this post was submitted on 12 Mar 2024
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[–] Kyrgizion 121 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (7 children)

It's gotten to the point that whenever people see Teslas, they automatically start laughing.

Tesla also seems to have taken over the "douchebag driver" stereotype that used to be reserved for BMW's and Mercedeses.

[–] Orbituary 47 points 8 months ago (2 children)

If they weren't all so abysmally bad at handling their cars, maybe I'd have a different take. I swear that I get cut off, stuck behind, blocked by, or otherwise inconvenienced for dumb reasons by Teslas every time I drive.

It's like despite all the cameras, they have zero spatial awareness. Or it's a direct reflection of what's in their head.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I'm not disagreeing, but having driven a Tesla for a couple weeks-- it'll make a good driver look bad every time. Turning radius is surprisingly bad. Normal (through the window/mirror) visibility is bad. Handling is super weird and probably unlearnable in the default settings because the car seems to be constantly "correcting" your inputs even when not in autopilot. The default break style gives me motion sickness even when I'm the one driving. And the turn signals-- you just don't know how long they'll stay on, so I did start to feel reluctant to use them?

[–] Orbituary 2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

Interesting take. Thanks.

Do you think that embarrassment of the purchase, ignorance of what's good, or status prevent more buyers from talking about that? As a person who enjoys the act of driving (though not the experience of driving in this city), I should see if I can get behind the wheel of one and attempt to be objective.

Edit: relevant post. https://slrpnk.net/pictrs/image/ea297ad5-1e8f-45cd-abad-d2b50d53e2bf.webp

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I do encourage you to rent one. I like driving, too, and I just didn't think it was a good experience. But I didn't really fool around with the programs. It's interesting at least.

It's possible drivers who care have figured it out, but there is at least a very large learning curve.

[–] Orbituary 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I have a 73 Porsche 914, it's my second. I've had two 1970 Monte Carlos. Both vastly different vehicles, but both are extremely visceral cars. You're extremely connected to the road and the vehicle.

There seems to be an abstraction layer with Teslas.

Renting one is a great idea.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

Haha, you are orders of magnitude bigger driving enthusiast than myself! I'd be interested to know what you think of the Tesla.

[–] givesomefucks 14 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Eh...

I hate to do it, but in fairness the worst drivers are going to be the first to adapt self driving cars.

The issue is Tesla misrepresents how "self driving" their cars are.

So idiots who are bad drivers think the car is a good driver. Because they're comparing it to their own driving, and overestimate how good they are at it

[–] Orbituary 7 points 8 months ago

It's not just to my own driving. It's compared to other cars around them and to other cars around me. I just as often see Tesla drivers do stupid things unrelated to me.

I was at the mountain snowboarding this weekend. Two Teslas attempted to drive up the road to park. Both got stuck in the same place, one after the other. Then, instead of backing up or getting out of the way, they just got out and walked to the resort lodge.

This is just idiotic behavior and I see it time and time again. Seattle, where I live, has one of the highest Tesla ownership percentages in the country.

I'm all for electric cars. I am trying to understand why Tesla drivers have so many morons behind the wheel.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 8 months ago (5 children)

There are a lot of roundabouts where i live and when i see a tesla, he's either not using his turn signal or is on the phone or somehow very often both. Tesla people seem to be on their phone more often than other people in the road. Which is even weirder, because they all have that elaborate electronics on board, no?

[–] 800XL 11 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Who can bothered with silly driving when there are calls to make? They only bought a Tesla to have an electronic chauffeur. Even though it's not supposed to be used for that.

[–] Kyrgizion 9 points 8 months ago

Only a few people at my workplace drive Teslas and let's just say they have... specific types of personalities to them.

[–] ChickenLadyLovesLife 3 points 8 months ago

Tesla people seem to be on their phone more often than other people in the road.

I don't know, I see people in all different makes of cars talking on their phones while driving - usually that weird shit where they're holding it flat in front of their face and yelling into the mic. I'm a school bus driver and whenever somebody blows past my flashing lights (which happens a lot), 99% of the time they're on their phone and not paying attention. One time I even had a cop do this.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Honestly, I was taught that you should not use a signal in a roundabout, especially when the exits are so tight it's easy to get confused if someone turns it on too early. I see now though that it's the law in my area when exiting and I'll start using it. I'll be in the minority here.

I'm still not going to enter a roundabout just because I see someone's turn signal on. I never trust them when I'm the one merging into a lane.

[–] droans 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

HamCo?

I see them all the time near 37. You always gotta be careful around them.

It seems like the Mustang EV is selling better nowadays at least. I see just about as many of them on the road compared to Teslas. They at least seem to be pretty good drivers.

[–] Witchfire 0 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

I live in the city and only really ever see them parked over the curb or in the sidewalk in front of a No Parking sign. At this point I'm honestly not even sure they're capable of parallel parking.

I die inside whenever I call an Uber and a Tesla pulls up.

[–] ChickenLadyLovesLife 7 points 8 months ago (1 children)

whenever people see Teslas, they automatically start laughing

I dunno, I'm a school bus driver and little boys (like, grades 1-8) always go apeshit when they see a Tesla (or a Ferrari or Lamborghini as well). And a lot of adults still seem to be buying them.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

So, children and adults that never mentally matured past 8th grade still think they're cool. Can't argue with that.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago

I'm relieved this is universal. I thought I was going crazy. I've actually begun to give them a ton of space on the road now. I'll purposefully take a different road, or on the freeway, get over to right lane and slow down to get the fuck away from them. It seems like they are making a point to drive as terribly as possible. It's fucking crazy.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

its always been lexis for my area.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Pickups with Michigan plates here in Ohio.

[–] dezmd 1 points 8 months ago

Everyone from Ohio anywhere else. ;)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

Agreed on the driver stereotype. Here in the SF Bay Area Teslas are abundant on the roads and a good 60-70% of their drivers are absolute shit.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

I hate the company, but where I live the drivers are definitely undeserving of general condemnation. Altimas, on the other hand…