A few weeks ago I got another ding in the parking lot so this week the CRV was in the body shop to get repaired. Insurance gives me a rental while my vehicle is getting repaired.
The rental agency really messed things up. My insurance made arrangements for the rental car. The rental agency was to pick me up at the body shop. They weren't there. The body shop phoned the rental agency and they said they would be there right away. The rental agency phoned a few minutes later to say they were running behind so the body shop took me to the car rental agency.
Well the car agency acted as if they'd never heard of me and didn't have a vehicle close to what I wanted.
The only thing they had was a large pick up. They said we'll phone you as soon as we get something. Of course, they phoned a couple of hours later.
I went out to start the truck and go back to the rental agency. I looked at the key! There was no metal part sticking out! How was a supposed to start the truck if there was no metal piece on the key. I puzzled. Finally, I said ah ha. The blunt plastic end is what fits into the slot. Voila! The truck started. I didn't have to embarrass myself and phone the rental agency.
Now at the agency the truck had been started. When I got home somebody was on my yard. I quickly stopped the truck and got out to talk to the people on the yard. I did not have a chance to notice that this key was different until I got back in to start it..
Now the next vehicle had just a plastic oval with lock, unlock on it. No key again. This time you had to have the oval plastic thing in the vehicle and put your foot on the brake and push a button to start!
Now you'd think there could be a little harmonization in this world when it comes to starting vehicles.
So is it just me or is there a problem? Should I know how to start every dang vehicle that's out there? Should car companies puzzle their brains to come up with different ways to start vehicles?
There has to be an easier way. After all, it's not too long before we have cars that drive themselves. Now how will I start the car that drives by itself?
one reason i like driving my ten yr old car and 9 yr old truck. :)
ReplyDeleteWell, last year I got rid of a 78 and 92 when I bought this vehicle.
DeleteI still haven't gotten used to the touch brake push button way of starting a car, while the car keys stay in my purse.
ReplyDeleteI kind of liked that system. .
DeleteSounds like fun. They had to make the proximity keys bigger as folk were apparently swallowing them.
ReplyDeleteOops! Now there's gotta be a good story behind that one.
DeleteWith the Prius, it's a push button, but you have to press the brake at the same time. Oops! I just read what Terri wrote. It's true.
ReplyDeleteThe second car I had had that system. I kind of liked it.
DeleteMaybe with your voice?
ReplyDeleteYes, not they could set up all kinds of ways to activate the starter.
DeleteThe Engineers that think up these ideas must really be bored. Cars get worse looking and crappier ways to start. Why do they change "simple" if it works. I am not going to the galaxy; I'm just driving my car?? My Brother's new car starts by pushing a button on his dash, but not until the key is inserted, so kinda stupid cause I am sure that "button" will wear out by being pushed. Take advice from this woman "Buttons that are pushed too often break" - think about it. ha,ha Have a wonderful day Sir Red and Lady M-M.
ReplyDeleteSometimes my buttons get pushed! Sometimes they push the wrong buttons.
DeleteEnjoy your day!
I like my real keys on all my vehicles
ReplyDeleteReal keys will not be around much longer.
DeleteIsn't it crazy? We cannot find a simple cell phone. Too many bells and whilstles!
ReplyDeleteBut we can find our car in the parking lot. We can make it turn on lights or toot the horn to show us where it is.
DeleteGosh, I don't have anything like that on my 15-year-old car. When I got a rental a few months ago, the key looked at lot like the one in the picture, but there was a button to unlock the key so I could use it! Sigh. :-)
ReplyDeleteYour day is coming when you'll have to make a change. You're very computer literate so you won't have any problems.
DeleteHi Red, Good post! When I picked up my car I had a similar experience. The salesman said there was just a start button and as long as the key, a plastic fob with buttons on it, was in the car it would start. Kept pushing the start button but nothing happened. Then he says you have to have your foot on the brake ... OK ... :-)
ReplyDeleteThey always seem to forget one key piece of info.
DeleteWith cars having such a variety of starting and braking systems the rental company should actually give you a full briefing before they let you drive the car away.
ReplyDeleteThey did give a fairly thorough briefing. The truck had been running so they missed a step there.
DeleteI'm not sure whether to laugh or feel sorry for you! LOL. We have a 2011 Chevy Traverse, nothing fancy about it; and 1999 Ford Pickup. Both very simple.
ReplyDeleteYou'd certainly laugh if you were standing behind me.
DeleteOh, not a fun thing having to deal with!
ReplyDeleteFender benders are never any fun. There's too much work for such limited damage.
DeleteSounds so confusing! I would be in the same situation. Too many options!
ReplyDeleteI must admit that as long as you stay with the same car it's easy. Three cars in one day was too much for me.
DeleteI have a Honda Pilot and I love it! I have never driven a car with out having to use the key. My mother in law has a car that is key less. Thanks for the comments about the fit bit. I love it and I have had it for about a year. It is a great motivator. Not sure if you meant I am off from commenting or if I have something off on my blog. I don't know how to use it and I have not changed anything. Thanks for being a follower.
ReplyDeleteThis was my first experience with keyless.
DeleteOh how terrible Red.
ReplyDeleteLike William said. No fun.
poor you a ding in parking lot and then you have to go through all this for a rental.
Our car has bells and whistles too. Our friend showed Sid a lot of things. Which we never knew possible .
And those dang alarms one gets on the dash board. Tire low or the oil is low. It turns out. It is nothing. Now we know to ignore them for 4 days instead of running to the dealer every minute and they say oh it is okay. The car is just sensitive. Right. See the cars cannot be fixed like the old cars. You get a great garage man back then. Now you cant even get new parts. Everything has to be ordered. And our car is not all that new but still has those bells and whistle headaches. Like you say Red.
Now parts are always units that plug in. I would prefer the new technology. It runs much longer.
DeleteCars are way too complicated! I have a key for mine that pops out of nowhere and after two years I still have not managed to start it remotely. At the dealership they told me it was $200 to replace that key if I lost it. Used to be you took a key to the hardware store and had a duplicate made for 99 cents:(
ReplyDeleteThe price of electronic keys is a sin. Mine would cost $250.00
DeleteOK, I'm lost. Our newest car is a 2001. I have no idea about these fancy "keys".
ReplyDeleteO dear me, I wouldn’t even know where and how to start with a variety of cars much less actually start the motor.
ReplyDeleteDo you remember the days when life was easy?
HUge changes in car keys and you are not to blame for not keeping up with this!! Unfortunately most mindsets forget that elderly who hang on to their cars are a bit behind.
ReplyDeleteHmm, is it still called a "key" when it doesn't look like a key? I've never seen these before.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you did good. I would have been perplexed.
ReplyDeleteI have come to love those push button starters! But GOrdon's newer car has a thing where the doors automatically unlock if you are close enough, except the passenger door doesn't and I still don't understand it!!
ReplyDelete