# Autonomous cars are much more expensive then non autonomous cars **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [September 9, 2026, 2:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225 "2026-09-09T02:53:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 2:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/1 "2026-09-09T02:53:29Z")
They cost a lot of money. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 8:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/2 "2026-09-09T08:14:10Z")
You really trust those things? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 1:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/3 "2026-09-09T13:57:40Z")
Not only there. Some of the autonomous car companies use, or used, safety monitors in their cars during on-the-road testing. Both the small and large Tesla cybercabs go without pedals or steering wheels. I wonder how they would fit into the Minneapolis experiment. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 3:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/4 "2026-09-09T15:28:07Z")
Always nice when beta testing results in corpses. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 3:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/5 "2026-09-09T15:48:55Z")
Waymo are level 4 automation. You can have a “safety monitor” but they might as well just sit in the back like the paying customers. Nothing they can do to alter control of the car. These are well beyond the level of beta testing and have already gone through the stages of monitored performance to verify safety. Will there be accidents? Of course. But likely much lower incident rate than we have today with unpredictable humans at the wheel… ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 3:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/6 "2026-09-09T15:54:16Z")
Something that we should remember is that Waymo (and other makes of robo-taxis) utilize a combination of cameras, Lidar, and Radar to scan for obstacles and pedestrians. And, those vehicles still make mistakes. Tesla’s robo-taxis–just like their consumer-level vehicles–rely SOLELY on cameras. IMO, the likelihood of potentially deadly mistakes is much higher with the Tesla robo-taxis. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2026, 8:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/7 "2026-09-09T20:43:31Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > You really trust those things? Over someone who’s had too many drinks? - YES. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 1:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/8 "2026-09-10T01:57:49Z")
This is like the red flag laws for steam carriages and petrol autos in England in the late 1800s. 4mph limit in the country, 2 mph limit in the city, both preceded by a person walking ahead waving a red flag or red lantern. This was so everyone would be warned about noisy autos. Repealed in 1896. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 3:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/9 "2026-09-10T03:22:39Z")
Mike: It should be federal law that any vehicle with an engine or motor in it, even if classified as legally autonomous, for private or commercial use, should have someone occupying the command position. Of course, that should be common sense. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 8:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/10 "2026-09-10T08:43:53Z")
> [@TwinTurbo](#): > > Will there be accidents? Of course. But likely much lower incident rate than we have today with unpredictable humans at the wheel… And predictably blown way out of proportion in the media ! ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 12:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/11 "2026-09-10T12:12:33Z")
Again I find myself at the younger end of the age scale here, yet one of the most opposed to autonomous vehicles. There I go with that ‘old mind’ of mine again! ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 12:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/12 "2026-09-10T12:31:05Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > Both the small and large Tesla cybercabs go without pedals or steering wheels I just read that there are software steering and brakes on the Tesla cycbertaxis. There’s a box on the center screen that acts as a joystick. Swipe left or right to turn, and up or down to move forward or in reverse. There is a software button for brakes. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 1:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/13 "2026-09-10T13:42:16Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > It should be federal law that any vehicle with an engine or motor in it, even if classified as legally autonomous, for private or commercial use, should have someone occupying the command position. > > Of course, that should be common sense. It makes common sense to people like you who don’t understand the technology or are afraid of technology. Currently there are ZERO cars manufactured that meet the [Level-5](https://www.sae.org/news/blog/sae-levels-driving-automation-clarity-refinements) (levels 0-5) standard of being a true autonomous vehicle. We have years to go before that happens. There are SOME sections of the US where there are autonomous vehicles where the area is mapped out for autonomous vehicles. Why not hold all criticism until it actually happens. All you’re doing is complaining about something that MIGHT happen on a technology you know NOTHING about and REFUSE to learn anything about. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 3:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/14 "2026-09-10T15:20:19Z")
Many crashes would be prevented if drivers stayed in lanes. Did not run red lights. Or drive too fast for conditions. I imagine a waymo in 10” of snow will be fun. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 3:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/15 "2026-09-10T15:57:15Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > I imagine a waymo in 10” of snow will be fun. [Creating an all-weather Driver](https://waymo.com/blog/2025/10/creating-an-all-weather-driver/) ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2026, 8:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/16 "2026-09-10T20:20:27Z")
Common sense only according to you. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/christhetirewhisperer/32/34798_2.png) [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTheTireWhisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 3:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/17 "2026-09-18T03:55:30Z")
old\_mopar: I will trust a human operator - _even one who is intoxicated -_ over an AV(Autonomous Vehicle) any day of the week. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 12:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/18 "2026-09-18T12:43:10Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > _even one who is intoxicated_ That’s nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 1:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/19 "2026-09-18T13:32:14Z")
I think the number of impaired drivers on road is much higher then folks imagine. It will be a long long long time till self driving cars outnumber impaired drivers. That being said, I don’t think technology for driverless cars is dialed in yet. The website deletes “bad” words now? You can’t say the D word for drivers using alcohol? And no, I’m not using the word for Bidens political party. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 2:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225/20 "2026-09-18T14:14:48Z")
> [@ChrisTheTireWhisperer](#): > > I will trust a human operator - _even one who is intoxicated -_ over an AV(Autonomous Vehicle) any day of the week. Have you ever thought about educating yourself. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/autonomous-cars-are-much-more-expensive-then-non-autonomous-cars/206225.md?page=2)