performance vs LR amateur track day

[Marius A]

So I've never taken a car to the track, but I've always wanted to do it. I think I'm gonna take my new TM3 a few times.
I have an LR on order because I wanted the hitch and none of the sales reps could get me a base performance. However, there are a couple performance versions on the same boat headed here, so I can upgrade.

But I need to know, how big a difference does the performance make for an amateur? I assume track mode is the biggest differentiator.

Ps: I've already driven both a 2018 LR and 2019 Performance for 1 year each, so it's not like getting a TM3 will be a huge change in itself.

 

[Mash]

Too big difference. Traction control is too aggressive and you can't switch it off.

 

[Apprunner]

Also, the battery will overheat much faster without Track Mode. It may not be a good experience in the track without the Performance model.

 

[MoreAgain]

Your AWD will be just fine on track. Being that it is your first time on any track, the car will have more capability than you'll be able to use. Even if you had the Performance variant, you would be best served by leaving track mode off until you get a feel for the basics of managing a road course. As your skills increase, there are plenty of relatively simple mods you can make to the car to match. Tires, brake pads and fluids will make the most impact early on.

Once you get to the point of pushing the car to its limits, you can be competitive with the AWD. In fact, after 10 Tesla Corsa events at Buttonwillow Raceway with over 100 drivers participating, only 6 drivers have been able to break the sub-two minute barrier, and one of them did it in his AWD.

TeslaCorsa Season 1 (3) - Google Drive

 

[Mash]

Your AWD will be just fine on track. Being that it is your first time on any track, the car will have more capability than you'll be able to use. Even if you had the Performance variant, you would be best served by leaving track mode off until you get a feel for the basics of managing a road course. As your skills increase, there are plenty of relatively simple mods you can make to the car to match. Tires, brake pads and fluids will make the most impact early on.

Once you get to the point of pushing the car to its limits, you can be competitive with the AWD. In fact, after 10 Tesla Corsa events at Buttonwillow Raceway with over 100 drivers participating, only 6 drivers have been able to break the sub-two minute barrier, and one of them did it in his AWD.

TeslaCorsa Season 1 (3) - Google Drive

It's not even about the time. Or the fact that car overheats much faster with smaller brakes, full TC, no track mode and low experience of carrying speed. At some point its annoying that it doesn't want to do it.

Not using track mode in the beginning is a good advice, though. Not been able to decrease TC later is a painful sadness.

 

[MoreAgain]

...car overheats much faster with smaller brakes, full TC, no track mode.

Not been able to decrease TC later is a painful sadness.

I understand the pain, I track a LR RWD. The fact that Tesla doesn't offer some version of TM for all Model 3 variants is a failing. But, just a few simple and inexpensive mods, including the MPP Partybox along with their 365mm rotors, track pads, and fluid, have resolved these issues for me.

My key point is this: It sounds like the OP has daily use reasons for not getting the Performance variant. That should not stop him from enjoying his Model 3 on the track. Get out there and do it OP, it is crazy fun.

 

[Apprunner]

It's not even about the time. Or the fact that car overheats much faster with smaller brakes, full TC, no track mode and low experience of carrying speed. At some point its annoying that it doesn't want to do it.

Not using track mode in the beginning is a good advice, though. Not been able to decrease TC later is a painful sadness.

You can turn on all the nannies in Track Mode if you want though. Its completely customizeable and the fact that you can boost the cooling of the battery to get more runs in is priceless for track runs. Simple fact is that the Performance model is much better if you want to track the car and if you want to daily it, then sell the 20s and get 18s and its just as easy to daily.

 

[Marius A]

Forgot at the LR can't turn off TC, that's probably gonna be a real PITA.
I did some amateur rally when I was younger but I'm pretty sure tracking a 500hp EV is something very different than a $1000 ford escort
Upgraded to blue/black performance

Thanks for costing me $5500 @Mash and @Apprunner

@MoreAgain appreciate the input, but I think not being able to turn off TC in combination with potential overheating is going to be a huge PITA in 2 years.
I live just 35 minute drive from one od the beat tracks in the country so I could easily go often if it turns out I really like it.
Or simply said: good advice, but I think I would regret not getting a P more than not getting a hitch, based on my personality.

 

[Apprunner]

Forgot at the LR can't turn off TC, that's probably gonna be a real PITA.
I did some amateur rally when I was younger but I'm pretty sure tracking a 500hp EV is something very different than a $1000 ford escort
Upgraded to blue/black performance

Thanks for costing me $5500 @Mash and @Apprunner

@MoreAgain appreciate the input, but I think not being able to turn off TC in combination with potential overheating is going to be a huge PITA in 2 years.
I live just 35 minute drive from one od the beat tracks in the country so I could easily go often if it turns out I really like it.
Or simply said: good advice, but I think I would regret not getting a P more than not getting a hitch, based on my personality.

haha...worth every penny.

 

[ahhlun]

Your AWD will be just fine on track. Being that it is your first time on any track, the car will have more capability than you'll be able to use. Even if you had the Performance variant, you would be best served by leaving track mode off until you get a feel for the basics of managing a road course. As your skills increase, there are plenty of relatively simple mods you can make to the car to match. Tires, brake pads and fluids will make the most impact early on.

Once you get to the point of pushing the car to its limits, you can be competitive with the AWD. In fact, after 10 Tesla Corsa events at Buttonwillow Raceway with over 100 drivers participating, only 6 drivers have been able to break the sub-two minute barrier, and one of them did it in his AWD.

TeslaCorsa Season 1 (3) - Google Drive

Did that AWD guy do anything funny(hack) in forcibly disabling his TC?

 

[ahhlun]

It's not even about the time. Or the fact that car overheats much faster with smaller brakes, full TC, no track mode and low experience of carrying speed.

From what I read, you'd want to upgrade your brakes anyways even if you have a M3P right?
Also from your sig, you dont look like an amateur and op is asking advise for amateur level driver.

 

[Mash]

From what I read, you'd want to upgrade your brakes anyways even if you have a M3P right?
Also from your sig, you dont look like an amateur and op is asking advise for amateur level driver.

1. You can go to the track in stock form and have fun already. Start full TC in Track Mode and gradually dial it down. 1 hot lap - 1 cold.
2. Upgrade pads and fluid. 2 hot - 1 cold.
3. Upgrade tires to cup2 connect. 3 hot - 1 cold and faster.
4. Add MPP sport and rear sway bar and it's way more compliant and faster in turns.
5. Add FUCA and rear camber arms and you can attack corners really hard.
6. Change front brake calipers and go 5-6 hot laps in a row.
7. Add aero - increase speed and confidence in high speed turns.
8. Get dedicated 18x10.5 inch wheels with slicks to get really fast.
9. Get proven cooling kit next year to extract all hot laps from the charge or attack Pikes Peak or Nurburgring.
10.Put more uni-balls everywhere to have more control and shave last seconds.
11.Put big aero, hard springs and pro driver and beat lap records.

So, no, you don't have to upgrade anything right away. You can gradually learn and upgrade and having fun from the start. And you can stop at some point, even after step 1, when it's enough for you.

I'm a typical amateur, not a pro. Signature is about my car, not about me.

Tesla TC is just not for the track. Can't push at all and it's a shame, because it's so well balanced car by design. And there is no party box for LR AWD...

 

[Marius A]

1. You can go to the track in stock form and have fun already. Start full TC in Track Mode and gradually dial it down. 1 hot lap - 1 cold.
2. Upgrade pads and fluid. 2 hot - 1 cold.
3. Upgrade tires to cup2 connect. 3 hot - 1 cold and faster.
4. Add MPP sport and rear sway bar and it's way more compliant and faster in turns.
5. Add FUCA and rear camber arms and you can attack corners really hard.
6. Change front brake calipers and go 5-6 hot laps in a row.
7. Add aero - increase speed and confidence in high speed turns.
8. Get dedicated 18x10.5 inch wheels with slicks to get really fast.
9. Get proven cooling kit next year to extract all hot laps from the charge or attack Pikes Peak or Nurburgring.
10.Put more uni-balls everywhere to have more control and shave last seconds.
11.Put big aero, hard springs and pro driver and beat lap records.

So, no, you don't have to upgrade anything right away. You can gradually learn and upgrade and having fun from the start. And you can stop at some point, even after step 1, when it's enough for you.

I'm a typical amateur, not a pro. Signature is about my car, not about me.

Tesla TC is just not for the track. Can't push at all and it's a shame, because it's so well balanced car by design. And there is no party box for LR AWD...

I'm not gonna do anything that degrades the daily driving (until we get a second car) my fiance already thinks the ride is too hard and gets back pain.
I think I read that the mpp comfort coilovers are good both for the track and better comfort than stock, so might jump on them for her sake.

 

[Mash]

I'm not gonna do anything that degrades the daily driving (until we get a second car) my fiance already thinks the ride is too hard and gets back pain. I think I read that the mpp comfort coilovers are good both for the track and better comfort than stock, so might jump on them for her sake.

Take adjustable to put more compression resistance on the track. Default settings can't stop the car from going all over the place.

 

[Uncle Paul]

A big issue for track use, is that a good driver will not simply drive as fast as possible, but also take into considerations the limitations of their car. Technique can make your brakes last longer, your battery stay fully available and your tires not go away. Advanced drivers will get the best out of their cars and put down the quickest times, while not rolling into the pits with everything smoking and used up.

Your friends might expect the performance model to be much faster than a standard configuration, but if you can also put down fast times in the base model, they will be impressed as well.

 

[MountainPass]

1. You can go to the track in stock form and have fun already. Start full TC in Track Mode and gradually dial it down. 1 hot lap - 1 cold.
2. Upgrade pads and fluid. 2 hot - 1 cold.
3. Upgrade tires to cup2 connect. 3 hot - 1 cold and faster.
4. Add MPP sport and rear sway bar and it's way more compliant and faster in turns.
5. Add FUCA and rear camber arms and you can attack corners really hard.
6. Change front brake calipers and go 5-6 hot laps in a row.
7. Add aero - increase speed and confidence in high speed turns.
8. Get dedicated 18x10.5 inch wheels with slicks to get really fast.
9. Get proven cooling kit next year to extract all hot laps from the charge or attack Pikes Peak or Nurburgring.
10.Put more uni-balls everywhere to have more control and shave last seconds.
11.Put big aero, hard springs and pro driver and beat lap records.

So, no, you don't have to upgrade anything right away. You can gradually learn and upgrade and having fun from the start. And you can stop at some point, even after step 1, when it's enough for you.

I'm a typical amateur, not a pro. Signature is about my car, not about me.

Tesla TC is just not for the track. Can't push at all and it's a shame, because it's so well balanced car by design. And there is no party box for LR AWD...

Not back then there wasn't!

 

[ngng]

So I've never taken a car to the track, but I've always wanted to do it. I think I'm gonna take my new TM3 a few times.
I have an LR on order because I wanted the hitch and none of the sales reps could get me a base performance. However, there are a couple performance versions on the same boat headed here, so I can upgrade.

But I need to know, how big a difference does the performance make for an amateur? I assume track mode is the biggest differentiator.

Ps: I've already driven both a 2018 LR and 2019 Performance for 1 year each, so it's not like getting a TM3 will be a huge change in itself.

if you have never been to the track you are going to spend most of your day learning how to unlearn all your street driving habits. hell, you'll spend a few sessions trying to figure out what corner comes after another. I would argue a performance version would work against you on track. too much power and bigger brakes to cover up mistakes. but, if you take it, leave all your nannies on and listen to your instructor

 

[ngng]

1. You can go to the track in stock form and have fun already. Start full TC in Track Mode and gradually dial it down. 1 hot lap - 1 cold.
2. Upgrade pads and fluid. 2 hot - 1 cold.
3. Upgrade tires to cup2 connect. 3 hot - 1 cold and faster.
4. Add MPP sport and rear sway bar and it's way more compliant and faster in turns.
5. Add FUCA and rear camber arms and you can attack corners really hard.
6. Change front brake calipers and go 5-6 hot laps in a row.
7. Add aero - increase speed and confidence in high speed turns.
8. Get dedicated 18x10.5 inch wheels with slicks to get really fast.
9. Get proven cooling kit next year to extract all hot laps from the charge or attack Pikes Peak or Nurburgring.
10.Put more uni-balls everywhere to have more control and shave last seconds.
11.Put big aero, hard springs and pro driver and beat lap records.

So, no, you don't have to upgrade anything right away. You can gradually learn and upgrade and having fun from the start. And you can stop at some point, even after step 1, when it's enough for you.

I'm a typical amateur, not a pro. Signature is about my car, not about me.

Tesla TC is just not for the track. Can't push at all and it's a shame, because it's so well balanced car by design. And there is no party box for LR AWD...

first time on track, you don't need any mods. maybe bleed your brakes. then, as op starts to pick up speed upgrade the brake pads.

yes, of course over time you will want to modify handling or fix things that might be causing issues (like brakes and cooling). but, adding sticky tires and aero just reduce your margin of error. now you've got a car that can go way faster and a driver who can't control it.

spend time on driver, and fix things as they come up

 

[play150]

1. You can go to the track in stock form and have fun already. Start full TC in Track Mode and gradually dial it down. 1 hot lap - 1 cold.
2. Upgrade pads and fluid. 2 hot - 1 cold.
3. Upgrade tires to cup2 connect. 3 hot - 1 cold and faster.
4. Add MPP sport and rear sway bar and it's way more compliant and faster in turns.
5. Add FUCA and rear camber arms and you can attack corners really hard.
6. Change front brake calipers and go 5-6 hot laps in a row.
7. Add aero - increase speed and confidence in high speed turns.
8. Get dedicated 18x10.5 inch wheels with slicks to get really fast.
9. Get proven cooling kit next year to extract all hot laps from the charge or attack Pikes Peak or Nurburgring.
10.Put more uni-balls everywhere to have more control and shave last seconds.
11.Put big aero, hard springs and pro driver and beat lap records.

So, no, you don't have to upgrade anything right away. You can gradually learn and upgrade and having fun from the start. And you can stop at some point, even after step 1, when it's enough for you.

I'm a typical amateur, not a pro. Signature is about my car, not about me.

Tesla TC is just not for the track. Can't push at all and it's a shame, because it's so well balanced car by design. And there is no party box for LR AWD...

The MPP Party box appears to have a beta for the LR AWD now :3

 

[MountainPass]

The MPP Party box appears to have a beta for the LR AWD now :3

2018-2020 Model 3 RWD/AWD/P - Plug and PLAY