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Tesla Model 3 vs. BMW M3 [video]

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Re: Tesla Model 3 vs. BMW M3 [video]

#51
post #33

These super fast cars are a threat to life and safety in urban environments. EV or not, these fast vehicles should not be sold as these speeds do not serve any valid purpose.

I just came here to say something similar. It drives me nuts that this sort of power and performance is let loose on public streets. At some point I would think we'd be able to have some sort of geofencing system were a car would be forced into "golf cart" mode once it's off the highway.

What's better than geofencing is that the long needed depth sensing is coming to Tesla cars (watch the latest investor presentation about autonomous driving to see how it was trained). I believe emergency braking will save a lot of lives.

Re: Tesla Model 3 vs. BMW M3 [video]

#52
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just came here to say something similar. It drives me nuts that this sort of power and performance is let loose on public streets. At some point I would think we'd be able to have some sort of geofencing system were a car would be forced into "golf cart" mode once it's off the highway.

Where is this sentiment coming from? Let the driver (who is legally, ethically, and morally responsible for the operation of the vehicle they are controlling) judge the appropriate safety boundaries of the environment they're currently driving through. A 45mph zone would be more appropriately driven at anything from 15 to 70mph, depending on so many factors other than "it's off the highway". At any rate, don't turn a…

> Let the driver (who is legally, ethically, and morally responsible for the operation of the vehicle they are controlling) judge the appropriate safety boundaries of the environment they're currently driving through.

Time and time again, it's been shown that people do not have the capacity to make correct judgements on simple things, let alone things that threaten other's lives.

Re: Tesla Model 3 vs. BMW M3 [video]

#53

I just rented a P3D a couple weeks ago for a weekend, and I agree with the review, it would spank an M3. Hell, it would even spank my Camaro. But it's not a driver's car. Steering is numb, handling is competent but it's a very heavy car, seats are disapointing as hell. I was impressed, but not enough to drop 60 grand. And to be honest, between an M3 and a P3D, I'd probably still choose the M3. It really, really depen…

I strongly agree with you. I don’t care if it spanks the M3 in a straight line. The M3 would still be the car with the better mechanics, handling and overall driving pleasure and still fast as hell for everyday life driving.

Yes my opinion is subjective. But if you like cars you might know what I am talking about.

Re: Tesla Model 3 vs. BMW M3 [video]

#54
post #7

My last car was an E92 M3 MT (with Tech, Premium, Competition packages and a modded exhaust). It was the most fun vehicle I've ever driven. It had plenty of power, and introduced me to the side of cars other than straight line power. It also had plenty of luxury inside, the car was credibly comfortable. All in all I think it compared very favorably to my friends R8 with nearly as much performance and plenty more luxu…

That car is bananas, so fun to drive. I had the 2013 e92 m3 competition but very similar. Incredible luxury, 3.9 second 0-60 that literally slammed your head back into the seat producing a stupidly happy grin.

The best part of that car was the handling/suspension and the stereo though. You could put it in M Dynamic Mode, which let you do controlled drifts. Shredded tires, but goodness it was fun to drift corners everywhere.

The sound system was the best I've ever heard, far better than a custom $4,000 system. 800 watts, a 10 inch sub under both front seats. That car was the closest thing to perfection I've personally ever driven. Its only real flaw was it didn't have quite enough low end torque ( 300 lb ft ) because it was a naturally aspirated v8. Plus you had to really baby the throttle on the low end so the tires wouldn't start sliding around when you accelerated from a stop.

I had literally 0 problems with it in three years outside of the stupid Takata airbag recall, which is why I didn't keep it. But you can't blame that on bmw. Plus I mean I spent a lot on tires, but that's on me :-)

At the time I test drove a comparable tesla and thought it accelerated really slow and had poor handling. Also it didn't even have a backup camera, decent stereo, or integration with popular music streaming services. But I hear they have gotten better.

For me the big benefit of the tesla is that you can shave 15-20 minutes off your commute by using the carpool lane and still have a decent car. Plus you are doing something to offset climate change.

Re: Tesla Model 3 vs. BMW M3 [video]

#55

In this test performed by the show host (not a professional driver) the Tesla Model 3 won for 1/4 mile, 0-100-0, and the hot lap. The BMW M3 was deemed “more fun to drift”. Looks good for the Tesla!

If you really like driving sports cars, "more fun to drift" is not just a nice to have. It can be make or break on the decision.

Re: Tesla Model 3 vs. BMW M3 [video]

#56
post #33

These super fast cars are a threat to life and safety in urban environments. EV or not, these fast vehicles should not be sold as these speeds do not serve any valid purpose.

On the contrary, as an owner of a slow/heavy 2002 luxury vehicle, the improved acceleration and braking of newer cars offers the individual and machine a greater range of options to avoid danger and improve safety for the passenger.

Re: Tesla Model 3 vs. BMW M3 [video]

#57
post #7

My last car was an E92 M3 MT (with Tech, Premium, Competition packages and a modded exhaust). It was the most fun vehicle I've ever driven. It had plenty of power, and introduced me to the side of cars other than straight line power. It also had plenty of luxury inside, the car was credibly comfortable. All in all I think it compared very favorably to my friends R8 with nearly as much performance and plenty more luxu…

That car is bananas, so fun to drive. I had the 2013 e92 m3 competition but very similar. Incredible luxury, 3.9 second 0-60 that literally slammed your head back into the seat producing a stupidly happy grin. The best part of that car was the handling/suspension and the stereo though. You could put it in M Dynamic Mode, which let you do controlled drifts. Shredded tires, but goodness it was fun to drift corners ever…

I'm glad I'm not the only one who is still ridiculously in love with their M3 experience. Haha.

Yeah I spent a fair bit on tires too, also on me.

Re: Tesla Model 3 vs. BMW M3 [video]

#58
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What else was expensive to maintain, and why? Was this on a new M3?

It was an E92, and specifically the 2008 model. The most expensive thing I ever did was the brakes. The competition package has floating discs and they were ~$2500 to replace. There are just a lot of design decisions on a car like that which favour performance over maintainability. Another example from when I first got it was the car was the gas tank would only fill up to about 3/4. Turns out because the car is so lo…

Sorry I realized I didn't directly answer your question. It was used, ~64000 miles and ~7 years old when I got it.

Re: Tesla Model 3 vs. BMW M3 [video]

#60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a common argument, but I think it's a great example of perfect being the enemy of good for a couple of reasons. 1) Cars (especially diesels) emit far more particulates and carbon in real world driving conditions compared to idealized testing. The sort of stop and go, light to light driving we do on a daily basis running errands while the engine is cold is the worst edge case for an internal combustion engine.…

Yes, this is all true. However, it's also fair to say that a lot of "green" technologies have been oversold over the past decade or two, with their realistic environmental credentials at the time of use not necessarily living up to either their long-term potential or the hype in the promotional literature. Moreover, some (not all, of course) green advocacy groups are among the worst offenders when it comes to distort…

The very simple thermodynamics of green technology are this:

You set a PV panel out in the sun, you get free electricity as long as the sun shines. For ever.

You set up an otto cycle engine to burn something and generate power: you get nice power. As long as you keep digging up and procuring fuel, and dealing with (or forcing someone else to deal with) the waste products. Good luck with that.

This has been the physics of renewables since I first learned about them, since I was a child, about 45-ish years ago. The politics of it have also been: "we can't switch to renewables now, we've got too much invested in burnables now - so lets transition gradually."

And, in fact - we haven't transitioned gradually.

It's not that it's not ready.

It's that the people who don't want change - aren't ready. And frankly - I'm tired of them already. And their enablers and apologists.

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