accidentally'd a monster. What I save in petroleum, I make up in tires.

Moving on. My dad used to own a 528i 5 MT. I used to take it out when I was 15, without a license (never got caught). I liked cars, but didn't know *sugar*. But driving that car felt... special. It taught me there's more to driving than meets the eye. Even with its bottle cap wheels & all-season tires, it felt... different. Even an over-hormoned 15 year-old understood. I feel for peoples who say "I hated driving until my I drove a Model 3!" Ever driven an Exige? Prolly not.

Fast-forward to today. The Model 3 is closer to what German sports sedans used to be vs. German sports sedans today. Svelte/simple/understated/unassuming. Will wipe the floor with far louder & more expensive cars. No "LOOKET ME!" The German brands have forsaken the enthusiasts that made them what they are today. "We need to evolve with our consumer base!" said the top-floor Marketing Research dipshit. Result? The new 3 series is nearly ~186" long. My dad's '99 5 Series was ~188". All of the Audis look the same (electric razors -Sin City). Mercs are sold with fistfuls of Viagra ("we're still desirable!"). All German cars today are laden with stupid, pointless features that I, as a performance-oriented driver, could give a **** about. Got an F30 while getting my 9th Takata recall performed... Why are they measuring PSI down to the tenth? I thought I was OCD. Inline 4 turbo? In a BMW?! Oh, I can get a turbocharged I-6? Do I want that? My E46 was built back when they cared, and cars were simple(r). The back-office corporate Finance douche still hadn't a clue a world existed outside the Accord. Yet, it STILL leaked oil like a sieve by ~50K miles. It's unfathomable what these more "modren" engines must be like, today. 15 cat converters from start-to-finish!

Time to get a new car.

BMW/Audi/Merc wasn't even on my short list. Test-drove an STI... how old is the EJ engine by now? LOL! No ebo? Subaro no care. Sales guy had no clue what I was talking about - doesn't matter. You'd be an idiot to buy an STI over the new WRX as a DD. Test drove the WRX. HELLISH rev-hang. (Our political overlords have ruined manuals as well.) They sure know best! Don't belive me? Thanks Jason. Test drove a CTR. Car was a RIOT! Those side bolsters would look like *sugar* in 20K miles. But the real issue... the looks. :/ And the dealer mark-up. I'm not gonna pay you $10K over MSRP to arrive at client sites in a hopped-up Civic that looks like something from 9 Fast 9 Furious.

WTF IS THIS?

We used to rip on Mustangs for having fake hood scoops... now this. IN AN AUDI.

Time went on. There was a Tesla dealer on the way home. Everything sucks. The legacy autos have forsaken me. **** it. Wife, let's give it a shot. O what's this? A P3D? What's that? Whatever. It doesn't make any noise!!! That's neat. Let's take it onto the highway... put my foot down. WHAT. THE. ****. IS THIS!? Let's try it again, just to make sure I wasn't imagining things. 110+. Sales girl's getting a little uneasy, but she's cool. I ask: Is there a way to get this thing without the 20" donks? Yeah! About $5K less right now without the wheels! (and other pointless bits, come to find out, but that's OK. Built not bought brah!).

Are you listening, BMW? **** you. I'm the kind of guy who can keep any car running - indefinitely, as long as there's a HF nearby. I never thought I'd buy a new car. EVER. Swore against it. That's for morons who can't even change their oil. I was swayed. I bought a new car. I did. Was it a BMW? NO!

A 580 HP car that hits 60 in 3 seconds flat with none of the typical maintenance bullshit. No valve adjustments every 50K miles. No turbocharger heat soak. No carbon buildup & walnut blasting to clean your fancy DI engine. No debates about oil catch cans. No making sure it's warmed up before driving hard. No feeling like an idiot shuffling to & from work in a 500+ hp machine that gets <15 mpg in stop & go traffic that seldom sees over 35 mph. And it comfortably seats 5 people & has a crazy amount of space vs. a similarly-sized conventional car. It's the perfect high-performance DD with none of the drawbacks.

Most importantly - everything else sucks in comparison. There's nothing as good, especially at the same price point. It's either too dated, too watered-down/boring... Most manufacturers have simply forsaken the enthusiast & are computerizing every facet of the driving experience. Might as well take it all the way & go for the car that takes this concept to the extreme, but wraps it up in a novel & thrilling driving experience. "We know what millennials want!" No. You don't. But Tesla does, apparently - their chassis department consists of 4 guys who understand the way things should be (I think one of them has a 2002?).

(Disclaimer: many beer. sorry for hemingwayprose)

Great story!
Maybe the bmw m2 comp or m340 still have IT? Part from that bmw has changed its way.
My neighbor just bought an m340 and I just got my model 3. Will try to do a comparison

 

[Siciliano]

BTW, speaking of beemers...the 2019 440i xDrive Gran Coupe is also in the same price range, making the decision all the more difficult.

 

[Gizmo35]

After test driving a model 3 sr+ It was very clear that I wouldnt be getting anything other than a model 3. A year later, the feeling is still the same. I just cant break the feeling of how ancient an ICE car feels to me now. The EV was a good fit into my life situation but Im also aware that it doesnt work for everyone and that is key whether you will be happy of not in the long run.

 

[Dolemite]

Another E46 asshole checking-in. Former 330i ZHP owner. 6 MT. Well-pampered. Loved the damn thing to death. Most balanced ICE car you can buy. Period. Peak ICE, IMO. (Fight me IRL.) Just the right looks, size, economy, practicality, comfort. Bought used. Drove it 10+ years. 100K+ miles. Far more reliable than most examples. No major issues. Endless compliments. Endless nickel & diming me. One day, the subframe had a crack - that was the end of that. German engineering my ass. Those days are gone. The chassis cracking? The ONE thing I can't fix? From regular use? A company that practically invented the sports sedan segment? Is this a joke?

Going in, you should know: Tesla still struggles in the Quality Control department. (Byproduct of technology geeks thinking they know everything.) But, overall, when I compare my Tesla's issues vs. the issues my BMW had over the same mileage, I'll happily deal with Tesla's piddly bullshit. I've really only had one problem w/ my Model 3 - turned out to be an annoying non-issue. Search wheel clicking. Dumb.

My P3D- is on bog-standard suspension and econo-MXM4s (coilovers + wheels/tires + other misc. suspension components will be installed soon, be patient!). Vaporized ///M 6 series whatevers, Dodge poopcats, Evos, brostangs, etc. My last victim was a 535i GT that had a head-start ~20 MPH roll. I was at a dead stop w/ 200 lbs of cargo. He didn't even get past my front passenger door before it was over. I think my SOC was something like 40%? Not even on the same planet. I remember I couldn't even keep up with those in my ZHP. Bonus: Perfect, consistent launches. Every. Single. Time. Bonus bonus: zero mechanical guilt. Always in the right gear. Always firmly in the powerband. No exploding transmissions, shredded differentials, thrown rods. Anyone who doesn't realize we're witnessing the genesis of an entirely new performance category is a moron. Sorry econo-peoples - you've accidentally'd a monster. What I save in petroleum, I make up in tires.

Moving on. My dad used to own a 528i 5 MT. I used to take it out when I was 15, without a license (never got caught). I liked cars, but didn't know *sugar*. But driving that car felt... special. It taught me there's more to driving than meets the eye. Even with its bottle cap wheels & all-season tires, it felt... different. Even an over-hormoned 15 year-old understood. I feel for peoples who say "I hated driving until my I drove a Model 3!" Ever driven an Exige? Prolly not.

Fast-forward to today. The Model 3 is closer to what German sports sedans used to be vs. German sports sedans today. Svelte/simple/understated/unassuming. Will wipe the floor with far louder & more expensive cars. No "LOOKET ME!" The German brands have forsaken the enthusiasts that made them what they are today. "We need to evolve with our consumer base!" said the top-floor Marketing Research dipshit. Result? The new 3 series is nearly ~186" long. My dad's '99 5 Series was ~188". All of the Audis look the same (electric razors -Sin City). Mercs are sold with fistfuls of Viagra ("we're still desirable!"). All German cars today are laden with stupid, pointless features that I, as a performance-oriented driver, could give a **** about. Got an F30 while getting my 9th Takata recall performed... Why are they measuring PSI down to the tenth? I thought I was OCD. Inline 4 turbo? In a BMW?! Oh, I can get a turbocharged I-6? Do I want that? My E46 was built back when they cared, and cars were simple(r). The back-office corporate Finance douche still hadn't a clue a world existed outside the Accord. Yet, it STILL leaked oil like a sieve by ~50K miles. It's unfathomable what these more "modren" engines must be like, today. 15 cat converters from start-to-finish!

Time to get a new car.

BMW/Audi/Merc wasn't even on my short list. Test-drove an STI... how old is the EJ engine by now? LOL! No ebo? Subaro no care. Sales guy had no clue what I was talking about - doesn't matter. You'd be an idiot to buy an STI over the new WRX as a DD. Test drove the WRX. HELLISH rev-hang. (Our political overlords have ruined manuals as well.) They sure know best! Don't belive me? Thanks Jason. Test drove a CTR. Car was a RIOT! Those side bolsters would look like *sugar* in 20K miles. But the real issue... the looks. :/ And the dealer mark-up. I'm not gonna pay you $10K over MSRP to arrive at client sites in a hopped-up Civic that looks like something from 9 Fast 9 Furious.

WTF IS THIS?

We used to rip on Mustangs for having fake hood scoops... now this. IN AN AUDI.

Time went on. There was a Tesla dealer on the way home. Everything sucks. The legacy autos have forsaken me. **** it. Wife, let's give it a shot. O what's this? A P3D? What's that? Whatever. It doesn't make any noise!!! That's neat. Let's take it onto the highway... put my foot down. WHAT. THE. ****. IS THIS!? Let's try it again, just to make sure I wasn't imagining things. 110+. Sales girl's getting a little uneasy, but she's cool. I ask: Is there a way to get this thing without the 20" donks? Yeah! About $5K less right now without the wheels! (and other pointless bits, come to find out, but that's OK. Built not bought brah!).

Are you listening, BMW? **** you. I'm the kind of guy who can keep any car running - indefinitely, as long as there's a HF nearby. I never thought I'd buy a new car. EVER. Swore against it. That's for morons who can't even change their oil. I was swayed. I bought a new car. I did. Was it a BMW? NO!

A 580 HP car that hits 60 in 3 seconds flat with none of the typical maintenance bullshit. No valve adjustments every 50K miles. No turbocharger heat soak. No carbon buildup & walnut blasting to clean your fancy DI engine. No debates about oil catch cans. No making sure it's warmed up before driving hard. No feeling like an idiot shuffling to & from work in a 500+ hp machine that gets <15 mpg in stop & go traffic that seldom sees over 35 mph. And it comfortably seats 5 people & has a crazy amount of space vs. a similarly-sized conventional car. It's the perfect high-performance DD with none of the drawbacks.

Most importantly - everything else sucks in comparison. There's nothing as good, especially at the same price point. It's either too dated, too watered-down/boring... Most manufacturers have simply forsaken the enthusiast & are computerizing every facet of the driving experience. Might as well take it all the way & go for the car that takes this concept to the extreme, but wraps it up in a novel & thrilling driving experience. "We know what millennials want!" No. You don't. But Tesla does, apparently - their chassis department consists of 4 guys who understand the way things should be (I think one of them has a 2002?).

(Disclaimer: many beer. sorry for hemingwayprose)

wow

Great story!
Maybe the bmw m2 comp or m340 still have IT? Part from that bmw has changed its way.
My neighbor just bought an m340 and I just got my model 3. Will try to do a comparison

M2 Comp is legit - wish it came in some sort of 4-door variant. Instead they gave us this monstrosity:

The new 3 Series isn't even offered in a manual anymore.