October 3, 2022 - In 1955 my father, Cecil, purchased a new Chevrolet, the one with the new V8 engine. It was also air-conditioned, and with power brakes and steering. I thought this to be a really “up town” automobile. I did not get to drive it very much as I left for college soon after.
I mention that car as it relates my story about the car I purchased in 2019. I bought a new Chevrolet Malibu with the new V6 engine. I was not aware that these new type automobiles are practically driven by computers. I detest computers, but there is no way to escape them in today’s society. So, one just has to grin and bear it, and learn to operate computers. In fact, I am suggesting that the state should now require that driver’s license applicants should also pass a computer course in order to be licensed.
My Chevrolet has many amenities, some that I am just now discovering. It does not have a lock on the glove compartment as cars used to. I would love to have a lock there as it adds another layer of hardship to someone trying to get into it.
Due to my lack of computer technology, I have had to take my new Chevrolet back to the dealer on three occasions because of things that go wrong with the car. There is a computer which regulates all the functions as it relates to speedometer readings, gas tank information, and other functions. In order to check on items while driving the car, I have to learn to manipulate the computer via buttons on the steering wheel.
I can now check miles per hour, engine temperature, cabin temperature, outside temperature, and my wife’s temperature. It tells me the tire air pressure on all four tires, probably on the spare tire if I knew how to access it. It tells me which direction I am headed, North, South, East, or West. Now that I am old, that really comes in handy. It reminds me which gear it is in. (No, “N” does not mean “night”, and “D” does not mean “day”) It lets me know if a tire is low on air, but if a tire goes flat, it won’t help me change to the spare tire.
When I turn off the engine, the car reminds me to “look in the back seat”. I suppose that is to remind people who have infants in car seats to check and not leave them there. So far, I have not left Clara in the car. The computer tells me how the gas mileage is going, at last reading it was 32.5 mpg. It reminds me when I should change the engine oil. It also reminds me when a door is ajar (I always thought that a door was never a jar)…
Now I can check the computer to advise me how many miles that I can go with the amount of gas in the tank….isn’t that great..! Last time I checked it read “331 miles” on three quarters full tank. If I knew how to handle the GPS system, it would navigate me to my destination. But, so far, I know how to get to my destination without its assistance. I might use it more if I knew how to load in the information into it.
And so it goes with my computer driven car. I know that computers are somewhat delicate and break down. So, I am not looking forward to the day when the computer in my car decides to die as I understand that they are quite expensive to repair or replace. I can remember what my father used to say about all the new gadgets on new cars. “Son, the more gadgets they put in new cars, the more things that can go wrong. Just stick to the basics.” I do believe that he was right.
So, I might see you at the dealership getting another lesson on car computers. Now I am trying to figure out how to use the car radio. It has much more than just the radio.
