Am I Crazy for Not Getting Auto-Pilot?

max amp · Sep 17, 2015

I looked on the Model S Order & Delivery spreadsheet and it seems like everyone (almost) is getting the Autopilot feature. I feel like I am going to enjoy driving the car so much that it is not something I need (although it can be added for an extra $500 at any time).

Am I the only one who thinks it is not 100% necessary? Or, is this a feature that differentiates the car and I am crazy not to order?

nishy1 · Sep 17, 2015

I got for the cruise control feature

Rockster · Sep 17, 2015

I thought I wouldn't use autopilot very much but on road trips the adaptive cruise control is fantastically useful. Plus, it makes stop-and-go highway traffic infinitely more bearable. I'm very glad I have it.

Xpress · Sep 17, 2015

RAW84 · Sep 17, 2015

TACC definitely differentiates the car.

perkiset · Sep 17, 2015

LOL No one has AutoPilot

<serious>I think that it will be one of the killer apps in the car. Even with the delays (which I knew about before purchasing) I went for it - and with a lease, so my 3 years is ticking. But I'm still optimistic and looking forward to the release.</serious>

P85DBeast · Sep 17, 2015

I have autopilot on my car just because (in better terms) I just wanted it.

jlucero · Sep 17, 2015

is TACC the only autopilot feature currently active?

Max* · Sep 17, 2015

jlucero said:
is TACC the only autopilot feature currently active?

No. You also get auto-highbeams

P85DBeast · Sep 17, 2015

jlucero said:
is TACC the only autopilot feature currently active?

blindspot if not already part of it but i think it is now a standard feature.

mikeash · Sep 17, 2015

Adaptive cruise control is well worth it. It makes driving in heavy traffic or among people with inconsistent speeds (i.e. about 99% of highway driving, at least for me) a million times nicer.

Lane keeping ought to be nice once it arrives too, but I'd get it for the adaptive cruise control alone.

On the other hand, a $500 penalty for changing your mind later isn't bad. When I ordered in December I had to decide then, the option to upgrade later wasn't available.

nishy1 · Sep 17, 2015

mikeash said:
Adaptive cruise control is well worth it. It makes driving in heavy traffic or among people with inconsistent speeds (i.e. about 99% of highway driving, at least for me) a million times nicer.

Lane keeping ought to be nice once it arrives too, but I'd get it for the adaptive cruise control alone.

On the other hand, a $500 penalty for changing your mind later isn't bad. When I ordered in December I had to decide then, the option to upgrade later wasn't available.

Unless you're leasing. As I am. In that case the tax break plus spreading it out over the lease and only paying 40% or so of the cost makes it a no brainer to get up front

S4WRXTTCS · Sep 17, 2015

Yeah, it's pretty much a requirement.

It's one of those things you think you might be able to go without before getting the car, but once you have it and the car you realize just how essential to the driving experience it is.

The Tesla MS is a road-trip car pure and simple. More than anything else that's what it does well. I never in a million years thought I'd put 7000 miles on it within the first three months.

It's completely shocking.

Kbra · Sep 17, 2015

Uh yeah. Adaptive cruise is a must have.

Andyw2100 · Sep 17, 2015

max amp said:
Or, is this a feature that differentiates the car and I am crazy not to order?

In a word, yes.

I think you would be crazy not to order Auto-Pilot.

In addition to what everyone else has said, there's also the resale value to consider. At some point, even if it is a long way down the road, you will be selling the car. It will be a lot harder to sell a car without Auto -Pilot.

Finally, for now the penalty to add it later is only $500. But what's to say Tesla won't change their policy on that?

Get Auto-Pilot now!

RDoc · Sep 17, 2015

TACC is really great! As others have said, in heavy stop and go traffic it's a complete game changer. I wouldn't be without it.

max amp · Sep 17, 2015

AAAARRRGGGHHH!!! OK, OK Fine I'll Do It!!! lol

I'm stretching as it is already but will see if I can add w/out penalty (peer pressure is a mutha)...

Thanks everybody!

Todd Burch · Sep 17, 2015

If you're unsure, just drive for awhile and see if you want it. All in all, $500 is a really good deal for adaptive cruise, auto highbeams, lane keeping, auto parking, etc.

So skipping it to save $500 on an expensive car seems crazy, yes--but on the bright side, if none of this interests you right now, just hold off. You can always add later.

rxlawdude · Sep 17, 2015

Todd Burch said:
All in all, $500 is a really good deal for adaptive cruise, auto highbeams, lane keeping, auto parking, etc.

Except it's $2500, not $500. It is $500 extra ($3000) if you don't purchase prior to delivery and decide to add it later.

Still, I agree with everyone else - it's well worth the cost and makes stop-and-go traffic much less stressful.

MikeS85D · Sep 17, 2015

I am instinctively skeptical of the self driving car stuff, so when I got the auto-pilot features I did it mainly for the TACC and self dimming high beams. I live on a windy road up in the hills that is very dark at night, so the self dimming high beams is actually a very nice feature for me.

Am I Crazy for Not Getting Auto-Pilot?

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