I figured it is time to give and update on my FSDb adventure. It has been about two weeks since I got the beta version and I have had some hospital issues with my mother, so I have not been able to take any long trips yet, but I have done several ten or twenty minute rides and am getting used to the way the beta works.
My biggest problem initially was accidentally disengaging beta when I got nervous, but that is under control now. Occasionally I have to tap the accelerator peddle to give it a nudge, but the thing that has given me the most comfort is being able to slow the speed with the spin wheel when I am approaching an area that I want to pay attention to.
Most recently I have gone on four or five small trips without having to intervene at all.
The problem/scary situations I have had so far:
The car was too cautious when at a stop sign with another car to the front left. That driver waved my to go, but the car did not move. When I pushed the accelerator it disengaged FSDb.
One time it was at a T intersection with cars going 50 mph on the road I was turning into. There were three cars coming and the Tesla seemed to be moving forward. The previous day at this intersection it said "creeping forward for better visibility". It may have been creeping, but I don't think there was a prompt. I hit the brake and disengaged FSDb.
One time today it pulled out onto a road with a straight lane and a left turn lane. The car seemed to hesitate, maybe trying to decide which lane to get into. I tapped the accelerator to give it a nudge and it continued without kicking me out of FSDb.
I have three days left until the next monthly payment. I think I will buy another month since I have not had that much free time to play with it. I was thinking today, which would I rather have red paint or a year of FSDb. I think I would pick the FSDb.
I don't drive enough to justify it, but it certainly is cool. Also, TSLA is my largest equity position, so I can keep an eye on things by owning a Model Y and testing FSDb. Maybe I can even write it off as an investment expense
I would recommend that anyone buying a Tesla drive the car for a month or two to get used to it, then buy a month of FSD to see what that is like.