Larry, 98, has bought a new Tesla Model Y and uses FSD (Supervised) for regular trips. His first car was a 1931 Ford Model A roadster. The story was shared in a video published by The Fast Lane EV. Larry spoke about his driving history, his new Tesla and the way he uses FSD and Grok during daily travel.
From a Ford Model A to a Model Y
Larry said he has owned more than 100 cars during his life. His collection has included five Ford Mustangs and a BMW 750i that he drove for about 10 years. He and his wife now own two Teslas. Larry chose the Model Y after deciding that its higher seating position would make entry and exit easier. He said the vehicle has more room than the other Tesla model he considered.
Larry bought the car rather than leasing it. He wanted a silver vehicle and paid an extra $2,000 for the color. The car was purchased in Arizona and delivered in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
His first car was very different from the Model Y. “My first car was a Model A Ford, a 1931 roadster. It was a piece of junk,” Larry said in the video. He added that the car still took him where he needed to go during high school.
Charging on longer trips
Larry said he first had doubts about buying an electric vehicle. His main concern was having to stop and charge during road trips. That concern changed after he used the Model Y on longer drives. He said the trip from Arizona covered about 400 miles and required one charging stop of roughly 25 minutes. Tesla’s route planning directed him to a Supercharger and helped him reach the station before the battery became too low.
Once the car arrived at the charger, Larry only had to plug it in. He said he did not need to use a credit card or speak with anyone before leaving.
He later drove the Model Y to Colorado for a weekend trip. Larry said the car performed well during that drive, and he did not report any problems with the vehicle.
At home, he charges the Model Y from a plug in his garage. During the interview, he said the vehicle had about 97 miles of range remaining and that he planned to charge it that night.
Larry’s experience with FSD
Larry said he had used FSD (Supervised) for about two or three months when the interview was recorded. He said the system had not made what he considered a driving error during that time.
“It has no problems. In fact, the other day FSD stopped when a chipmunk was crossing the road,” Larry said. The car stopped even though there was no other traffic nearby. The incident became one of the most memorable parts of the interview. It does not establish how FSD would respond to every small animal or obstacle, but it describes one event that Larry found reassuring.
Grok handles voice requests
Larry uses Grok to set destinations without typing the address into the center display. In the video, he asks the system for directions to the Purple Cow, and the vehicle starts a route to the location.
The voice system gives him another way to select a destination. That can be useful for drivers who would rather speak than search through menus on a touchscreen.
Larry said he learned the vehicle’s controls fairly quickly. He did not describe himself as highly skilled with technology, but he said the basic functions were easy for him to pick up.
And he does not let the car make every decision. When FSD chooses a route he does not want, he takes control for a short time. He described using the turn signal to guide the car around a corner before handing control back to the system.
When FSD needs help
The video includes a moment when the Model Y does not take Larry directly to the Purple Cow. The vehicle appears to continue past the intended location, and Larry says he is unsure why it chose that path. He then presses the brake and takes control. The correction is quick, and he resumes the drive without a long interruption.
Larry said he makes similar corrections in parking lots. He finds those areas harder for the system because they often have unusual entrances, unclear paths and few painted lines. In those situations, he may use the brake or steering controls and drive the car himself.
He said the Model Y can keep its position on roads without visible lane markings. Larry described the system as reliable during sharp turns and when passing slower vehicles, but the interview still records moments that require his input.
A more relaxed driving experience
Larry said he has been driving for about 80 years. After so much time behind the wheel, he no longer wants to check every intersection, nearby vehicle and traffic movement on his own.
He said FSD lets him spend less effort on those tasks. Larry told the interviewers that he feels completely relaxed when the system is active, and he said he trusts it fully.
Performance and local driving
Larry said the Model Y has driven in snow and performed well during storms. He has spent decades driving in the Farmington area, so he knows local shortcuts and often has a preferred route. He sometimes changes the car’s path when it selects a road he does not want. Larry said the system can record driver corrections, which may give Tesla information about situations where the car’s decision did not match the driver’s choice.
Parking areas remain a weaker part of his experience. Larry said the car can handle them after entering, but he prefers to take control when the layout becomes unusual.
The Model Y’s acceleration has given him another reason to enjoy the car. During the drive, the interviewers joked about a Mustang nearby, then pointed out that the Tesla can reach 60 mph in about three seconds, depending on the vehicle version.
Larry said several friends have ridden in the Model Y and told him they were considering buying a Tesla. Their interest grew after seeing FSD handle parts of the drive.
The interviewers said they had tested a Model Y themselves and had found it reliable in their own drives.
Larry’s story offers a personal account from a driver who has spent most of his life using conventional cars. He moved from a 1931 Ford Model A to gasoline performance cars and a luxury BMW before choosing an electric SUV with voice controls and supervised driver assistance.
You can watch the full interview below:
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