Today marks the end of an era, or rather, the end of a rather tumultuous relationship with my '22 Tesla MS Plaid. After 21 months, 8,000 miles, and more trips back to the shop than I care to count, the car is finally being picked up by Tesla. It's been a ride filled with more drama than a prime-time TV show, and frankly, I won't miss it.
The journey began with promise and excitement, but it wasn't long before the dream started to unravel. The front motor declared its resignation not once, but on multiple occasions, leading to a total of 3 visits to the service centers and a staggering 63 days without the car (there were another 4-5 visits for misc. concerns that did not affect the drive). But that was just the start of my Tesla saga.
After the last repair, the car developed a mind of its own. A rogue window controller began a routine of spontaneously opening and closing, as if possessed by the ghost of electric cars past. The frunk decided to embrace freedom, releasing itself while I was driving, adding an unexpected thrill to my daily commutes. And then there was the GPS, which seemed to think I was perpetually navigating the Pacific Ocean, leaving me metaphorically and literally lost at sea.
Through all this, I've learned a lot - about electric vehicles, about Tesla, and about patience. A lot of patience. The Model S Plaid is a marvel of engineering, a beast on paper, and a headache in reality, at least for me. As it departs my life, I can't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Good riddance, dear Plaid. May your journey back to Tesla be less eventful than your stay with me.
To those who's following this, thanks for the empathy, the advice, and the laughs. It's been an adventure, but I'm ready for the next chapter. Here's to hoping the next car is a little less 'exciting' and a lot more reliable. Farewell, Plaid. You won't be missed.
But my hope isn't lost – I do plan to give it another go in 2 years, if there's still a flagship Tesla around by then.
(btw the actual surrender was last month; just had to make sure Tesla's checks cleared.)
The journey began with promise and excitement, but it wasn't long before the dream started to unravel. The front motor declared its resignation not once, but on multiple occasions, leading to a total of 3 visits to the service centers and a staggering 63 days without the car (there were another 4-5 visits for misc. concerns that did not affect the drive). But that was just the start of my Tesla saga.
After the last repair, the car developed a mind of its own. A rogue window controller began a routine of spontaneously opening and closing, as if possessed by the ghost of electric cars past. The frunk decided to embrace freedom, releasing itself while I was driving, adding an unexpected thrill to my daily commutes. And then there was the GPS, which seemed to think I was perpetually navigating the Pacific Ocean, leaving me metaphorically and literally lost at sea.
Through all this, I've learned a lot - about electric vehicles, about Tesla, and about patience. A lot of patience. The Model S Plaid is a marvel of engineering, a beast on paper, and a headache in reality, at least for me. As it departs my life, I can't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Good riddance, dear Plaid. May your journey back to Tesla be less eventful than your stay with me.
To those who's following this, thanks for the empathy, the advice, and the laughs. It's been an adventure, but I'm ready for the next chapter. Here's to hoping the next car is a little less 'exciting' and a lot more reliable. Farewell, Plaid. You won't be missed.
But my hope isn't lost – I do plan to give it another go in 2 years, if there's still a flagship Tesla around by then.
(btw the actual surrender was last month; just had to make sure Tesla's checks cleared.)