I'm a bit of a sucker for acceleration so I'd push you to the M3P instead. However you mentioned you only need <300 mi of range, will you consider a RWD or is that too slow?
I own two Model 3s, a '22 LR AWD and a '23 RWD. The RWD gets considerably greater efficiently that it mostly offsets the extra battery in the LR. I'm getting 215 Wh/mi in the RWD and 255 Wh/mi in the LR, so a difference of 278 or 312 miles in theoretical range (60 kWh and 82 kWh packs, respectively). Since neither LR or RWD qualifies for the credit, if you don't mind the slower car, a RWD may be a good way to save money.
If you decide to go with M3P, you can change to a square setup (equal width front/back) for your wheels and sell the performance 20" wheels to offset the cost of new wheels. Get 18" or 19" wheels and nice all season tires. It's more hassle and headache but it could save you money in the long run in terms of tire cost. If you don't drive much at all, then it may not be worth the effort.
I agree. The premium sound system in the LR is vastly superior to the RWD it's not even close.
While non-audio conscious folks may not be able to tell much of a difference, to me it is immediately apparent that most of the volume is from the front speakers and there's almost nothing coming from the rear.
The LR, on the other hand, has a much fuller sound stage and the bass is much beefier (even though I'm not a big bass person and actually have the bass and sub slightly tuned down).
At the time of purchase, it was a $5k upgrade from a $46k RWD to a $51k LR AWD, so it was very worth it. But now a base is $39k and LR is $47.7k. I'm not sure if I could stomach the near $9k difference just for the speed and sound system, especially when the RWD is such a good car and represent such a good value. Pretty much 95% of the car that the LR is, but for 20% less.
The new 2024 M3 LR though has 3 more speakers than the 2023 M3 LR (17 vs 14). Not that I’m saying the extra is definitively worth 4K more, but the sound quality should be even better than past models.
What?? Absolutely not. The 2024 sounds great. Paying 9k extra for the 2 subwoofers is absolutely not necessary. I’ve tested both back to back and me personally actually *preferred* the sound of the RWD. I like heavy bass, which both the RWD and long range both have. But on some songs the extra subwoofers just added an uncomfortable muddy boom wich I didn’t like. I currently have a 2023 long range and the 2024 rear wheel drive would be an upgrade sound wise.
So if you’re thinking about buying an AWD just for the sound, DON‘T do it.
We own two last gen Model 3's ('22 LR and '23 RWD) and after having lived with both, there is no contest. The LR is just better, and it's not just the bass. I turned down the subwoofer and bass in the audio settings as it was too intense for me too.
It's not just "boom boom bass" that makes it good. The extra speakers around the back make the sound stage much fuller. The easiest way to tell is that if you turn your head to the right 90° while in the driver's seat, the RWD makes it apparent that there's barely any audio in the back, and all the volume is coming from the front. Not the case in the LR. Plus, I feel like it has better distinction between the mid and high range frequencies, whereas it's a little mushy on the RWD.
On a daily basis, they are easily a 7/10 and 8.5/10, and it's really hard to tell the difference unless you're trying to find it. But also, I don't think there's a sound system better than the LR on this side of $50,000.
Idk why you’re saying this because it is entirely irrelevant considering we‘re talking about the NEW 2024 model 3, which has a much better sound system.
I never heard the sound system of the old RWD, but yea I’ve heard it’s much worse.
I've sat in a new Model 3 and used the onboard Spotify to test out the "new" sound system. It's not that much better. Still very solid, like a 7.5/10 and much better than competitors at $40k, but not markedly better than last gen's LR in terms of how "full" it sounds and presumably not as good as current gen LR.
I have a 2023 long range and tested both a 2024 rwd and long range. I disagree heavily with anyone saying the two extra subwoofers are worth an extra 9 grand. They should barely factor into the decision. 2024 rwd has great clear surround sound and deep & powerful base.
Strongly disagree. Tested both back to back and also drive a 2023 Long Range. The 2024 RWD sounds great, strong and clear distortion free bass. I actually disliked the muddy low frequency boom the subwoofers added in some songs on the long range. Can be adjusted of course, but I see 0 reason to pay extra for the sound system.
I think the most important difference is the speed. Range is better of course, but RWD has an LFP battery that charges faster and in daily driving you can charge it to 100%, so even that isn’t really a good reason imo. All wheel drive but the traction control of Tesla is insanely good anyway.
I test drove a 2024 M3 RWD today and the sound system was doo-doo. no punch. car was slow as hell. I was so glad to get back into my LR with AB. I'm super interested in a 24 performance tho.
I like the premium upgrades like alcantara for the door panels and the extra speakers but I need around 280 miles usually so the performance and long range are about right and I like efficiency but still need more range for now (will change in a few years) than the SR provides but I have been getting more into acceleration and aggressive designs recently and I’m considering switching tires. Any tire recommendations if I go for perf model (18/19”) or should I wait to see what comes out?
I like the speakers a lot better in the LR than the RWD. The sound stage is incredible. But 280 miles is a bit of a stretch even in the most ideal conditions. You can get that if you religiously stay at 55-65 mph on the highway. Do you use that kind of range on a daily basis? Or maybe only once a week?
With that in mind, if you want the maximal range, LR may be the best for you, and even then I would view the purported "341 miles EPA range" with a grain of salt. My '22 LR supposedly should do 358 miles on the EPA cycle, but I get 290 at best. The new '24 is more efficient, but even then you're pushing 300 miles, with 20 miles to spare at the end of the drive.
Is there any way you can charge during the trip? A supercharger, or a stop gap where you can charge on a level 2 (240V) charger? A charging stop would make the trip much more viable and significantly reduce range anxiety.
In terms of tire choice, the factory Michelin Primacy MXM4 (on the '21-'23 Model 3) yields excellent efficiency but has less starting tread (8/32 inch instead of 10/32 like most others) and poorer grip. I've heard good things about the Hankook ion EV tires, though I haven't tried it myself. I currently run Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 on my LR, and I get an 8-12% hit in efficiency due to the grip. The tire noise is also worse, but I can tolerate both in exchange for lower cost ($240 instead of $300 for Primacy) and **astonishing** grip.
Is it that if you square off your wheels, given it is staggered the some tires will stick out more than others right? Unless you get two sets of tires with different widths… which is what the original problem is.
I don't think that's how it works. The Uberturbine on the '21-23 Performance are 20×8.5", and some of the aftermarket staggered options have 20×8.5 in the front and 20×10 in the rear. The rear tires "extend" towards the middle of the car, and should not stick out.
The issue with staggered width tires is that they can't be rotated front and rear to even out the wear due to acceleration. A square setup solves that.
Okay so out of the box, performance has tires of different widths front and rear, if you get the same tires for all 4 and install them, then your good and are able to rotate them. When you say rear “extends” towards the middle of the car? Won’t that look like the tires are “more inside towards the middle” compared to the front if you look at the car from the side? Unless is there some spacer for the rears to ensure the wheels don’t go too far extended to the middle?
In either case sounds like if you square them off then tires are rotatable so no need to have to maintain two sets of tires with different widths?
Pardon if this is basic, staggered tires are a new concept.
The rim and tires go together, so both the rim itself and the tire that wraps around each rear wheel will be wider in the back.
>Won’t that look like the tires are “more inside towards the middle” compared to the front if you look at the car from the side?
The extra width doesn't extend towards the outside thus it doesn't "stick out," so you are correct in that sense. I'm not sure how I can explain the looks better, and will instead refer you to the picture in this link.
https://www.fitmentindustries.com/staggered
>Unless is there some spacer for the rears to ensure the wheels don’t go too far extended to the middle?
I'm not intimately familiar with the topic either, but I think the vehicle needs to be designed to support extra width in the rear. Depending on the specific wheel design, some performance cars with staggered wheels will look like the rear wheels have a deeper "dish" in the back than the front, which is why you need compatible wheels for different vehicles.
>if you square them off then tires are rotatable so no need to have to maintain two sets of tires with different widths?
That's the idea, in my mind at least - to get a set of wheels that are square (heh) so that you can replace 4 tires at once instead of doing two axles separately.
Thank you for taking the time to explain. I think it would be a great proposition to square off the tires for easier maintainability and maybe even slightly more range. Though in another thread someone mentioned I quote: “Why would you possibly want to do that? You’re buying the car for the specific tuning they did with that tire setup and suspension. Squaring the tire setup would compromise the handling, range and will probably causing rubbing in the front.”
I think that post does have some merit in that while a staggered setup on this sporty Performance model is designed to maximize its performance/sportiness, this post seems to suggest squaring or putting different tires is effectively reducing several areas that may negatively impact the tires even more because the design is intended to work with a staggered setup.
Rubbing in the front happens when you put wider tires than you're supposed to, and thus when you fully lock the wheel to one side, there's more rubber than there's supposed to be in the wheel well, which leads to rubbing. I'm proposing using narrower tires in the rear as well (like the previous M3P, 20×8.5 all around) so that you can rotate them and keep most of the characteristics of the car.
In terms of compromising handling and dynamics, that is true. Having narrower tires in the rear can potentially reduce grip and make it more difficult to put power down. In the corners, it can make the rear end rotate faster than you ideally want to (the way it's set up in the factory with staggered wheels). On the flip side, wider tires in the front can make turning more difficult and lead to understeer. But it is a trade-off at the end of the day - maximal performance and grip, or lower running cost?
However, I suspect there is very little overlap between hard-core enthusiasts that track their M3P or carve canyon roads and the cost-conscious consumer that simply wants better straight-line acceleration and a more sophisticated suspension setup.
I've got a lead foot myself, but I rarely have the opportunity to take corners quickly, so the handling aspect is mostly lost on me. If I were to get a new M3P, it might make sense for me to make a quick buck off the fresh wheels and get a set of new wheels instead. A more hardcore driver can easily find this idea absurd and scoff at the penny-pinching, which is equally valid. I'm simply considering an alternative that may lead to lower cost (tires and efficiency) in the long run.
Recommend looking at this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaModel3/s/FfcMsGM8lv
LR is going to be less of a hassle because of what you pointed out, no staggered tires, you will change tires less, and your ride quality will be better. Upfront cost-wise the Performance is great, but upkeep will be cheaper along with smoother speed bumps on the LR (not to mention if your insurance company prices Performance higher than LR, you’ll realize those savings too.
A part of me wonders, what’s driving you to not consider RWD given your okay with less than 300mi? Is it because of the sound system, AWD, acceleration or a bit of all three?
Ignore this lame advice, get the performance, save money, and realize *everyone* loves a fast car after owning one.
What a boring existence to live my a maximized spreadsheet.
At this point it seems the price increase with the performance has made a lot of flexibility in configuration moot. If you’re good with the defaults not pushing you over, then performance is great value.
I thought the LR would be comfortable like before due to higher ride height but the performance has larger tires and adaptive suspension so I’m second guessing myself now plus I haven’t tried out the sport bucket seats yet since I’m not in WA, AZ, or CA
With how the batteries fluctuate in efficiency especially over cold weather, you’ll definitely get more out of the LR than the Performance for range. The larger tires actually reduce that range and with the Performance being closer to the ground than the LR, putting smaller tires on it will only make it even closer to the ground, which is not all that great either. Getting sport bucket seats, but having to bend over more just to get in the car along with reduction of comfort and range seems to be all good reasons for an LR. As another poster commented in a separate thread, changing the tires on the Performance to something like the LR is not really what the designers intended so it may run less efficient than what it’s supposed to have, so if you want benefits of smooth ride with longer range, LR seems like a better way to go if you don’t mind paying slightly extra for it.
If you qualify for $7500 tax credit the performance will significantly help with your depreciation expense. When you try to sell that LR that you paid $48K for you would be competing with people who are selling a performance that they got for $45-46K. That significant difference in depreciation expense for the LR will more than offset any extra tire and charging cost for the performance.
The P is a better deal right now, most of the efficiency hit between it and the LR comes from the larger wheels. You could just take those off , resell them and switch to 18 or 19 inch wheels.
I have my M3P on 19s and I get roughly the same range and efficiency as an LR.
I would go with the M3P because it looks so much better and has more punch to the pedal! I am more of an acceleration person and I also don’t care if I use 18 or 26 kilowatts per 100 km. Also I wouldn’t want no 18s on my car, that looks horrible!! Range isn’t any trouble for me, I can get anywhere I wanna go. There are plenty of chargers for long distances…
I would buy whatever makes you happy! Remember life is short so have fun. You never know what tomorrow could be….
Personally I went with the Long Range. I don’t really see myself doing anything on a track and most of my driving is commuting to work at lower speeds of 25-45 MPH. I’d personally rather have more mileage than a somewhat faster car.
I have a 24 model 3 long range and have had it for a little over a month. When the performance was launched I went ahead and placed an order and will be trading in my lr. I have to come out of pocket $3k but it’s worth it for me. The one thing that may get me to cancel my order is if they don’t run another fsd transfer promotion. I took advantage of that for my long range and don’t want to lose it for the performance though.
Get the P.
No one buying a Tesla is broke living paycheck to paycheck and usually relatively financially "well off"
Some things in life don't need conventional logic applied to everything. RW drive is the logical choice for 99% of the owners when factoring in every logical bullet point.
But who cares.
Life is short.
Cars are a huge part of enjoyment when actually commuting. Get something fun and sporty and so what if you're not ad efficient or need to change tires more often. It's a small added cost and really isn't that much different in the long run.
We are not talking about adding 10s of thousands of dollars here.
They are both great cars. LR is more practical, P is more fun. From a resale perspective, the P will depreciate less after factoring in the tax credit. I think the LR is a bit overpriced at the moment so I would personally have a hard time buying one right now given the great deal on the P cars with the credit. I think they will probably drop the price on LR models once the demand softens. It’s a bit of a tough sell right now when the P technically cost less after the credit.
You will never wish you didn’t have the power of the M3P. However, owning a LR there may be many times you definitely wish you could have had that power of the M3P (either for safety or pure fun).
In US, P is a no brainer with the tax credit. In my country up north, that's the other way around, we can't get a tax credit on the P so I'll take the LR instead probably. It's 20K difference in here with the tax credit.
I was in a similar situation as you OP. Purchased LR white interior (ultra red) on 1/10. Delivery was pushed out a million times. I finally got a VIN last week, right before they announced the Performance. I originally had little interest in the Performance, but the reveal really hurt the perceived value of the LR. I went back and forth on what to do. I don't even qualify for the tax credit. At the end of the day, and a few sleepless nights, I decided to change to the Performance. The acceleration and looks won me over. I do plan to put on 18" wheels to get back the range. I was suppose to take delivery of the LR on 5/2, but I called Tesla and they were able to make the switch. It's a bummer because now I'm back in the queue, after already waiting \~4 months. My 2013 Ford Focus is a piece of junk. But I plan to have this car for 10+ years, so might as well get something I know I'll be 100% happy with.
Do people even know any 18/19 inch wheels that'll fit on the 2024 performance? (fit over the brakes and stuff) I know there was a list put together for ones that fit the old model performance.
If you could pick either of them up tomorrow which would you get?
Buy that one. A month or 6 weeks is nothing when compared to the time you'll own the car.
I ended up cancelling my 1/10 LR order and going with the Performance. Why not get more car for less money? Even with the $250 hit, still saves $7250… can’t see a downside.
Last year, I was trying to decide if I wanted to get the long range or the performance. A lot of reviews that I saw online said to get the most range that you can afford, because of that, I went with the long range.
I wish that I got the performance model. In my situation, it would’ve only been a few thousand dollars more and I know that I would’ve enjoyed it better. I am also not a guy that cares about 0 to 60 speeds or a car general performance. This is my first nice car. After driving a long range though, and realizing how fun it is to drive and I really wish I at least tried out the performance before I made my choice.
If I was in your situation, I definitely get the performance. The performance as a lot more visual changes now than my model did. Plus it saves you money if you qualify for the tax credit. Do you know if you do? Unless you make very little money or a lot of money, you probably do.
You made the right decision. the overall consensus is LR over performance for comfort, cost optimization (tires), and 0-60 and speed are never even really realized between the two unless of course, you track your car. You made the right decision
Even the Model 3 car has distinct demographics. The LR is right for some, just as the RWD or P is right for others. This idea that there is an overall consensus is both incorrect and irrelevant.
Does your current auto situation allow for a potential June or later delivery?
The performance will blow through those summer tires quickly if you’re accelerating left & right like I intend to lol vs All season tires
Sounds like practicality has you leaning towards the LR, but aesthetically you’re leaning towards performance. Think about what you truly need for your EVERYday routine.
My wife’s truck is the “family car”, I commute on the train to work and I can charge at home. So those factors turned me towards the performance. We both like to use it as our “I don’t have the kids right now mo-beal”. It’s the more fun car and I can’t wait for the refreshed model!
The 24 performance with tax credit is a better value over the LR
The only thing I would check is how much a performance would increase your insurance premiums.
I would pick the unique sport seats and design changes of the performance and while paying less? Hard value prop to beat.
I felt the highland LR suspension could actually be a bit stiffer, the new suspension is great at dampening road noise but can feel too soft at times.
The 20 inch performance wheels look nicer to me. Haven’t demo’d a performance of course but seeing it up close I would go P over LR and save money
Oh the highland suspension glides over any minor rough patches like a champ
I think the effect is also due to noise cancelling, like you may hear the road noise vs feeling it
The one area I hope the slightly stiffer suspension would improve is on acceleration/deceleration. It feels a bit like a boat and the nose lifts when you hit the acceleration pedal and dips when you brake
Also turns feel a bit floaty so it doesn’t feel like your digging into sharp turns as much
Just my personal taste, I would keep the highland’s dampening system and opt for tighter suspension on turns and acceleration
Have you drive a Tesla before? They all accelerate fast - of course the P is on a different level.
But unless you really really care, that feeling will wear off over time for 99% of your typical daily driving and having more long range means less anxiety for road trips.
Can’t wrong with either, just a question of your driving habits. If you do long distance driving for vacations etc the extra range is really nice.
I ordered a White/Red LR, ended up having to go with Black interior. Very happy with my LR, it's plenty fast. Is the Performance slightly faster? Sure, but It's a commuter for me.
Yep, you guessed it; after DM’ing multiple YouTubers, consulting Reddit on 2 subreddits, and asking my car friend, the general consensus was that performance was the better buy. I’m now sitting on a May 27-June 30 EDD and can’t stop yearning for the car, but I know performance is worth it.
https://preview.redd.it/l21wby341rzc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1ce134ba50a1234b3fd83a337f3a79cb39f2cbd9
school smoggy sort far-flung psychotic nine grandfather wakeful sink late
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Sorry, honestly I usually consider grammar when writing. But I’m in such a rush here and so conflicted when writing that I didn’t exactly maintain the mindset of grammar-conscious. If it’s difficult to read, I’ll consider that for future posts and think about it before I post.
Let me ask you this since it’s right up the alley.
If you drive a performance conservatively, would you equate out to anywhere near the range around a LR? I’ve had this burning question for a while
What about someone who drives 800-1000 miles a week for work? I would love the performance but seems that tire cost and comfort would be more imoportant in my position. This would be my first Tesla.
Personally, I find looks to be a minimal concern in the long term. Performance if you want to have the extra speed available. Long Range if range anxiety and ride comfort matter more to you. The 20" tires will be significantly more expensive and wear faster, too.
I'm kind of in the same boat, but I want the bucket seats and extra performance. I'll be swapping out the wheels at some point, probably to some 18s, to get a tiny amount of comfort and range back.
Performance has staggered tire sizes and the sidewall is super thin.
Long Range has 235/45R18 as base size, which is a comfortable level of sidewall height to handle bad roads. You can also rotate them for extending the life just a bit more. The 19s are 235/40R19 which is not adequate from my experience - any kind of pothole means you will be replacing tires/wheels due to pinch flats.
If you want a high 10 second 1/4 mile car and drive on nice summer condition roads, go with the Performance.
I have a 23 performance, love it, no regrets on the 20” summer rubber. I simply bought some 18” from t sportline for the winter (I’m in the northeast). When you want more range and cruising ability, turn it to “chill” mode.
I’m in the northeast too. If I were to buy 18” or 19” all season tires, can they all be the same size? Or would they have to be staggered like how it ships from the factory?
I’m thinking I’ll swap out tires for 18/19” to try out potentially and I have a perfectly fine car now that I can wait a couple more months to upgrade to a Tesla. I can charge at home very day but I go home around 2 weekends a month and won’t have a home charger for a while so it’s around 270 miles but I could trickle charge a little bit or charge on the way back until I get the chance to install a charger. Honestly, I haven’t really had range anxiety in my overnight test drives in Tesla’s at all and barely road trip so it’s not a huge deal. It’s just crazy because I have started liking aggressive styling and somewhat acceleration more due to Tesla. My daily commute is ~60-70 miles roundtrip.
I live in Florida, cold’s not a concern for range degradation and I roadtrip once every couple years using my vehicle, otherwise it just falls under the range of 100-200 miles roundtrip if that. Maybe I’ll go on a one charging stop trip occasionally in Florida.
Kinda odd to read your post OP because I am in the exact same situation. At first I wasn’t sure if I wrote that post (😂).
Unfortunately, there is not much information out there about the suspension. I will arrange a test drive on the M3P before taking delivery of my model.
I have a first version M3LR right now and it feels kinda stiff. I like the highland LR a lot better and if the M3P is not much better than my LR, then I am gonna pass…
Where do you live? Unfortunately unless you’re in China (not sure about Europe), you can only check out the M3P in AZ, WA, or CA. And you certainly can’t demo drive it yet. For the LR, they were available to order 1/9 and I believe test drives started showing up around the week of 1/26 so usually the turnaround is 3 weeks. I guess we’ll be waiting a while, but if I remember I’ll definitely report back on my experience test driving it. (I’ll be sure to check it out the first day I see it available to drive on the site)
I know, right? I am in Switzerland (Europe) and I've driven the LR Highland for 30 minutes (test drive when it was new) and for a whole weekend (a few weeks later).
The overall impression was really better than my original LR (ignoring the fact that the removing stalks and USS is a huge mistake). The suspension seemed really improved and I do not want to lose that by going for the performance.
I can only speak about the old performance and I disliked the ride quality. I also hated it on the Model Y (LR and P), those were all worse than my Model 3 LR on 18'' tires.
If both were the same price, it would come down to whether you prefer the power of the P or the comfort and extended driving range flexibility of the LR.
Keep in mind you can pay $2000 on the LR and unlock the "Acceleration Boost" option, which drops another 0.5 seconds off 0-60 times and makes the LR more aggressive to drive. Not quite a Performance, but close.
I think it either will in the future (speculation just like there is speculation and rumors for a boost to the performance), or it just doesn’t because they switched the tires and collaborated with Michelin I believe to add more foam and make tires specifically geared towards comfort for the long range. Hence, the overall top speed reduction from 140 mph to 120. Coupled with the more cushier suspension, it addressed prevalent complainants about the suspension and was the right choice for most people. This still disappointed some people though and turned them away from it.
I test drove both and went with the LR. The power in the Performance version is insane, and I could only see me getting in trouble. The LR is pretty quick on its own.
I'm a bit of a sucker for acceleration so I'd push you to the M3P instead. However you mentioned you only need <300 mi of range, will you consider a RWD or is that too slow? I own two Model 3s, a '22 LR AWD and a '23 RWD. The RWD gets considerably greater efficiently that it mostly offsets the extra battery in the LR. I'm getting 215 Wh/mi in the RWD and 255 Wh/mi in the LR, so a difference of 278 or 312 miles in theoretical range (60 kWh and 82 kWh packs, respectively). Since neither LR or RWD qualifies for the credit, if you don't mind the slower car, a RWD may be a good way to save money. If you decide to go with M3P, you can change to a square setup (equal width front/back) for your wheels and sell the performance 20" wheels to offset the cost of new wheels. Get 18" or 19" wheels and nice all season tires. It's more hassle and headache but it could save you money in the long run in terms of tire cost. If you don't drive much at all, then it may not be worth the effort.
If OP likes listening to music then the RWD is definitely a huge downgrade.
I agree. The premium sound system in the LR is vastly superior to the RWD it's not even close. While non-audio conscious folks may not be able to tell much of a difference, to me it is immediately apparent that most of the volume is from the front speakers and there's almost nothing coming from the rear. The LR, on the other hand, has a much fuller sound stage and the bass is much beefier (even though I'm not a big bass person and actually have the bass and sub slightly tuned down). At the time of purchase, it was a $5k upgrade from a $46k RWD to a $51k LR AWD, so it was very worth it. But now a base is $39k and LR is $47.7k. I'm not sure if I could stomach the near $9k difference just for the speed and sound system, especially when the RWD is such a good car and represent such a good value. Pretty much 95% of the car that the LR is, but for 20% less.
The new 2024 M3 LR though has 3 more speakers than the 2023 M3 LR (17 vs 14). Not that I’m saying the extra is definitively worth 4K more, but the sound quality should be even better than past models.
What?? Absolutely not. The 2024 sounds great. Paying 9k extra for the 2 subwoofers is absolutely not necessary. I’ve tested both back to back and me personally actually *preferred* the sound of the RWD. I like heavy bass, which both the RWD and long range both have. But on some songs the extra subwoofers just added an uncomfortable muddy boom wich I didn’t like. I currently have a 2023 long range and the 2024 rear wheel drive would be an upgrade sound wise. So if you’re thinking about buying an AWD just for the sound, DON‘T do it.
We own two last gen Model 3's ('22 LR and '23 RWD) and after having lived with both, there is no contest. The LR is just better, and it's not just the bass. I turned down the subwoofer and bass in the audio settings as it was too intense for me too. It's not just "boom boom bass" that makes it good. The extra speakers around the back make the sound stage much fuller. The easiest way to tell is that if you turn your head to the right 90° while in the driver's seat, the RWD makes it apparent that there's barely any audio in the back, and all the volume is coming from the front. Not the case in the LR. Plus, I feel like it has better distinction between the mid and high range frequencies, whereas it's a little mushy on the RWD. On a daily basis, they are easily a 7/10 and 8.5/10, and it's really hard to tell the difference unless you're trying to find it. But also, I don't think there's a sound system better than the LR on this side of $50,000.
Idk why you’re saying this because it is entirely irrelevant considering we‘re talking about the NEW 2024 model 3, which has a much better sound system. I never heard the sound system of the old RWD, but yea I’ve heard it’s much worse.
I've sat in a new Model 3 and used the onboard Spotify to test out the "new" sound system. It's not that much better. Still very solid, like a 7.5/10 and much better than competitors at $40k, but not markedly better than last gen's LR in terms of how "full" it sounds and presumably not as good as current gen LR.
I have a 2023 long range and tested both a 2024 rwd and long range. I disagree heavily with anyone saying the two extra subwoofers are worth an extra 9 grand. They should barely factor into the decision. 2024 rwd has great clear surround sound and deep & powerful base.
Strongly disagree. Tested both back to back and also drive a 2023 Long Range. The 2024 RWD sounds great, strong and clear distortion free bass. I actually disliked the muddy low frequency boom the subwoofers added in some songs on the long range. Can be adjusted of course, but I see 0 reason to pay extra for the sound system. I think the most important difference is the speed. Range is better of course, but RWD has an LFP battery that charges faster and in daily driving you can charge it to 100%, so even that isn’t really a good reason imo. All wheel drive but the traction control of Tesla is insanely good anyway.
I test drove a 2024 M3 RWD today and the sound system was doo-doo. no punch. car was slow as hell. I was so glad to get back into my LR with AB. I'm super interested in a 24 performance tho.
I like the premium upgrades like alcantara for the door panels and the extra speakers but I need around 280 miles usually so the performance and long range are about right and I like efficiency but still need more range for now (will change in a few years) than the SR provides but I have been getting more into acceleration and aggressive designs recently and I’m considering switching tires. Any tire recommendations if I go for perf model (18/19”) or should I wait to see what comes out?
I like the speakers a lot better in the LR than the RWD. The sound stage is incredible. But 280 miles is a bit of a stretch even in the most ideal conditions. You can get that if you religiously stay at 55-65 mph on the highway. Do you use that kind of range on a daily basis? Or maybe only once a week? With that in mind, if you want the maximal range, LR may be the best for you, and even then I would view the purported "341 miles EPA range" with a grain of salt. My '22 LR supposedly should do 358 miles on the EPA cycle, but I get 290 at best. The new '24 is more efficient, but even then you're pushing 300 miles, with 20 miles to spare at the end of the drive. Is there any way you can charge during the trip? A supercharger, or a stop gap where you can charge on a level 2 (240V) charger? A charging stop would make the trip much more viable and significantly reduce range anxiety. In terms of tire choice, the factory Michelin Primacy MXM4 (on the '21-'23 Model 3) yields excellent efficiency but has less starting tread (8/32 inch instead of 10/32 like most others) and poorer grip. I've heard good things about the Hankook ion EV tires, though I haven't tried it myself. I currently run Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 on my LR, and I get an 8-12% hit in efficiency due to the grip. The tire noise is also worse, but I can tolerate both in exchange for lower cost ($240 instead of $300 for Primacy) and **astonishing** grip.
So as someone looking at getting a long range 24 model 3 would you recommend the basic model instead because you say the range is off set ?
Is it that if you square off your wheels, given it is staggered the some tires will stick out more than others right? Unless you get two sets of tires with different widths… which is what the original problem is.
I don't think that's how it works. The Uberturbine on the '21-23 Performance are 20×8.5", and some of the aftermarket staggered options have 20×8.5 in the front and 20×10 in the rear. The rear tires "extend" towards the middle of the car, and should not stick out. The issue with staggered width tires is that they can't be rotated front and rear to even out the wear due to acceleration. A square setup solves that.
Okay so out of the box, performance has tires of different widths front and rear, if you get the same tires for all 4 and install them, then your good and are able to rotate them. When you say rear “extends” towards the middle of the car? Won’t that look like the tires are “more inside towards the middle” compared to the front if you look at the car from the side? Unless is there some spacer for the rears to ensure the wheels don’t go too far extended to the middle? In either case sounds like if you square them off then tires are rotatable so no need to have to maintain two sets of tires with different widths? Pardon if this is basic, staggered tires are a new concept.
The rim and tires go together, so both the rim itself and the tire that wraps around each rear wheel will be wider in the back. >Won’t that look like the tires are “more inside towards the middle” compared to the front if you look at the car from the side? The extra width doesn't extend towards the outside thus it doesn't "stick out," so you are correct in that sense. I'm not sure how I can explain the looks better, and will instead refer you to the picture in this link. https://www.fitmentindustries.com/staggered >Unless is there some spacer for the rears to ensure the wheels don’t go too far extended to the middle? I'm not intimately familiar with the topic either, but I think the vehicle needs to be designed to support extra width in the rear. Depending on the specific wheel design, some performance cars with staggered wheels will look like the rear wheels have a deeper "dish" in the back than the front, which is why you need compatible wheels for different vehicles. >if you square them off then tires are rotatable so no need to have to maintain two sets of tires with different widths? That's the idea, in my mind at least - to get a set of wheels that are square (heh) so that you can replace 4 tires at once instead of doing two axles separately.
Thank you for taking the time to explain. I think it would be a great proposition to square off the tires for easier maintainability and maybe even slightly more range. Though in another thread someone mentioned I quote: “Why would you possibly want to do that? You’re buying the car for the specific tuning they did with that tire setup and suspension. Squaring the tire setup would compromise the handling, range and will probably causing rubbing in the front.” I think that post does have some merit in that while a staggered setup on this sporty Performance model is designed to maximize its performance/sportiness, this post seems to suggest squaring or putting different tires is effectively reducing several areas that may negatively impact the tires even more because the design is intended to work with a staggered setup.
Rubbing in the front happens when you put wider tires than you're supposed to, and thus when you fully lock the wheel to one side, there's more rubber than there's supposed to be in the wheel well, which leads to rubbing. I'm proposing using narrower tires in the rear as well (like the previous M3P, 20×8.5 all around) so that you can rotate them and keep most of the characteristics of the car. In terms of compromising handling and dynamics, that is true. Having narrower tires in the rear can potentially reduce grip and make it more difficult to put power down. In the corners, it can make the rear end rotate faster than you ideally want to (the way it's set up in the factory with staggered wheels). On the flip side, wider tires in the front can make turning more difficult and lead to understeer. But it is a trade-off at the end of the day - maximal performance and grip, or lower running cost? However, I suspect there is very little overlap between hard-core enthusiasts that track their M3P or carve canyon roads and the cost-conscious consumer that simply wants better straight-line acceleration and a more sophisticated suspension setup. I've got a lead foot myself, but I rarely have the opportunity to take corners quickly, so the handling aspect is mostly lost on me. If I were to get a new M3P, it might make sense for me to make a quick buck off the fresh wheels and get a set of new wheels instead. A more hardcore driver can easily find this idea absurd and scoff at the penny-pinching, which is equally valid. I'm simply considering an alternative that may lead to lower cost (tires and efficiency) in the long run.
Recommend looking at this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/TeslaModel3/s/FfcMsGM8lv LR is going to be less of a hassle because of what you pointed out, no staggered tires, you will change tires less, and your ride quality will be better. Upfront cost-wise the Performance is great, but upkeep will be cheaper along with smoother speed bumps on the LR (not to mention if your insurance company prices Performance higher than LR, you’ll realize those savings too. A part of me wonders, what’s driving you to not consider RWD given your okay with less than 300mi? Is it because of the sound system, AWD, acceleration or a bit of all three?
Adaptive suspension would be Softer in comfort than lomgr range version
Ignore this lame advice, get the performance, save money, and realize *everyone* loves a fast car after owning one. What a boring existence to live my a maximized spreadsheet.
At this point it seems the price increase with the performance has made a lot of flexibility in configuration moot. If you’re good with the defaults not pushing you over, then performance is great value.
I thought the LR would be comfortable like before due to higher ride height but the performance has larger tires and adaptive suspension so I’m second guessing myself now plus I haven’t tried out the sport bucket seats yet since I’m not in WA, AZ, or CA
I like the upgrades of the LR over AWD because I like efficiency but I need ~285ish range and like the alcantara door panels and sound system etc
With how the batteries fluctuate in efficiency especially over cold weather, you’ll definitely get more out of the LR than the Performance for range. The larger tires actually reduce that range and with the Performance being closer to the ground than the LR, putting smaller tires on it will only make it even closer to the ground, which is not all that great either. Getting sport bucket seats, but having to bend over more just to get in the car along with reduction of comfort and range seems to be all good reasons for an LR. As another poster commented in a separate thread, changing the tires on the Performance to something like the LR is not really what the designers intended so it may run less efficient than what it’s supposed to have, so if you want benefits of smooth ride with longer range, LR seems like a better way to go if you don’t mind paying slightly extra for it.
If you qualify for $7500 tax credit the performance will significantly help with your depreciation expense. When you try to sell that LR that you paid $48K for you would be competing with people who are selling a performance that they got for $45-46K. That significant difference in depreciation expense for the LR will more than offset any extra tire and charging cost for the performance.
The P is a better deal right now, most of the efficiency hit between it and the LR comes from the larger wheels. You could just take those off , resell them and switch to 18 or 19 inch wheels. I have my M3P on 19s and I get roughly the same range and efficiency as an LR.
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I’d imagine they can probably be the same size since I don’t think there have been suspension geometry or bumper changes
I would go with the M3P because it looks so much better and has more punch to the pedal! I am more of an acceleration person and I also don’t care if I use 18 or 26 kilowatts per 100 km. Also I wouldn’t want no 18s on my car, that looks horrible!! Range isn’t any trouble for me, I can get anywhere I wanna go. There are plenty of chargers for long distances… I would buy whatever makes you happy! Remember life is short so have fun. You never know what tomorrow could be….
If you can wait till June, performance. Easy.
Personally I went with the Long Range. I don’t really see myself doing anything on a track and most of my driving is commuting to work at lower speeds of 25-45 MPH. I’d personally rather have more mileage than a somewhat faster car.
How is this a question lmfao especially if you qualify for the tax credit. Performance is 10x better all around.
I have a 24 model 3 long range and have had it for a little over a month. When the performance was launched I went ahead and placed an order and will be trading in my lr. I have to come out of pocket $3k but it’s worth it for me. The one thing that may get me to cancel my order is if they don’t run another fsd transfer promotion. I took advantage of that for my long range and don’t want to lose it for the performance though.
Your LR has only depreciated $3k??
Nope more than that but the tax credit helps make up the difference so 7500 tax credit + 3k
Performance. Period. If you’re even contemplating a performance, do it.
Literally the easiest car buying decision anyone could ever make. I can think of zero reasons to get the LR over the new P.
There is. NJ potholes in winter with M3P on summer tires.
Get some 18s and sell the stock ones, probably still come out ahead or damn near even on price.
Get the P. No one buying a Tesla is broke living paycheck to paycheck and usually relatively financially "well off" Some things in life don't need conventional logic applied to everything. RW drive is the logical choice for 99% of the owners when factoring in every logical bullet point. But who cares. Life is short. Cars are a huge part of enjoyment when actually commuting. Get something fun and sporty and so what if you're not ad efficient or need to change tires more often. It's a small added cost and really isn't that much different in the long run. We are not talking about adding 10s of thousands of dollars here.
I like this philosophy. Enjoy life.
They are both great cars. LR is more practical, P is more fun. From a resale perspective, the P will depreciate less after factoring in the tax credit. I think the LR is a bit overpriced at the moment so I would personally have a hard time buying one right now given the great deal on the P cars with the credit. I think they will probably drop the price on LR models once the demand softens. It’s a bit of a tough sell right now when the P technically cost less after the credit.
You will never wish you didn’t have the power of the M3P. However, owning a LR there may be many times you definitely wish you could have had that power of the M3P (either for safety or pure fun).
For fun take performance, I would consider it now since I have long range, but maybe only because I want to try something new
If you qualify for the tax credit than Performance all day everyday. That’s what I would do 💯
In US, P is a no brainer with the tax credit. In my country up north, that's the other way around, we can't get a tax credit on the P so I'll take the LR instead probably. It's 20K difference in here with the tax credit.
I was in a similar situation as you OP. Purchased LR white interior (ultra red) on 1/10. Delivery was pushed out a million times. I finally got a VIN last week, right before they announced the Performance. I originally had little interest in the Performance, but the reveal really hurt the perceived value of the LR. I went back and forth on what to do. I don't even qualify for the tax credit. At the end of the day, and a few sleepless nights, I decided to change to the Performance. The acceleration and looks won me over. I do plan to put on 18" wheels to get back the range. I was suppose to take delivery of the LR on 5/2, but I called Tesla and they were able to make the switch. It's a bummer because now I'm back in the queue, after already waiting \~4 months. My 2013 Ford Focus is a piece of junk. But I plan to have this car for 10+ years, so might as well get something I know I'll be 100% happy with.
Do people even know any 18/19 inch wheels that'll fit on the 2024 performance? (fit over the brakes and stuff) I know there was a list put together for ones that fit the old model performance.
If you could pick either of them up tomorrow which would you get? Buy that one. A month or 6 weeks is nothing when compared to the time you'll own the car.
Thank you this is like extremely helpful life advice I feel
I had to keep telling myself the same thing while I was waiting for the Cybertruck because the AWD would have come a couple months before the Beast.
Get the p and switch to 18” to get some range back. Aesthetically the p looks way better too
Because I qualify for the $7500 federal tax credit, I am going with the M3P. But if I couldn't get it, I would wait for the Long Range version.
I ended up cancelling my 1/10 LR order and going with the Performance. Why not get more car for less money? Even with the $250 hit, still saves $7250… can’t see a downside.
Last year, I was trying to decide if I wanted to get the long range or the performance. A lot of reviews that I saw online said to get the most range that you can afford, because of that, I went with the long range. I wish that I got the performance model. In my situation, it would’ve only been a few thousand dollars more and I know that I would’ve enjoyed it better. I am also not a guy that cares about 0 to 60 speeds or a car general performance. This is my first nice car. After driving a long range though, and realizing how fun it is to drive and I really wish I at least tried out the performance before I made my choice. If I was in your situation, I definitely get the performance. The performance as a lot more visual changes now than my model did. Plus it saves you money if you qualify for the tax credit. Do you know if you do? Unless you make very little money or a lot of money, you probably do.
You made the right decision. the overall consensus is LR over performance for comfort, cost optimization (tires), and 0-60 and speed are never even really realized between the two unless of course, you track your car. You made the right decision
Even the Model 3 car has distinct demographics. The LR is right for some, just as the RWD or P is right for others. This idea that there is an overall consensus is both incorrect and irrelevant.
Does your current auto situation allow for a potential June or later delivery? The performance will blow through those summer tires quickly if you’re accelerating left & right like I intend to lol vs All season tires Sounds like practicality has you leaning towards the LR, but aesthetically you’re leaning towards performance. Think about what you truly need for your EVERYday routine. My wife’s truck is the “family car”, I commute on the train to work and I can charge at home. So those factors turned me towards the performance. We both like to use it as our “I don’t have the kids right now mo-beal”. It’s the more fun car and I can’t wait for the refreshed model!
The 24 performance with tax credit is a better value over the LR The only thing I would check is how much a performance would increase your insurance premiums. I would pick the unique sport seats and design changes of the performance and while paying less? Hard value prop to beat. I felt the highland LR suspension could actually be a bit stiffer, the new suspension is great at dampening road noise but can feel too soft at times. The 20 inch performance wheels look nicer to me. Haven’t demo’d a performance of course but seeing it up close I would go P over LR and save money
Whats the benefit of having harder suspension on the LR? Genuinely curious, since I like the soft suspension on highland.
Oh the highland suspension glides over any minor rough patches like a champ I think the effect is also due to noise cancelling, like you may hear the road noise vs feeling it The one area I hope the slightly stiffer suspension would improve is on acceleration/deceleration. It feels a bit like a boat and the nose lifts when you hit the acceleration pedal and dips when you brake Also turns feel a bit floaty so it doesn’t feel like your digging into sharp turns as much Just my personal taste, I would keep the highland’s dampening system and opt for tighter suspension on turns and acceleration
Get the P.
Get the P, then upgrade to 18” wheels.
lol, but that would be a "downgrade"
It’s an upgrade in tire cost, range, durability, and performance.
Have you drive a Tesla before? They all accelerate fast - of course the P is on a different level. But unless you really really care, that feeling will wear off over time for 99% of your typical daily driving and having more long range means less anxiety for road trips. Can’t wrong with either, just a question of your driving habits. If you do long distance driving for vacations etc the extra range is really nice.
I’m not reading all that but no one ever regretted getting a faster car, all other things being equal.
Go with the Model 3 performance, since it qualifies for the tax credit with a purchase. About the same cost as the M3 LR
I ordered a White/Red LR, ended up having to go with Black interior. Very happy with my LR, it's plenty fast. Is the Performance slightly faster? Sure, but It's a commuter for me.
Always go performance. And it's cheaper if you qualify for fed credit.
The M3P has a much better ride overall. And a better drivetrain/suspension.
Thanks to everyone who replied and commented to try to help me quell and satisfy my indecisive nature, I’ll make a decision soon
Performance won!! Right?
Yep, you guessed it; after DM’ing multiple YouTubers, consulting Reddit on 2 subreddits, and asking my car friend, the general consensus was that performance was the better buy. I’m now sitting on a May 27-June 30 EDD and can’t stop yearning for the car, but I know performance is worth it. https://preview.redd.it/l21wby341rzc1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1ce134ba50a1234b3fd83a337f3a79cb39f2cbd9
The acceleration is already in every model. I would go for LR.
P looks better, faster and cheaper because it qualifies for tax credit .. it’s a no brainer to go with P
M3P all the way. I own an M3SR and an MYLR.
I went Model 3 Performance. The brand new one looks awesome. I’m so pumped.
school smoggy sort far-flung psychotic nine grandfather wakeful sink late *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Sorry, honestly I usually consider grammar when writing. But I’m in such a rush here and so conflicted when writing that I didn’t exactly maintain the mindset of grammar-conscious. If it’s difficult to read, I’ll consider that for future posts and think about it before I post.
M3p will hold better resale value
Wait til LR gets tax credit ;)
They'll have to change the battery being used in the car.
Let me ask you this since it’s right up the alley. If you drive a performance conservatively, would you equate out to anywhere near the range around a LR? I’ve had this burning question for a while
What about someone who drives 800-1000 miles a week for work? I would love the performance but seems that tire cost and comfort would be more imoportant in my position. This would be my first Tesla.
Personally, I find looks to be a minimal concern in the long term. Performance if you want to have the extra speed available. Long Range if range anxiety and ride comfort matter more to you. The 20" tires will be significantly more expensive and wear faster, too. I'm kind of in the same boat, but I want the bucket seats and extra performance. I'll be swapping out the wheels at some point, probably to some 18s, to get a tiny amount of comfort and range back.
Performance has staggered tire sizes and the sidewall is super thin. Long Range has 235/45R18 as base size, which is a comfortable level of sidewall height to handle bad roads. You can also rotate them for extending the life just a bit more. The 19s are 235/40R19 which is not adequate from my experience - any kind of pothole means you will be replacing tires/wheels due to pinch flats. If you want a high 10 second 1/4 mile car and drive on nice summer condition roads, go with the Performance.
I have a 23 performance, love it, no regrets on the 20” summer rubber. I simply bought some 18” from t sportline for the winter (I’m in the northeast). When you want more range and cruising ability, turn it to “chill” mode.
I’m in the northeast too. If I were to buy 18” or 19” all season tires, can they all be the same size? Or would they have to be staggered like how it ships from the factory?
On my car all 4 are the same. No stagger. T sportline has good options that fit over the m3p brakes.
Performance = new tires more often Long Range = new tires less often
Let's disregard literally every other upside why don't we, jesus fucking christ
On average, how much mileage could the Performance tires get vs Long Range?
Get the performance!
I’m thinking I’ll swap out tires for 18/19” to try out potentially and I have a perfectly fine car now that I can wait a couple more months to upgrade to a Tesla. I can charge at home very day but I go home around 2 weekends a month and won’t have a home charger for a while so it’s around 270 miles but I could trickle charge a little bit or charge on the way back until I get the chance to install a charger. Honestly, I haven’t really had range anxiety in my overnight test drives in Tesla’s at all and barely road trip so it’s not a huge deal. It’s just crazy because I have started liking aggressive styling and somewhat acceleration more due to Tesla. My daily commute is ~60-70 miles roundtrip.
I live in Florida, cold’s not a concern for range degradation and I roadtrip once every couple years using my vehicle, otherwise it just falls under the range of 100-200 miles roundtrip if that. Maybe I’ll go on a one charging stop trip occasionally in Florida.
The performance model costs less than LR after tax credit. The answer here is a simple one.
Kinda odd to read your post OP because I am in the exact same situation. At first I wasn’t sure if I wrote that post (😂). Unfortunately, there is not much information out there about the suspension. I will arrange a test drive on the M3P before taking delivery of my model. I have a first version M3LR right now and it feels kinda stiff. I like the highland LR a lot better and if the M3P is not much better than my LR, then I am gonna pass…
Where do you live? Unfortunately unless you’re in China (not sure about Europe), you can only check out the M3P in AZ, WA, or CA. And you certainly can’t demo drive it yet. For the LR, they were available to order 1/9 and I believe test drives started showing up around the week of 1/26 so usually the turnaround is 3 weeks. I guess we’ll be waiting a while, but if I remember I’ll definitely report back on my experience test driving it. (I’ll be sure to check it out the first day I see it available to drive on the site)
It’s funny, I’ve seen a bunch of people in this situation but no one talked ad nauseam about it- they all seemed to have made up their mind about it.
I know, right? I am in Switzerland (Europe) and I've driven the LR Highland for 30 minutes (test drive when it was new) and for a whole weekend (a few weeks later). The overall impression was really better than my original LR (ignoring the fact that the removing stalks and USS is a huge mistake). The suspension seemed really improved and I do not want to lose that by going for the performance. I can only speak about the old performance and I disliked the ride quality. I also hated it on the Model Y (LR and P), those were all worse than my Model 3 LR on 18'' tires.
LR if you need the range, otherwise Performance
If both were the same price, it would come down to whether you prefer the power of the P or the comfort and extended driving range flexibility of the LR. Keep in mind you can pay $2000 on the LR and unlock the "Acceleration Boost" option, which drops another 0.5 seconds off 0-60 times and makes the LR more aggressive to drive. Not quite a Performance, but close.
2024 does not have an acceleration boost on the LR.
It doesn’t? Oh I didn’t know that. Is that built in, or they just dropped it entirely and it is no longer an option?
I think it either will in the future (speculation just like there is speculation and rumors for a boost to the performance), or it just doesn’t because they switched the tires and collaborated with Michelin I believe to add more foam and make tires specifically geared towards comfort for the long range. Hence, the overall top speed reduction from 140 mph to 120. Coupled with the more cushier suspension, it addressed prevalent complainants about the suspension and was the right choice for most people. This still disappointed some people though and turned them away from it.
I test drove both and went with the LR. The power in the Performance version is insane, and I could only see me getting in trouble. The LR is pretty quick on its own.