We had taken the car for a test drive and knew the basics needed to drive it. Now, after settling the account, we were taking it home. We sat in the car as the salesman answered some questions. While I listened, my mind wondered as it often does when I have to deal with technology. This was technology at a whole new level for us, enough to challenge our old brains for years.
The vehicle is a plug-in hybrid, with a screen across the dash which requires input. I have an aversion to technology I will have to get over. As the salesman answered some questions however, my mind drifted back to 1971.
My husband had spent a year working in Labrador City working on a surveying crew which planned the way for a rail line to move iron ore to market. He made enough to buy a new Volkswagen Beetle. In September, he drove from his home in Corner Brook to university in St. John’s where we started dating. The rest is our history and the Volkswagen was an early part of that history.
Winter in Newfoundland is an experience and when the little car faced that winter, it made life interesting. The Beetle, commonly called a bug, was air cooled, not water cooled, with the result that the heat from the engine at the back of the car was blown into the foot of the passenger compartment at the front. This system was inefficient, and one had to continually scape the interior windshield of the heavy frost. That car was cold, icy even. One was glad when temperatures warmed up. My husband, then boyfriend, was pleased with his car in spite of the heater.
Back to the reality of this new vehicle…we’ve driven it for a week around town in the electric mode, recharging it periodically on a schedule meant to extend the life of the electric battery. We can turn on the heater and the radio but we can’t change stations yet. Over time, with the manual and both of us in the car, we hope to figure out how to change stations among the myriad of other things we don’t know how to do yet with that vehicle. Oh for the days of the Beetle!
Somehow I cannot see a world of electric vehicles. The infrastructure certainly isn’t available yet and will require a great deal of work to be available. The car’s batteries last 5-8 years and are expensive to replace. Much has to be solved to replace gas/diesel engines.
Meanwhile, 2023 was the hottest year on record. High winds are challenging our homes. How much more will the wind speeds increase? And what about the fires, floods, heat waves and the freezing?
There are more questions than answers.
And between the storms which include the high winds, we walk the boardwalk and watch the drama of the sky in the January light. With the ice in the bay and the sky, there is always a reason to stop and take in a scene. Being in the moment keeps us going!
50 comments:
I agree with you longing for the cars of yesteryear. Way too many additional electronic features making it more expensive to purchase and repair. I hope your hybrid works well for you and you are able to figure out the technology.
Good for you for taking on the new technology -- pretty daunting!
Hello,
Beautiful view of the coast!
I think at this point a hybrid is better than an all electric vehicle.
That's just my opinion, you are right about the infrastructure needs more work. Congrats on your new vehicle, I hope all goes well learning the new technology. Take care, have a great week!
It took me ages to figure out the simplest things on my new to me car. Windshield wipers! Lights! Turn signals! Just as well I rarely use the horn, because I can't find it without stopping and studying the wheel. Enjoy your new vehicle once you get the hang of it.
We bought a Maverick at that time, either a 70 or 71. It was even an automatic with a somewhat upgraded interior. The walkout price was slightly less than half of what I now pay for a set of hearing aids.
I also find new technology daunting. And avoid it when I can. I hope your new car brings you many, many happy moments - and love that you live in the moment.
If I were ever to buy a new vehicle, it would be a hybrid. But I know I can't afford a new one, so I'll have to wait until there are enough used ones in the market.
I have a 2007 Toyota Corolla purchased in 2010 - I can change channels, but I've yet to figure out how to set the radio station. How sad is that? Have fun with this new vehicle.
The photo looks like a painting - gorgeous!
We had a beetle back then too! A 1969, it was, and called a Superbeetle for some reason. But in q972, with our third baby being born, we traded the bug for a Chevy van. I loved that van.
I cannot imagine dealing with that heating system in your climate! I can't imagine owning an electric vehicle yet, either. Where we live it would be hard to keep it charged up, and the cost of battery replacement alone pits it out of range for us. I am glad to see this change in technology coming, though. I just hope the things like battery life, battery disposal, and source of electricity to charge them are improved very soon.
That last sentence was the best, Marie, as living in the moment is too often ignored. When I was younger, like to many others, I could not wait for certain days or events. Now that I'm older (and wiser) these things can take time in arrival. There's no longer a rush.
Good luck to you both on learning about your new vehicle. I may have missed an earlier post in which you described the make. My husband has a newer Jeep (2019) which is powered by gas and has all the bells and whistles. My car is a 2007 Jeep which has auto transmission, power windows & brakes, heater, radio which does get satellite and none of the other niceties of the newer models. But, it gets me around when I drive and don't walk, which is less often most weeks.
Technology is so daunting for me..It rather makes me "nuts"...
There is so much to learn about these new cars...just actually getting in the locked car and getting it started..oh my..I guess we all at some point long for yesterday.
You will get it right and enjoy many hours of getting from one place to another and when you get frustrated just take a wonderful walk along your boardwalk and enjoy the ever changing scenery.
Take care,
Sue
The dashboard on my son's new truck looks like the console of a large airplane to me. Good for you for taking this on. I am carefully service and repair my 20 year old van as I think I will never be able to manage all those new gadgets. I was a software designer in my working days for all that does for me now hahaha.
You are a very clever lady and you will figure out the new technology as quickly as possible. Wishing you many beautiful trips in a new car!
Oh I know what your mean. My car can do things I don't even know how to do. There are so many buttons and settings I just choose to ignore. But some of the technology make driving a safer experience as well. So I guess we just all need to get on board.
Hi Marie, This post brings a smile to my face. Yes, VWs have been in our family for years. My spouse drives a Tiguan. I can fully understand your “techno-anxiety” … that’s what I’ve heard it called and I’ve experienced it myself. I drive a Nissan. The radio has a touch screen for all operations. I yearn for the days when a simple knob allowed changing stations. And a separate knob controlled the volume. Now, I must touch a spot for “source” … radio or media … then AM or FM … then tap another button (which had to be preset) for the station to listen to. Fortunately, the volume control is still a knob. Ahhh … for the good ol’ days! 😊 No worries, though, once these steps become second nature all is well. Best wishes on the new car! John
I don't know much about electric cars. But I understand they work in more mild climate, and flat land. Not sure if that's all true or not.
I gave my Subaru with touch screen technology to my granddaughter and bought a 2012 Honda. A little tank. All I miss is the back up camera.
I would be totally lost in a car with that much technology. But I doubt if I will still be around when they finally come up with Smart Cars that will do it all for me. Enjoy your new car - when you work it out! Mxx
I hope you figured out the brakes and steering before you took off!
Congratulations on the new car. Good luck with the sophisticated new technology.
Re the Beetle. I'm surprised you and Rick are still together. True love.
I'm glad you are still able to walk the boardwalk daily.
The technology changes a lot in our times. In a future all will be electric, or with especial batteries with different elements. Because petrol is finishing.
This electric new Cars sure have the most modern technologies. I never drived one yet. It Will be one day sure.
Have a great New Year 2024, full of the best things in your Life with all your family.
There are definitely more questions than answers.
I have a long term love-hate relationship with technology. Kudos to you for your willingness to learn and adapt! So many just bury their heads in the sand, without even trying. Enjoy discovering your new vehicle capabilities. Before you know it, they will become familiar.
Random question: Doesn't the boardwalk you frequent get slippery? The ones I have walked get dicey in inclement weather. Likely due to location, often shaded.
Aurora,
The Boardwalk has a wooden path with an asphalt trail next to it. In winter, the city only plows the asphalt side and salts it at the same time. The asphalt path is well maintained and is done quickly after snowfall or in icy conditions. It is well used by the people!
Good luck with the new car.
Yes, unfortunately over time it has to happen every now and then - a new one.
I love my old one too... it's so comfortable and reliable.
Kind regards to you from Viola
Agreed And Dig That Coastline
Big Hugs,
Cheers
Happy New Vehicle!
A relative use to be a tech person that traveled to new owners in order to teach them how to use the car. It boggled my mind that folks need to learn a vechicle to use it.
Value wise, electric has its perks.
Makes sense. What a wonderful place you live in!!
this was a great read, i smiled several times at your candid honesty. i wonder how you will do at daylight savings time, changing the clock!! maybe it will change itself. we have a pretty new can but it is not electric. we considered it but did not think the world was ready yet. we see very few charging stations when we are out. that's a beautiful image but i thought you would share a picture of the car??
I really value our car, altho I can't drive anymore since my arm injury, I love that we can get in and off we go to see and visit places and its cool on summer and warm in winter.
Ah, if only that VW Beetle could talk, Marie. What takes it might tell!
I drove beetles for a long time. So cold - and they really don't like the cold either.
I'm still getting used to our first automatic car. Several buttons I've not yet worked out but I've found the seat heater so that's fine. And I can change radio stations. We'll both get there in the end.
I still drive a Honda Civic with manual transmission. A couple years ago I toyed with getting a used Honda with automatic, but nothing was within my price range. Now, I know I won't be driving that much longer and will continue to appreciate and enjoy my old 2001 putt-putt. But if I could, I'd purchase a hybrid just like yours! Good luck on learning all the buttons. :-)
Enjoy your new car!
As for the climate, we have no answers but mainly questions. Only God knows the answers to these questions. We, humans are quite helpless when facing Natures 'whims'.
The Beetle brought back many good memories, I bet.
Enjoy the new car. Eventually, you will get the hang of it.
The winds and the cold don't prevent you from going out. I should follow your lead.
: )
Enjoy your new car. I will be in the market in a few months as my car died in our driveway ( needs a new transmission and it is 16 years old) a few days before we were leaving for Florida. I'll deal with getting a new car in June. I read that the electric cars won't hold a charge in really cold weather.
"Being in the moment." I think of those of us of a certain as the tail-ends of the last/past generation, Marie. Our children probably go ho-hum with the things that are hard for us to learn/manage, while our grandchildren live in a state of everything constantly changing. I can't begin to imagine what they will have to face in the years to come, long after we're dead and buried!
Beautiful picture!
Living in the moment is so important. It's easy to worry about the future - it's uncertain at best.
We are thinking that our next car will be a hybrid. But not for a few years. Good for you for tackling the technology.
The extreme cold weather has revealed weaknesses in our electricity grids that certainly need to be addressed before we all drive electric cars.
The Volkswagen Beetle was my first car too but I lost it for a car crash, luckily, with no consequences. Its strength saved my life.
Enjoy your new car.
I have many doubts about the electric cars.
I have a 1986 Porsche 944. Everything is manual. No servos. My favourite car. The other two are a New Beetle and a little Fiat used for transporting the dog.
There is such value in the older vehicles, for sure, but there are trade-offs with everything. We've had one of the coldest winters here. Your land, sea and sky pictures are always beautiful! Blessings to you!
Good luck in figuring out everything with the new car! That's one of the many reasons I don't want to replace mine anytime soon; I don't like the idea of having to learn all of the gadgets.
Congratulations on your new car! Interestingly, enough, I reserved a car that is in transit to the dealership as I write. This is the first car that I have ever bought on my own, so it’s a significant purchase. The car I have been driving belonged to my late husband, and it just seemed to be surrounded by bad juju. Once February hits and the car arrives at the dealership, that old car will be gone, and I will be driving around in something fresh and new. Don’t get me started on the technology. The dealership offers a class that they encourage you to take so that you can understand how the technology works.
Ahhhh the VW beetle.... I've had two of them. I know what you mean about the lack of heat. The first one was green and I think it was nameless, the second one was white and he was called Beluga.
Crap....typed out a message and hit the wrong button, losing it. HAHA.....I could never have a plug in, I would never remember to plug it up. Plus, I would have to have some type of system put in to be able to plug it up.
Great post. I owned a number of "bugs" in my younger days, and always worked on them myself. Cars are getting way too complex. Had to laugh about turning the radio on but not being able to change the station (with you, not at you). I definitely wouldn't buy and electric car right now, but to me, a plug in hybrid makes a lot of sense (if you can figure out all the tech stuff!).
i dread when we have to replace either one of our vehicles. Hubby will not longer be able to drive with his dementia and inability to learn technology.
Ah modern cars! It takes me about 10 to change the time on the clock in mine!!!!
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
We've had our present car 4 years and still struggle to use the phone connected through the blue tooth!
Good luck with the new car. Here in the UK we are not allowed to use phones in our cars, but personally I find the newer cars with their touchscreens to control everything just as distracting to use as a phone would be.
congrats for new car dear Marie :)
may be thigs are hard at the beginning in every case but with time and with help of your daughter and internet as well you both will sort out how to use most of you fresh vehicle surly .
1971 was year of y birth :) your old car sounds intriguing either but it's system sound difficult to understand to less smart person like me .
you last line as always does magic
yes being in the moment keep us going
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