Kickin’ it old school

Over the weekend I spent a liesurely day shopping with my mother (because a girl’s mother is her best and worst critic, always). This might not seem like the start of an automotive-related blog, but trust me, oh faithful reader, it is.

I’ve not had a press vehicle for a few weeks now, and so my husband and I have been sharing the Subie between us. As my mother and I chose to go on our retail excursion on a Saturday, I thought it would be nice to not leave my husband trapped at home, and instead take my mother’s car to our various shopping locations.

My mother drives a 2007 Nissan Rogue S with AWD. It’s blue, and it’s covered in bumps, scratches and God knows what else. My mother, (who I love very much, despite all this), just doesn’t take great pride in her vehicles and she tends to … well … to destroy them. Her previous Sentra was accidented twice and even ended up in a ditch somewhere on a country road in the winter (hence moving to an AWD Rogue this time around).

Regardless of the exterior condition of my mother’s poor car, what was most interesting about this journey was my experience driving it.

The Rogue is a fantastic little car. I have a hard time getting used to the CVT, but I know how economical it is, and for someone like my mother who’s not big on the power aspect of driving or the excitment, it’s the ideal vehicle and does the job. It’s roomy, the visibility is rockin’ and it’s generally a pleasant car to drive.

Except for one thing: It doesn’t have a key fob.

Now, I’m not as prissy as you might think I am (and I know you think I am, oh faithful reader). Each time we returned to the Rogue, arms loaded with shopping bags, I had to stop, drop my bags and rumage through my purse for the key — but not before walking up to the car and tugging frantically on the door handle forgetting that the Rogue had no idea I’d approached it and so had not unlocked itself.

I’ve gotten used to a certain level of ameneties in my vehicles. And perhaps that means I’ve grown “soft” as an auto journalist, unable to kick it old school with actual keys I need to turn in ignitions and doors I need to unlock with the press of a button. But I think I’ve simply advanced with the masses.

Key fobs are a fantastic creation and something I hope only gets better. I absolutely loved it when the dinosaur — er, I mean, the QX56 lit up its mirror lights and door handle lights as I approached the car in anticipation of me entering the car. It’s almost as if the car is saying; “Hello. Welcome back, I hope you had a pleasant night. I’ve been waiting patiently for you to come back.” Now, how nice is that? Instead of having to struggle to find a key to unlock a car that’s practically sitting there sticking its tongue out at you, locked, as you fumble for a key.

Modern technology in cars has reached an extreme, and sometimes it’s a bit too much. However, I think in the case of keyless entry and push-start ignition, the technology is right where it needs to be. And I foresee every car in the future being equipped with that as it becomes more affordable to manufacture.

By the end of the shopping outing my mother had her key ready and was unlocking the door so I was under the illusion that the Rogue was unlocking itself simply because I was approaching. That’s what mothers are for, right?

Drive on,
– M.

~ by drivingmsmiranda on October 6, 2010.