Hey friends, most days I’m deep in the weeds of IT architecture, ransomware threats, and cloud migrations. But today’s post is a personal one. It’s not about backend systems or patch management. It’s about the front seat of a new kind of ride.

My family just made a big tech move. We’re getting a Tesla Model Y 7 seater. It’s sleek, fast, and can drive itself. Sounds like a dream, right? But for me, someone who lives in the Apple ecosystem and preaches cybersecurity best practices, it’s also a privacy nightmare I’ve tried to avoid.

Let’s rewind.

We’re a family of six, and while our minivan gets the job done, it feels like giving up. The Model Y has a third row, enough space, and most tempting of all, Full Self Driving (FSD). Later this year, Tesla promises unsupervised hands and eyes off driving. That’s not sci fi. It’s Level 3 autonomy, and as someone who’s watched AI evolve up close at CyberStreams, I had to know what this future really feels like.

But it hasn’t been an easy decision.

My Three Big Hang Ups

1. Privacy in the Rearview
Post 2021 cars are basically mobile surveillance units. Mozilla’s 2023 report called out nearly every major automaker for collecting disturbing levels of data—location, behavior, even biometrics. Tesla’s no exception. Between its always on cameras and Sentry Mode, I worry about how much is being logged. Yes, Tesla says the data is anonymized. But then came a 2024 breach showing leaked internal clips from employee dashboards. So yeah, I’m opting out where I can and documenting how.

2. Charging ≠ Fueling
Gas is easy. Charging is a whole new routine. The Model Y boasts a 320 mile range and gains 200 miles in 15 minutes at a Supercharger, which is solid but not quite gas level fast. Still, with four kids, every road trip includes at least one bathroom stop, so maybe the pause isn’t a dealbreaker. Plus, EVs save about 40 percent on “fuel” costs, according to AAA. I’m tracking ours to see how real that savings is.

3. Goodbye, CarPlay
This one hurts. I’m all in on Apple—iPhone, Mac, AirPods, you name it. Tesla doesn’t support Apple CarPlay. No Siri, no seamless Maps or Music. It runs its own OS on a giant 15 inch touchscreen. It’s impressive, but it’s not my flow. There are hacks—adapters, custom firmware—but I haven’t decided if I’ll patch it together or just surrender to Tesla’s way.

Why I Still Jumped
In the end, the FSD promise won me over. I’m curious, cautiously optimistic, and more than a little skeptical. Privacy is a tradeoff. Charging will take getting used to. Losing CarPlay will sting. But if this is where the tech world is heading, I want to understand it from the inside, not just the sidelines.

Three Takeaways & Next Steps

1. Opt Out Where You Can
Read your vehicle’s data policies. Tesla allows some controls over what’s stored and shared. Use them.

2. Test the Autonomy
I’ll be putting Tesla’s Full Self Driving to the test. Is it incredible or is it hype? I’ll find out.

3. Prepare to Ditch CarPlay
If you’re an Apple ecosystem loyalist, know what you’re giving up. Workarounds exist, but it’s not the same.

Conclusion: Trading Control for Curiosity
This wasn’t a tech purchase. It was a tech leap. A leap from the comfort of gas and privacy to the cutting edge of automation and surveillance. I’m still navigating my own discomfort with that.

But I believe the best way to understand the future is to drive right into it.

I’ll keep sharing updates on the tech, the hacks, the wins, and the regrets. And if you’re wrestling with a similar decision, hit me up. Let’s figure it out together.

Because sometimes, the best way to stay in control… is to let go of the wheel.

Thanks for reading