I Just Ordered a Tesla Model Y. Here's Why a Guy in His 60s Is Doing This.

I ordered a Tesla Model Y Premium AWD in early October. Pearl White outside, black and white interior, 19-inch Crossflow wheels. I added Full Self-Driving (Supervised) as the $99 a month subscription so I can try it without buying it outright. No car yet. Delivery's about a month out, sometime in early to mid-November. So no, I can't tell you what it's like to drive. I can tell you why I bought it, and that's the part I actually wanted to write about anyway.

I like cars, but I'm more of a tech guy, so this is interesting to me. I've driven a Nissan Altima and it's done exactly what I needed it to do, which is start every morning and not cost me anything to think about. I'm trading that Altima in when the Tesla gets delivered. Haven't done it yet. That happens at delivery, not before.

So why switch now, at this point in my life, to an electric car with a computer trying to drive it?

A few reasons, and none of them are about being flashy.

First, timing. I locked in the order now because trade-in values on gas cars have been sliding, and I didn't want to wait around and watch the Altima's value drop another chunk while I dithered. That's a practical decision, not an emotional one. If you're thinking about something similar, don't ignore what your current car is worth today versus what it might be worth in six months.

Second, AWD. I live in Colorado Springs. We get real winters here, and I wanted a car that could handle snow on the pass without me fighting it the whole way. All-wheel drive wasn't optional for me, it was the point.

Third, and this is the one that matters most to me personally: my night vision isn't what it used to be. That's just age. Road lines get harder to pick out once the sun goes down. That's exactly why Full Self-Driving (Supervised) got my attention. I'm not expecting a car that drives itself while I nap in the back seat. That's not what this is, and anyone telling you otherwise is selling you something. FSD still means you're the driver. You stay responsible, hands near the wheel, eyes on the road, ready to take over. What it offers is help in the moments where my own eyes are the weak link. That's worth something to me.

Video: Tesla, Full Self-Driving (Supervised), embedded from YouTube.

I should mention my wife was not on board right away. Self-driving freaks her out, and honestly I get it. Handing over control of a two-ton vehicle to software sounds like a bad idea if you've spent sixty-some years driving yourself. But we went and did a test drive together before I ordered, and we both came away liking it. She didn't sign up to be a passenger in a robot car forever, but she warmed up to it a lot faster than I expected.

I'm aware I'm part of a trend here. A lot of people my age are looking at Teslas now, not because they want to be early adopters of anything, but because staying independent on the road matters to us. None of us want to be the guy who gives up his keys before he has to. If technology can extend how long I drive safely and confidently, especially at night, that's not a gadget to me. That's a few more years of not depending on someone else to take me to the grocery store or a doctor's appointment.

I'll be honest about what I don't know yet. I haven't used FSD myself outside that one test drive. I don't know how it handles our local roads day to day, how it does on I-25 in bad weather, or whether my opinion changes once I'm the one actually responsible for it every day. I'll report back once the car actually shows up and I've put some real miles on it.

For now, the car is ordered, the Altima is still mine for another month, and I'm just waiting.

FAQ

Is Tesla's Full Self-Driving actually self-driving?

No. It's called Full Self-Driving (Supervised) for a reason. The driver has to stay alert and ready to take over at any time. It's a driving aid, not a replacement for paying attention.

Why did you pick all-wheel drive instead of the cheaper rear-wheel drive option?

Colorado winters. I wanted the extra traction for snow and mountain roads, and that mattered more to me than saving money upfront.

Have you traded in your old car yet?

Not yet. I'm still driving my Nissan Altima and will trade it in when the Tesla is delivered, not before.