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Comment by outworlder | Hacker News Reader

So it is good looking, it is fun to drive, it has a decent base price if you don't splurge on options. Changing speed through the touchscreen when you are using the autopilot hardly seems the end of the world. So almost all positives.

I really dislike the center console. At least the speedometer should be visible at all times(a hud focused at infinity would be ideal), everything else is less important. Still, this is becoming a trend now (I'd guess it's for cost-cutting).

What about readability of that screen under sunlight? I see nothing in the article addressing that. Is it just a non-issue?

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Even if you avoid the Autopilot, you can still use the Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, which buys you braking and accelerating when approaching the other vehicles, but does not do lane changes / lane assist for you.

TACC reads and interprets the speed limit signs. From Model 3 Owner's Manual:

"Traffic-Aware Cruise Control makes it easy to cruise at the speed limit. You can cruise at the speed limit that is currently being determined by Speed Assist (see Speed Assist on page 78). To do so, move the gear lever fully down once then release.

When you release, your cruising speed is set to the speed that is determined by Speed Assist, taking into consideration any offset you have specified. If you are already driving faster than the speed limit when you pull the lever, the set speed does not adjust to the speed limit—it adjusts to your current driving speed."

With TACC enabled the only time you have to keep track of speedometer is sign edge cases (e.g. Limit 25 but only when children present) or if the speed limit was obstructed.

The Saturn Ion had a really similar speedometer placement. I actually liked it since it was in the same horizontal line as the left/right mirrors so it took a little less effort to use.

This is usually done for cost saving reasons, since the gauges don't need to be moved for right or left hand drive builds.

Same goes for center "master power windows" controls, locks, etc

Every time I see center mounted stuff I figure it is a global car platform and a cost saving measure.

The steering wheel assembly itself still goes on one side or the other, though. If they have to be non-symmetrical about that, they can find a way to be non-symmetrical with a simple speedometer too.

Sure, I know that's part of it. That said it doesn't preclude that I found it easier to use.

Cooper Mini and Toyota Yaris, too, and probably a bunch of others. It's not an unusual design.

The idea of touch screens for everything was the devil's work. The only thing they bring is an easily re-configurable UI in a small space. But if you're in a context where you're performing one or a small number of main tasks, nothing beats the usability and safety of dedicated buttons and knobs.

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