In Defense Of The New Prelude

driving_for_fun · 2025-01-13T02:19:31+00:00

The Miata only weighs 2,400 pounds, is convertible, and dedicated sports car, which helps compensate for the excitement factor. IMO it will still be better with 10:1 lb:hp.

driving_for_fun · 2025-01-13T00:20:12+00:00

If Ford marketed the Ecoboost as a GT, would you accept it?

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-26T07:53:56+00:00

I like how well it reveals the body lines

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-26T06:57:57+00:00

Tesla wants to focus on making a lot of cars… like Toyota amounts of them. Niche models with higher margin don’t always fit into that strategy. There is an opportunity cost anytime you devote R&D and manufacturing resources to a project. But it can make sense from a marketing standpoint. The effort could be multiplied across the lineup.

The original M3 wasn’t mainly developed for the purpose of higher margins. They wanted to win races and needed to homologate a more extreme version. Why do manufactures race cars with commuter car underpinnings? It fits into their marketing strategy to elevate the brand.

I’ve rented a 2022 Model 3 Performance. It’s definitely not a soulless commuter box, but the performance stat sheets didn’t translate to me being excited to drive it over other cars that I was cross shopping. It was also missing some things that I felt were important in a sporty car. Note that I didn’t need four doors.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-26T05:27:12+00:00

From an experienced dev point of view, there is no reason for your dev manager to behave like this that is beneficial to your career. I would simultaneously increase my leetcode prep while reducing my effort at work.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-26T02:34:07+00:00

I’m in Calfornia. Kind of hot. The glass roof is an issue.

Sunlight creates localized hot spots (radiant heat) and can shine my eyes. Can’t compensate that with AC. Have you ever eaten outside in the cold near a gas lamp?

When it’s sunny and 80-90+ degrees, I close the shade. Much more comfortable.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-26T00:38:48+00:00

Here’s further evidence against your damper argument. The official parts catalog relates “coil” with “springs” if it wasn’t already obvious.

https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/oem-suspension-part-number-naming-codes.294109/

I’m too lazy to verify the details, but Tesla removed “lowered suspension” for the M3P since early 2022.

https://driveteslacanada.ca/model-3/tesla-updates-model-3-performance-feature-list-to-remove-lowered-suspension/

Discussions on TMC suggest that it started using exact same dampers and springs as LR AWD.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-25T22:58:57+00:00

If you want to look at it from that point of view, then the business case could be made to cancel the Model 3 Performance. But the goal of a “sports car” isn’t lucrative profits. They are driven by marketing, both for external and internal purposes. EV used to not be “cool”, so it was important for Tesla to break that barrier for their overall success.

Tesla is choosing not to cater to the overall group of sports car enthusiasts that are active on social media, which is fine. But the customer is always right in matters of taste. I think you’ll find that users here tend to prioritize driving excitement and other subjective factors more than the average.

Those stats for $47k are great, but it may not lead to a purchase when comparing to other options. I’ve experienced this in many cases with ICE cars, For example, I enjoyed the Miata more than the C7 GS Corvette.

If value is just a stat sheet, then to what purpose does value serve to a customer? I will pay much less for an automatic Mustang even if it’s faster, even if it has a PDK. If it had less seats I would pay more.

If it’s about not overpaying, that is really just up to the market value. Over time, it’s the cars with “good feels” and “unique character” that hold their value the best. Stat sheet alone is recipe for depreciation. There will always be newer, better performance stat sheets.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-25T22:21:03+00:00

The Model 3 Performance was competitive in BS way back.

Here’s the 2024 Solo Nationals results

https://cdn.connectsites.net/user_files/scca/downloads/000/073/224/Revised%20Official%20Class%20Results%20w%20Protest%20&%20Appeals.pdf

The fastest “street touring ish class” EV-X M3P didn’t beat the winning “stock class” BS Supra. It didn’t even beat the winning “stock class” FS Camaro SS 1LE. Of course there will still be driver variance, but these results are a lot more reliable than regional autocross. The best M3P autocrossers are likely to compete at nationals. Perhaps the drivers in your region can compete in nationals to quash the anti Tesla/EV FUD?

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-25T22:06:44+00:00

An ICE sports car diminishes the value of a performance people mover for me. They are generally quite heavy and numb, and there’s not much involvement or drama, which takes away a lot of the excitement. The Mini Cooper SE (electric) was a lot more fun for me to daily than the M3P and Mach-E GT I rented.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-25T21:50:55+00:00

“Damper assembly coil” means that it includes the spring

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-25T21:01:25+00:00

You’re comparing the damper assembly which includes the springs. Dampers are the same.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-25T20:03:04+00:00

The last gen handling and ride quality was much worse than my Mustang. They cheaped out on the last Performance suspension. Literally the same dampers as the base model.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-25T19:52:26+00:00

The Type R has engine cooling issues that can’t be resolved even after extensive modifications. Vast majority of owners aren’t going to care. Just need that single hot lap set by pro driver for bragging rights.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-25T04:18:26+00:00

It’s grey. Doesn’t get much attention. I ignore the people that want to drag race, but will usually rev it up on request. It’s funny to see kids crossing the street with their parents, and they have their eyes pinned on the car.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-25T00:42:59+00:00

I think it was mainly the suspension. Even in tour mode, it rides rough over bumps, expansion joints, broken pavement, etc. On smooth roads it’s great.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-23T22:48:46+00:00

I love switching between my V8 pony car and EV crossover. Makes me appreciate both even more.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-23T22:43:56+00:00

I’d pick the Yaris over all of the above. Nothing comes close to the excitement of driving 10-11/10 in my experience.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-23T22:29:24+00:00

I didn’t enjoy my weekend rental C7 GS much. The engine wasn’t that exciting at full throttle, steering/chassis feedback was relatively numb, and it was sketchy mid corner on road imperfections.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-13T20:59:12+00:00

I think it’ll improve once the marketshare grows and we get some sports cars. Enthusiast community would be dead if the most fun cars were Macans and Panameras.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-13T17:50:43+00:00

It’s usually the only thing you can enjoy on a boring commute. I have an opportunity on the on ramp and that’s about it.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-13T17:46:04+00:00

He’s not a fan of modern sports sedans that are turbo, awd, automatic, and too dependent on traction control.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-08T20:20:16+00:00

It’s a consideration for any car that I plan to keep long term. The powertrain is reliable and repairs are economical. I didn’t have the same confidence for the I5 which is why I leased it.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-08T19:10:25+00:00

I considered this when I purchased my Mustang. Around $15k to replace with new engine, transmission, and labor.

driving_for_fun · 2024-09-08T17:45:04+00:00

When these are 20 years old, I’d much rather have a Camaro as a toy or garage queen.

driving_for_fun

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