A couple of years ago, I was on holidays in Hawaii with some friends.
Every day our teenage boys would disappear - we figured they went exploring Waikiki, until they finally revealed - they had been going to Waikiki's Tesla showroom!
They were so excited and eager to show me what they discovered … so I went on an adventure trip to the showroom with them.
One of the sales staff approached us and suggested we take the car for a spin. I was too nervous since I would have to drive on the other side, so he offered to take us for a drive the next day.
The boys were so excited and if I'm honest, I was too.
The next day came and we turned up at the showroom early, eagerly waiting for our driver. He walked us to the carpark and the first thing he showed us was Tesla's smart summon feature, which is particularly useful when parked in a tight spot.
The way it works is you press a button on your mobile Tesla app and the car drives itself forward, allowing you to easily get into the car.
My jaw dropped - I had no idea that was even possible.
Next, he showed us the autopilot feature, where the car drove itself … yes completely by itself.
We also got to experience Tesla's extreme acceleration speed - from 0 to 100km in under 5 seconds! It felt like we were about to take off ...
I didn't think it could get any more impressive - until I saw the car park itself in a very tight spot (see video below).
That day I was sold!
Whilst Tesla is still a little out of my budget, it is definitely on my bucket list …
I often think of our incredible experience in Hawaii and have spoken to my brother about it on several occasions. Being a technology loving geek like me, we would sometimes discuss its incredible features.
Then I got a brilliant idea - to hire a Tesla for my brother's birthday. I jumped online and found a company called evee - Australia's only electric car-sharing website.
As an electric car owner, you can privately list your car for hire and earn extra cash. As a renter, you get to experience the future of travel for a day or a week.
I searched for Teslas near our home and found one just up the road. I booked it for the following weekend.
That weekend I surprised my brother and presented him with the gift. He was so excited … and so was I. I even made him a special bejewelled Tesla T-Shirt for the experience.
In fact, we made the Tesla Drive an all family event.
We picked up the car from the owner - a lovely guy named Gil, who spent an hour explaining how everything works. He even showed us Tesla's cosy romance mode and whoopie cushion.
Standing outside, I saw my brother roll the car out of the driveway. I was waiting to hear the roar of the engine, but no sound came. George quietly drove out …
We spent the day cruising and exploring the city. Our teenage boys were totally in awe of the car's features and capabilities.
The thing they had the most fun with was the auto summon - while my brother and I sat in the car, my son "drove" the car back and forth using the mobile phone (see video below).
The Tesla is so smart that it avoids objects in its way. So while controlling the car, my son Jordan stood in front of it and the car just drove around him. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
It's impossible to describe what it's like to drive a Tesla - it's an experience like no other. You have to try it for yourself and once you do, you'll be a raving fan.
Tesla has 4 main models:
• Model S
• Model 3
• Model X
• Model Y
It seems Elon Musk - the brain behind the car, is not only a genius but also has a sense of humour - read the letters after "Model" and you will see it spells SEXY.
Each model has its own special features and if you would like to learn more check out their website.
But whether you are interested in cars or are looking for a special experience or a gift for someone, check out evee's website and book a Tesla for the day.
I can 110% guarantee you will be blown away and will be adding Tesla to your shopping list!
