Didn't need a month to figure out that I hate it. Drove it for 20-30 minutes and figured it out.
I know Elon is so much against any type of clutter and that's fine. But, it's very easy to seamlessly integrate a few buttons, even if they are digital touch buttons rather than physical buttons for simple one-touch access to all of the daily use items. For me, I hated the Model 3 and having to do multiple visual steps to get to what I needed. Things that in almost every other car, are a simple single touch away.
I could have totally gotten on board if Elon integrated physical buttons on the back side of the steering wheel. Would certainly avoid the many inadvertent touches when turning the wheel and we could still "feel" for them. They wouldn't be visible, but would be easily accessible without having to look for them.
There's simply no reason what so ever that the horn button couldn't remain as part of the air bag. The air bag is still there, make it function safely as every other car does. Just no logical or illogical reason for it to be moved to a tiny touch button on one side of the wheel.
Same thing for the blinkers could have been done for shifting as well. Basically like paddle shifters, but ones that recess into the back of the steering wheel.
You'd then be able to perform all of these functions without having to distract your attention from the road to look for them. Would still be different, but far easier and more practical for people to adapt to. Dare I say, maybe actually better that stalks. They'd still not be visible from any angle inside the car, retaining the very minimalist design, yet would again be items you could instinctively feel for, rather than have to look for.
Better yet, the two spaces where they effectively cut off the top of the steering wheel, could be made to function as blinker controls. You'd instinctively know exactly where to feel for them and could easily activate them without looking. And again, they'd still be hidden from view. Right behind, recessed paddle shifters on the left and right and presto, easy access a driver can feel for, rather than look for.
This doesn't solve the issue of half the steering wheel being gone. People brag that it offers better visibility of the gauge cluster, but what about the fact that it's much wider and now blocks a portion of the main screen? Now, have to lean over to look around the wheel to see the lower left portion of the screen. Is that better than having, very arguably, a little better view of the gauge cluster? NO.
They attempted to solve a problem that didn't exist. They could have created something better. I'm 100% certain that a full steering wheel will be offered at some point in the future. I truly hope they use their heads and create something better when they do.
If they had treated the critical controls as I suggested above, might have been better all around. Then, in the space of the wheel where they put the critical items, they could have made it better by putting the same style of touch pad buttons in there, but for one-touch access to radio, AC, tilt, wipers (already there I know), etc. Then, all of the complaints that MANY have about having to do everything via multiple steps on the main screen would be been gone. The driver friendliness could still have existed, even been improved upon, while accomplishing Elon's same goal of making the interior look like there's nothing there.
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