A 90-year-old's grandkids told him to buy a Tesla Model Y to help him keep his independence on the road. A Reddit post about the purchase has sparked a surprisingly practical conversation about aging, independence, and how new technology can help.
However, the learning curve that comes with high-tech cars seems to be one major drawback.
Here's what to know
On a Reddit thread in the r/TeslaModelY community, the poster said their 90-year-old neighbor had a "pristine 2023 MY" and that "his kids thought it would be a good fit for him."
The owner was stopped right away by the charging setup. According to the poster, he "couldn't remove the cable from the charging port" because the car was locked, and nobody had shown him how to use the key card at the B-pillar.
The poster said they work in healthcare and wrote, "Hope this helps keep his independence up," adding that some older adults "might just need a little help with getting around."
A commenter described self-driving as a "Digital chauffeur," and the original poster added, "He's a young 90, but still 90. His son lives about 5 houses down."
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More background
The thread centered on both the promise of EV technology for older drivers and the need for proper onboarding.
The poster said the seller "obviously didn't show him a lot," and that the lack of instruction became obvious as soon as the owner tried to use the charger and key card.
Several commenters responded with similar family stories. One mentioned parents in their 70s having "scary incidents while driving," while another described passing along a 2022 Model Y with lifetime FSD to a friend in his 80s who "had no issue adjusting to the one pedal driving."
Another commenter pointed to an even older driver, saying their 92-year-old grandfather got one "so it can drive him to his cabin 200 miles away."
What can be done?
Older drivers adopting EVs may need a hands-on walkthrough, especially on software choices that affect how the car behaves on the road.
Commenters pointed to settings that could make the vehicle easier to manage. One commenter recommended using "Chill mode" and enabling "obstacle aware acceleration," adding that a Performance model "is a lot for 90 year old reflexes."
Another commenter said they researched the car and installed a home charger before delivering it to an 80-year-old buyer.
One proposed a tiered FSD subscription for seniors: FSD at 0-399 miles for $29 a month, 400-799 miles for $59 a month, and 800+ miles for $99 a month, arguing that a senior driving about 100 miles a month should not be charged like someone logging 5,000 miles.
A commenter, who seemed optimistic about the technology, wrote: "The world is a safer place and they get their freedom."
Where can I learn more?
These stories look at the same mix of older drivers, Tesla tech, and the learning curve that can come with advanced features.
• A 93-year-old woman in a Tesla sparked debate after using Full Self-Driving alone.
• A stunned grandfather riding in a Tesla couldn't hold back emotions as the software drove.
• Tesla pushed back on criticism, saying the car does it all only under supervision.
• Experts said Tesla's alpha-level driving feature stunned them and should stay out of customers' hands.
• Tesla drivers in China were stumped by FSD woes and even hit with fines.
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