You know those bucket list items that sound great in theory but feel like punishment in reality? That was me… renting a Tesla through Turo for a quick family trip to Tucson. I had high hopes—new experience, eco-friendly, sleek ride, podcast girl in a futuristic car. What could go wrong?

Spoiler: everything.

Memorial Day Monday Morning we prescheduled a Day Trip Turo Rental - I thought TESLA to TUCSON! We showed up for our scheduled pickup and the car wasn’t even ready. Not washed, not fully charged, not even cleaned out. It was giving not “luxury EV experience.”

BUT—let’s talk about why we were going to Tucson in the first place. Thanks to the Culture Pass from the Phoenix Public Library, we scored free admission to the Reid Park Zoo in Tucson.

Nearly 60% of the battery drained just getting from Phoenix to Tucson. And guess who got pulled over in the middle of it? Yep—me. Luckily, the sheriff was more interested in asking, “So do you like the car?” than giving me a ticket. He also question why the Tucson Zoo? We were warned it was “small,” but honestly- more relieved to get out of the ticket and pretty impressed by this “little” zoo.

Atlas loved the elephants. Jose I loved the literal “cool zone” in the kids’ area—fans, misting, shade. It felt like a mirage. And yes, the Tesla charged (barely) in the zoo parking lot. Four hours and $14 later, we got… 4% more battery to take us to our next destination: FOOD.

We found Little Anthony's Diner, a hidden gem with kid-friendly vibes, an old-school arcade, fun decor, and delicious comfort food. It gave us the morale boost and french dip we didn’t know we needed. Next, a little detour to Trail Dust Town—a historic Western-themed ghost town that was (surprise!) closed for Memorial Day. But we had it to ourselves, pretending to be old westerners. As for the Tesla? Still basically dead. We found a janky charger outside a random real estate office and only got a few more percentages in the battery to find a real charger… the Telsa Supercharger. Tucson only has 3 and after joining the line of Teslas and parking for 40 minutes we got a FULL CHARGE and PINK BERRY!

Back to Phoenix we went. Once we were home, we had to recharge to return the car. We parked at the Target Tesla Supercharger near us, where Atlas got to “drive” (aka push all the buttons, make fart sounds, and summon Santa mode).

We dropped off the rental (which now felt like a very expensive lemon) and I got back into my trusty gas-powered Nissan Rogue. And that’s when it hit me—I LEFT MY OWALA BOTTLE IN THE TESLA! Dont make me go back!

But Tucson? We'll be back!

XoXo

Britt

Happy Valentine’s Day to me! I got a new car! I deserve it for all the hard work and love I put into everything I do. It may not be the perfect timing, but what is? I had plans to eventually upgrade; my car’s issues starting piling up and I had to start looking at my options. Buying a car can be overwhelming, so here are a few things that helped me along the way.

Always be looking- if you get to rent cars often or can visit auto shows keep in mind what you enjoy driving and what is best for your situation. Growing up I loved attending auto shows with my dad and now as an adult i feel like Enterprise’s choose your car is like that version of it.

Keep your current car up to maintenance- I recommend looking under your hood often, learning how to check your oil and if you ever need work done, see if you can YouTube it or price match it. With my Chrysler I’ve learned i can jump the power window but i can’t replace the battery on my own. When my list of to-dos became greater and more expensive than the car itself it was time to look at other options more seriously.

It’s 2020 you can buy your car from a vending machine- At first, I went online, downloaded apps, kept an eye out for commercials and dealership offers, but CarMax is my place! I was there in 2014 buying my previous car and with the offer they’re are giving me for it, i knew we could work something out. Maybe it’s because i love shopping at Costco (word on the street they are closing the metro center one in Phoenix) ,but CarMax is ALSO a superstore. Based on my budget and key features there were over 15 cars on the lot alone and more in the state and even more nationwide.

Test drive and do all the things: freeway, U turns, parking, stoplights- It’s a big commitment and don’t let anyone but you tell you it feels right. I do appreciate CarMax is hassle free customer service but at the end of the day it’s sales.

Do you own financing research and put a down payment- Buying a car is a huge financial responsibility and the more you educate yourself the better you will feel and the better your overall wellness will be. Just because the dealership offers financing doesn’t mean it’s your only option. This is my second time going through this process and for me, my bank, Navy Federal provides the best rates and works perfectly for my situation. Everyone is different so do your research and ask around if your financial institutions offer any deals or special rates for car buyers.

Sleep on it- Don’t make a rational decision. Of course the salesman is going to assume the sale and the next thing you know you’re signing your life away. When i go in, the first time, intend to go home empty handed. I need to sleep on it and still have that same want and desirable feeling the next day. That’s when you know it’s a good decision to make.

So why the Nissan Rouge? Time for my big girl car. As a wife and a homeowner i knew my next car was bigger: SUV/Crossover/Truck. Also with my profession, i commute a lot, so gas mileage is a huge deal maker for me too so that rules out trucks. I love foreign cars and will never buy American (again) and i knew a Nissan would last me the next 10-12 years with no big headaches. The maintenance on the car is within my reach and the reviews on safety and reliability are through the roof. Plus we added the MaxCare plan adding additional warranties for the whole vehicle. Did we have to get AWD, no but living in AZ we want to take more adventures on and Find Arizona. I am in love and discovering more features and reasons why it was the right choice every time I drive it.

So who is ready for an adventure? California? Fossil Creek? Around the block? Let’s go.

XoXo

Britt