Buying a new car used to be an exhilarating experience: gleaming metal, that new-car smell and the sensation of commanding a more capable machine. I’m finding it a little more complicated. My first new car in 17 years is an unfamiliar technological journey.
I could have kept my 2007 Subaru a little longer. It was gently used and meticulously maintained. But my repair bills suggested that I was already replacing the car one part at a time. My daughter complained about the cramped rear seat during her Christmas visits and I really wanted the latest safety features.
My 2024 Subaru Forester was delivered in November. It’s enjoyable to drive, but figuring out the controls and technology features requires a learning curve. The salesman’s hasty explanation of the car’s array of switches and buttons left me mostly confused.
I quickly learned to start the car by pushing a button and figured out how to lock and unlock the doors by touching the door handle (so long as the magic amulet that replaced the key is in my pocket). It took longer to learn how to lock and unlock the doors from inside the car, which lacks the locking button of earlier models. After consulting the owner’s manual I used the settings menu on the touchscreen to program the doors to unlock themselves when the gearshift is in “park.”
I get a kick out of using the power liftgate but have not tried to open the power moonroof (one of the features I would not have chosen but “came with”).
The dials that control the heating and air conditioning are a little complicated but I’m muddling through. The dashboard gauges and information screen give me more information than I want and keep track of my gas mileage in at least three places. The safety features – backup camera, lane departure warning and blind spot detection – are easy to use and have spared me a few close calls.
I have not yet tried out the adaptive cruise control or the traction control for mud and snow. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to slog through the owner’s manual and learn to use all these gadgets.
The infotainment system is another challenge. A touchscreen controls the radio, connects to my cell phone and controls other computerized applications. The radio is easy enough to use when it decides to turn itself on. My cell phone connects with the car wirelessly via Bluetooth, but I need to physically plug it into the dashboard to use the phone’s navigation feature and recorded music. I recently discovered that the car can receive phone calls and am not sure I like that. One of the car’s apps that’s supposed to interface with my phone is not working as described in the owner’s manual and, according to the dealer, is being withdrawn.
What’s frustrating is that I am not your typical geriatric Luddite. I managed a large office computer system in the 1980s, started my own website in the 1990s and have embraced cell phone apps as senior moments occupy more of my waking hours. I should be able to master the technology in an ordinary Subaru. It’s not surprising to learn that touchscreen distraction is an issue for some drivers. I wonder how many new-car owners are learning just enough about their cars to drive them around and are not taking full advantage of their capabilities.
I also wonder if the high-tech gadgetry will last as long as the rest of the car. My last midlife-crisis car was a sporty 1986 Nissan with a computer voice that reminded me to close the door or turn off the headlights with just a hint of Japanese accent: “Your ritesare on.” Eventually the voice got confused, talking about doors instead of headlights, and finally went silent. I chose not to restore the voice with a $300 microchip because I did not need my car nagging me.
I suspect the auto industry is going through the kind of transition we saw in the computer industry decades ago, when every new software version came with a thick book of instructions. Over the years software for computers and smartphones became more intuitive and user-friendly, and automotive gadgetry may follow the same trajectory. My car salesman suggested that auto companies are scrambling to keep pace with cell phone advances to connect only those apps that do not interfere with driving. My periodic service appointments at the Subaru dealer probably will include the occasional software upgrade.
Auto companies may need to emulate the tech companies in user training and support, like the Apple Store’s classes for new users and its tech support resources. One stopgap measure is a wealth of video tutorials on YouTube, including one that helped me program the car to open my garage door.
On the other hand, helping motorists understand the technology in their cars may not be the point. The confusion we’re coping with may be the auto industry’s way of preparing us to welcome self-driving cars in a few years.