The new Track Mode is really rather special

"Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer)
10/04/2020 at 07:03 • Filed to: None

A few months ago, Tesla released a new version of track mode that makes everything a lot better. Track Mode V2 adds something brilliant to the driving experience: stupidity.

For one, Track Mode lets you now see the status of your tires, battery, brakes, and motors (because Teslas, just like GT500s, like overheating) as well as a G meter. It also lets the driver choose how to cool the car.

But most importantly, it let’s you customize the power bias, stability control, and regen. Previously Track Mode disabled regen, and while it did also sort of let the car slip a little, it wasn’t much.

Regular Track Mode was only worth having for the extra cooling, other than that the car still under-steered a bit too much, and without the regen the brakes felt a bit overwhelmed.

With the new Track Mode each driver can have their prefered settings, it has a “race” preset (which I suspect is the regular track mode) and a drift mode, which reduces the stability assist as much as possible as well as making the car rear biased.

The modes matter

I feel like Tesla did (as they usually do) and simplified stuff Germans usually complicate, you can have your car turn fully FWD or fully RWD, and while it is noticeably slower) it does change the way the car behaves. For one, in FWD mode it does understeer a bit more than usual, and it seems rather like a FWD car. In RWD mode the car seems to behave like a full on RWD car, and since the motors in the Model 3 are very torquey, it takes very little effort to make the car slip or even drift.

Nonetheless, I suspect the stability control cannot be fully disabled, the car seems to never let you slide a lot. Additionally, even in full RWD mode the car can be made to understeer, and the stability control will come in and dab the brakes if such is the case.

I tested the new Track Mode down a few, wide, flat, and wet back roads and lets just say I wasn’t expecting the car to give me so much control. It feels like the stability control still kicks in a bit (and when it does, I don’t think the car remains in full RWD or FWD mode)

Cold summer tires, a wet road, a foolish driver and a two ton car do make for a very bizarre result.

DISCUSSION (24)

facw > Spanfeller is a twat
10/04/2020 at 07:15

Does Tesla’s interface not have a Spanish mode, or do you just prefer English?

Spanfeller is a twat > facw
10/04/2020 at 07:21

I changed it for the picture, it has like forty languages I think

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Spanfeller is a twat
10/04/2020 at 07:31

Wait, did I miss something....did you buy a Tesla?

Spanfeller is a twat > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/04/2020 at 07:34

I certainly did not, a family member did however.

Taylor Martin > Spanfeller is a twat
10/04/2020 at 07:39

Switching between FWD and RWD is an interesting feature, one setting for the track and the other for regular town to town driving. It’s a subtle electric in the streets and a semi-sort of drift car in the sheets.

Spanfeller is a twat > Taylor Martin
10/04/2020 at 07:57

I think the rear motor is a tad more efficient since it’s a permanent magnet motor as opposed to an induction motor like in the front. So the Model 3 is usually RWD when it’s trying to be the most efficient and AWD when trying to be fastest.

Nonetheless, I did think about what you said, and track mode doesn’t help... The cooling system is very noisy and it’s always running. Then in track mode the sat nav is blocked, and you must have the accelerator in sport response soo .. its not very comfortable for cruising

A Boy and His Longtail > Spanfeller is a twat
10/04/2020 at 08:12

That’s pretty cool! I like that a lot!

Textured Soy Protein > Spanfeller is a twat
10/04/2020 at 08:55

Not that ze German version is necessarily uncomplicated but the new M xDrive system in stuff like the M5 has a similar rwd mode. There’s also an app called xDelete that lets you force a lot of other awd BMWs into rwd, and on certain models there’s also sport and snow modes.

https://www.xdelete.app/

Tesla frustrates me. Their cars have a lot of cool shit but the build quality and Elon's shenanigans are huge turnoffs for me.

Spanfeller is a twat > Textured Soy Protein
10/04/2020 at 09:03

Yeah, he can be a handful.

Taylor Martin > Spanfeller is a twat
10/04/2020 at 10:27

Yeah, sports cars and sports modes can be great in sports settings, but for everyday driving I can see why having track settings locked on isn’t idea.

I’ve never been in a Tesla, so I didn’t know the cooling system was loud, but I do know that electric cars are supposed to be silent so the fact that you can hear it as you drive is concerning.

DC3 LS, Fuck Hyundai, now and forever > Spanfeller is a twat
10/04/2020 at 11:23

How’s the steering feel on them? I’ve heard from reviewers and such that it’s very numb, which is to be expected. But didn’t know if it’s so bad it’s disconcerting while driving hard.

Spanfeller is a twat > Taylor Martin
10/04/2020 at 11:33

You can only really hear it work when it’s supercharging or in track mode, other than that the biggest sources of noise are the wheel wells, wind noise, and the AC... The car is actually pretty quiet on the highway when you’re not doing anything ridiculous. On par with a 3er is my guess.

Danny Korecki > Spanfeller is a twat
10/04/2020 at 11:36

Let me preface with, I am happy you shared some detailed Tesla info, but this sentence: “I tested the new Track Mode down a few, wide, flat, and wet back roads....”

Not a good idea.

Spanfeller is a twat > DC3 LS, Fuck Hyundai, now and forever
10/04/2020 at 11:36

Maybe some top-gear physics are going on in my mind, but I think the steering feel gets better with the track mode set on RWD. In general I think the steering is very disconnected and the “sport” setting is too hard, but it’s on par with most modern vehicles. I don’t think it’s disconcerting but it’s no miata .
One of the advantages of the Tesla is that it has a very quick steering setup, but you can’t really get a sense of when the wheels have lost grip through the steering (it doesn’t go “light”)

Jb boin > Textured Soy Protein
10/04/2020 at 12:36

And the Germans don’t deal with independent motors which makes things more difficult especially if you have to think about the reliability of the transmission .

Textured Soy Protein > Jb boin
10/04/2020 at 12:43

Running in rwd mode doesn’t really hurt the BMW awd system or transmission. It’s laid out like rwd, with a transfer case hung off the side of the transmission. The transfer case uses electronically-controlled clutches to send power to the front axle. With the app set to rwd mode, it’s just not engaging the clutch. No biggie.

DC3 LS, Fuck Hyundai, now and forever > Spanfeller is a twat
10/04/2020 at 12:52

Such a shame, I’d imagine with electric powersteering it’d be quite easy change the steering to allow more feel for sport mode and what not , but it sounds like the lack of feel is more of a bushing/mechanical issue than just overpowered assistance :/

Jb boin > Textured Soy Protein
10/04/2020 at 12:53

It’s more about going full FWD that might be possible playing with the ECU but diffs and axles might not be strong enough for it.

Textured Soy Protein > Jb boin
10/04/2020 at 13:22

Yeah full fwd isn't an option with either the version that's adjustable from the factory, or the app.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Spanfeller is a twat
10/04/2020 at 16:01

Ah, they let you take it for a spin? I can’t stand the Model 3 interior...way to ‘minimalist’ to me and the giant ‘everything’ screen in the center drives me crazy.

Spanfeller is a twat > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/04/2020 at 16:08

I reviewed it last year!

The interior is certainly... A Thing.... And it isn't of beauty

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Spanfeller is a twat
10/04/2020 at 16:21

...but minimalism!

Spanfeller is a twat > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/05/2020 at 00:19

It works in an assembly line... But after driving it a bit more, I realized that it's not quitw practical

Spanfeller is a twat > Danny Korecki
10/06/2020 at 10:34

You’re right, I actually said it to acknowledge that I was being irresponsible (because I’m usually against this sort of behaviour outside a track)