Good Afternoon All. Partly sunny and 86°.
Returned from the grocery trek a bit after noon, it was my first real drive in the new vehicle. OK I guess, it should ride well for a 2020 vehicle with only 22,000 miles on it.
RANT: No wonder newer cars cost so much. This thing has way more computers, cameras, bells and whistles on it than any qualified driver needs. OK, I am an old fashioned guy who learned to drive by paying attention to the road, not by being surrounded by flashing displays and "driving aids". This thing has a display in the center of the dashboard with lines showing the lanes, from cameras mounted somewhere! If you stray over a line or are just changing lanes, the steering wheel automatically vibrates! I know if I am in my lane, I don't need the car to tell me. Another camera is scanning the side of the road and there is a speed limit sign displayed there that changes as soon as you change to a higher or lower limit. Next to it is a display for STOP signs that the camera reads. I didn't go through anywhere with a yield sign but I suspect that it would show up as well. I guess that the orange lights on the outside side view mirrors might be handy indicating someone in the "blind spot", but isn't that the purpose of those mirrors anyway?
On the rear-view mirror is a display showing what direction you're going in, north south etc. I guess that is handy to someone who is directional-challenged, but is it really needed. Then there is the touch-screen up on the center of the dashboard that shows and controls literally hundreds of things. First of all, I can't look at it without taking my eyes off the road. Secondly, it is actually out of my reach so it does no good anyway! Plus I can't really read some of the characters. Then we come to the radio and the climate control system. Both can be controlled by knobs and buttons in the usual places. But both can also be controlled by using the touch screen, by using buttons and controls on the steering wheel, and another touch pad on the center console between the shift control and the arm rest! Four places each!
Forget the cruise control which I never use anyway even though I have had it on cars back 15 years ago. It can be set for certain spacing between you and the car in front and will brake if you get too close. I don't know if the brake lights come on to warn the following driver.
I am surprised that it doesn't print out a report card at the conclusion of the trip indicating how often you exceeded the speed limit or turned without using a turn signal! Then turning off the engine and opening the door. Everything moves! Steering wheel moves and seats move. The person in the back seat needs to watch where their knees are!
Heated and air conditioned seats are a nice touch, but I will probably never remember to use that feature. The fold-in outside mirrors when you lock the car by touch are nice since they do indicate that the car is locked; I cannot hear the locking sound. The foot thingy under the rear bumper to open the back hatch might work for someone who won't lose their balance while carrying packages, but not me.
I guess that the technology is just passing this old fart by, but it sure is making cars expensive and probably a lot harder and expensive to repair.
END OF RANT.
