Grandpa's Mind Blown by Tesla Self-Driving Experience

I rented a 2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD equipped with the supervised Full Self-Driving build 14.2.2 and drove roughly 100 miles with my 83 year old dad riding shotgun.

The goal was simple: see how the supervised FSD behaves on real roads — highways, unprotected lefts, narrow back roads, parking lots, and driveways — and whether it might be genuinely useful for someone older who wants to limit the physical strain of driving while retaining independence and control.

Quick summary of what was tested

• Highway driving and lane changes
• Speed behavior across different FSD modes
• Unprotected left turns and three-way intersections
• Merging where two lanes become one and handling of cross traffic
• Low speed control: driveway entry, parking lot navigation, backing up
• Narrow country roads with oncoming traffic
• Navigation edge cases caused by GPS errors

How the system is set up and controlled

This 2026 Model Y runs hardware 4 and a supervised version of FSD (14.2.2). It relies on a multi-camera vision stack (roughly ten cameras on this car) and offers five driving profiles you can switch between on the fly:

• Sloth - most conservative, slowest
• Chill - conservative, good for comfort and safety
• Standard - the default, mid-level behavior
• Hurry - more assertive
• Mad Max - aggressive lane changes and speed

You change profiles using the steering scroll wheel or touchscreen. For older passengers or cautious drives, starting in Chill is a simple way to lower the system’s speed and assertiveness.

What it handled well

• Cross traffic and unprotected left turns - The system crept forward naturally when safe and waited when opposing cars had the right of way. Those complex left turns were handled in a human-like manner during multiple attempts.
• Merging and truck encroachment - The car detected a semi drifting toward the lane and moved left to create space. That lateral awareness is a major advantage compared to many driver assist systems.
• Low speed maneuvers - Parking lot navigation, pulling into driveways, and tight turns on residential roads were mostly competent. The car backed into spaces and navigated narrow entries without constant intervention.
• Natural driving feel - Overall behavior felt more natural than a year ago: less jittery, fewer abrupt decisions, and fewer false starts through intersections.

Where the system struggled

• GPS and map errors - The biggest recurring issue was navigation confusion. The car sometimes wanted to enter the wrong parking lot or take a long route due to map or GPS oddities. Re-entering a destination can help the system learn preferred routes.
• Speed in standard mode - In Standard the car sometimes ran 10-15 mph over posted limits on secondary roads and through work zones. Chill mode brought speeds down into a more comfortable though much slower range.
• Driveway precision - On one of the driveways the car chose the safer but longer 3-point-turn route instead of reversing down a short slope. It seems to prefer lower-risk maneuvers when uncertainty increases.

Real world examples worth noting

• When approaching a work zone the car initially held highway speeds 15 mph above the posted speed limit in Standard mode. Switching to Chill reduced speed immediately by approximately 13 mph but felt a bit too slow for surrounding traffic.
• At an unprotected left with cross traffic and a stop on the other approach, the car crept forward and yielded appropriately rather than making a risky gap decision.
• The system recognized traffic encroachment from a truck and created lateral space by moving over, a capability many driver assistance systems still do not exhibit.
• Repeatedly saved destinations improved driveway and parking lot accuracy, demonstrating how the system refines behavior with repeat trips.

Would this help elderly or less confident drivers?

The short answer: it can be a meaningful assist, but it is not a full replacement for human supervision. For someone who finds long trips tiring, supervised FSD can reduce the physical and cognitive load of driving while still allowing the person to intervene at any time.

Key considerations for elderly users:

• Training - Spend time learning how to engage and disengage FSD, change profiles, and take over quickly. Familiarity reduces anxiety.
• Supervision required - The system is not fully autonomous. The driver must be ready to grab the wheel or hit the brakes.
• Profile choice - Use Chill for safety and comfort. Standard can feel fast in certain situations; Mad Max is not suitable for conservative drivers.
• Subscription vs one-time purchase - A one-time FSD purchase removes long term subscription costs and fixes the price, but subscription offers flexibility if the car will only be used for a short period. 

Practical tips from the drive

1. Start in Chill mode for unfamiliar roads or when carrying older passengers.
2. If GPS sends you the wrong way, re-enter the destination a couple of times; the system tends to learn the right route with repetition.
3. Be prepared to intervene during close passes, complex merge points, or when the car hesitates in narrow driveways.
4. Use the scroll wheel to quickly adjust speed and behavior during the trip.
5. Consider subscription if you want short term access or to test behavior over months before committing to a large up-front purchase.

Cost and hardware notes

The decision to buy FSD outright versus subscribe comes down to projected ownership and price risk. At the time of testing the one-time purchase was about $8,000 and the subscription runs $99 per month. A subscription gives flexibility but exposes you to future price increases. Also remember hardware matters: newer Model Ys with hardware 4 (2024+) and the latest cameras will perform better than older computers.

Final verdict

The supervised FSD experience in this Model Y felt like a meaningful step forward. It handled many complex situations in a calm, human-like way and offered real assistance on highway merges, unprotected lefts, and narrow back roads. GPS errors and occasional speed overages show there is still room for improvement, but overall the system is useful and increasingly reliable.

"E minus"

— an 83 year old's tongue-in-cheek grade that quickly turned into impressed acceptance

If the goal is to reduce driving fatigue and increase mobility for older drivers while keeping them in the supervisory loop, supervised FSD is already valuable today. It is not yet a hands-off autonomy solution, but with the right settings, some familiarity, and a willingness to intervene when necessary, it can make trips easier and safer.

What do you think about the latest version of Tesla's FSD (Supervised) ADAS?  Would you pay the upfront fee or go with a subscription?  Is there anything we missed?

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