A 12-day Oregon and Washington Tesla rental sold them on FSD and a Model Y of their ownThe Cool DownLeigh CookSun, September 27, 2026 at 7:06 PM UTCAdd us on GooglePhoto Credit: iStockFor one couple traveling across Oregon and Washington, a nearly two-week Tesla rental triggered a much larger expense: the decision to buy one.They used the Model Y on winding coastal roads, through tunnels and roundabouts, and in busier city traffic, then finished the trip ready to get one themselves.Here's what to knowIn a YouTube video that the couple, Zarko and Tressa, shared through their BZ Travel – Unfiltered Journeys (@bztravel) account, they said that Tesla's Full Self-Driving, or FSD, driver-assistance feature changed the trip enough that they later visited a dealership and placed an order.They said they chose the Model Y rental on purpose because they wanted to see how FSD would perform on unfamiliar roads and in the kinds of stressful driving situations that usually make travel harder.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe pair said the beginning felt tense, but that discomfort faded as the car made it through tight corners, tunnels, construction areas, and heavy traffic while they stayed alert in the front seats.At one point, one described the appeal as "It is like having a private driver."They said one of the biggest surprises came in Astoria, where Tressa grew up, as the system made quick lane changes and reacted faster than expected to surrounding traffic.In their view, the real "cost" wasn't the rental fee itself, but the fact that the experience pushed them to buy a vehicle.That payoff is telegraphed from the start of the video with the warning, "Don't test drive a Tesla and don't rent one. It's going to cost you thousands of dollars," and by the end they had put down a deposit on a new Model Y.More backgroundInstead of a controlled demo or a short dealership test drive, they used the car on a longer trip built around the kinds of situations that often make people uneasy about driving somewhere new.AdvertisementAdvertisementThey said "Chill" mode felt better in smaller towns, while the standard setting sometimes seemed too aggressive and at times appeared to travel 5 to 8 miles per hour over the speed limit.Their experience also reflects a broader appeal of EVs: less tailpipe pollution, quieter driving, and fewer routine maintenance needs than gas-powered vehicles, including no oil changes.Commenters also pointed to the practical benefits.One wrote: "My husband and I now have the freedom to go places we wouldn't have gone in our car since he had tonsil cancer he had side effects turning his head and I really do not enjoy driving this car has changed us for the better."What can be done?Zarko and Tressa said the different driving modes noticeably affected speed behavior, and that feeling comfortable with the car's choices mattered just as much as what the system could technically do.AdvertisementAdvertisementBy the end of the trip, they were saying, "We're not planning to buy a new car, but I think we're buying a new Tesla as soon as we come back home."Where can I learn more?For a fuller picture of Tesla's Full Self-Driving feature, these stories look at the technology from several angles. They cover expert concerns, Tesla's defense of FSD, and owner-reported driving issues.• Experts said Tesla's alpha-level driving feature should never have reached customers so soon.• Tesla defended its supervised Full Self-Driving, insisting the car can handle nearly everything.• One Tesla owner said major savings with EV driving made the switch easy to recommend.AdvertisementAdvertisementGet TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.