Memoir
/ˈmemˌwär/ noun. a record of events written by a person having intimate knowledge of them and based on personal observation. Usually memoirs. an account of one's personal life and experiences; autobiography. the published record of the proceedings of a group or organization, as of a learned society.
It’s a fact that material things can never bring us ultimate happiness in life. But every so often something you purchase elevates the quality of your life so much that you begin to feel a certain emotional bond with that object. This has definitely been the case with my Tesla Model 3. It was expensive, yes, but has delivered an ridiculous amount of joy for those dollars.
Memoir Monday has grown so much that I won’t be able to comment on everyone’s posts anymore (and get my own work done) but I’ll still be supporting your posts with reblogs, votes, and shares on my other social media accounts (X, Facebook, etc.).
For all of those who’ve regularly participated in Memoir Monday - keep going, you’re making great progress in chronicling your very own life story for future generations to enjoy.
For those who missed the inaugural post explaining what the Memoir Monday initiative is all about you can find it here.
Now for next week’s Memoir Monday prompt:
What is one of the most expensive things that you’ve ever bought?
My answer:
Aside from a home, the most expensive thing I’ve ever purchased is my 2022 Tesla Model 3. I first test drove a Model 3 in 2019, shortly after its release, and was instantly captivated. The car felt like a time machine, propelling me 20 years into the future. Right then and there, I decided: someday, I would own one. So, I started diligently saving.
Fast forward to March 2022…I finally decided to make my dream a reality, though not without some jitters. While vacationing in Sedona, AZ, I placed my order through Tesla’s website from our Airbnb. At the time, Tesla was struggling to keep up with demand, and my delivery date was delayed several times. I ultimately had to wait until August to take delivery.
In April, I sold my 2016 Toyota Prius to Carvana for an exceptional price, thanks to the still-inflated used car market driven by pandemic-era supply chain disruptions. Remarkably, I made a profit on a car I’d driven for four years which was a first for me. That fortunate timing softened the blow of overpaying for the Tesla, which I later realized cost nearly twice the current price of the same Model 3.
During the four carless months (April to August), I dove into Tesla content, binge-watching videos to learn everything I could about my soon-to-arrive EV. Despite Tesla’s reputation for user-friendly design, there’s a surprising learning curve for first-time electric vehicle (EV) owners. After over three decades of driving gas-powered cars, it felt like my brain needed rewiring. Sure, you can just get in and drive, but I wanted to understand the nuances: charging, maintenance, settings, and how to make the most of the experience.
Finally, delivery day happened on August 10 of 2022. It was a "contactless pickup" so I didn't even talk to a salesperson. I picked up my key card and the app told me where my car was on the lot. Embarrassingly, I couldn't even figure out how to get the car to go at first. It took about two years to fully adjust to the ins and outs of owning an EV. But now, all those initial uncertainties are behind me. I get in my Model 3 and drive it like any other car—only significantly better.
GreyMatter (you have to name your car in the Tesla app) is, without question, the best, most capable, and most enjoyable vehicle I’ve ever owned. Every drive still feels futuristic. The car’s technology is at least a decade ahead of most internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, and Tesla’s over-the-air software updates continually improve existing features and introduce new ones. The climate control preconditions the car so it’s warm in winter and cool in summer. It can either out-accelerate most muscle cars or be as tame as a Prius, depending on the settings you choose.
In nearly three years of ownership, the only maintenance I’ve done is rotating the tires and refilling the windshield washer fluid. The Model 3 performs as well in the snow as our Subaru and has saved me thousands of dollars in fuel costs. Honestly, it feels odd now to fill up the Subaru at a gas station.
The only downside has been the disdain some people have for electric vehicles. The media’s disinformation campaigns have turned many against them, and the negativity can be disheartening. Are EVs for everyone? Probably not. But for me, this car has been a perfect fit—and worth every penny. I don’t believe EVs should be mandated, but they’ve undeniably earned their place in the global transportation mix.
Happy New Year to all of my regular readers! I thank you for the support and engagement you've given me in 2024. I hope 2025 brings you all that you've wished for!
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I read your post and I feel like you are talking to me about a very distant future. In my country the vehicle fleet is aging a lot, my car is 17 years old and my wife's is 20 years old, cars have not been produced in the country for many years. I don't know if at some point electric cars will arrive. Thank you for sharing dear @ericvancewalton . Happy New Year. A big hug from Maracay.
I like the older cars too. I owned a 2002 Saturn that I kept for about 12 years. It was fairly reliable and easy to work on. Time will tell how well the Tesla holds up. That's one thing I worry about. The powertrain is warrantied for 8 years but if the main battery dies after that it'll mean about a $5k bill for a replacement. On the bright side I've seen reports of some Teslas still going strong with over 400,000 miles on them so I guess time will tell. Happy New Year to you my friend! Thank you.
Gee, $5000 for a battery is quite a lot of money. Anyway that's the future, electric cars will step by step gain followers. Happy day dear friend.
Hello GreyMatter (imagine the sound like the Google Lady 🫣😁) while many people around saying bad things about EV, I keep a wish to have one just because it's almost soundless, won't polluted the ears (air too).
It's a bit shocking to know that even after reading, watching and learning about the car before it is delivered, you still can't get it to go 🫣😅 @ericvanwalton you have that day too.
Now I can imagine that if it was me, I couldn't even locate the car🤣🤣 that happened when I drive my hubby scooter alone, I don't know which one was the scooter in the parking lot🤦🤭
I'll figure out what's the most expensive thing I ever bought, before I create the post😅 I like cheap things.
I can say after three years of ownership that most of the negative things we hear reported on the news about EVs are false or exaggerated. If you get a chance to test-drive one I'd highly recommend it.
The thing that confused me about driving it the first time is I needed to pair my phone with the car so it recognized my phone as the key. As soon as I got that part sorted I was good. Lol.
A couple of years ago I went with my daughter to Massachusetts, and she rented an electric car. It was a pain finding a fast charging station for it. It was not a Tesla, and the Tesla charging places would not work on it.
Oh no! I bet that was a pain! Most other brands can now charge at Tesla SuperChargers. The other manufactures have adopted the Tesla plug as their standard. I probably wouldn't buy another brand, except for maybe Rivian, Hyundai, or Lucid.
I would buy one because I could charge it at home but if I had to rent one and find charging stations, no thank you. I would also need to win the lottery.
The one in or near Fall River Massachusetts only did Tesla. This was last year so hopefully they have changed it. I think the car was a KIA. We were in Boston and people were honking at us and she was doing nothing wrong. Later I noticed the rental company gave us a car with FL tags, I guessed that was why we were getting honked at.
That's the best part, charging at home! Since I've been able to do that it's costing me less that 1/3rd of the price of gas to charge. The prices are really coming down now too. The used EVs are a really good bargain right now. You can pick one up just a couple years old for less than $20k and unless they've been in a flood or something the Teslas are so simple mechanically that they're bulletproof for the most part.
They were showing their love for Florida with those honks!
🥰 You look good in the car😊 It is worth an achievement having an electric vehicle.
Thank you!
It is my house which I bought 5 years ago in value of $100.000 today.
That's a big purchase!
Very cool! I am glad it has turned out to be everything you hoped it would be. Especially for the cost. It's never a fun thing when stuff doesn't live up to our expectations. I think my largest purchase besides our house is probably one of our vehicles or our travel trailer. Things like that aren't cheap at all!
Thanks, my friend. The past year has been especially challenging and, funny as it sounds, the car has been a bit of a bright spot, something to look forward to. I bet you've gotten every bit of your money's worth with the RV.
Yeah, we definitely put it through the paces each year. We already have three trips booked for next year and probably four more to schedule when the window opens.
I'm going to end the year with a compliment: you look very handsome in that car. ;)I like to read that you have done very well with your car and that the investment has been worth it. There is nothing like seeing that you have made an excellent purchase. I'll talk about my most expensive purchase for sure. I hope you had a great Christmas, Eric. Hugs to you
Thank you Nancy! I was so excited that day I picked it up, it kind of felt like a dream. I had the "Tesla glow". Lol. I can't wait to read your entry. I'm trying to imagine what it might be. I wish you a very Happy New Year!
#hive #posh
A lovely cat
Thanks