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What do you look for when buying a car? Quality, reliability, safety features, good mileage? Yup all that plus I like technology and friendliness.
My new car has more cameras than Kodak. When I use the navigation it shows a live image of the turn so it’s hard to miss. It uses the cameras to find a space and park itself. If I get lost I just say, “Take me home.”
When I start the car it says, “ Hello Richard Quinn” That’s friendly. When I turn it off it says, “ Don’t forget your phone.”
When I started the car on Thursday April 10th, the screen showed the Masters Logo, an image of me in a green shirt and a golf ball. On Saint Patrick’s day there were shamrocks falling down the screen. I can’t wait for the Easter Bunny.
Making adjustments are done by voice command. Say, “I’m hot” and she will say okay I’ll lowered the temperature – and it knows if you are the driver or passenger. The other day I put the defroster on by mistake and it got really hot so I said, “I’m hot.” The car responded, “Me, too it’s really warm in here.” and turned off the defroster.
Concerned about tire pressure? Just ask. “Right front 41, right rear 40, etc.” How much gas do I have? “You can drive 264 miles.”
When Connie asks for something, she then says “thank you” The car replies differently each time. “You’re welcome or “My pleasure, have a nice day.” etc. The manual says the car is always learning new words. It makes me wonder who has the AI, me or the car.
If I wander near the white line, the car steers me back to center. Scared the heck out of me the first time.
At night, we are bathed in ambient light in a color of our choice, just ask.
I’m still learning all that it does and how, I guess I should actually read the full manual, but that is unlikely.
What does all this friendliness get you? More things to go wrong, higher repair costs and higher insurance premiums. It certainly isn’t necessary to go from A to B.
Truth be told, all, this stuff is like driving an iPad and a bit distracting at times. It’s like having eyes on every side of your head. I like it though, it’s fascinating. It’s cool. What will be possible in the future? And I thought robotic prostate surgery was neat.
My first car was a new 1962 VW Bug. It didn’t have AC or a heater or power anything and it cost $1,895. I competed in road rallies and drove it across the Country. Those were the good old days- but it never said a word.
What scares me about Mercedes Benz vehicles–read some of Scotty Kilmer’s articles on Youtube. The multiple number of mechanical and electrical systems are so complex and interconnected that he indicates even Mercedes technicians are having problems trouble shooting and repairing them–especially after operating 3 or 4 years. And the cost to repair them is really high. Otherwise, they look like awesome vehicles and from the comments I read on HD, most people are happy with them. But I’m just overwhelmed about all the technology in all the vehicles today–maybe because I keep operating vehicles for almost 20 years or more, as long as they’re safe and roadworthy. I go on manufacturers web sites and review all the things on the computer on the dashboard, steering wheel, doors, etc, and my head starts to spin.
You have a point. More complexity, more cost and sometimes difficulty to maintain. I always use a dealer for service because of the training needed, but a routine service without repairs can easily cost $700. On the other hand an oil change is once a year.
I waited 70 years to buy my first one and to 81 for the second. I paid cash for both because if you can’t do that I don’t think you can truly afford one. No regrets for me. It’s not an investment, it’s a non-necessity.
The way I see it is if a family can spend several grand on a trip to Disney which they may be charging or a person can spend a few thousand to cover body parts in ink, then saving for decades for your dream car is okay too.
Richard, I totally agree with you! You frugalized and saved/invested for years, and now you can enjoy the benefits. The MB vehicle lineup is awesome, and I think we’d enjoy one, mainly for the structural and safety aspects. Plus, as noted by other HD commenters, the prices aren’t that much different from a large SUV or pickup truck, or other comparable vehicles, e.g., Cadillac, Audi, etc. Good luck and health to you while enjoying your new ride!
Richard, I just got picked up at the airport using a private limo service in a high end Mercedes. It had many controls for comfort in the back seat like heated and multiple adjusted seats like a driver’s seat, along with personal temperature controls. The thing that surprised me the most was the soft closing doors!
Loved reading about your new ride. Good for you. I live in Hawaii and have owned mostly Japanese cars over the past 40 years. My wife is currently driving a 2023 Lexus RX350, but for essentially what you paid for your new ride with all the latest bells and whistles perhaps we should explore a Mercedes next time around. I drive a 2018 Honda Accord, so the ten year mark for replacing it with a new ride is quickly approaching. 😎
I always did my research, knew what I wanted and the price I would pay.
My first new car was purchased in 1969. It cost me $1850 cash, delivered. Four speed manual and a FM radio. I once drove it to Florida for a project of 11 months and all over the Midwest.
My most fun car was a Subaru WRX. After driving it for a few years cross country to get from project to project I gave it to my spouse who absolutely loved it. Why did I drive so much? 1) I flew a lot but hated it unless I was co-pilot (in a Navion) and 2) I carried special technology which airlines were quick to destroy or lose. Drop shipping was an inconvenience and things sometimes got lost. For example, carrying tech into Saudi Arabia allowed me to shepherd it through customs where it was impounded. The next morning I’d hire a local firm to draw up the necessary papers in Arabic, go to customs, pay the duties and reclaim it, etc. I’d be at the clients by 10:00 am. My schedule was such I was usually there for only 5 days at a time, but once for 45. Flying Chicago-Houston-Schiphol-Dhahran and back added a few days.
I rented a Mercedes while there. Driving 240 KPH (140+ MPH) on the desert roads was some kind of thrill.
In 2004 I purchased a slightly used Malibu Maxx; it had a 6 inch longer wheel base all of which gave more rear leg room. Perfect for transporting older relatives. A hatch back was a plus. 19 years later I donated it to a veteran’s organization. It had been well maintained and everything was functional. Looked new but for seat wear.
Favorite vehicle for trips and cross-country travel is our 2013 Roadtrek 210P. I knew what I wanted and saw one advertised on the internet in November 2013. I called the company and spoke to the manager and told him “Give me the drive it off the lot price”. He did and I agreed to purchase it, driving to Ohio a few days later to test it and pay for it.
After purchase I pretty much took apart all of the systems and coach components and upgraded it to lithium batteries with solar. I’ve repaired the refrigerator, propane system, upgraded the electrical and electronics, done all of the minor repairs, maintained the generator, etc. I let the pros take care of the engine and transmission.
Honestly, some of those features sound really cool, especially for older drivers. My car is a 2020 model, and it’s got a lot of nice stuff, but I wouldn’t mind all of those voice commands, like about lowering the temperature. It does remind me to take my phone if it have it on the charger.
Yesterday when I turned on the car, my image had on an Easter Bonnet and Cherry Blossom peddles came falling down the screen. I’m expecting big things for the 4th of of July
Don’t forget Cinco de Mayo!
I can see I will have to keep driving my dumb Camry, much as I would like the rear cameras and blind spot detector. There is no reason for my car to take my photo, and even less to play games with it. I don’t want to spend hours turning everything off, if it would even be possible.
Nothing to turn off, push one button for engine and it’s all off and shut the door and it’s locked.
I didn’t mean the car. I meant all these unnecessary and intrusive additions. I don’t want a smart car. I don’t want a car that tracks what I do and where I go. I certainly don’t want one that takes my photo and talks to me. I want a car with comfortable seats, superior acceleration and road holding, good gas mileage (or a plug-in hybrid), air bags, anti-lock brakes, rear cameras and a blind spot detector. Period. Well, parking itself would be a bonus, but not if it came with a bunch of stuff I don’t want.
Why not have an aftermarket camera installed on your present car?
A friend did that and I don’t think it works very well.
It doesn’t take a picture it creates a drawn image but not using the individual. Doesn’t carrying a smart phone allow you be tracked?
All the more reason not to have my car do it as well.
I own a Mercedes E450, essentially the same car that you own, but with the six cylinder engine. I too like the convenience, comfort and mileage of the model, but the most important thing to me is the safety aspect. The car is giving me feedback on things when I try to do something stupid. It is not exactly a self driving car yet, but it is a car that will pay attention to what you’re doing and give you feedback when it thinks you are doing something wrong. You can still do the wrong thing if you want, but as I get older, I greatly appreciate the help from the car. I have owned several Mercedes E class cars and usually keep them about 11 years. However, as the technology continues to accelerate, and as I continue to get older, I may just have to look to replace more frequently. I have the money And my life has value.
For those who look at the Mercedes and see nothing but $$$, remember the car also retains its value at resale. I sold one to a friend of mine several years ago and got almost what I paid for it. It only cost me about $700 a year in appreciation. He owned the car for four years, drove it 100,000 miles, and sold it for more than he paid me for it. Think of it as an asset that pays you in safety and comfort rather than in cash.
I swore I never would drive a four cylinder car, but I was convinced to try it. I have to say I can’t see any difference. I drove it to Florida from NJ two days after I bought it. The performance was excellent. The turbocharger makes a big difference. And the mileage is great. 40-44 on Highway at 70+ MPH. That’s higher than listed for the car.
Love my 15 year old Ford Expedition! Nice smooth running 5.4L V-8 engine, plenty of power, a safe 3 ton tank! Don’t care about gas mileage–it gets about 14mpg in city driving and about 20mpg on the highway–we only drive less than 5,000 miles/year. So paying an additional $400/yr in gasoline is cheap life insurance. Has great comfy seats, plenty of leg and headroom, A/C, heater, AM/FM-CD player–all we need to be comfy and distraction free! I can’t stand all the technology on newer cars…very complicated and distracting, and expensive to maintain when it goes bad. I have navigation on my Android phone if I need it, but most times I just review Google maps before any trip and I know in my mind how to get where I’m going.
No disrespect, but a three-ton tank is safe only for those in that vehicle – it’s a death-mobile in an impact with normal to smaller vehicles, an even worse for pedestrians and people on bikes.
It’s also only safe as long as other people aren’t also in similarly sized vehicles. That safety disappears once everyone is driving the same thing. And yes, the danger to pedestrians and other non-car road users is much higher, for ultimately little to no safety gains to drivers.
It’s been used for moving kids back and forth to college, packing for seashore trips, moving furniture and things for relatives and friends, transporting landscaping shrubs, flowers, topsoil, mulch, etc. It’s large but practical and we love it. But, like, you Richard, we are keeping our eyes open and evaluating newer vehicles. It is getting a little difficult climbing in and out for us people in our mid seventies, so we’re considering a ‘smaller’ SUV, like a Subaru Ascent, Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot for the forthcoming replacement–should be easier on our knees to enter/exit! But I’m apprehensive about all the bells and whistles!
We never owned an SUV, Connie can’t even get into one. Six of us went on vacations in a two door 1972 Plymouth Duster. When the kids were in college we had a Chevy Impala with a roof rack.
Why a vehicle that large?
RQ, Are you willing to share what car you own? ( I may have missed it in the thread)
She sounds like a beauty!
It’s a Mercedes E-350. It’s the best car I ever owned, Including my previous E-350 purchased in 2014. It allows you to choose to drive like you are in a sedan or a sports car. I get 44 mpg on the highway. It has four driving modes and 9 speed transmission. You would never guess it was 4 cylinder turbo charged. And like I said, it’s very friendly 😀
My affection for Mercedes goes back to when I was a teenager and got to drive a 300SL. I wrote about it on HD, take a look.
If you read the story from 2019 you’ll find I did take a chunk of cash from my children’s future inheritance and I did it again in 2025, but this time it was from the growth in investments since 2019. I’m glad I didn’t wait another month or I probably wouldn’t have done it.
Every time I mention Mercedes I get a negative red. Why is that? It didn’t cost as much as many large SUVs or pickup trucks.
I was a E-4 in the Army in Germany in ’73 and ’74. At infrequent times when I could not get where I wanted to go by walking, biking or the nearby rail station I would share a taxi with a couple of other enlisted men going to the same location, usually a bar. As best as I can recall all of the sedans the taxi drivers drove were Mercedes. When the taxi’s were waiting and the weather was nice I would often see the owner/driver doing spot waxing with a cloth and a spray bottle of some liquid. Riding in a great vehicle that I knew I would never own is a fond memory.
I just gave you an up arrow.
I think most HD readers drive something more reasonable in utility and cost. I looked up the Mercedes model you have and while many can afford it, I couldn’t justify spending that for a vehicle. Nor would I spend a higher amount for a large SUV or high-end pickup truck. You would probably need to do a study about the people and their needs who spend more than you on such vehicles. Their needs are more than likely different than your needs.
We have a sedan and a midsize SUV. Our SUV is so much easier to get in and out of vs a bigger one, like a Denali that my daughter drives. Plus, our SUV is easier to haul golf clubs, groceries, large boxes, etc.
Since you do like finer things to own, what kind of golf clubs do you use? I’m trying to decide on a new set. However, with my handicap, an expensive set probably won’t help that much.
What do you think it cost?
my clubs are a combination of several different brands, Taylor, Cleveland and Callaway. Nothing special .
According to Kelly Bluebook: 2025 Mercedes E-Class indicates pricing starting at $63K. Most of the prices I found were $70K and above. You might have paid less if it was a loaner car.
$58,000 + all taxes, charges etc.
Cheaper than an F150! My how the markets have changed….
You did very well. Hope it treats you good for many safe travels for as long as you and Connie are able.
RQ…did I miss the part where you told us what you bought? Inquiring minds want to know!
In preparation for retirement in January 2004, in December 2024, I purchased a 2024 Hyundai Palisades Calligraphy. I bought the one with all available options and “packages.” It was $52K…and I paid cash for it, to remain debt free.
I am just as amazed as you are with the safety features of this vehicle. I am not sure you could wreck it if you wanted to.
From lane assist,
auto braking,
auto steering,
auto distance,
warning lights,
warning sounds,
automatic headlight dimmers,
automatic side mirror dimmers,
heads up display on the windshield,
360 Degree Cameras, app controlled starting,
remote door opening & locking,
key fob control of auto backing and auto forward for tight parking,
Auto Hold (you can actually take your foot off the brake and the car stays still at stop lights).
One really nice feature is the Lumbar Exercise function that automatically comes on and off, on longer drives.
Ambient lighting front and rear passenger areas,
Heated & Cooled seats, in all three rows,
Heated steering wheel,
Apple Car Play (and GOOGLE Play too, for Android users)
interior communications with rear seat passengers,
separate heating and cooling controls, front and rear,
auto tail gate,
keyed raising & lowering of back two rows from the truck area,
and on and on.
I spent a week reading the owners manual when I got it and I still have to refer it on occasion.
I have been a KIA/Hyundai Driver since I bought a nearly new 2009 Sonata in 2010, and gave it to my younger sister, in 2014. in 2014 I leased a 2014 Kia Cadenza. That was the nicest car I have ever owned. It was truly a near luxury automobile. Then I bought a Kia Soul, in 2016, and gave that car to my son in 2018. Then I scratched my Pickup Truck itch, buying a 2000 Dodge Ram Limited, with 5700 miles on it. It was the dealer’s demo. The most beautiful truck very made. HA! I traded it in on my 2024 Palisades!
My wife loves her 2006 Sebring Touring Convertible, and has zero interest in a new car. It only has 74,000 miles, so as long s she is happy I am happy.
At my age, I still hope to have a few more new cars in my future, the Lord willing, but I am pretty sure I will also be buying “nearly new” cars in the future. I just can’t stand the depreciation you take on a new car. I also foresee a smaller car in my future. My SUV is marvelous for traveling, but that will be coming to a slow stop in the next few years. The Cadenza I had was the perfect size for me…although I do like the view from higher up in a big SUV.
Happy Motoring, everyone!
MB E-350
Fifteen months ago I bought a new Subaru Forester after keeping my trusty Toyota Sienna minivan for literally a generation: 24 years, 442,444 miles (same engine! everything else changed out – a lot). Bought that oh-so-reliable van when pregnant with my third child and drove it beyond her college graduation. Kept it simply to see how far it would go (and yep how much I saved on new car payments). What a friendly and safe vehicle- no accidents, countless road trips from the Midwest to all points in the US in the days before DVDs, let alone Ipads. Books on tape! I had high hopes that my kids would listen as avidly as I did to The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb but my son shrieked “I HATE the word random!’
Fast forward, I really appreciate all the superb safety features but they are complex – and the manual is perplexing too. My cousin, a long-time service rep, suggested buying the extended warranty given all the new embedded electronics. Ouch- even a new windshield from highway gravel costs much more thanks to the ‘eye’ sensors in the glass.
I drove a Toyota Sienna minivan when my kids were growing up—lots of running groups of kids to church camps, choir performances, etc. (they were not athletes), a few lengthy family road trips. Big enough to cart our large dog around when needed.
It was a 2002 model, just a year or two before backup cameras were required for new cars. Backing that van up made me a nervous wreck. I felt like I was driving a bus. I’ve often thought I would have appreciated the car more if I’d had the modern safety features. As it was, I couldn’t wait to get rid of it. When my older daughter was almost done with college and my younger one was in high school, I traded it in for a sedan. It was a happy day when I was done with that thing. But it served its purpose for that season.
With such reliability from your Toyota, why the switch? We have only bought one non-Toyota, a 2014 Subaru Forrester (had oil burning problems and class action lawsuit resulted in a new engine for free @ 92K miles), since we bought our first Toyota, a 1998 Camry. We had been a buy American family until a horrible Plymouth Voyager which we started having problems with WEEKS after we first bought it. We spent more than we really wanted to on the Camry, but I said to my wife they have a reputation for going forever, which it did until my son was T-boned in 2010. He was making minimum wage out of high school so we bought him what we called the Grammy Camry (with fake burled walnut on the dash) with over 90K. He drove it for about 6-7 years and only got rid of it as he wanted to buy a pickup truck.
Our car is a 2019 Subaru.
I’m pretty sure it’s smarter than I am. Nota high bar.
The backup camera is great for this old geezer who can’t twist around to look behind him as he used to.
I bought a new 2025 Camry in January, replacing my 2014 Camry. Toyota has added lots of safety features and many other features. It is mind boggling. There should be a training class for all the bells and whistles on the car. I refer to the manual often.
When it comes to insurance if the car has all the safety features your insurance premiums can decrease. Last fall we bought a new Toyota Crown Signia, a model that had just come out. It cost nearly 50K (we paid 52K for our first house in 1984). We traded in a 10 year old Subaru Forrester worth about 5K in a private sale. Since we had paid our insurance in full for the vehicles a few months previously I kept waiting for a supplemental insurance bill. Instead we received a check for about $100 from the insurance company. I said to my wife I think it may be due to all the safety features. I called the insurance company and they confirmed.
Now addressing the owner’s manuals Dick. I started reading one and after a few days I was so confused I gave up. They are still sitting on my reading table 5 months later. Should probably put them in the glove compartment, but if I do there won’t be any room for the maps. Yes, I keep some maps in the car as on rare occasions I like to get a thorough overview of the situation. I big flaw in maps via a phone or car screen.
Does anyone else have ancient papyrus in their glove compartments?
I carried my trusty old fashioned paper GPS for years when I was traveling often. If we do another long road trip I will definitely stop by a truck stop and purchase a new road atlas for exactly the reason that you point out. Sometimes analog is better than digital.
The road atlas maps still have info the GPS/Google Maps does not, such as scenic roads and such. Handy also for when there is no cell signal.
You can save offline maps in Google maps for areas without cell service.
Do you remember when you could get a trip book from AAA that laid out the trip turn by turn? When I was 10 in 1960 Dad and Mom loaded up the Mercury station wagon and five children and we were off to Yellowstone from Cincinnati with the AAA provided guide for our camping adventure. We did get lost a couple of times but the unscheduled turns were a fun part of the trip.
Oh heck yes. My dad used them, and I did too back in the day.
Oh yes I certainly do! When I graduated from college I moved to Arizona. I used a Triptix. Left NH drove to my Aunt’s house in Lititz Pennsylvania. Then to Evanston Illinois to visit a college mentor. Then to Lincoln Nebraska to sleep in a chapter of my fraternity. Next day to Fort Collins to stay with an old childhood neighbor. (Interesting ???aside- started out at 6 am and blew my muffler. Decided I didn’t want to wait 3-4 hours for a Midas shop to fix it so took off. Longest six hours of my life driving to Pine Bluffs Wyoming where I got the muffler fixed. I had wired my home speakers to my car stereo and had it full blast and could barely hear it.). From Fort Collins to Flagstaff Arizona (the only hotel stay on the trip), and finally to Phoenix to start my first job.
Just Google mapped trip and was 5K miles and 77 hours of driving.
Oh to be young again!
I was trying to merge into traffic on a local highway the other day. Usually I would let the faster driver pass, and I will get into the lane right behind but this time the driver is particularly slow. I looked over my left shoulder and, sure enough, the guy was typing something into his phone while driving. For some, autonomous cars cannot come soon enough. I guess what the guy needed was a car that he could talk to in order to send texts, order takeouts, solve world hunger. Don’t get me wrong—I enjoy the latest technology very much but I will stick to older cars for as long as I can.
All of the distractions are completely unnecessary. What’s coming next with all of this connected technology? Stuck in traffic and a voice will come on to tell you about a 10% off coupon at a coffee shop if you exit? Talking to your kids on the way to school and you start hearing promotions about upcoming concerts—all because you are getting the “free” tier infotainment when you bought the car?
The day my car starts forcing promotions on me is the day I push it off a bridge 😂 ditto with car subscriptions, I’m not dealing with that. Give me a bike or a good pair of walking shoes any day.
Well, with your example, sending and listening to texts, making calls, getting directions is all talking with both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
In fact, if I don’t have two hands on the wheel for too long my car reminds me to do so. It also suggests I take a break after driving for a long time.
You do realize that your car is probably transmitting all that talk to the manufacturer, along with your speed, your rapid braking and your near misses? And that the manufacturer may be sharing it with insurance companies? Reading about experiences like this makes me more inclined to keep my silent 2007 Camry.
Between my car and phone and I pad i suspect there are no secrets. I wonder why it didn’t tell me to slow down when i hit 100 on 95? By mistake.
My car (a 2020 Audi) allowed me to program in a maximum speed limit, and it beeps at us if we exceed it. I have it at 80, which on roomy California freeways is not that hard to hit sometimes (70 is the speed limit). I bet your new car has that feature, too.
Sorry, but all the safety features in the world can’t compensate for any driver— let alone an octogenarian— doing 100 on a road like I95. You were a danger to yourself and the other drivers near you. If you really unknowingly got this far beyond the speed limit, perhaps it’s time to hand over the keys.
This kind of speeding is why I’m a big fan of speed governors in all new vehicles, at the very least in cities. You cannot rely on drivers to make safe choices. Granted, on the freeway I don’t care as much, since that’s about as safe as it gets for driving. On anything with houses or crosswalks though, speeding need to be put in check hard. Drivers just get away with too much these days, it’s about time we got some law and order on the roads.
There are many stretches of I-95 where the average speed of the left lane traffic is over 80 miles an hour. The Mercedes was designed as an auto bond cruiser and can easily and safely do 120 miles an hour. All you have to do is touch the gas pedal on the E350 And you can be well over your intended speed quite quickly. There is no excuse for doing that speed, but it is very easy to do in the Mercedes. That is actually one of the reasons why I like the adaptive cruise control on the car, I don’t have to decide what speed the car travels at.
I believe you are referring to the autobahn. Regardless, there is no way anybody is traveling “easily and safely” at those speeds. I 95 is full of elderly drivers going to and from Florida, and the road isn’t an especially great highway. And an 80+ driver is likely to have slower reaction speeds.
The posted speed on Florida highways is 70, but if you don’t go 80 you get run over seniors and all. In Montana it’s 80, but with no cars around I hit 115 – once.
Having learned to drive on my dad’s ’68 VW Bug, I’m still partial to manual transmissions. So, here are my 3 requirements:
Current ride: 2023 Chevy Camaro
The best part is…she doesn’t talk.
Mike, I like the way you think. I was just on the internet checking out certified used top down Camaros. Stick shift would be fine with me, but my wife keeps yelling at me about getting an automatic. I yelled back, telling her that she wasn’t the boss of me. She jus laughed and said ya right. Poor me.
On a more serious note, we just replaced Chrissy’s 2010 Prius. She wanted a sub-compact SUV, I wanted a car assembled in the States with modern safety features. There were no offerings in that category from Ford or GM, so we decided on a Subaru Crosstek LTD, built in Indiana. Chris loves the car, it’s fun to drive, and I especially like the adaptive cruise control. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles as your Mercedes, but there is a lot of value for $32K.
I have a subcompact SUV, purchased in 2020. My husband talked me into it—I like driving smaller cars—but I’ve learned to love it, and the “subcompact” footprint means I can park it in the same spaces I always used to.
Renee has adaptive cruise control on her Honda Pilot. That is one feature I wish I had on the Camaro.
Dan, the Crosstrek must be a volunteer tax preparer thing. 3 of the folks I worked with this year bought one in 2025. One of the men buys his Subarus through Costco and talked about the VIP perks he gets, including oil, air filters, parts, and discounts.
I use Costco as well. When I bought my 2020 Equinox, I found Costco to be a better deal than GM’s Friends and Family by a out $500.
I found it overwhelming when I replaced my 2010 vehicle with my now 2023. I’m a simple guy and many of those extras came as a distraction to me. I only active the ones that I feel I need and use. One that I would like to have that mine does not is the cameras like Tesla’s have. It would be comforting to have eyes on your vehicle when you are away from it.
It can easily be a distraction. I have to remember that I am actually the one driving the car.
All right Dick I’ll go first. This has nothing to do with your question, but you’re talking car reminded me of my first experience with a smartphone. I had resisted buying an IPhone because my old flipper just would not stop working. Friends made fun of me. My wife finally just brought home the latest 6 series. I was not thrilled. It would not obey me. Siri was not cooperating with me at all. Out of frustration I tossed the phone away from me while instructing Siri to go ¥×*£ herself. Please keep in mind that this is a true story. Siri replied, and I quote, “I’m sorry, I can’t do that”. We became best of friends after that.
I bought my first iPhone in late 2008, so maybe a year or so after they first came out. It was a 3 or a 4. I remember my teenage daughter sneering that I shouldn’t get an iPhone because an oldster like me (mind you, I was in my 40s at the time!!!) would never be able to figure it out, so it would be wasted on me. I decided I’d show her, and I not only got myself the phone for Christmas but spent several days working point-by-point through the manual so that I would understand how everything worked. I have an iPhone 15 now. I get a new one every three years or so.
Also, to this day, I’m more adept at technology than that daughter is, so there. I think she just couldn’t stand the idea that I’d have an iPhone before she did. Get a job, kid, and cry me a river.
I kept using my flip phone until just before I was going on a trip to Florida for an orientation for a new job. A week before the trip the holster holding it onto my belt broke. My wife had an iPhone for about a year before this, and was trying to convince me to update my phone. I had to admit (to myself) the features such as Google maps and finding restaurants was convenient when we were traveling. I finally relented. Not sure if I ever admitted to my wife she was righ…!
Past generation 4G flip phones are still on offer for $59 full price by a cell phone company that advertises in the AARP magazine. If you a second phone that is just for phone calls like when you are working in the yard the low cost is a plus when the likelihood of damaging the phone is high.
You sound like a cross between my cousin and Connie. He wouldn’t give up his old flip top until it died and Connie and Siri don’t get along. She is also convinced the phone does things all on its own. I hear flippers are coming back though.
I’m not giving up my iPhone features, but I’d love a flip version of an iPhone.