My Beloved Tesla Model 3 is Gone, the Good Part: A New Model Y with HW4 & FSD V14

Arthur Frederick Hasler, a long-time Tesla owner and Full Self-Driving (FSD) user, recently replaced his 2019 Model 3 with a new 2026 Tesla Model Y following an intersection accident. Despite using FSD V12 on his Model 3, Hasler took manual control at a stop sign and was struck by another driver, resulting in his car being declared a total loss. Opting for a more affordable option, he chose a rear-wheel-drive Model Y in dark grey, priced around £33,000 with zero per cent financing over six years. Due to Tesla’s delivery restrictions in Wisconsin, he collected the vehicle from a dealer in Lake Elmo, Minnesota, planning to add a tow hitch later to accommodate his mountain e-bikes. The Model Y introduces several changes from Hasler’s previous Tesla experience, including a redesigned steering column with only one stalk dedicated to indicators and new controls via thumb wheels, buttons, and the central touchscreen. He found the gear selection system—controlled by sliding a car icon on the display—frustrating, as it often failed to shift into forward or reverse automatically as intended. The new car also features Tesla’s AI assistant Grok, accessed through the steering wheel microphone button. While Grok offers conversational navigation commands, it still lacks full waypoint recognition and limits free usage to around five commands daily before requiring payment. Hasler praised the upgraded FSD V14 system for its smooth lane-centering, precise cornering, and accurate intersection handling. The software provides multiple driving modes ranging from cautious “Sloth” to aggressive “Mad Max,” which can exceed speed limits by 30 mph. This flexibility means Hasler no longer needs to constantly adjust speed manually, a significant improvement over his previous experience. A notable enhancement with V14 is the car’s ability to autonomously manage the start and end of journeys, demonstrated when the Model Y parked itself at a restaurant without driver input. Looking ahead, Hasler plans to share further insights on how the Model Y’s FSD capabilities eased a 154-mile trip to Bayfield, Wisconsin, including stops at local businesses and Superchargers. His reflections highlight both the progress and ongoing challenges in Tesla’s evolving autonomous driving technology, particularly in user interface design and AI assistant functionality. The transition from his 2019 Model 3 to the 2026 Model Y underscores Tesla’s rapid innovation while also revealing areas where driver adaptation remains necessary.