Got a new car - Holy crappolly, Batman, what a learning curve!

StarSong

StarSong

Awkward is my Superpower
Location
Los Angeles Suburbs
So we bought a new-to-me 2017 RAV4 SE Hybrid. Good price, warranty, fuel economy, safety features and low mileage. A really sweet ride. It was past time to replace my 2001 Infinity SUV. Loved it, but it was an relative gas pig with no modern safety features. We also have two pickups, 2004 and 2005. No ultra-modern features on either.

Over the past 50 years I've driven a lot of different vehicles. Most took less than 2 minutes to learn well enough to drive safely, and none took more than an hour to understand everything: how to toggle the brights, set the clock, fill the gas tank, open the hood and trunk, check the oil, access the spare and jack, work the emergency brake, radio, windshield wipers, cruise control, heat, AC, back defroster, and adjust the mirrors and seats. What more did a driver need to know?

My friends, those days are loooong gone. This baby's manual package is 6 inches thick. I kid you not. And it's all in English, so it's not like 2/3 of it is irrelevant by being repeated in French & Spanish. Some dials and buttons. Everything else is on a computer screen.

For example there's the keyless start. Sounds like a no-brainer, right? So yesterday I couldn't figure out how to put it in accessory mode (to put down a window while hubby went inside the post office) without the manual's help.

Heaven help me when it comes to bluetooth pairing, changing (or gasp!) programming radio stations, becoming comfortable with the back up camera (I turned around and looked, exactly as I was taught in driver's ed), parking assist (ditto), lane departure alert system with steering control, pre-collision system, etc.

I'm not complaining exactly. Safety features were high on my list of must-haves. I'm just thoroughly intimidated by all the bells and whistles I'll need to learn.

How did others here navigate the leap from old, non-techy vehicles to these whiz-bang machines?
 

Congratulations and good luck with your new ride, SS :D . It will get easier, I'm sure.

I never owned anything later than a 2007, so some of these things are alien to me.

I had a 2019 rental that had the backup camera....that thing is awesome! I found the radio, but didn't have it more than an overnight.
 
My GMC Acadia will be 2 years old in July and there are still (many) things I am trying to figure out. I did finally figure out the accessory thing you mention,but I have forgotten now so if I need it again,I`ll have to start all over lol. I have been driving Chevrolet Suburbans and Tahoes since 1979 (a total of 6 of them) and they were all nearly identical as far as dash setup and features,so never a problem.Definitely not the case now!
 
I know what you mean. We bought a 2019 Honda CR-V in August to replace my 2007 CR-V. Geez Louise, the technology has changed! That keyless start thing took a little getting used to, and I still go to grab keys when I want to turn off the ignition! But I love the back up camera, and the Apple car play. My advice to you? You Tube is your friend. I watched video after video to check out all the features. It's very helpful.
 
Funny as it is sad. Neve having kids put me at the end of the learn how to use a computer train while others my age learned from the kids. It was not a good situation when computers became an integral part of my work. As far as vehicles go I always insist on minimum technology. In 2015 I wanted a Mustang 5.0 convertible with minimum tech. The Houston area did not have any so they brought one in from Mississippi. I bought a Nissan truck in 2018 with minimum tech and got a good deal on it because no one wants min. tech. now days. We are now a technocracy.
 
yep, i picked up my new Mercedes last july, and wow....so different........no handbrake, no gear stick, my gears are on column on the right of steering wheel, push button start, no key needed....im used to it, but not sure if i like it..🥴....and same here pinky, i dont trust the camera, so still look in all the mirrors ...😂
 
Greart news StarSong, you will soon catch on to the
bits that you use regularly first then the rest later.

I don't know it it si a "Stick Shift" or "Automatic", if
it is stick shift and to start it says "depress clutch to
Start", try the brake I wore out a clutch and if it is an
auto-release parking brake, find out how to realease
it manually or you will wear out the rear brake pads,
those are the main things.

Enjoy the new wheels.

Mike.
 
Just a tip on the keyless part. A few months back,Wes dropped me off at the grocery store and was going to run to the gas station for gas. He ended calling me on my cell because he had turned off the car and then realized the fob was not in the center console where we usually have it-it was in my purse with the backup fob. So he was stuck there. Luckily it was only a few blocks away so I walked there-in spite of the fact that it was over 100 degrees that day and I had purchased ice cream lol.
 
Got a new Buick SUV after Christmas. .. It does so much stuff automatically that I tend to forget to put my seatbelt on when I get in .....
I guess I'm thinking it will do it for me ...lol
Started it up the first night I got it, and saw green figures on the dashboard. Had to stop, and get the manual to see what that was ..OH! .. the headlights were on ...duh
And I have to get used to shifting on a console again .. I kept turning the wipers on when I wanted to change gears.

My iPhone is connected to the stereo system ... I answer my phone when driving by pushing buttons on the steering wheel.... all new to me.
(This was set up by my 12 year old GD.) It has OnStar for now, but I don't plan to keep it when the trial period is over.

All in all, a HUGE learning experience.
 
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Mrs. Robinson said:
Just a tip on the keyless part. A few months back,Wes dropped me off at the grocery store and was going to run to the gas station for gas. He ended calling me on my cell because he had turned off the car and then realized the fob was not in the center console where we usually have it-it was in my purse with the backup fob. So he was stuck there. Luckily it was only a few blocks away so I walked there-in spite of the fact that it was over 100 degrees that day and I had purchased ice cream lol.
Click to expand...

Dealing with a fob and no keys is definitely strange. ... Thanks for the tip @Mrs. Robinson
 
I try to start by buying the most basic vehicle I can find, my 2012 still has the old style crank windows.

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Enjoy your new car!
 
charry said:
yep, i picked up my new Mercedes last july, and wow....so different........no handbrake, no gear stick, my gears are on column on the right of steering wheel, push button start, no key needed....im used to it, but not sure if i like it..🥴....and same here pinky, i dont trust the camera, so still look in all the mirrors ...😂
Click to expand...

My wife has an 18 month old Mercedes and loves it. She mastered all of the hi-tech features fairly quickly. I have to admit that the electronics in her vehicle are a lot more stable, predictable, and intuitive than my 8 year old BMW. BMW fielded many of these features prematurely.
 
We are looking to upgrading from a Toyota corolla to a higher vehicle
We looked / test drove two different cars in the SUV range yesterday,
one being The Nissan beautiful car to drive / comfy seats however it has a huge sensor right in the middle of the wind screen (n) (n) I’m 5 ft tall so its right in my line of vision ,meaning I had to bend down to
be able to see to my left .............
who ever designed that needs to rethink the design.:oops:other than that the push start / keyless entry would take a while to get used to Id think

We looked / test drove a Honda similar price range ,thinking about that one, the seats are hard as considering we travel long distances from home for shopping / social activities
Usually a 300+ return trip
The Honda has exactly the same safety features / lane assist sensor is small and located right behind the rear vision mirror so you hardly see it


Nissan sensor

0A6A65EE-7A60-4294-8ED9-02885BF891BC.jpeg
 
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wow star song ' it exhausted me reading what u put lol...
like all things new it takes time' but will get second nature ---

dont like the new ads on our tv for cars /no driver needed -ekkk wht a load of b---sh--- isnt that why we buy a car to drive ?
would not even entertain one--as we are looking to buy new car --good luck !
 
Thank you all for the stellar advice. I drove minivans for over ten years and got into the habit of using side mirrors for backing up. Even so, when in a car I still look over my shoulder to double check. With the BU camera I guess it will be a triple check.

@jujube and @CarolfromTX: Youtube!!!!! I never would have thought to consult youtube!!! My husband, who gets help there for nearly everything, was stunned when I told him about this thread. His eyes widened, he nodded and then said, "Genius!"

@Mrs. Robinson, what a great tip, thanks. Whoda thunk it?

@Mike - it's an automatic. I love standard transmissions, but they're hard to come by in the US unless you're buying a true sports car.

Thanks again - you folks ROCK!
 

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