[Prickle]

As much as I like the crash safety results of a Tesla, at the end of the day I can't help but dislike the ergonomics of Tesla's cars.

The touch screen being the major control method for many things including the act of putting the car in reverse, is just bad.

The handles being electric, instead of mechanical. (An issue with many modern electric cars actually)

The wheel, not being a wheel. (Although I like that they tried something new)

[m463]

Agree 100%

I also think the 3/y/truck displays are really cluttered, trying to share status and controls on the same screen with small touch targets.

I think tesla has lost its way. They went past simple/elegant to confused deletion of the bathwater, the baby and the diapers.

I figure that tesla is doing all the other manufacturers a favor - they can enter the market and compete by just listening to customers, and adding thoughtful nice features.

[goldcd]

"We have physical buttons"

drops mic

[FeloniousHam]

I never understand the ergonomic/"unintuitive" complaints of the 3/Y. I've been driving one for a year, and I'm utterly befuddled by my friend's Outback (or any other car I drive).

It only takes a couple drives to get used the old-fashioned, unintuitive, massive array of buttons :).

(seriously)

[Prickle]

The main thing with physical buttons, is that you don't need to look at them. You can feel for the control without taking your eyes off the road. Can't do that with a Tesla. The touch screen doesn't give you any tactile signals.

[FeloniousHam]

The iPhone virtual keyboard is the obvious comparison for the hand wringing about the loss of physical controls. The advantages of a flexible layout, the cost of physical buttons, and most importantly: people got used to typing on a screen. I was sad to see the Blackberry go away, but I don't miss it a minute now.

I listen to a couple auto podcasts (shout out to Autoline After Hours!), and every episode bemoans the loss of buttons. I guess you just have to drive a Tesla for a few days to appreciate what you're not missing.

[Prickle]

Ok, but the iphone isn't remotely the same situation, work load, stress or risk; compared to a car.

I relatively consistently mistype on a touch screen keyboard. That's not too much of an issue.

However, me taking my eyes off the road in a car, (stationary or not) to fiddle with a touchscreen is a major risk. I personally just enjoy the fine tuning I can do with physical controls. And the best part, I don't need to look at the control to use it. With a touch screen, sight is a requirement.

[FeloniousHam]

Just my experience, but I don't futz with the controls when I'm not at a stop. Defrost is the most "complicated" (two taps) action I regularly do, but that's once, and before I start driving.

The risk of the screen is more on the user, IMO. It's not the necessary actions, it's all the fun things you can do, and Tesla doesn't have any of the nanny systems so common in other makes (which I very much appreciate).

[justin66]

Subaru's got an unusually complicated infotainment setup.

If you'd like to do a more meaningful comparison, Mazda might be interesting, since they do focus on simplicity and use real buttons and switches.

[magic_smoke_ee]

Yes, and never forget Tesla refuses to sell repair parts when people have cash in hand, partially arbitrarily and otherwise deliberately. Also, their CEO performs Sieg Heil, and don't let anyone tell you it's a "Roman salute" because this is merely a cinema factoid. This is likely unavoidable when such a weirdo is placed on a pedestal like Henry Ford or William Randolph Hearst.

[omnimus]

I am not sure if this was intentional but both Ford and Hearst were fascists and big nazi supporters.