Comments by "Golden Croc" (@GoldenCroc) on "Polestar 2 vs Tesla Model 3: comparison review \u0026 real-world range test!" video.
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@chrisalexandersb1748 It is obvious you have put quite a lot of thought into this, and for that I salute you. Very well argued points overall.
I have also put quite a lot of thought into performance of electric cars, since the early 1990s with the EV1 in fact. I also happen to be a physicist with an interest in track driving. I have also seen the Top gear episode of Model 3 Performance vs BMW M3 multiple times since it aired.
Considering that, I feel qualified to give a few points of my own:
"Top Gear" doesnt hate Tesla. Jeremy Clarkson dislikes electric cars. But he was long gone when the M3 vs Model 3 test took place, the new writers of the show actually prefer electric cars.
Secondly, if you have seen the test, it is obvious the driver has nowhere near the skills as a track driver to make any comparison between cars totally moot. It really should have been the Stig driving, Or Chris Harris is also suitably skilled, but I am also not sure about his bias.
And that is all if we discount the editorial pressures. Do you remember the debacle of earlier Tesla in Top Gear running out of Juice on the track? Same thing there: Sensationalism, bias and a cheap laugh. I wouldnt trust BBC to make an unbiased test no matter what, no way. Its entertainment TV, no more, no less.
Lastly, Tracks are very different. The Tesla Benefits from stop-and Go tracks, where its superior low speed acceleration and traction gives a huge benefit. This is all inline with your autocross and other examples you gave. On those tracks, the Model 3 is seconds faster than an F80 generation M3, no doubt or argument about that.
When you say nurburgring, I take it that you mean the North loop? I have driven there quite a few times myself, and is quite familiar with it. Not sure what you mean by lack of gearing, only real place that could be an issue as I see it, is the long straight, and that would be a negligable timeloss, unless you mean to say it will accelerate faster at high speed with a higher gearing? It certainly wont reach its top speed of 260kph around any other part of the track.
No, around the Nurbrugring The Model 3 is mostly limited by its high weight and overheating of the electric motor, even if that is much better in the model 3 compared to the Model S. The North loop is really the worst case scenrio for Teslas, with its sustained high speeds straights and curves taking its toll. The Model 3 Performance is about as fast as a Golf GTI around, but that is still an enormous step forward compared to an early Model S, which was hard pressed to beat even a Golf GTD Diesel, because of its weight and overheating issues.
Track driving on bigger "normal" racetracks is mostly about pulling the most G:s . Compared to an M3, the Model 3 has too soft suspension, bad wheel angles, to weak brakes, is about 150-200kg heavier than an M3, has slower accelration at high speed, and, as you said, has worse standard fitment tires in many markets. Better low speed traction and acceleration can not compensate for these drawbacks around a normal track, where you rarely dip below 80-100 kph. I therefore stand by my statement that on a "normal" larger track where races are reguarly held, the M3 is faster. Its just physics.
If we are talking modified cars, all bets are off, of course. That is totally different, since there is no fair way to quantify modifications.
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@chrisalexandersb1748 With this post, I can see we agree with almost everything.
As far as I know, there are no 1/2 mile tracks at all. Dont know if there are any anywhere in the world, usually they use some kind of airstrip. I guess 1/2 is supposed to be a similar test to the standing 0-1000m test, which is often used in european car magazines.
I believe the times, but no video footage is unforgivable. No time on the board is also strange. Also, as I am sure you are aware if you have done some track driving is that temperatures alone and such can make a difference of several seconds. Making even the filmed top gear times almost useless. But I have no problem believing it might be a bit faster than an RS6 in the same conditions, which is even heavier and with a much higher center of gravity.
Regarding the North loop, I will go even further than you and say that ALL tracks in the world are shorter, and almost everyone is lower average speed. As I said, a worst case scenario compared to autocross. Though, as far as I know, its not the battery that overheats, its the rotor in the rear electric motor (copper windings) mostly. But the slower the track, the less the issue, which as we agree are most of them.
If you want to know which car is the fastest from the showroom, it should be run with stock tires. Of you on the other hand want to know which car is the fastest in owners on hands, I agree tires should be free to swap, since it is also a consumable. One can argue with size swap but, in the end it doesnt matter much. Changing springs goes a bit too deep in the modification category I think, if we still want to call it a stock car.
Nevertheless, for ordinary road driving, handling doesnt matter. Any car made in the last 30 years can easily cope with all legal speeds in Norway, as you seem to be based. And for track driving I dont think a model 3 is a serious alternative in most of the world for now, because of charging times. Also the weigjtnof a model 3 will be very hard on the brakes. But an M3 isnt much of a track car either, in my book. Its a sporty gt, thats it.
Many people think that a model 3 is faster on any track and that simply isnt true, that was what my first reply was based on. As I said, the Model 3 is a very well handling car, more than enough for anyone on the street, and I do mean ANYONE. That includes gentlemen such as Chris Harris, et al. The difference to a M3 is academic, and almost uninteresting. I would rather buy a Model 3 for myself. I just wont be dishonest about it being the best at everything as some (not you!) are.
Yes, I am well aware of the Alfas ridiculous stock tires, but that is ok in my book, since they are just that, stock. Other manufacturers can easily offer the same tires as an option if they feel it is unfair.
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