A 98-year-old driver from Farmington, New Mexico, has become one of the oldest buyers of a Tesla Model Y with Full Self-Driving capabilities. In the video, he talked about the car restoring his love for road trips while granting him a new found relaxation after 8 decades of driving.
Larry, who owned his first car, a 1931 Ford Model A, has owned more than 100 cars in his lifetime. He had 2 Ford Mustangs in the mid-60s and a V8-powered BMW 750 that he drove for 10 years. However, he decided to change things up and bought his new Tesla Model Y instead of going for a lease, choosing the silver color. He ordered the car in Arizona but received it in Albuquerque. He prefers the higher seating position in the Model Y as it makes it easier to get in and out of the vehicle. In the conversation, Larry explains that he is particularly impressed by the roominess of the Tesla’s cabin.
In the video, Larry talks excitedly about the features and the technology that come with the car. He mentions that it allows him to relax more as a lot of the driving is done by the car. He finds the relaxation especially important compared to how he had to be extra careful when pulling out of driveways or roads before. With the Full Self Driving-assist, Larry trusts the technology to take over. He finds that it has rekindled his love for long drives as he can sit back and enjoy the view. He jokes that a Ford Mustang trying to race him would not stand a chance. It shows how well he can accelerate in the Tesla, especially when he feels like it.
The clip serves as an example of how far driver-assisted technologies have come. At the age when a lot of people give up on driving because of the challenges it can bring, Larry continues to enjoy the open road with a new found relaxation thanks to his Tesla. He maintains his independence both through the vehicle’s technology and through his driving expertise. He only takes over when he feels the car is not familiar enough with the road or when he wants to take a different route. Overall, the Tesla Model Y grants him a certain level of freedom and reduces the mental challenges that come with driving for older generations.
The video, created by The Fast Lane EV and featuring conversation between Larry and his family, has since gone viral, gaining popularity both from Tesla fans and the company itself. It provides a look into the life of a driver-assisted vehicle and the experience of one who continues to love driving despite his age. For Larry, the love for driving has not diminished over the decades, not even as he went from driving a Model A that required him to manually crank it to life almost a century ago to a modern-day electric vehicle capable of driving itself on the road.