4 ms·

I am a first time car owner (with a Tesla) and yes, I struggled to explain my feelings when my friends asked "Isn't autopilot just adaptive cruise control and l

I am a first time car owner (with a Tesla) and yes, I struggled to explain my feelings when my friends asked "Isn't autopilot just adaptive cruise control and lane centering?" Yes, it does just that (unless you buy the FSD scam), but it also feels like an integral part of the car instead of a addon for higher trim models. Everything (including the tablet) is centered around autopilot and it's natural to use anywhere. Would I use lane centering in a Honda or Hyundai? Maybe. I use the tempomat (cruise control) in other cars too, but I never felt comfortable in using just that to drive all the way to SF. I don't think I would do that in a 2010 Kia. I might be wrong. Tesla lessened my mental burden and I just watch other cars while it does its thing. I am also more confident as it watched other cars by itself using the cameras, it's like 10 pairs of eyes instead of 2.

rblatz 5y ago
My wife’s low trim (EX) 2018 Honda CR-V has lane centering and adaptive cruise control. Basically the same thing as what Tesla’s have but it’s a single button on the wheel to turn on lane centering and a single button to turn on cruise control, no clumsy touch screen needed. We use it all the time.
- junipertea 5y ago
  You turn on autopilot by pressing the stalk twice, there is 0 interaction with the touch screen for that purpose.
- 40four 5y ago
  Respectfully, if you think lane centering plus adaptive cruise control is ‘basically the same’ as Tesla autopilot, you should look into a little more. Lane centering does not allow you you totally take you hands off the wheel and let the car drive itself. It’s just a small assist to help once you’ve almost already crossed into someone else’s lane. To be fair, autopilot is not supposed to be totally hands off, you’re supposed to still touch lightly touch the wheel every few seconds. You still need to monitor it. Adaptive cruise control is pretty nice, but only useful on high speed highways. They aren’t even comparable really. The Tesla is truly driving itself, while the other is just an assist in case you mess up. Also Tesla is beta testing the next version of autopilot that can drive in cities, and obey traffic signals. But, we are rapidly approaching a time where lane assist & adaptive cruise are becoming ’standard’ on most vehicles and I think that’s great.
  - rblatz 5y ago
    This drives itself, it gets mad if I leave my hands off too much. But it will take turns and doesn’t just bounce off the lane edges. When I drove mr brothers model 3 I couldn’t really tell a difference.
    - bmcahren 5y ago
      Base auto-pilot works in stop and go traffic, understands stop lights and stop signs (stops for red), as well as highway speeds. It works through construction sites with orange cone lane changes over ignored white lines. For 90% of driving, you're not going to notice the difference. If you care about the other 5-9% and the added safety improvements of a system that actually understands the road, other vehicles, construction and not just the lane lines you should definitely consider a Tesla. With their upgraded auto-pilot the car detects and automatically passes other drivers, takes exits, can completely handle complex interchanges by itself changing lanes to find exits while getting in the correct lane, slows while passing, gives trucks extra space on the highway, can handle complex construction zones without leaving it's often confusing lane, automatically exits the passing lane when not passing, etc. Just the precision with which it can change lanes in dense traffic is so relieving. I hate changing lanes without it. I now spend my time keeping a close eye on idiot drivers while the car manages the lane change minutia - don't hit the car up front, make sure I have space, make sure no one is passing on the right, make sure no one is cutting off the space im trying to use from the 2nd from the right, look forward, look back, look forward again to check traffic, look back - never again. I inherently trust the Tesla to drive better than me most of the time. I inherently trust the Tesla to drive better than 98% of other drivers.
      - avereveard 5y ago
        > It works through construction sites with orange cone lane changes it only took a couple of deaths to train their ai for construction sites. > Just the precision with which it can change lanes in dense traffic is so relieving. parked white trucks still a issue tho. this whole thing reads like a marketing brochure, while conveniently ignoring the trail of deaths the tesla gung-ho attitude about releases brought.
- NotSammyHagar 5y ago
  Autopilot doesn't turn on with the screen. Autopilot is 2 stalk pulls, cruise control is one pull.

rblatz 5y ago

My wife’s low trim (EX) 2018 Honda CR-V has lane centering and adaptive cruise control. Basically the same thing as what Tesla’s have but it’s a single button on the wheel to turn on lane centering and a single button to turn on cruise control, no clumsy touch screen needed. We use it all the time.

junipertea 5y ago
You turn on autopilot by pressing the stalk twice, there is 0 interaction with the touch screen for that purpose.
40four 5y ago
Respectfully, if you think lane centering plus adaptive cruise control is ‘basically the same’ as Tesla autopilot, you should look into a little more. Lane centering does not allow you you totally take you hands off the wheel and let the car drive itself. It’s just a small assist to help once you’ve almost already crossed into someone else’s lane. To be fair, autopilot is not supposed to be totally hands off, you’re supposed to still touch lightly touch the wheel every few seconds. You still need to monitor it. Adaptive cruise control is pretty nice, but only useful on high speed highways. They aren’t even comparable really. The Tesla is truly driving itself, while the other is just an assist in case you mess up. Also Tesla is beta testing the next version of autopilot that can drive in cities, and obey traffic signals. But, we are rapidly approaching a time where lane assist & adaptive cruise are becoming ’standard’ on most vehicles and I think that’s great.
- rblatz 5y ago
  This drives itself, it gets mad if I leave my hands off too much. But it will take turns and doesn’t just bounce off the lane edges. When I drove mr brothers model 3 I couldn’t really tell a difference.
  - bmcahren 5y ago
    Base auto-pilot works in stop and go traffic, understands stop lights and stop signs (stops for red), as well as highway speeds. It works through construction sites with orange cone lane changes over ignored white lines. For 90% of driving, you're not going to notice the difference. If you care about the other 5-9% and the added safety improvements of a system that actually understands the road, other vehicles, construction and not just the lane lines you should definitely consider a Tesla. With their upgraded auto-pilot the car detects and automatically passes other drivers, takes exits, can completely handle complex interchanges by itself changing lanes to find exits while getting in the correct lane, slows while passing, gives trucks extra space on the highway, can handle complex construction zones without leaving it's often confusing lane, automatically exits the passing lane when not passing, etc. Just the precision with which it can change lanes in dense traffic is so relieving. I hate changing lanes without it. I now spend my time keeping a close eye on idiot drivers while the car manages the lane change minutia - don't hit the car up front, make sure I have space, make sure no one is passing on the right, make sure no one is cutting off the space im trying to use from the 2nd from the right, look forward, look back, look forward again to check traffic, look back - never again. I inherently trust the Tesla to drive better than me most of the time. I inherently trust the Tesla to drive better than 98% of other drivers.
    - avereveard 5y ago
      > It works through construction sites with orange cone lane changes it only took a couple of deaths to train their ai for construction sites. > Just the precision with which it can change lanes in dense traffic is so relieving. parked white trucks still a issue tho. this whole thing reads like a marketing brochure, while conveniently ignoring the trail of deaths the tesla gung-ho attitude about releases brought.
NotSammyHagar 5y ago
Autopilot doesn't turn on with the screen. Autopilot is 2 stalk pulls, cruise control is one pull.