π UPDATE β August 4, 2026
Early real-world feedback on FSD v14.3.7 is largely positive, with prominent Tesla creator @DirtyTesLa reporting a "significantly smoother" experience compared to v14.3.6 β specifically calling out the elimination of constant brake pulsing around pedestrians, cars, and in parking lots that plagued the previous build. Notably, his first test drive came in heavy rain on a flooded road, and the system held up well. The one gripe: overly aggressive wiper behavior. He's flagged this as an early impression with more testing needed.
"The constant little brake taps around pedestrians, cars, and parking lots were driving me insane, and I barely experienced them here even in heavy rain." β @DirtyTesLa, Aug 2
βΆ Click to watch on X β FSD 14.3.7 full send through flooded road
Redline Reviews, a car channel with over 1.1 million YouTube subscribers, had never reviewed Tesla's Full Self-Driving system β until last week. Testing the new Model Y L on August 3, 2026, the channel's reviewer experienced FSD (Supervised) v14.3.7 for the first time and came away, by their own account, genuinely stunned. Here's what happened, why it took this long, and what it means for anyone still on the fence about FSD.
Who is Redline Reviews, and why does their take matter here?
Redline Reviews is an independent automotive channel that, according to verified subscriber data, had 1,105,325 YouTube subscribers as of mid-July 2026. They cover a wide range of vehicles β not just EVs β and have a reputation for hands-on, detailed first-drive content. That breadth is exactly what makes their FSD reaction notable: this isn't a Tesla-focused channel predisposed to enthusiasm. When a mainstream car reviewer calls a driver-assistance system "the future," it carries a different weight than praise from within the Tesla community.
What exactly did the reviewer say about FSD?
According to Sawyer Merritt's post on X, the reviewer's reaction was unambiguous: "My mind is blown right now. This is the future." They also stated that they had previously considered GM's Super Cruise to be the best driver-assistance system on the market β and that FSD (Supervised) v14.3.7 changed that view. The review came as part of Redline's first-drive coverage of the 2027 Tesla Model Y L, published August 3, 2026, following a detailed first-look video released on July 31.
Why had Redline Reviews never tested FSD before this?
The channel addressed this directly in a statement shared by Merritt on X. The short answer: Tesla doesn't maintain a traditional press fleet. Redline noted that roughly 60% of their time is spent traveling to test vehicles provided by automakers, with two to three press cars cycling through each week. Without a press fleet, Tesla simply wasn't part of that rotation. It's a structural gap that has almost certainly kept FSD out of mainstream automotive media for years β not editorial bias, just logistics.
What is the Model Y L, and is it available in the US?
The Model Y L is a longer, three-row version of the Model Y with a six-seat layout. According to Tesla's specifications, it stretches 4,976 mm (195.9 inches) in length on a 3,040 mm (119.7-inch) wheelbase β meaningfully larger than the standard Model Y. The interior features heated and ventilated seats across all three rows, powered adjustments throughout, and adaptive suspension with electronic damping. Cargo capacity runs from 298 liters behind the third row to 2,094 liters with all rear seats folded. The Model Y L Premium starts at $61,990 in the United States, and US showroom arrivals began in July 2026.
Which version of FSD did they experience?
The system Redline Reviews tested was FSD (Supervised) version 14.3.7, which Tesla released around August 2, 2026 β making this one of the earliest real-world reviews of that build. For owners tracking FSD progress, you can follow our FSD coverage for the latest on version rollouts and capability changes.
What does this mean for Tesla owners who haven't tried FSD yet?
The press fleet gap has been a quiet but real obstacle to FSD reaching mainstream automotive audiences. A reviewer with no prior Tesla exposure, no community allegiance, and a stated preference for a competing system walking away converted is a different data point than the usual enthusiast coverage. If you've been waiting for an outside perspective before committing to FSD β or before recommending it to someone in your life who trusts traditional car media β this review is worth pointing them toward. The Model Y L first-drive video is on Redline Reviews' YouTube channel.
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Sources & reporting notes
The links below identify the material source records used for this report.
- @SawyerMerritt on X (2026-08-03T19:19:54.000Z) β Direct source
- @SawyerMerritt on X (2026-08-03T22:48:36.000Z) β Direct source
Source links are preserved as published or accessed. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.
The BASENOR Editorial Desk covers Tesla, SpaceX, and related technology, curating reporting from primary sources β official accounts, regulatory filings, and software release data. Every article passes source-record and fact-checking review before publication. About the newsroom.
This report was curated by the BASENOR Editorial Desk from the sources listed above. Read our editorial standards or email editorial@basenor.com to report an error.
