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2021 Tesla Model Y review: Nearly great, critically flawed

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Re: 2021 Tesla Model Y review: Nearly great, critically flawed

#111

Post by kevin_thibedeau »

adam_arthur wrote: post #7
tpmx wrote: post #3

Tl;dr: The critical flaw is random braking in the mandatory crash avoidance system because they replaced radar with cameras + computer vision which has a lot of false positives in their current production software release. I'm curious: Is the reason cost, availability or ideology?

I would guess a bit of both. In theory cameras should work fine, given that humans are pretty good at driving by just using our eyes. Of course vision will never be theoretically better than radar/laser. But should be good enough in the long run, and cheaper/more flexible. My question is, what level of resolution and processing power is necessary to interpret inputs accurately though? Just anecdotally, seems like aut…

A camera will never match radar range finding in adverse conditions. Those times where you'd like the safety features you're paying a premium for to actually work.

Re: 2021 Tesla Model Y review: Nearly great, critically flawed

#112

Post by mkeespiet »

BluSyn wrote: post #69

I have an early build 2018 Model 3 Performance. I have experienced almost zero quality issues. I use Autopilot frequently and have experienced phantom braking maybe 5 times ever in 3+ years, and certainly isn't a deal-breaker. In fact it's improved dramatically since I first got the car. I feel like all I ever hear from outside the Tesla owner bubble is quality issues, complaints, weird problems I've never experience…

This could have been my words! Tesla Model 3 owner here from the Netherlands

Re: 2021 Tesla Model Y review: Nearly great, critically flawed

#113

Post by downut »

Amezarak wrote: post #82
martythemaniak wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've had a Model3 for three and a half years now (very early VIN). It's been our primary and for much of the time, only car. It's been fantastic, and I've recommended it to everyone, and three people I know have purchased 3s/Ys as well and have also been super satisfied. Is it flawless? No - upon delivery the read badge was missing and the glove box had a gap. Went to get it fixed. Year after that the front arms need…

Can you elaborate on what makes ICE vehicles "irredeemably terrible"? I can never understand what I'm missing. I have two: One is the cheapest car made by a major manufacturer, and the cheapest trim model. I have no complaints about how it drives, I actually enjoy it. But on very hot days, the AC has trouble keeping up, and an electronic display has been only intermittently functional for some time. Naturally, being…

Also, for example a Prius has an solid 450 mile range, takes less than 10 min to refuel to max range, which generally coincides with the passengers need to refuel and/or pit stop. Someone told me that a Prius can drive all day at 85-95 mph, 40+ mpg. A multi-state trip across the US West sounds ghastly in a Tesla, logistically speaking. My Tundra has many times been days out in the bush w/o a gas station, because I carry cans.

I look at a Tesla as a lower functioning, and obvs from all the comments, much less reliable machine. People love them! Guffaws.

(I have nothing against EVs as a technology: when I can buy a 450 mile range, 10 minute refuel, as reliable as my Prioids and Tundra EV, for a similar price, I will.)

Re: 2021 Tesla Model Y review: Nearly great, critically flawed

#114

Post by zzleeper »

blamazon wrote: post #74
LeoPanthera wrote: post #4

I've owned a Model X for a year. It dates from before they removed radar, so autopilot still works very well. The rest of the car, however, does not. It is the least reliable car I have ever known. I am currently tracking ten faults, and waiting for my fifth service, which could only be booked with nearly a month to wait. The most serious faults involve the car sometimes failing to start without a hard reboot first (…

Model X ownership is a breeze far from the Bay Area. My mom’s model X has gone in at least a dozen times and there’s never a wait for an appointment. The local service center is excellent.

> A dozen times

That's what's so weird to me. I own an old 2012 Hyundai Accent, bought used at ~12k, and over the last five years I've only taken it for:

- Checkup and oil change - Wheel change - Battery change

But then I see all these examples of Tesla owners having to fix issue after issue after issue and saying "it's not so bad I just lost an afternoon each time going for an apt"

Re: 2021 Tesla Model Y review: Nearly great, critically flawed

#115

Post by dntrkv »

rock_hard wrote: post #99
LeoPanthera wrote: post #4

I've owned a Model X for a year. It dates from before they removed radar, so autopilot still works very well. The rest of the car, however, does not. It is the least reliable car I have ever known. I am currently tracking ten faults, and waiting for my fifth service, which could only be booked with nearly a month to wait. The most serious faults involve the car sometimes failing to start without a hard reboot first (…

Had a Model Y for a year now Hands down the best car I have ever had and I have owned Audis, BMWs and other high end cars. Whenever I have to drive a non Tesla me and my wife just can’t stop laughing at how ridiculous they are…it’s like operating steam engines Sucks that others had problems with it but everyone I know including ourselves couldn’t be more happy with their Tesla

> Sucks that others had problems with it but everyone I know including ourselves couldn’t be more happy with their Tesla

This is my experience talking to everyone I know with a Tesla. Not saying the complaints aren't real, but the internet really does bring out the selection bias when it comes to people having issues with their purchase. If you look at Consumer Reports for most satisfied car purchases, all of the Teslas make the top 10.

Re: 2021 Tesla Model Y review: Nearly great, critically flawed

#117

Post by georgewfraser »

muglug wrote: post #67
georgewfraser wrote: post #65

I don’t know how to square this review with my own experience of owning a Y for a year. The autopilot is nearly perfect, noticeably better than a human driver in stop and go traffic on the highway. Given the history of downright dishonest reviews by old school car people with an irrational hatred of Tesla, this review really should have been accompanied by video evidence of phantom braking.

> this review really should have been accompanied by video evidence of phantom braking There's a video review in the article which includes many examples of phantom breaking.

Doh, how did I miss that? Now I understand: the phantom breaking is all on non-highways. I only use autopilot on highways and highway-like roads.

Re: 2021 Tesla Model Y review: Nearly great, critically flawed

#119

Post by throwaway81523 »

dylan604 wrote: post #108
throwaway81523 wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't understand the deal with the electric F150 or almost any other modern pickup. They all have full sized 4 door interiors now, so as the truck has gotten bigger, the truck bed (the actually useful part that distinguishes a truck from a car) has gotten smaller. They are usually under 5.5 feet now, so there's many types of furniture you can't really move in them, which you could move in older, smaller pickups. An…

That's why you're seeing things like the extended bed options of the new tailgate designs. Also, most people don't need to carry 6'+ items. They do need to take the ankle biters along and maybe haul some stuff in the back. The trade off seems to be accepted going by number of units sold. If you keep the 6' bed plus the comfy backseats as you've mentioned, it no longer fits in standard garages.

> hey do need to take the ankle biters along and maybe haul some stuff in the back.

But, that is why they have SUV's and minivans I thought. It is only now sort of sinking in that pickups are no longer used much as work vehicles. Yes I agree about the excessive length keeping the crew cab and long bed. In fact I think the current F150 is already too big. So that's why I miss the old 2-door style with the long bed. I mean what is next, a Miata-like sportster with 3 rows of bench seats?

Re: 2021 Tesla Model Y review: Nearly great, critically flawed

#120

Post by smnscu »

tdhz77 wrote: post #101
shituonui wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

PHEVs make more sense to me anyway. For the majority of trips they run off the battery which makes them just as good as a BEV, but they have no problems with range and they are a whole lot cheaper.

Range isn’t an issue for anybody who has owned an EV. Your behavior changed when you got an iPhone and you moved on with your life. Same thing here.

I live in the UK and recently went EV-only (miss our Q7, perfect family car, etc). It's not the range I'm worried about, but the infinite flakiness of the various chargers I tried -- I'm not exaggerating when I say that about 50% of the time I fail to get the damn car to charge due to either the charger being offline or random glitches (could also be due to my fairly new Q4 e-tron). I am considering a Manchester-Isle of Skye road trip, and I'm not yet sure we'll actually go through with it.

TL;DR less range anxiety, more "getting stranded because of unreliable chargers" anxiety

PS: I should add, having 3 small-ish children is definitely the major factor here, were I alone I couldn't care less that I had to wait a few hours for trickle charging, might as well get some work done

PPS: speaking of glitches, the Q4 e-tron lane keep assist is incredibly panicky and has constant mini freakouts whenever something strange happens to the road (e.g. lanes splitting on the motorway, passing parked cars on narrow roads, etc.) -- thankfully it's just annoying (slight jerk and vibration of the steering wheel) and not actually dangerous

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