Tesla - how long did it take you to learn how to drive it?

[Anonymous]

Drove a Tesla for a brief amount of time but made myself car sick. How long did it take for you to learn how to drive it smoothly ? And do you find it easy to switch between a gas vehicle and the Tesla? Asking because we would only be getting one for the household and keeping our other gas vehicle. It seems like it is a completely different driving style and the regenerative breaking and hold mode were so unlike anything else I have ever driven!

[Anonymous]

I got one as a rental and it took about 3 minutes to figure it out.

[Anonymous]

Had one on vacation and it didnt take long at all. My husband said it was like driving a go-cart. When we got back from vacation he had to remember to use the brakes again!

[Anonymous]

We have a Tesla and other ICE vehicles. It all comes back once you get behind the wheel.

As for car sickness, you can set the Tesla on "Chill mode" to prevent the super acceleration.

[Anonymous]

For the love of god stay out of the left lane on any multi lane road. The surge of Teslas means they have quickly taken over the "worst driver" title. Not just for driving slow in the left lane, but for countless other reasons.

[Anonymous]

I easily switch back & forth. The only goof up is turning on the wipers in the ice car when I want to shift gears. :p

[Anonymous]

Please explain how they accelerate? A friend told me that hitting the gas is instant power and much more instant acceleration than a gas vehicle. True?

[Anonymous]

We have a 2021 model S. I’m not sure of the specifics, but there are settings that make it more like a regular gas vehicle. You can set it to accelerate slower, have a lower maximum speed, slow down (vs stop) when you take your foot off of the gas pedal, and have the brakes work as expected.

My 15-year-old with a new drivers permit drove adapted to it easily enough. I drive it frequently. My husband has the regular default settings under his profile - including “ludicrous” mode and the self driving ability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a 2021 model S. I’m not sure of the specifics, but there are settings that make it more like a regular gas vehicle. You can set it to accelerate slower, have a lower maximum speed, slow down (vs stop) when you take your foot off of the gas pedal, and have the brakes work as expected.

My 15-year-old with a new drivers permit drove adapted to it easily enough. I drive it frequently. My husband has the regular default settings under his profile - including “ludicrous” mode and the self driving ability.

https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modelx/en_us/GUID-538D748E-6DDF-4910-A898-C17E2B671A77.html

Here are a few of the settings ….
Regenerative braking, Chill acceleration, Dynamic Brahe lights, etc.

Someone mentioned the hold function Dash when you’re stopped, you can just remove your feet from the break; and just press it when you’re ready to go (like a go cart)…..but you don’t *have* to Use it. Just keep your foot on the brake.

this function is in my 4 year old Mercedes C class; I find it useful at the drive-through when I’m reaching to get my food. It was also in a 2023 Hyundai compact SUV that I rented two months ago.

[Anonymous]

NP. The regenerative braking is what seemed to make my family feel car sick more than the acceleration.

[Anonymous]

It took me 3-4 days to adapt. I felt similarly to you and now I love it and never want to go back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got one as a rental and it took about 3 minutes to figure it out.

Came here to say this.

3 minutes is generous. I think that probably counts the time it took me to buckle the seatbelt.