(Disclaimer: I recently purchased a model 3 in March, and even performance aside the experience has been incredible. I highly recommend a test drive to anybody.)

disclaimers aside, it's strange to me that we keep lumping all these EVs together. The Porsche Taycan is clearly aimed at doing something that the Model S / 3 is not: being an actual racing car, with the price tag to match. The Model S / 3 are simply family cars that let your casual driver get a racecar feel in their everyday life. Ultimately, though, the Taycan and the M3 / S have different aims and goals design-wise. A fairer comparison would be the 2020 Roadster, when it comes out (in 2022 probably, knowing Elon's skill at predicting delivery), which is aimed at both the Taycan's market segment and intended use. When part of your design goals is "do fast laps around the Nürburgring", you're going to (hopefully) be a lot better at it than a car that didn't have that as an explicit design goal.

I used to blame a lot of this on the Tesla fanbase hyping the M3 / S as more of a racecar than it is (which they do, they're not totally in the clear here) but I think there's also broader consumer perception mismatches here. Since March I have noticed many people will very aggressively compare my car to cars either far above its price range or cars in a different class. In fact, a lot of them think the Model 3 is a lot more expensive than it is, and are surprised to hear that it's so cheap.

Wow, I read this summary and it's amazing how you and I had such completely different experiences. I think combined I've sunk hundreds of hours into the Elder Scrolls series and I still play Skyrim (heck, I still play Daggerfall). Still some of the most amazing open world games I've ever played (besides the Ultimas, of course. I will always hold a fond spot in heart for them)