AP Following Distance on Setting 1

[mrbulk]

...seems to keep my car so much further back than before. When I first got my car about a year ago I distinctly recall feeling the need to click it up to "2" or higher on occasion because it seemed like I was following too close sometimes on "1". But now AP keeps the car far enough back at times that it allows too many people to cut in front of me, especially when traffic is bunching up and moving slow like during rush hour on the freeway. I wonder if others have noticed this and, more importantly, after which update?

 

[boaterva]

So, what version ARE you on?

 

[Helmuth]

I feel the same way.
I used to feel comfortable with setting 3 or 4, nowadays I use 1 or 2 all the time and wish it would stay closer to the car in front during rush hours...

 

[Derek Kessler]

I too have noticed this. Currently running 2019.8.3.

 

[quickstrike12]

That’s unfortunate to hear. I use setting 1 in Dallas area traffic and even that isn’t quite close enough in this crazy traffic. It’s very aggressive driving here and people will speed around you and get irritated. Or cut in on you. I only use 2-3 when out on interstate for long drives.

 

[Mark_T]

That’s unfortunate to hear. I use setting 1 in Dallas area traffic and even that isn’t quite close enough in this crazy traffic.

I love driving around Dallas, it is all good as long as you remember that turn-signals are a sign of weakness...

 

[ewoodrick]

You may be seeing the car explicitly increasing the gap to allow cars to sneak in. Some folks seemed to think that it was too mean and I'm pretty sure one of the recent release made it nicer.

 

[Mo City]

I love driving around Dallas, it is all good as long as you remember that turn-signals are a sign of weakness...

Same for Houston. Polite driving does not pay off.

 

[boonedocks]

Same for Houston. Polite driving does not pay off.

Even worse for Atlanta rush hour. I don't mind the occasional car merging in front the real problem begins when it is over and over and the road rage from those behind you start to get intolerant and that is where it becomes a real problem.

 

[morrisdl]

Agreed! Since 2018.46 TACC follow distance has been more cautious.

 

[selfbp]

set 1 = 3 Lengths
set 2 = 3 1/2 Lengths
set 3 = 3 3/4 Lengths
set 4 = 4 Lengths
set 5 = 5 Lengths
set 6 = 6 or 7 Lengths
set 7 = anywhere from 6 to 9 Lengths

 

[quickstrike12]

set 1 = 3 Lengths
set 2 = 3 1/2 Lengths
set 3 = 3 3/4 Lengths
set 4 = 4 Lengths
set 5 = 5 Lengths
set 6 = 6 or 7 Lengths
set 7 = anywhere from 6 to 9 Lengths

Is this just your observations? Or are you quoting this as a reference somewhere?
It’s been my experience that it is a speed and distance based setting. In other words bumper to bumper slow moving traffic is very different follow distance than 80 MPH distance.

 

[DukeofURL]

Same. I remember sitting in my friend's Model 3 and thinking "wow you need to use the screen to change following distance?", because I used to have to adjust it frequently. 1 in stop and go traffic, but then 2-3 in free-flowing traffic, or sometimes occasionally 4-5 if I wanted to keep a bit wider gap on an open highway. Now I just keep it on 1 all day every day (and wish it would be a bit closer in stop and go).

 

[boonedocks]

Is this just your observations? Or are you quoting this as a reference somewhere?
It’s been my experience that it is a speed and distance based setting. In other words bumper to bumper slow moving traffic is very different follow distance than 80 MPH distance.

From the manual: hint (it’s a time distance NOT a physical number of cars distance)

 

[DoubleE]

For mine, AP1 2019.8.3, I noticed that when set to distance 1 it will vary depending on if there is a car in front of the following car. When the radar can "see" two cars the distance is farther vs. When it can only see one car.

 

[mrbulk]

I’m on 2019.8.3 but already noticed this behavior several updates back.

 

[mrbulk]

For mine, AP1 2019.8.3, I noticed that when set to distance 1 it will vary depending on if there is a car in front of the following car. When the radar can "see" two cars the distance is farther vs. When it can only see one car.

Same here, it's just that the following distances also increased by proportional amounts.

 

[rsg123]

For mine, AP1 2019.8.3, I noticed that when set to distance 1 it will vary depending on if there is a car in front of the following car. When the radar can "see" two cars the distance is farther vs. When it can only see one car.

AP1 here as well, but I’m on 2018.50. We are driving from NorCal to SoCal for spring break; maybe I won’t hit update if I get it before then.
I am very interested to know if you received blind spot warning on 2019 software with AP1?

 

[BPSoCal]

Is this just your observations? Or are you quoting this as a reference somewhere?
It’s been my experience that it is a speed and distance based setting. In other words bumper to bumper slow moving traffic is very different follow distance than 80 MPH distance.

I thought every click meant a 1/2 second follow from the car in front:

On 1 - 0.5 second behind
On 7 - 3.5 seconds behind

 

[mrbulk]

I thought every click meant a 1/2 second follow from the car in front:

On 1 - 0.5 second behind
On 7 - 3.5 seconds behind

Yeah, well that could make sense as well since distance would vary based on speed. A half-second following distance at 5mph is way closer to the car in front, than the same at 70.