FSD 12.6 on Hardware 3
Alright, let’s talk about the latest Tesla FSD 12.6 on hardware 3 update. Because wow, it’s a trip. And not always the fun kind. If you’re rolling with a Hardware 3 car, you’re probably wondering—did Tesla finally throw us a bone, or are we still stuck with an AI that drives like a distracted teenager? Let’s get into it.
Snow Mode: FSD Finally Gets a Clue
First up, driving on snow.
If you’ve used FSD in the winter before, you know it used to be a disaster. Like, ‘guess I’ll just close my eyes and hope for the best’ levels of bad. The car had no concept of traction. Turn a corner? Fishtailing. Lightly tap the accelerator? Full send into chaos. But with 12.6? Shockingly decent.
Matt took it out on some snowy roads, and for once, it didn’t feel like a death wish. The car actually adjusted its behavior, didn’t overdo the power, and felt way more composed. So, Tesla gets a rare W for that one.
Highway Driving: Shockingly Good
I’ll be honest, highway driving was the standout here. Merging used to be painful. FSD would just wait until the very last second, then throw itself into traffic like a stressed-out New Yorker trying to catch a subway.
But this time? Smooth. Natural. Almost human. It actually started speeding up at the right time, found a gap before it was forced to, and merged without making everyone else on the road question their life choices.
And when some absolute clown cut Matt off? FSD handled it beautifully—braked appropriately, switched lanes without panic, and kept the whole thing chill. Honestly, highway driving is the biggest improvement here.
City Driving: Burn It Down and Start Over
And then… oh god. The city driving.
If the highway was a win, Ann Arbor was a trainwreck. The car just froze at intersections like it was rethinking its life. Perfectly clear left turn? It just sat there, like it needed an engraved invitation to go. Then, when it finally decided to move, it picked the worst possible time, rolling out just as traffic started up again.
At a stop sign, it hung so far back it couldn’t even see if it was clear. Then, when it edged forward, it had another existential crisis and just… stopped. If a human drove like this, they’d get honked at until they reconsidered driving entirely.
But the worst? It sped up toward a parked car in an accident scene. Like, dude. Maybe read the room?
Verdict: A Step Forward, a Stumble Back
If Tesla’s goal was to make highway driving better, mission accomplished. But city driving? Absolute regression. It feels like it forgot everything it learned. The hesitation, the weird panic moments, the complete lack of confidence—it’s like FSD went to therapy and then immediately ignored all the advice.
Matt said it best: if he could, he’d roll back to the previous version. And that’s saying something.
So, What Now?
If you’ve got a Hardware 3 car, this update isn’t helping you make peace with sticking around. Tesla’s basically saying, “Buy Hardware 4 or deal with it.” And honestly, that sucks. Highway improvements are great, but if the city driving turns your car into an anxious wreck, what’s the point?
Matt’s already eyeing an upgrade. And if you’re in the same boat, maybe check out his referral link—because after this drive, he needs a better car.
Tesla, do better. That’s all we ask.
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