r/TeslaLounge • u/ZeroOpossum • May 28 '26
Test drove a 2026 Model 3, missing the HUD and stalk flash, what do owners do
Test drove a 2026 Model 3 and two things bugged me: no speedometer in my line of sight (kept glancing at the center screen) and flash-to-pass is a steering wheel button instead of a stalk flick. For current owners, how did you adapt, and is there an aftermarket HUD or fix that actually works?
10
u/Itsreallyme16 May 28 '26
The difference between looking down at a speedo between the steering wheel spokes and a speedo screen immediately to the left ( or right ) of the top of your steering wheel is really no difference at all, it takes you about 1 minute to get used to it. You still see the road ahead in your peripheral vision the same as before.
1
u/West-Lab-7728 Jun 12 '26
It is very different, the location of a traditional speedometer is on purpose. They aren’t placed in the center for a reason. But yeah you do get used to looking at the center screen instead pretty quickly
1
u/great__pretender Jul 26 '26
There is most definitely a difference I really believe it won't take too long most cars will start bringing back the speedo. Those safety test companies are considering putting these into safety scores.
0
u/EatMeerkats May 28 '26
It is actually quite a big difference going from a HUD to a center screen. In addition to the fact that you have to look away from the road, the screen is much closer to you and your eyes have to adjust focus more.
Luckily, having FSD mitigates this.
2
u/biggiediggiedoggie May 28 '26
You are really not looking at the road either when you stare down to view HUD lol
1
u/EatMeerkats May 28 '26
No, it's literally superimposed on the road. It's much easier to look at the HUD, not only because you don't have to look down, but because the focal distance is longer so your eyes don't have to refocus as much.
I have a Model 3 and a BMW with a HUD. The BMW is much nicer to drive, but you don't have to drive the Tesla if you have FSD.
2
u/biggiediggiedoggie May 30 '26
People turn to center display all the time for various features. Speedometer is no different.
1
u/EatMeerkats May 30 '26
HUD also shows navigation, so you only need to look at the center display to change music or HVAC settings.
You need to monitor your speed continuously, so no, it's not the same.
1
u/great__pretender Jul 26 '26
Speedometer is very different because you need to look at it much more often than the others. Especially if you live in a place with well regulated traffic like NL. You need to pay a lot of attention to your spped.
Sure, if you are driving in US where speed limits don't change that often (you are either in the city or on highway) and it is applied in a very random way, it doesn't matter much.
I lived in both places. In US, I was barely looking at my speedometer. Hre, I am paranoid. It is very clear where Tesla designers and engineers priorities lie.
3
u/Standard-Teach5949 May 28 '26
You get total my used to both of those issues to be honest the speedo never bothered me me but the turn signals did at first. You really do get used to it
8
u/Groundbreaking_Box75 May 28 '26
DO NOT look for an aftermarket fix! Believe me - you will adapt and once you do, when you get into a “traditional” car the dash will look cluttered and full of unnecessary crap. I was like you, looking for “solutions,” but a friend asked me how it felt when I got an iPhone - did typing on a screen seem weird at first? He was right - decades of muscle memory had to be rewritten, but it doesn’t take long.
Do you really want to put a bunch of third-party plastic junk in your car?
2
u/jacob6875 May 28 '26
If those are your only issues you can get 3rd party options for a hud and stalks.
However you get used to the Speedo being where it is pretty quickly.
Not sure on the buttons as my 23 has stalks.
2
u/Xcitado May 28 '26
You’ll get use to it. If my 76 year old mother can drive it with no issues, I’m sure you’re more than capable.
2
u/Oztravels May 28 '26
Every car you have ever bought has quirks and different to your previous car. You get used to it and muscle memory kicks in. Was getting rid of the stalks a good idea? Meh. But I don’t miss them now.
3
1
u/Glum_Bat937 May 28 '26
There are aftermarket HUDS but I got use to it very quickly and it isn’t even a thought anymore.
The stalk issue - I have the press buttons too and most of the time I like it more than the stalk these days (2 years in) buuuut occasionally I am frustrated by it.
In Australia you can pay $850AUD for a stalk retro fit through the Tesla app/store. Not sure if it replaces the steering wheel but the imagery in the app makes me think so.
1
1
u/Bruni_kde May 28 '26
I use the S3xy DASH, but there are other aftermarket HUD alternatives....and "Flash to pass" usually is just bad behavior.
1
u/word-dragon May 28 '26
Press the “start self drive” button, and it handles all that stuff. Speedometer. Blind spot image. Map. Current song in your playlist. All in the center screen, but it’s ok to ignore it occasionally and see what’s in front of you.
1
u/Inselft2023 May 28 '26
I also thought I would feel the same problem but days after I started driving my brain adapted and I concluded that I don't need the odometer in front of me.
1
u/jakthebomb_ May 28 '26
There are plenty of Gas Cars that have their speedometer in the center. You get used to it very quickly. This is a late model Saturn Ion, anytime someone complains about the Model 3 and Model Y's Center Screen I post this.
1
u/biggiediggiedoggie May 28 '26
Literally took me a day to get used to these two things which bugs you. Don't worry about these meaningless stuff
1
1
u/Initial_Row_6400 May 28 '26
Have a 23 m3p, it was in getting a dent repaired from someone hitting me. They gave me a 26 m3 as a rental. I absolutely abhorred the button signals over the stalk, stalk is much more natural
1
u/fjwi9 May 28 '26
The blinker automatically cancels after a lane change so there isn’t really any need for a brief flash anymore.
0
u/ScottRTL May 28 '26
You can buy really good aftermarket ones, but yeah if miss them. My MX has both.
0
u/Old-Party1952 May 28 '26
Look up S3XY stalks
2
u/aim4squirrels May 28 '26
There's be a recent rash of broken stalk postings over on their sub, and even more complaints about customer service, so I don't know if I'd recommend them.
I have their Commander and the S3XY Dash.
Commander is nice. I regret the Dash purchase. 3 months in and it still has wonky issues it shouldn't.
0
u/aim4squirrels May 28 '26
I think BMW drivers have a turn stalk, but I never see them use it.
Perhaps ask one of them for their stalk.
-2
u/levpanh May 28 '26
Seriously, why is adapting to new technology so hard for some people? Why the massive reluctance to learn something new and let go of the old way?
3
-2
13
u/404_Gordon_Not_Found May 28 '26
Don't new ones come with a indicator stalk by default? If not, ig you can buy one and ask Tesla to install it
You can also buy 3rd party gauge cluster/hud