Hulk Smash!

I’ve ranted in the past about being rope-a-dope’d into a state of exhausted fury by annoying automotive technology. Well, I’ve got fodder for a fresh rant. This past week, I had a new BMW X to test drive (you can read the review here). Overall, not a bad car. But there are some things about it that would have me breaking out the ball peen hammer. To wit:

Buckle-up . . . your groceries

So I went shopping at the local boutique food place – which has an excellent deli – and bought myself a sub to go, along with a few bags of take-home food. Climb in the car, place groceries and sub on the empty passenger seat. Some people text and drive – I like to eat and drive. So, I like to have my food accessible. But BMW – and not just BMW – doesn’t want me to put bags of groceries (or even a deli sub) on the passenger seat. Not unless they’re buckled-up for safety, that is. Fail to do that and the ultra-annoying (because it’s relentless, loud and can’t be ignored) buzzer and light show commences. The only solution is to buckle-up the groceries (or the sandwich). Reach over, grab the bastard belt and insert the male end of the clip into the female receptacle. This will at last shut the damn light and sound show down. But now you have to fumble through/over/around the stupid belt to get at your stuff.

Maybe you think groceries should be stowed in the cargo area. Not that it’s any of your business where in my car I put my stuff – but, ok. It’s still not enough to avoid a sudden startling by the buzzer/light. The sensors in the seat are so sensitive that even a sub sandwich will trigger the show. Even resting your hand there can do it. This is not just an X3 – or BMW – thing. It is an all new cars thing. And they wonder why half the country is on either anti-depressants – or high blood pressure meds.

Luckily, there is an end-run. A modern-day take on the ‘ol catalytic converter “test pipe.” Lookee here.

Yeah (cue John Lovitz) … that’s the ticket!

Nanny transmission

Not to be mean to BMW… but this same X3 did something I didn’t think possible – and which left my stuttering with fury. I am also a guy – a Gen X guy – who does not like back-up cameras. They are two dimensional and have a limited field of view. I prefer to use my eyes. Sometimes, when backing up a car at my place (aka Redneck Graceland) I like to open the driver’s side door and look out behind as I back-up. Well, I did this in the X3 – and the car’s computer jumped in and put the transmission in neutral – while squawking at me like Myrna Goodwin, Fifth Grade Substitute Teacher, to close the door!Saaaaaaaaaaaaafety! The transmission – electronically controlled, ‘natch – would not accept any commands until the door was no longer “ajar.”

I was really hoping to get in maybe 50 years or so of the adult experience – you know, being able to decide things for myself – before being ushered into my second childhood at around 75. Instead, the car companies have become our parents – a preview of what is to come when we enter the Old Folk’s Home. It’s time for your pills, Mr. Peters. Time to go to bed, Mr. Peters. Oh no, Mr. Peters, you can’t eat that. You know that it’s bad for your cholesterol… .

There’s no way to defeat this deal, either. It’s not like the “safety” buzzer – which you can find and smash (or just unplug). This bug is deeplyembedded in the all-controlling computer that runs the car. There’s no escape. Sit down, stop fidgeting. Eyes ahead. Now open to chapter three and read along with me, children … .

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