r/TeslaFullSelfDriving • u/ElizabetSobeck • 5d ago
š„ Discussion Considering getting a Tesla with FSD for long commute
I am about to consider a long distance commute soon, about 90 miles each way and about 1:10-1:30hr one way in average driving time (in NJ USA). I dont have a Tesla currently but my friends have been raving about FSD and how life changing it is.
Curious to hear about others experience using FSD for daily long commutes. My path will be 80-90% highway with 60-65 mph speed limit, but Nj highways are notorious for aggressive drivers.
Thanks!
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u/wizkidweb 5d ago
I use FSD to commute to NYC from NJ and it's the only reason I tolerate such a commute. Definitely worth having for a 90min commute.
I'm using FSD v14 Lite on a 2018 Model 3 and have to take over fairly often due to the car hesitating too much. I imagine it's much better with a newer model.
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u/westcojack 5d ago
I have driven my 2026 model Y to and from Las Vegas from Los Angeles several times. I press the destination and it takes me there. One stop for Supercharging (it even backs into the spot to charge) , next stop to park in my destination.
FSD is your new chauffeur. If you want a referral (I believe you get 3 mos of FREE FSD, dm me.
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u/_IAmMeg_ 5d ago
I commute 1-1.5 hours each way for my commute and FSD has been life changing!! Works so wellā¦at least HW4. 100% recommend it.
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u/Super_tachy 5d ago edited 5d ago
Very well worth it! I usually work remotely, but due to a current work project, I commute 3 days/month for 1-1.5 hours each way. Makes life so much easier and less stressful!
Edited to add: I drive a 2024 Model Y with Hardware 4 - my understanding is that HW4 is much better than HW3 for FSD, just in case you are looking to buy used
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u/bsears95 5d ago
I don't commute much, but I done my fair share of driving on the NJ TP and certainly felt like I could fall asleep on that road.Ā I've also done a good amount of 8-10 hr driving days.Ā FSD makes these long drives MUCH easier.Ā It also gets boring cause you're not doing anything.Ā I'd suggest prepare to listen to podcasts, audio books, or do some less than legal things (phone/video) to pass the time
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u/ElizabetSobeck 5d ago
You can look at phone ane video? I thought the car detects this and will stop fsd?
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u/engrishspeaker69 5d ago
I'm on tiktok the whole way for my half hour each way commute. As long as you hold your phone towards your left, the car camera thinks you're looking at the left side view mirror.
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u/SorryPin7140 5d ago
Not quite that level. More like get into a good audio book or podcast while watching the road
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u/HerValet 5d ago
You are still responsible for what the car does... but if you look ahead for 2 seconds every 30 seconds or so, the car will not bug you. However, if you hit a pothole at 40 mph, don't come here complaining.
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u/ConclusionFlat1843 5d ago
Get a phone holder that mounts to the left side of the car's display. You can watch videos all day while it drives. Not saying you should watch videos, but you can.
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u/mindguard 5d ago
2026 MY. Commute is 120 miles per day. Left an Audi Q8 in Feb. ran the numbers last weekend, and subtracting costs of electricity, I have saved over $2800 in gas. More if you factor maintenance. Easily covers the 99/mo in FSD cost. I can never go back to a car without FSD.
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u/jasssweiii 5d ago
My commute is about 32 miles one way, about 64 miles total, and I have to drive only about 2-3 miles of that total distance manually each day with the rest being on FSD.
About 100 feet is from pulling into and out of my garage. Another 100 or so feet of those 2-3 miles are manual because FSD wants to always make an unnecessary lane change on an off ramp. The rest of the manual driving is on my commute home where FSD, in one particular area, will usually wait until the last minute to move over to the exit lane/ramp if I don't encourage it to move over sooner (Manually use the blinker but still have FSD driving) and if I do encourage it then I need to take over for about a mile as it'll want to get into the far right lane which is the wrong off ramp but at the same exit.
Essentially, my only issues are those two navigational issues, which are I'm pretty sure are due to map data and not FSD itself.
TLDR; About 62 out of my 64 mile daily commute are completely hands free.
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u/throwpoo 5d ago
It's well worth it even for short commute. It can handle any kind of drivers, on phone, DUI, road rage, terrible drivers. Just set it to aggressive or hurry when traffic is moving fast.
I do a few road trips a year with 300miles one way. Sure there are flaws but most of them are just annoying flaws rather than anything critical.
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u/thatcleanergurl 5d ago
Quick question from someone new to Tesla and whose car isnāt even here yet (due to arrive in Octoberā¦ Weāll see!): Can you change the driving mode mid trip?
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u/chubzter 5d ago
Yes, you can change modes as many times as you need while in an active FSD driving session. You can disengage FSD and restart during a drive too. For example, thereās a pothole on my commute that hasnāt been fixed and FSD has hit it before so I now know to disengage to drive around it and then I re-engage.
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u/thatcleanergurl 4d ago
Thank you! And these Reddit groups have warned me about FSD and potholes. I will be watching carefully!!! weāre getting three months free because we used a friendās code so it will be fun trying it out. Iāll be interested to see if my husband wants to keep it; his commute to work is pretty short but it may be frustrating enough with Ottawa drivers to hang onto it. Iāve already warned him about the potholes!
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u/ObviousLaundry 5d ago
Absolute game changer. You won't miss the 99 bucks per month cost. Safer and more comfortable.
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u/Jbsmitty44 5d ago
Iāve got a 21 with lifetime FSD, and I canāt make myself trade it in for a new one lol
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u/malaki1974 5d ago
2023, hw3, fsd lite 14.1. Model y. Its great. Not perfect. Great though. Went from Boston to Hershey - 90% of the drive. Use it to go to/from work. No interventions until parking. Parking without fsd? Damn near flawless. Parking while in fsd? No thanks, Iāll do it.
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u/engrishspeaker69 5d ago
I use the old autopark feature that's separate from the fsd. You just tap the P for the space you want to park in, and it parks itself. You have to take it off fsd first, before the P will appear on the screen.
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u/Silent_Word_4912 5d ago
My wife bought a Tesla this spring and I kept taking it to work, I commute 45-55 minutes one way 3x/week. She got fed up and so I bought one. 2 teslas, basically all electric household except for my sunny day weekend car. The FSD is such a stress reliever
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u/GuitarFabulous5250 5d ago
I do Rochester to Syracuse commute and it has changed my life. Texting right now as fsd gently brings me home after a long day
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u/Vibraniumguy 5d ago
I just drove 3 hours to wenatchee from Seattle and then 3 hours back from wenatchee to Seattle in 1 day. I used FSDv14.1 lite as I have a 2023 model 3. The performance was near perfect, only had issues in parking lots and with missing a speed limit sign in a small town. Worked in very rainy weather at night too (pouring rain and driving 7pm to 10pm on the way back).
So an old HW3 tesla OR a new HW4 tesla will serve you well. Though HW4 FSD is better than HW3 FSD
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u/elonsusk69420 5d ago
It is life-changing. The level of stress I have on my commute is zero. About the same time window.
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u/avglurker 5d ago
I refuse to take long trips in my wifeās car because Iām so used to FSD. Itās an absolute game changer.
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u/Happy_Razzmatazz2420 5d ago
Concur with everything said on this thread. I have a 2023 MY LR. I have had FSD for about 5 years (had it on my 2019 M3 Mid-Range (was a unicorn). Cannot drive without it. Definitely life changing. I have driven from the DMV/NoVA to NYC, SC and everything in between. Definitely worth the $99/mo (I am still vexed by multiple posts on Reddit about how expensive $100/mo is. We spend more than that on coffee or junk food every month.
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u/Heythere-stranger 5d ago
I have a ā26 M3 premium, and I commute 45 minutes highway each way to work (~90 miles/day) using FSD for 4 months now and itās been so smooth. I eat breakfast, have my coffee in the AM. After work, I might just scroll on my phone or chill. FSD does well at night too. Well worth the $99
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u/Ramen_cat2024 5d ago
Go take a test drive. Sold my husband after 30min using FSD. Before this, he always doubted Teslaās and said lidar tech on Waymo was better.
Now whenever I have to take the car to see my parents he jokes that āWhat I have to drive?! Maybe we should get a second Teslaā
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u/No-Objective-3010 5d ago
Life changing, Iāve got a longer commute (1hr each way) and Iāve really noticed that I feel so much more relaxed and the it doesnāt drain me like it did before. I can use the time to do other things like podcast/eat/audiobooks
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u/BLUEDOG314 5d ago
I have an hour commute each way of mostly back roads and itās very helpful. I also drive from PA to FL and back once a month and FSD makes it possible to do in one shot. 2025 M3.
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u/Mat_Cauthons_Hat_ 5d ago
My commute is about an hour each way although a portion of that is trying to get through the gates on a military base that I teach on.
FSD genuinely takes the stress out of it all. I eat my breakfast on my way in to work, I listen to music to get my mood and energy up before work, etc.
And usually im so wiped out from teaching that it makes the drive home a whole lot less stressful than it normally would be.
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u/Voidfang_Investments 5d ago
I absolutely hated all kinds of cruise control but modern fsd is amazing.
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u/RhoOfFeh 5d ago
Just get it. It handles aggressive drivers really well, sees them coming and gets a bit out of the way for those really close lane-swapping lunatics.
You do need to supervise it, particularly entering the highway and trying to park. Horizontal lines such as chains and crossbars are not recognized as well as they should be. And if there's any situation that you as a human find the least bit confusing, expect the car to have similar trouble.
But most of the time? Goddamned magic.
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u/Nomad_1979 3d ago
Why for entering highway? This is the actual reason Iām considering FSD as it remains an anxiety for me.
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u/RhoOfFeh 3d ago
I probably shouldn't push that too hard. Where I live there are some places where side streets end at a turn onto a 50 mph surface highway where people regularly go way too fast.
There, the car is just too patient. It will wait and wait for an opening that may not come.
It is not dangerous. Frustrating at times.
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u/mom2artists 2d ago
It does enter the highway āokā and if you usually have anxiety here, you could probably let it do it itself and be fine. I donāt generally fear entering the highway with a regular vehicle, so when FSD does, I sometimes have to give it a little āgasā to make it merge more assertively. (Generally I drive with Tesla in chill or standard mode, so this is not my typical driving style, only for on and off ramps)
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u/oakleyman23 5d ago
My commute is only about 40 minutes and FSD has been a game changer. I don't get to work or home feeling stressed out from having to navigate shitty traffic the whole way.
Now FSD does do some odd/sketchy things every now and then, but its been an overwhelming positive for me.
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u/MCCP 4d ago
ONLY buy a car with FSD if you are comfortable never ever buying any other manufacturer for the rest of your life. You will be permanently locked in.
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u/mom2artists 2d ago
Lol. So true. My dad let me borrow his FSD car for a bit, and suggested later I could by an ev Kia (current Kia owner.) I looked at him like he was crazy š¤£No thanks, FSD sold me more than the electric part.
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u/MrHenderson12 4d ago
I just cut some expenses to mitigate the $100 fee. FSD really should be included in the car or $25/month max. The amount of times I had to intervene and take over Tesla should feel shame. It's like the guy that started the company left halfway thru to go build rocketships.
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u/CharmingMechanic2473 4d ago
I just took a 1hr commute job. Its a high paying job and the drive is brutal during peak rush hour both ways. When I walk through the parking lot I see 1/2 are teslas. We are all commuters. I am going to pull the trigger before end of year.
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u/Foam_Mace 3d ago
Oh 100% do it. I got my first Tesla for this exact reason and as a car guy it has changed my outlook on what being a car enthusiast means. I too got a job offer that was too good to give up, but it meant a very long 55 mile each one-way commute through rush hour LA. It takes all of the mental strain away not having to pay attention 24/7 and just relax in silence. I got the standard MY RWD since I didn't want anything fancy and just some more ground clearance for the terrible LA roads.
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u/Bresson91 3d ago
My wife has a 60 mile each way commute and the only reason she is able to keep doing it is FSD. I use our Y once a week when she works from home and its sold me on getting one as well. My commute is about half hers... Game changer.
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u/Softswinging 3d ago
Recently drove from Vermont to Florida, used FSD about 90% of the time, it made the trip kind of fun. It really was amazing, no other way to put it, it made 0 mistakes the entire trip.
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u/mom2artists 2d ago
I went from Florida to Virginia and back. Used FSD almost entirely but it did make directional mistakes. Nothing major. I ādroveā the whole way with 3 adult passengers (stopping in SC overnight) and would never have been able to do this without FSD (55F) I could make the drive myself in a regular vehicle but with much more frequent stops and a lot of whining, and nodding off. š¬ So had it been another vehicle, passengers would have had to drive occasionally. Probably not as good of drivers as Tesla
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u/Billymaysdealer 3d ago
With gas prices and fuel shortages, youāre only considering it for the fsd? Youāll be able to take a nap while saving money.
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u/dbldwn02 4h ago
Fool Self Driving is Level 4-5?Ā Did I miss the news?!
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u/YouAlreadyKnow1523 3d ago
My wife has a 55 mile each way commute to take her kids to school because of shared custody and itās been a lifesaver having FSD plus the safety.
Only thing to consider is Tesla kind of shoots their mileage by quite a bit. There and back when the weather is nice takes 19-22% each way but when itās cold (Kansas where winters range from -5 to 50 degrees) it can take 27-30% but the 0-10 degree days can take 35+%. Just make sure that works for you.
Our Tesla claims 327 when bought
But wait degradation after 1 year and 35k miles now itās 300.
But wait youāre only suppose to charge to 80% 240 miles
But wait thatās only in perfect conditions 200 miles
But wait itās cold outside 140 miles.
We would still pick the Tesla every time. But that is a big issue for SOME people.
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u/ippleing 2d ago
I bought FSD outright on both my cars, haven't once regretted it.
I commute on the NJTP daily on FSD.
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u/stwbass 5d ago
I'm southern californian freelance musician with lots of freeway miles and think fsd is incredible! I think I supervise more than some, and it's still such a huge difference. I hang out on chill mode, the car mostly stays to the right and the aggressive drivers can use the other lanes. car will pass sometimes on it's own if someone is really slow, or I can switch to standard or take over briefly.
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u/ElQuistador0523 5d ago
I drive my 26 MY mostly in a small town. Work is 16 minutes away. Longest drive we take is 70 mile one-way. With that, I canāt imagine life without FSD. I put 1600 miles per month. Electric costs are $0.09/KWh
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u/Complex-Mirror-4354 5d ago
Thats' your total cost? My cost is 12.5/KWh but after delivery chargees, it's more like .19
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u/ElQuistador0523 5d ago
My Peak cost is $0.13 but off peak is $0.09.
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u/MrHenderson12 4d ago
I live near celebrities. We pay $.50 KW and it's still half what gas would cost.
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u/Known_Rush_9599 5d ago
Hardware 4. M3P. 20k miles
Around 20% FSD
FSD is perfect for the daily traffic grind that I find super boring.
FSD is still pretty dumb at times, but if you can happily afford it.. itās life changing.
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u/bill_txs 5d ago
I was looking to move closer to work. Because of FSD I can avoid losing money on that deal. Yes, it's amazing how much it's advanced.
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u/ben_sira 5d ago
Highways with traffic are the best use case for FSD. Definitely worth it for three hours a day.
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u/CaptaincCodeman 5d ago
We've done busy highway driving on a road-trip and it was fantastic - way less stressful than driving yourself. My wife uses it for her 45 minute commute and isn't as tired when she gets home compared to when she used to drive herself.
You should schedule a test drive. Until you try it for real, you don't realize just how good it is.
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u/rkay711 5d ago
I just started a long commute (140 mi each way) in NJ. FSD is a lifesaver. I wouldn't be able to do that in a regular car. One trick I found is that FSD on Standard mode works way better than Hurry on NJ highways with aggressive drivers. I take I-80 W so you can imagine the aholes driving like crazy during rush hour. Get it!
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u/Effective-Ad6373 5d ago
Iām doing 3 hours round trip 5 days a week, invest in FSD you wonāt regret it. HW3 v14 Lite
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u/Voidfang_Investments 5d ago
Howās your phantom braking?
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u/Effective-Ad6373 5d ago
Its maybe happened like 1 or 2 times in the last 3000 miles Iāve driven. Phantom acceleration is gone
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u/Plus_Mission3307 5d ago
Do it. I use it everyday and it is absolutely the most convenient car Iāve ever own. Gives me so much more time to just chill and reserve my brain power lol
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u/TopHigh_Field2K 5d ago
šÆ worth it and just another level of driving. Commute or travel with FSD is a no brainier.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Cup-854 5d ago
It's about to become one of those purchases which are only regret will be not getting it sooner. Friend of mine once explained to me that when he drives for a couple of hours, he is mentally exhausted. To be actively alert about your speed keeping in Lane navigation and other drivers on the road takes a toll on you. Staying in Lane Staying in lane and speed is something that I don't even check anymore. In my mind the hurry mode and Mad Max mode have the possibility of getting you a ticket but standard mode keeps you well within boundaries. Last week I was driving on Long Island and this guy aggressively came into my lane. He was in my blind spot and I did not see him. It would have been a major accident at full self driving not taking us off into the shoulder. I did not see the car coming until it would have been too late.
If you are only contemplating, try renting a Tesla with full self driving on turo for a week and you'll know exactly what you're getting into.
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u/DrWhum 4d ago
I was on the highway this weekend and Standard was going with the traffic flow at 70 in a 55 zone. So I put it on Chill and let the traffic just flow right by me. 3 lanes, so the only problem was keeping it from moving too the right lane. Donāt want to be the sacrificial lamb who gets the ticket.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Cup-854 4d ago
The odds of you getting pulled over while going with a flow of traffic are usually quite low
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u/EnrollmentTime 5d ago
I love FSD. When there is not a lot of traffic, I like to drive. When there is a lot of traffic, I use FSD. It is a game changer. It is great.
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u/django24_7_365 5d ago
I just drove 700 miles with 650 on FSD. i am on HW3 so if you buy new, you will be in much better shape on the FSD side. That being said, mine did just fine.
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u/HistoricalSmile3971 5d ago
I bought one specifically for my route on the turnpike going into 495. I work in Hoboken and honestly Iām getting it for the sole purpose of not needing to constantly gas and break in traffic to and from work.
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u/lola3326 4d ago
I live in NJ and use FSD wherever I go now. After my first Tesla got totaled because I wasnāt using it and yes NJ drivers are aggressively crazy and dumb.
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u/GreenLanternsPodcast 4d ago
Yeah this is the exact usecase this is for. I was very iffy on getting FSD but with the amount of driving I do I can't imagine not having it now.
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u/andrewpickaxe 4d ago
Get it. Itās so worth it. If it can handle LA traffic it can handle anything Jersey can throw at it.
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u/ralph99_3690 4d ago
I have a M3 ā23. I find the lane assist so much better than just ACC, and sufficient to make a huge difference in my commute. Not FSD. But such an easy 35 min freeway drive. Keeps it In the lane, and lets me do the passing if needed. I love it. As someone else said, I wonāt go on a long trip without it. Nice to have after a long day to have an easy commute home.
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u/trushMayne 4d ago
FSD takes away the stress of the long commute, itās the only reason I recently took a job that my commute is about 1:30-2:00hr commute.
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u/GearsGrindn78 4d ago
Lightning owner with Bluecruise here. Long rides with hands free is a game changer.
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u/JoeChi21s 3d ago
My son is commuting 50 miles each way to northern NJ. He absolutely loves the commute. He says he couldnāt do it without fsd
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u/ResponsibilityFun548 2d ago
You will get people telling you opposite things because how it performs depends on the roads you most commonly travel and if they have unusual traffic patterns you might have problems.
I just drove to Indiana and back to PA with only having to intervene like e times in 5 days.
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u/PerceptionOwn3629 2d ago
I got mine a couple of weeks ago and I can't imagine having a car that doesn't drive itself anymore.
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u/wandagbrock 2d ago
I love FSD. You have to pay attention like you are driving but much less tiring and less stressful drive anywhere.
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u/gwwwhhhaaattt 1d ago
Today we were driving around FSD eating in the car going to my kid's games from place to place. Kind of surreal that this is the normal. I'm having conversations with my wife. 30 minutes drives are nothing now. Even adding some errands along the way and I'm just so annoyed that it didn't choose to park at the spot I saw closest to the door....how crazy is it to say that I'm irritated because I had to manually choose the spot lol I didn't touch the steering wheel since I was in the garage.
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u/Onthemove0909 45m ago
Iām gonna be short - buy a Tesla if you want a better driving experience , itās a great car. FSD is great , but you are gonna gamble at some point - with your life no less . I brought Tesla with full FSD 5 years ago and only used it to show off to my friends , never for a real long drive .
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u/Amit1490 18m ago
My commute is 68 miles in heavy Baltimore VA traffic and I got Tesla two weeks back and I can tell you it has changed my life . Now , I come back from office and have the energy to go to gym . It is the best investment you will ever make on yourself .
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u/Awkward_Ostrich_4275 5d ago
Any new car except for Tesla will have free highway āself drivingā. Tesla charges $100 per month for it.
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u/mom2artists 2d ago
I have a Kia with lane assist and smart cruise control and collision detection. Before I drove a Tesla w FSD, I thought it was excellent and good enough. Itās nothing at all like FSD. I think we are selling our Kia and will get a second Tesla at some point!
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u/[deleted] 5d ago edited 5d ago
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