On one hand, you've got an absolute monster. The straight-line acceleration has a genuine ability to make passengers (and maybe yourself) question their life choices. We're talking "why did I eat that burrito" levels of G-force.
But here's where it gets interesting: the handling matches the performance. With the dampers set to Sport mode, this car exceeds what most competitors offer at this price point—and that's especially impressive considering it's hauling around nearly 4,000 pounds plus a 47-year-old who should know better. I had a highway patrol officer friend who also happens to be a driving trainer take it around Carolina Motorsports Park for a hot lap. On his first time sitting behind the steering wheel and after one lap, he was obliterating his baseline times—the same times he regularly sets in the newer 5.0 Mustangs that his department uses for training.
That's not a casual endorsement.
The Docile Daily Driver Version
On the other hand, you've got a car that will safely deliver you from point A to point B with almost unsettling competence. When I "drove" 220 miles home from Savannah, my goal was simple: let FSD (Full Self Drive) do the work. It delivered. Flawlessly. At one point, a traffic cone fell off a construction truck about 30 feet ahead of me on the highway. The Model 3 dodged it beautifully—smoothly, almost casually—while I was still processing what had happened.
From a ride quality perspective (in standard suspension mode), it's genuinely more comfortable than most "normal" cars. I've owned an Accord Touring (lowered on Eibachs) and an Integra Type S (fun, also on Eibachs but noticeably harsh). My wife's Ford Mach-E GT actually struggles with suspension harshness (factory) on longer drives, something I definitely did not expect from a $60k+ luxury crossover.
The Model 3 in standard mode? Smooth. Composed. Amazing how well-mannered it is.
The Verdict
So here I am: a mid-life guy who's owned more cars than I care to count, and I'm confident saying this is the best car I've ever owned.
The fact that it does both of these things—balls-out performance and serene daily driving—is what makes it special.
Coming Up
I've got plenty to explore over the coming weeks and months:
- Charging infrastructure and real-world charging experiences
- How we became a two-EV household (spoiler: it wasn't planned)
- That missing Apple CarPlay situation and whether it's actually the disaster everyone claims
Stay tuned.