Car Talk
My car can talk.
No, really. It can.
But it’s taken me two years to notice.
I got my 2007 Sentra exactly two years ago this month after my beloved 1996 Altima bit the proverbial dust. I’ve never really bonded with the new car; for one thing, the blind spot is huge. For another thing, the computer is hypersensitive.
One “feature” of the Sentra is its ability to detect when keys are locked inside and respond by unlocking the doors. At least that’s what it’s supposed to do. But nearly every time I lock my car and walk away — the computer beeps and unlocks the doors. Because it’s so hypersensitive, it can sense the keys in my backpack or pocket from 5-10 feet away… and it still thinks they’re inside the car.
It also doesn’t like the cold. If the outside temperature drops near 32 degrees, it displays a constant warning, “Icy.” If the temperature drops below 20 degrees, the computer freaks out thinking that its tires are going flat, and issues me a dire warning that the car is unsafe to drive. I dutifully fill the tires with air, but the car doesn’t believe me. So it keeps the warning light on for a few days just to see if I’m paying attention. Then, when it decides it’s tired of playing with me, it turns the light off.
Like I said… I’ve never really bonded with my car.
But something changed last week.
I bought a new cell phone that has Bluetooth capability. My oh-so-hypersensitive car can actually detect when there is a Bluetooth phone in range, and — get this — it BECOMES a phone!
Now how do I know this? My car told me.
I can push a button on the steering wheel, and say “Call.” The car (yes the CAR!) then replies, “Please say a name, a number, or dial last number called.” Sweet! So, of course, I had to give it a try. After she asked for a name or number, I said “Mom!” …but apparently, my car doesn’t speak English, and proceeded to re-dial the last number called. Since that was the guy from the ATT store who was testing my system, I quickly hit the button on the steering wheel and tried again.
This time I recited my Mom’s phone number. The car prompted, “Say ‘dial’ or continue saying numbers.” I said “Dial.” And the next thing I knew – the car was ringing… and I was talking to my mom! Her voice came through the car speakers, and mine was transmitted through a tiny little microphone in the ceiling.
It was the coolest thing.
I’m starting to look at my car a little differently now. It’s kinda’ like dating someone for a couple years and discovering that they can make a fabulous flourless chocolate cake when you didn’t even know they could cook!
My hypersensitive little car can talk. How cool is that?
So, if you’re ever in the DC area and you see someone driving with both hands on the wheel and no earpiece, talking non-stop to no one in particular… that might just be me. Having a great conversation with my car. 
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