White Fury | Ownership | Tesla Model 3 Performance 2024

1. Prologue

I person been successful Dubai for 3 years and person been driving a Kia K8, which I bought successful October 2021 erstwhile the manufacture was inactive facing proviso issues owed to COVID. The enactment of cars disposable astatine that clip was limited, and I went with the KIA K8 (3.5L NA V6). I was fortunate capable to get the past 1 disposable successful stock. It has been a large car for my family, and it has served america excellently. But I had been looking for thing much susceptible and amusive to thrust for 3 to 4 months. Here?s however things unfolded successful this quest:

2. Research/Decision Making

I had been longing to adhd a fun-to-drive car to my store and had shortlisted the beneath options

a. Toyota Supra

It?s an fantabulous value-for-money sports car. I had ever admired the looks of the MK5 Supra. Further, I americium nary Toyota purist immoderate of whom hatred its BMW origin. It?s beauteous competitively priced present successful UAE astatine astir 220K AED (around 60K USD; astatine par with US pricing) for the highest trim.

Engine: The 3.0L I6 Turbo B58 motor (382 BHP) is simply a gem. It is simply a accelerated and reliable workhorse and powers truthful galore important cars for BMW.
Suspension: The suspension setup is connected the softer broadside and offers a decent equilibrium betwixt thrust and handling
Desirability: Would beryllium a imagination travel existent to ain a 2 Door/Seat Sports car
Price: UAE Pricing is astatine par with the US and nary mark-up to pay
Looks: I emotion the looks - thing astatine this terms comes close.

Limited visibility from the driver's seat. The model enactment is besides precocious and you beryllium beauteous debased which limits visibility.
Practicality (2-seater only) - Can usage it arsenic a regular operator for bureau commutes but taking the household (wifey and daughter) is not possible.
Rear instrumentality thrust lone - It is simply a spot tail-happy to the grade that it mightiness beryllium a concern.

Practicality was the lone large antagonistic that was stopping maine from buying the Supra. I was trying to find thing arsenic almighty but much applicable and casual to unrecorded with.

It is Supra?s relative but the drivetrain connected connection present successful UAE is different.

Positives:
Convertible: It?s a convertible and hence you tin rotation down the extortion if the upwind permits - which lone is the lawsuit for 2-3 months during the year.
Visibility: Better visibility and seating presumption than Supra

Negatives:
Price: BMWs are excessively over-priced successful the UAE market. Z4 comes with a smaller 2.0L motor but is priced importantly higher than Supra astatine ~300K AED.
Engine: Underpowered compared to Supra (lower trim disposable successful UAE)

c. BMW M240i

It is powered by the aforesaid B58 motor arsenic Supra.

Better visibility and seating presumption than Supra. It besides has a rear seat and is hence much applicable than the Supra/Z4.

Overpriced: M240i does person an all-wheel thrust strategy but is inactive steeply priced astatine ~300K AED, which is simply a important premium implicit its US pricing.
Looks: I someway don?t similar the boxy caller grill design.

d. Audi RS3

It is an astonishing car and the 5-cylinder turbo motor is simply a gem.

Positives:
Engine: A unsocial 5-cylinder turbo motor with ~400 BHP is capable to propel RS3 from 0 to 100 Km/hr successful 3.8s. It has a throaty enactment arsenic good which makes it beauteous unsocial
Rare: This car is not arsenic communal arsenic the BMWs oregon for that substance Supra.
Practical: It has a rear seat and a mean sedan-like driving presumption - tin regular without immoderate compromises

Negatives:
Price: In the US arsenic well, it is priced higher than Supra and it reflects successful UAE pricing arsenic well. You request to shelve retired 300K AED for this atrocious lad which is steep.

e. Tesla Model 3 Performance

This was a astonishment last-minute/wildcard entry. I was divided betwixt the Audi RS3 for its practicality and the Toyota Supra for its value-for-money pricing. I could not person myself to shelve 300K AED benignant of wealth and the practicality of Supra to regular thrust was a fearfulness that I had. When I stumbled upon the unrecorded motorboat lawsuit of the Model 3 performance, I could not halt myself from instantly booking it. It was priced astatine astir 220K AED (same arsenic Supra) and tin easy spot 4-5 people. The visibility and exertion were 2nd to nary and show was champion among each cars that I had considered truthful acold (0-100 Km/hr successful 3.1s). It seemed similar a no-brainer - the lone constraint being the request of perpetually recharging the artillery - Since I had moved to an autarkic rented location a portion back, I had the flexibility of installing a location charger and hence, decided to instrumentality the plunge.

I booked a Grey (dark) exterior (8000 AED premium colour option) with Black interiors (Standard option, I didn?t privation a achromatic interior car).

3. Sales Experience

The buying acquisition is conscionable similar buying a telephone from Amazon. You get contiguous confirmation of the booking magnitude and are fixed an estimated transportation day which successful my lawsuit was May-June 2024. I got a telephone from my income advisor the adjacent greeting again restating the transportation day and however things are a spot uncertain since this is simply a caller motorboat and they don?t cognize erstwhile inventory etc. volition arrive.

I was hopeful that since I had bought wrong the archetypal hr of launch, I would person my car sent successful the archetypal batch itself. I joined an online forum arsenic good wherever radical were tracking their transportation dates etc. It seems that May-June was the astir assertive transportation day model - immoderate radical booked connected motorboat time and were handed an August transportation timeline.

Then started the signifier of infinite refreshes connected Tesla App to get a definite transportation date. I besides called my work advisor to cheque but it looked similar they didn?t person an update. It became wide from online conversations etc. that transportation dates are precise fluid and support connected changing. Also, it doesn?t person overmuch narration to the booking day which is counterintuitive. I deliberation Tesla has a request forecasting exemplary and batches are mostly produced based connected it alternatively than existent bookings. When the deliveries started successful UAE, it became wide that lone White and Black exterior cars were being produced and archetypal batches had achromatic interiors only. As some interior and exterior options chosen by maine were different, it was wide that I was successful for a agelong and uncertain wait. Still, my transportation day estimation stayed ?May-June?

In the meantime, radical had started posting the gait pictures of the assorted outer colors and I realized that it was champion to spell with declaration interior and exterior colors. So achromatic exterior with achromatic interior oregon achromatic exterior with achromatic interior were 2 bully options. Since my archetypal spec of Grey exterior with achromatic interior was not being produced and I had a alteration of heart, I decided to alteration my booking to ?White exterior with Black interior?. Within 1 hr of updating this successful the app connected a Sunday, I was assigned a VIN - Voila!

4. Pre-Delivery

I got a telephone from the income advisor confirming the VIN and however I request to marque afloat outgo for them to bring the car from the gait and present it. I wanted to inspect the car myself archetypal and past marque the afloat payment. Tesla UAE doesn?t connection inspections earlier afloat payment; nevertheless, the income advisor took down this petition and got backmost to maine a mates of days aft discussing it with their management. They wanted ~20% outgo station which they volition put the car for viewing.

I paid them instantly and past they were expected to bring successful the car successful a mates of days. I didn?t perceive backmost from them and I called my income advisor. She was inactive not committed and was citing delays astatine the port. I was a spot skeptical but waited for a time oregon two. When things didn?t determination and telephone calls to my income advisor were unfruitful, I decided to sojourn them and sermon with them successful person. I met my Sales advisor and she was arsenic unhelpful arsenic before. I asked to conscionable her manager and was met by their operations/delivery successful charge. He was knowing erstwhile I told him that I needed a steadfast day oregon immoderate existent visibility connected what was causing the holdup. He didn?t stock excessively galore details connected the cause, but helium committed to bringing my car successful for viewing successful 3 days.

They kept up with this committedness and the car was acceptable for viewing successful the greeting erstwhile I reached their halfway connected Wednesday. The car looked cleanable and I could not spot immoderate carnal issues/panel gaps etc. I thoroughly checked the car and gave them a go-ahead for registration.

I was required to transportation the remaining amount. Delivery besides needs to beryllium scheduled successful the app and since Tesla UAE has constricted transportation slots, 1 mightiness person to hold for 4-6 days for the delivery. Luckily, they person an enactment of complimentary doorstep transportation and you get 24 hours to study immoderate issues oregon judge the car condition. It appeared that they could present the car successful 2 days via this transmission (post-registration etc.) and I happily accepted.

5. Big Day

I had 2 days earlier the car was expected to beryllium delivered and I had been successful interaction with an installation institution to instal Tesla Wall Connector

The car does travel with a bundled charger but the partition connector is much almighty and faster. Here successful UAE, 11 kW is the maximum spec it supports. I scheduled installation connected Thursday and it was completed professionally. I was looking guardant to the adjacent time erstwhile the car was expected to beryllium delivered.

I got contacted by the trailer operator astir noon and the car was delivered to maine astir 2 pm. All of america were beauteous thrilled astir it and it was beauteous convenient to person the car delivered to us. I began inspecting the car and wifey and girl prepared for the mandatory pooja. I had been speechmaking the manual for immoderate clip present and acquired cognition came successful handy. First observations erstwhile I was backing the car into my garage, steering felt highly dense astatine dilatory speeds. Second observation, regenerative braking was strong; Too beardown which caught maine a spot disconnected guard.

I conscionable emotion the looks of it. While each Teslas look similar, I inactive similar the plan connection of Tesla. I deliberation they cognize however to marque a good-looking car. The car has an understated design. I similar the stance which is somewhat little than a regular Model 3 and gives Model 3 show a large poise.

It is simply a dense car and tips the standard astatine 1851 Kg. It is 4.7m agelong and 1.43m high.

At the front, we person a sportier bumper and sharper headlights. It gets a antithetic beforehand splitter (black) from the regular exemplary arsenic well. In my opinion, the beforehand is precise good designed.

At the rear, we person a c fibre spoiler, a antithetic fascia than regular with a beefier diffuser and ludicrous badge. Not a precise large instrumentality of rear-end plan but the diffuser looks amazing.

Forged show 20? wheels with Pirelli P Zero (Tesla Specific) tires look rather bully and perfectly acceptable the instrumentality well.

It has 2 cameras astatine the beforehand windshield, 1 camera astatine the rear, and a camera connected each broadside successful the doorway pillars and beforehand fenders. Footage from each these cameras is continuously being recorded to a USB thrust which is simply a bully and useful feature.

The rear trunk has a footwear abstraction of ~600 liters which is immense but it?s not the easiest to usage - ample articulator and constrictive opening. The frunk (front storage) adds different 80 liters.

The beforehand gets sports seats which are much supportive and clasp you well. My lone gripe is that, for me, the presumption seems a spot off. I deliberation the seats are a spot smaller successful size and hence my near thigh rests much connected the near enactment alternatively than the spot base/bottom successful the earthy position. I person to consciously set my presumption to debar doing that.

The beforehand seats person heating and cooling functions which is simply a bully addition. The glovebox is tiny and not precise utile but you get tons of retention abstraction since determination is nary gearbox. There are 2 cupful holders, the doorway bins are of decent size and you get tons of retention nether the cardinal armrest.

Steering is bully to interaction and usage - lone gripe - the crook indicators are not connected stalks and determination are buttons connected steering for the same. I hatred this plan choice. I person gotten utilized to the value and consciousness of steering - I support it successful the hardest setting. The near scroll instrumentality helps america navigate done euphony tracks/radio stations etc. The close scroll instrumentality is utilized to activate Cruise control, Autosteer, and FSD.

There is nary MID oregon HUD which is different limiting plan choice. Everything is controlled from the 15.4? Central Touchscreen which works amazingly good and is the astir polished interface I person ever utilized successful a car. It is astonishing successful presumption of resolution, features/configuration, and responsiveness. I privation determination were immoderate buttons to power AC, Driving modes, etc. Also, the infotainment strategy has nary enactment for Apple Carplay oregon Android Auto which is simply a limiting choice. They bash person Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, etc. apps but having Carplay oregon Android Auto would person been better.

The car has an all-glass extortion which is different absorbing prime - In summer, it does fto successful a spot of airy but thankfully, determination are archetypal and third-party sunshades disposable to screen up.

It?s a beauteous quiescent compartment and NVH levels are highly low. The euphony strategy with 17 speakers is amazing.

The Doors besides location soft-touch materials comprising faux leather and Alcantara-like trims.

The rear seats don?t person a cooling relation - heating only. Rear passengers bash get an 8? infotainment strategy with YouTube, Netflix, and different goodies.
It is simply a minimalist masterpiece and a bully spot to beryllium successful but I wished they differentiated the show trim from regular with much upmarket / nicer materials.

Power: 460 BHP
Motors: Dual Motor All Wheel Drive
Range: 528 Km
Battery: Li-Ion 78 kWh.
Warranty: Basic Vehicle - 4 years oregon 80,000 km, whichever comes first
Battery and Drive Unit - 8 years oregon 192,000 km, whichever comes first
Fast Charging: 250 kW Max supported.
Ground clearance: 128mm (10mm little than regular)

The show is beauteous bully successful a consecutive enactment arsenic expected from the specs. Where Tesla has improved is the cornering performance. The suspension, chassis, and tires are highly susceptible of high-speed cornering which is highly confidence-inspiring. I person been capable to propulsion the car successful corners with utmost assurance and unmatched speeds. Not galore cars tin travel adjacent to this level and it feels similar riding a go-kart.

Tires connection utmost grip and don?t kick immoderate the speed. A downside is higher tyre sound from the beforehand - It?s ace quiescent till 100 Km/hr benignant of speeds and gets noisier aft that. This is simply a known contented and Tesla mightiness rotation retired a hole successful the aboriginal (pending an Engineering update). Anyway, the show is truthful bully that you volition beryllium grinning each clip you thrust this car!

There are 3 thrust modes to take from - Chill, Standard, and Insane. Chill mode is champion suited if you person a dense foot. Standard is rather almighty and you volition beryllium crossing ineligible velocity limits earlier you cognize it. Insane mode is frightening for a newbie. The archetypal clip I tried it, I could not clasp connected to the steering - this was with 50% throttle only! You request to get utilized to this instant torque which is truthful readily disposable with conscionable a pat of ft - truthful antithetic than ICE cars wherever things are much linear/gradual.

Then determination is track mode which makes things adjacent much absorbing - it brings up a antithetic show interface showcasing temps and different captious show aspects. For me, the champion portion of way mode is the quality to displacement forward/rear equilibrium - you tin marque the car behave similar an FWD oregon RWD by adjusting a slider - This is beauteous cool!

2 suspension modes ( Comfort/Sport) and 3 Steering modes ( Light, Standard, Heavy) are besides disposable for customization.

In presumption of efficiency, you get astir 6 Km per kWh (real usage) which would outgo ~0.25 AED to charge. My KIA K8 would devour 1.5 AED worthy of petrol to thrust this region - truthful it is astir 1/6th the outgo of my petrol car.

9. Technology/App (not covering FSD present since I don?t usage it)

Tesla offers the champion acquisition successful presumption of technology. I person not utilized the car cardinal since time 1 and person been utilizing my telephone arsenic a car key.

In addition, the telephone app offers beneath functionality:

Controls: Ability to lock/unlock the car, unfastened funk/ trunk, honk, etc.
Climate: Remotely power on/off clime control. There is simply a diagnostic called ?Cabin overheat protection? which tin power connected cooling successful lawsuit the compartment somesthesia becomes excessively hot.
Schedule: You tin docket charging, pre-condition battery, etc.
Security: You tin presumption the unrecorded camera, enactment the car successful valet mode, bounds apical speed, acceptable a pin to drive, etc.

Another bully diagnostic is the quality to limit your location charger (Tesla Wall connector) to a prime acceptable of VINs lone for further bid of mind.

All successful all, it is simply a bully worth for wealth car. If you person a location charging setup oregon bureau charging setup, past electrical cars marque a batch of consciousness for regular driving. Looking guardant to rewarding ownership experience.

Some parting shots:

Note to self: Need to experimentation with Track mode settings to dial-in a idiosyncratic setup.