This is the final blog on our road trip. I’ve focused mostly in this series of blogs on the features of the Model 3 and the techie stuff that sets it apart from gas cars.
I think one of the coolest things about Scarlett is the driving experience and handling. And that is something that bridges ICE and EV.
After all is said and done, it’s just flat out fun to drive.
When I was a kid, I was enamored with cars. I subscribed to Motor Trend magazine. I built 1/25 scale plastic model cars. I knew a lot about a lot of the muscle cars on the market in the early 1970s.
My first car was a bright red 1974 Chevy Nova SS. I got it my senior year of high school and it was fast. I upgraded to chrome mag wheels, white letter tires, air shocks. About the time I got it, however, gas prices started climbing. And I was getting about 8 mpg.
I called the dealer where we purchased it and asked about the mileage. He asked “OK, what motor?” 350 V8. “What carburetor?” 4 barrel. “What transmission?” 4-speed. Then he said: “what do you want?”
My love for good handling cars moved on to my next car, which was a Porsche 914. That car was not as fast, but you could go into a corner almost as fast as you wanted. Good around town car. A lot better gas mileage (about 20 in town). But the maintenance was very expensive. And it occurred often. And you couldn’t do it yourself. And the seats were horribly uncomfortable. But it was so, so fun to drive!
Then I got married and we had kids and went practical. Can you say “mini-van?” Yes, two of them over the years. So my love of driving kind of got shelved for a while. After the kids grew up, I had a VW Beetle Turbo S for a lot of years and that rekindled some of that love of a fast, well-handling car.
Then I met Scarlett. It’s interesting that I would buy such an expensive car without ever driving it first. I hadn’t even SEEN a Model 3 in person. Ever.
But I had watched all the Youtube videos on Tesla and on the Model 3. All of them.
Ask Brenda.
Every one.
So when we took delivery, I pretty much knew what to expect.
I was not disappointed.
This road trip was the first big test of how Scarlett would do on a long trip. We had done a couple of 500 mile trips before, but not a long, extended trip. She did really really well.
Scarlett is quick (0-60 in about 5 seconds), nimble (you can corner almost as fast as you want), handles so well (especially on winding roads) and the seats are comfortable. And we got just under 140 MPGe. Whether we were on the boring part of I-5 South in California (thank goodness for audiobooks) or making our way North on Highway 1 through Big Sur (the highlight of the trip for me), the Tesla Model 3 hugs the road, is responsive and fun to drive. Usually I will need Brenda to occasionally drive for me on long trips because I get tired. Either the driving gets boring or my rear starts to hurt or I just get tired.
Brenda drove zero miles on our 2,000 mile road trip; she said she is OK with that, so I’ll choose to believe her.
My youthful love for driving has returned full bore.
Thank you, Tesla!