Archive for the ‘Dash’ Category
Road Trip Traditions
When I was growing up, my family had a number of traditions that we’d uphold on every road trip. For instance, my brother and I would occupy our time in the backseat by counting as many unique state license plates as we could. Sometimes we’d even play road kill bingo. Mom sat quietly in the shotgun seat, completing her crossword puzzles and anticipating mischief while watching us through the rear-view mirror.
For his part, Dad was obsessed with finding the quickest way possible to reach our destination. Whether it was a roadside inn, a tourist trap or a distant relative’s house, Dad had a knack for taking us in precisely the wrong direction. If in dash GPS units had existed back then, he still would have been too stubborn to use them. Inevitably, we would run low on fuel and run inside a gas station to get navigational instructions.
Never Get Lost Again
Navigate unfamiliar streets with ease and never get lost again. Modern technology has made it possible for motorists to receive specific directions to anywhere they need to go using in dash GPS navigation systems. These handy gadgets are very simple to use. Simply select a destination and the GPS will tell you the name of the street you are in, when to turn and in what direction.
With auto GPS units, you can even monitor traffic tie-ups and be notified of accidents, road construction and weather conditions. When you miss a turn, the unit will automatically calculate a new route for you. Auto GPS units come preprogrammed with highly detailed street data and points of interest including hotels, gas stations, ATMs, etc.
American Automakers: What Consumers Want
With all the news recently about the bailout of the American automakers, a lot of consumers are worried that even should the bailout go through, the automakers will continue to produce undesirable cars. With the past few years as reference, such a worry is more than warranted. American automakers have been too focused on fancy gadgets like in-dash GPS units, rear cameras, sound systems, and DVD players, ignoring the fact that none of these items will sell a car alone. Americans want a car that is dependable, has excellent gasoline efficiency, low emissions, and with low environmental impact. Hulking gas guzzlers, hybrid trucks, SUVs, and vans are unappealing to most consumers.
In some respects a capitalist economy should be ’survival of the fittest’, and if American automakers have all failed, perhaps it’s time for them to pass on. But one has to wonder if they have the potential to pull their act together.
Getting Lost in the Good Old Days
Sometimes when I’m bored on long road trips I’ll take some time to ponder how life would have been different if GPS technology existed during my childhood. My father was the typical all-American dad, the kind of guy who was interested in making good time on the road whenever we hopped in the car for a family vacation. He absolutely did his best to ignore our pleas for a bathroom break, and I honestly think he had an allergy to the prospect of asking directions.
That didn’t prevent him from getting lost at least once every trip, of course, and us kids sat giggling in the back seat as dad let out a few grunts of frustration and wheeled the car around for the fifth time in an effort to find the restaurant or hotel. These days, a Pioneer in dash GPS saves drivers all that hassle. While I appreciate the ability to use these devices, I still look back fondly on the days when men had to rely on their wits and stubbornness.