I’m … well … sort of dying … from a rare heart condition called Restrictive Cardiomyopathy (Non-Tropical Eosinophilic Endomyocardial Fibrosis).
It’s a form of low-output heart failure, meaning: my extremities don’t swell up, but my batteries are running at significantly lower-than-normal voltage and don’t hold a charge. When your voltage is low, nothing works right.
I hit glare ice in mid-November in my car.
Prior to that, my car was damaged in two successive hail storms in two successive years. The second time, they called it a total loss. Between my unique circumstances and the fact that I like the car, I ‘bought it,’ but it now has a salvage title and no collision coverage. The damage from the spinout – while not bad – isn’t of interest to the local body shops and renders the car undriveable (busted windshield, hanging front bumper).
Which puts me in a tough spot.
I usually can’t drive safely, but when I can … I can. I don’t drive far or often. The mid-November thing was a cardiology visit. I should have stayed home based on a severe weather forecast, but … didn’t.
I have vision issues that overwhelmingly affect high-acuity tasks, primarily at near. I can’t use a Smart Phone, so Uber/Lyft are right out. It’s beyond my capacities, and interest, to shop for a used car. I also … don’t have a working car to go looking
So I’ve been thinking…
What about a Tesla – maybe a Model 3 with AWD and good all-season tires or snow tires?
Let’s forget legality, morality, and ethics for a moment and take this in a factual context: COULD a Tesla get me around town, capably, including in low-traction winter days, if I’m … how best to say it … slightly impaired?
In other words, let’s use alcohol as an analogy: two beers or two glasses of wine – maybe three … you’d drive your car but you wouldn’t drive your motorcycle or operate your table or chain saw.
Hopefully.
Know what I mean?
If I got pulled over for something, it would neither be obvious nor likely that I am/was legally impaired. I also wouldn’t use it as a way to allow me TO go places when I otherwise don’t think I can or should.
But I think about things like … if the dog has a medical emergency and I have to get him to the vet. Currently, I’m screwed. I’d have to call somebody and that isn’t always a viable option.
For a number of years, I’ve really only picked up curbside grocery pickup, and driven the dog to various walking paths, all within about five miles of my home. On poor condition days, I generally stay home. The cardiologist visit was exceptional and I chose wrong.
So … for those Tesla owners … in terms of the car’s /capability/, do you think it would work? Is it good enough to get you around town, including in poor road conditions, without your help?