01/28/2026
We haven't had an Ask A Tech in a long time. It's time we had another one. Have you noticed that vehicles have gotten more complex? Of course. That's why we need technicians. But have you noticed that to operate them has become more complex too? Recently, someone had put up a phrase on Facebook, "I may drive an old crappy car, but at least I haven't woken up to find Tesla keys in my pocket!" In case you didn't know, Teslas don't have keys. Your cell phone in your pocket is your key because it connects to your car through Bluetooth. How many of you use Bluetooth? I think not many because I still see so many people driving while talking on the phone. This is where Bluetooth is actually a good technology that makes us safer. Bluetooth allows you to use almost any app you have on your phone such as music, podcasts, Audible for your books, maps so the map is on your screen and the directions are given to you through the speakers, texting that can be read to you and you can dictate text too. And, did I mention that the phone is hands free? You only need to press one button on your steering wheel or dash to tell Bluetooth to call someone. This should be the bare minimum. This is now technology older than 15 years. I've seen what most of the club drives when not driving their classic car: you all own a Bluetooth capable vehicle. I find it particularly difficult to see college students not using this technology as they go around a turn while looking down at their phone. Other than Bluetooth, I believe vehicles should go back to being more simple. One of our senior citizens couldn't figure out how to turn her lights on because it had an "Auto" setting and she ended up crashing her car. In this case, the salesman could at least have told her to just leave it on the Auto setting so that it was one less thing she had to think about. Or, because this vehicle will turn off the lights when the ignition is turned off, she could just leave the lights on. I've heard that there is a vehicle out there that the headlight controls can only be done through the center screen. How complicated is that? You know that would suggest other features would be done through the center screen. Customers have complained about this and want to go back to k***s and levers. Would you agree? Recognizing that people would like something simple, there is a little truck (S10, Ranger, Datsun 620, Subaru Brat size) that will be coming out this year called Slate. It is a stripped down cheap little truck that is single cab but if you want it to be a little SUV, you add a cap and seats to the bed. It has accessories you add like you were playing with Legos. It's just for around town if you want the cheapest version that can go 150 miles before fill-up. Uh, fill-up is electric so there aren't any spark plugs or anything else to change. I can see Generation Z liking this in particular because there is almost no maintenance. But, this vehicle is a basic box. Most will not turn around to look back at it when leaving because they want to look at it again.What simple vehicle do you think should be brought back? Keep in mind that the engine technology, if you want an internal combustion engine, can't go back to carbs because it wouldn't meet emissions and satisfy the population's acceleration expectations. Think of the diesel Chevette for example; it's 0-60 mph was about 25 seconds. Almost all vehicles on the road now are under 10 seconds. That means the 1975 Cosworth Vega would be ok at 7.7 seconds, but if you remember the Vega, it was very undependable. No one wants that. Other parts you wouldn't want would be the poor crash ratings, wind noise, road noise, or rough ride. Hey, doesn't this sound like a Chevy Cruze, Ford Fiesta, Toyota Corolla, or Honda Civic? I suppose we are already done then. No? What do we want instead? I know, SUVs are popular instead, even compact ones. Compact vehicles aren't the ones bought though. So we are right back where we started.
