1. Yes
2. Depends on circumstances but in theory yes
3. No more radars, vision only. Some people experience phantom breaking, some don’t.
4. No
5. You won’t need it.

 

1. Yes
2. Depends on circumstances but in theory yes
3. No more radars, vision only. Some people experience phantom breaking, some don’t.
4. No
5. You won’t need it.

I experienced phantom braking on entering an underpass on the A40 during my test drive in June 2022. Bright sunshine. Brakes applied as entered shadow.

 

1. If I get a standard M3 without the Enhanced Autopilot, will adaptive cruise control (TACC) switch off every time I indicate to change lanes?

1. Yes

I don't think this is correct in the context of the OP's question. With TACC engaged you can overtake by indicating & the system stays engaged. If you are using auto pilot / auto steer it does switch off (if you don't have enhanced). There's a lot of detail on this page of the manual: Model 3 Owner's Manual | Tesla

I've only had a test drive so far (my M3 LR is ordered), but I tested this to see if it worked in the same way as the ID.3 ACC, which it does in this particular case.

 

I don't think this is correct in the context of the OP's question. With TACC engaged you can overtake by indicating & the system stays engaged. If you are using auto pilot / auto steer it does switch off (if you don't have enhanced). There's a lot of detail on this page of the manual: Model 3 Owner's Manual | Tesla

I've only had a test drive so far (my M3 LR is ordered), but I tested this to see if it worked in the same way as the ID.3 ACC, which it does in this particular case.

yes, you’re correct 👍

I assumed Autopilot.

 

Autosteer away from restricted-access roads (Mway, dual carriageway) is a crapshoot tbh. It might work or it might try to eat the surrounding traffic.

 

2. Can the TACC and autosteer systems be safely used on roads other than dual carriageways i.e. those roads with no central separation?

You're entering the realms of FSD for autosteer to work on town/city roads. I don't see that being allowed by regulations in the UK for a very long time (most likely years) & after a lot more improvements are made to the AI. Our roads are bad enough to drive manually a lot of the time, with so many parked cars actually on the road & not in specific parking areas. From the videos I've watched of US beta testers it still struggles with relatively simple perceived obstacles.

If you're specifically asking about single carriageways (one lane either way), the autosteer seems happy enough if there are proper road markings. But another "feature" of our roads is that there are often no markings at the side of many roads, so I don't think I'd trust autosteer on those.

On the other hand, TACC is fine so long as you're paying proper attention & don't expect it to be too clever. I use it on my ID.3 pretty much every journey on all types of road & the Tesla version works pretty much exactly the same from my brief hour or so test drive.

 

3. AFAIK Radar is still fitted in Europe. I think they can't remove because was part of Type Approval in EU.

I find the Model 3 TACC fine on dual carriageways and it will undertake in certain conditions. Where TACC works poorly (today) is on roads with parked cars. Hopefully the work on the Beta FSD will filter down to make it work better. I have only had phantom braking twice in 13K miles, but some seem to get it more.

On local roads with 30 limits I would really like a speed limiter - bizarre that our Zoe has it but not our Model 3!

I agree (today in UK) Autosteer is best only used on dual carriageways and motorways, partly due to EU rule limitations. One day we might get something better in UK, but probably only when the German manufacturers have caught up and the rules are then changed. Despite Brexit we are still following EU rules in this area.

 

3. AFAIK Radar is still fitted in Europe. I think they can't remove because was part of Type Approval in EU.

I have only had phantom braking twice in 13K miles, but some seem to get it more.

I thought this too, but others swear they have been all switched off? I am positive our late 2021 M3 LR (MIC) has radar and uses it as in 3500 miles we also have had zero PB issues too. Any document evidence to prove this? So i assume our 2022 Model Y LR (MIC) will also have radar fitted too?

 

Thanks all for your information. It sounds like I wouldn't have a problem with the TACC switching off as long as I am not using autosteer. This would be fine for me, I think. I do sometimes use autosteer in the Kona but don't feel there much of a benefit since it needs steering input to keep it working. I can take it or leave it TBH.
Reference question 5., I hear that most drivers have no problem with glancing across/down to check the speed but equally I hear that a small minority have an issue with it. Just in case I am in the small minority (especially having become accustomed to the HUD in the Kona), the option of a retro-fit HUD would be a comfort.

 

3. The phantom braking issue has received quite some fixes on FSD beta, and many beta drivers are confirming that they are seeing far fewer braking problems. Currently, the autopilot and FSD are on separate stack (software versions). Later this year, both of these branches would get merged and EAP would become a subset of FSD. It is indeed possible to predict the false positives and take immediate corrective action (to accelerate) without allowing drastic slow-downs.

4. Regen on Tesla is based on 3 settings that must be set when the car is stopped. It can, however, vary automatically depending on the weather and road slips (known as snow mode). The car is quite efficient and one hardly has to worry about the setting (Most prefer Hold).

5. Almost no one uses a separated hud with Tesla. The dash in fact can provide several key information in one screen that there is very limited need to use the touch screen. Bulk of the time the driver would be pressing the drive stalk once (Tacc), right thumb scroll up/down (to change cruise speed).

 

Regarding 4.

I believe regen is one setting only (effectively one pedal driving) on Model 3 since some stage in 2020, when the lower option was removed.

 

Hi, OP back again. I have just come back from a test drive (Tesla Southampton). Unfortunately (fortunately?) they only had a Model 3 Performance available. I could see myself getting into serious trouble with this machine! Anyway, all went well with the TACC and a little bit of autosteer during the test. Looking sideways for the speed would get some getting used to after my Kona HUD but I'm sure it could be done.
One further question for the cognoscenti. Just like the EV6 I test drove, this particular M3 gave a side-camera view on the screen when the turn indicator was used. Is this a high-end feature or does the Standard RWD car have this? It's a great feature and good to have, but not quite as intuitive to use (looking down/left when indicating to overtake) as the EV6.
Overall very impressed with my test drive. I was interested in the road noise which I would put somewhere between the Kona (worst) and EV6/ID.3 (best) but would expect to do somewhat better on the 18" M3 wheels. The wheel/tyre combination on the Performance would give me serious stress anywhere near a kerb of any description!

 

The side camera when indicating comes standard on all versions of the Model 3. However, I find it pretty useless in it's current position as your hand is blocking the view. Furthermore, a lot of people (myself included) have found that you can't actually see anything at night, especially when raining as the indicator light sits on top of the camera and causes too much glare.

As for the road noise, I've never driven the Performance version of the car so I can't comment. I have the LR with 18 inch wheels and I find it a bit loud, but it's tolerable. Overall it's a fantastic car and I would highly recommend it.

 

We have both a 2021 Kona and a Model 3 SR (no FSD). I'm happy with auto speed control in both cars though there are niggles: Kona controls are fiddly - easier to change +/- 5mph in the Tesla - and it speeds up when it loses sight of the car in front round a bend. Tesla sometimes hesitates but I've not had severe phantom braking.

The difference that makes me prefer the Tesla is in the steering (lane keeping). I have full confidence in it, and a strong pull will disengage it. The Kona is vague by comparison: a light force on the wheel makes it drift out of lane and there's no warning when it disengages.