time and tech

  I just recently read where there are no cars made in America with roll down windows. Jeep made the last models with those but no more. It's power windows all around. I'm old enough to remember when power windows in a car were a luxury thing. I saw my first in a Cadillac. I was impressed. I think that same car may have had a "tone bar" radio. You could just hold a little bar in, and the dial would automatically move, seeking that next station. All that was combined with an automatic headlight dimmer! There was a big eye like thing on the dashboard that dimmed your headlights whenever another car came towards you, or, anytime light was reflected back to it off a sign, or anything else for that matter. I don't think I've seen another one of those devices since. Still, I read where thy are quite common on modern automobiles, guess I'm not living that luxuriously though.

  I have had power windows quit working and repaired them. It isn't a job that is any fun. I am old school expecting things to be screwed together with real metal screws and metal. That's usually not the case anymore. All manner of strange clips, plastic and otherwise that make it difficult to disassemble. And then putting it all back is another challenge as that plastic usually breaks or the fasteners don't fasten so well anymore. I have several "kits" of various fasteners just for that reason. Window broken? Even doing it yourself you better figure a few hundred bucks. The worst I've had happen to a roll up window was the knob fall off the handle. But in all fairness power windows are very reliable these days, so I'm saying it isn't a big issue.

  I haven't ridden in any of these self driving cars I hear about. I'm not about to allow the car to drive itself anyway. If I were riding with you and you did that, I would ask to be let out! Stop the car, I'll walk. I do not have the trust in technology required to do that. For me it's the same as riding in a rollercoaster. If I can't steer it, or put on the brakes, I'd rather not ride in it! Makes me nervous you know. I feel the same way riding with some folks I know! It's all a matter of trust. When I first heard of cars that could parallel park themselves I didn't like that. What if it decides to park while doing 65 on the interstate? Haven't heard of that happening but it could. My computer decides to do things all on its' own sometimes. Then it demands permission from the administrator to change back! I'm the administrator! 

  We were supposed to have flying cars by now. We do have air cushioned vehicles, although not approved for highway use, so that's getting closer. What we need however is anti-gravity technology to avoid all that blowing air creating dust and noise. Cars are equipped with anti-crash technology today. My granddaughters car will automatically start braking if she gets too close and she gets alarms if someone is in her blind spots. Radar technology! Wonder how much that costs to get repaired? Is it part of the vehicle inspection as well? Well, it isn't anything I'm ever going to concern myself with. I've got all the technology on my car that I need. And the truth is, most of it I would remove if I could! 

  Driving a car used to be more fun. I like it when you have to actually know what you're doing. You still can't beat a manual shift, manual choke and manual controls for things like heat. Dead battery? No problem, give her a good push, hop in and pop the clutch. Controls not working, probably just a cable issue, needs an adjustment. Yeah, when a cable wasn't an electrical harness you could do that stuff. The fun in driving is in operating the vehicle. I know, such an old fashioned idea. It's the same reason people ride motorcycles you know, it's fun. Yes I remember when cars had drum brakes that didn't work so well when they got wet. You did learn about pumping the brakes and being aware of that. I've had vacuum operated wipers that didn't work when going uphill, a function of manifold vacuum. But all that was when you had to know more than you today. I remember having two keys for the car, one for the ignition and the other for the door and trunk lock. A fob? You would find a pocket watch on the end of a fob! Well, time and technology change I suppose.    

                                                                               

                                                Be sure to keep it wound.