OK I'm spacing out

Wait until you buy the next generation of car...

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

...with a key fob that tells the car you're approaching and unlocks the doors for you. You'll be bumping your nose into the house and shop doors all the time.

Re: Wait until you buy the next generation of car.

john lucas

I don't like all this automation on cars. My mechanic got locked in a Corvette that had a bad battery and couldn't get out. He had to wait about 15 minutes until it had just enough charge to unlock the door. The customer brought it in with a bad battery. Wally put it on charge for about 30 minutes and then moved it to a parking spot until he could finish some other jobs. Went out to get it. Stepped in shut the door and the car wouldn't start and he couldn't get out. The window was open just a little but he had some mile larengitis that day and couldn't yell to his employee to come an get him out.

I had the same issue sort of. Came out of the doctors office and could not get into my car. I thought it was the Key fob so I used the key to open the door. The car would not start. Now I wasn't sure if it was the key fob or the battery. I was 300 yards from Sam's so I gambled and bought a battery. Got it back to the car but then what. I could not open the tailgate to get my jumper cables or tools. Could not get any of the other doors open. I crawed into the back seats and lowered them. Crawled over them and was able to get the cover to my spare tire open enough to get the jumper cables out. Then got the car started and was able to get the back door open to get my tools to change the battery. I was ready to buy my 63 Ford Falcon back. Everything always worked on that that.

I'm the idiot...

Tony Memphis

That stand in front of the sink waving his hands under the faucet waiting for the water to start flowing....our faucets here at the office are all automated, as are the towel dispensers. Can't tell you how many times I fins myself elsewhere...wonder what folks think when they seen me do that?!?

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of all of the "conveniences" on the new cars. Remember using a coat hanger to get in your car? I do appreciate not needing a key and such, but.... I drive a hybird and it has all the latest bells and whistles in addition to being a very complex machine. I like it though and I appreciate the 50+mpg. I admit thought that a lot of the bells and whistles seem not very practical to me. I'll never use all the "stuff" on the display. Glad it at least has a knob for volume!

Re: I'm the idiot...

John K Jordan

I catch myself trying to press on a word in a paper book to look up the definition. The Kindles have spoiled me.

A few things about the modern cars are frustrating such as the way the my new Jeep Cherokee automatically puts on the emergency brake if I open the door to see the ground and obstacles when backing up, say to hitch up a trailer in a tight spot. I know it's trying to protect me from falling out of the moving car but I wish I could turn that off.

JKJ

Re: I'm the idiot...

Tony Memphis

Yep. My Honda applies goes back into park if the door is not open and the seat belt is not attached...all I wanted to do was back it 4 ft so I could move the garbage can! I'm an engineer by day and I love electronics and gadgets and such, but I think the marketing folks are involved in the engineering! I work at a large corporation and I see it daily - we bring everything down to the lowest denominator. Unfortunately, that is pretty low. On the positive side, I do like the Honda (its an Insight). Very nice car and I'm sure it will be reliable for years to come. Very affordable by today's standards as well. No 'real' complaints. So, I must applaud the folks at Honda. Nice work!

Re: I'm the idiot...

Dick Hines

I bought a be F 150 in Nov. The owner' Manuel is about a foot thick. I have to look in it every time I drive the truck. Love the truck but not all the comouter trap.

Almost wish I still had my old F100.