Parking - in the new day an age - Rant

[BravoXray]

There are several cars that I can't fit in comfortably because my right leg is pinned up against the center console making me feel cramped, and my size 13 winter boots won't fit between the right edge of the brake pedal and the console.... I can't push the gas pedal without hitting the brakes.

That's why I like my big 'ol '04 Town Car. Lotsa leg room. Was really nice when I drove straight through to Sarasota, FL, 1300 miles, last Thanksgiving to visit my daughter and family.

 

[MossRoad]

Oh, I misunderstood. My consoles don't go to the dash. More floorboard room between console and seats than your pic.

View attachment 771452

Tip armrest up.
Push bottle holder in.
Remove inverter from floor.
Slide wife over.

I could live with that.

Of course, wife's version would be:
Tip armrest down.
Put bottle in bottle holder.
Turn seat heater on.
Stay on you own side of the vehicle.

 

[MossRoad]

That's why I like my big 'ol '04 Town Car. Lotsa leg room. Was really nice when I drove straight through to Sarasota, FL, 1300 miles, last Thanksgiving to visit my daughter and family.

My in-laws had a Mercury Grand Marquis that we'd borrow if we needed. My wife hated it. I loved it. Like two couches driving down the road. Soft ride. Floated along like a boat. Took the bumps nicely. Not the sportiest of vehicles, but sure was comfortable.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I got me a car, it's as big as a whale
And we're headin' on down to the love shack
I got me a Chrysler, it seats about twenty
So hurry up and bring your jukebox money


You know you want to sing it.

 

[MossRoad]

I got me a car, it's as big as a whale
And we're headin' on down to the love shack
I got me a Chrysler, it seats about twenty
So hurry up and bring your jukebox money


You know you want to sing it.

Yeah I do!!!

 

[Oaktree]

Oh, I misunderstood. My consoles don't go to the dash. More floorboard room between console and seats than your pic.

I do like the floor shifter for winter driving. Kick it down into manual select and shift with a button on the side of the shifter knob.

I don't mind the type of "console" ovrszd has in his truck. I assume it flips up?
I do like a floor shifter, if for no reason than something to rest my right hand on while driving. Unfortunately, more and more seem to be going with some sort of knob gear selector these days. Most Mopars are that way now.

My first pet peeve about modern cars is the "entertainment system" screen being super bright and not being able to make it completely dark with a single button hit.
I understand that they're super useful for backing up, and I'm fine with them existing because of that, but in my wife's car I have to go into setup, then some other mode, and finally hit "turn screen off" (of course, it comes right back on in some circumstances, which is fine, but what's not fine is that I have to go through a multi-button hit to darken it back again - of course requiring looking at the damn thing in the process).

Second is not being able to do heater/ac stuff without looking. My truck has three dials, and I don't even think about what to do, I feel a certain way and without thinking my hands adjust the temperature just so, and I'm left going "oh right, i was hot". Yeah I know automatic temperature-tracking ac/heating is neat and fancy but the truth is when I get in the car, I'm either too cold or too hot so I want a big dose of the opposite, and then I end up correcting it to the "right" temperature at some point. I should be able to do all of this while driving without my thought and definitely without taking my eyes off of the road.

I'm with you, but unfortunately each year that seems to get worse and worse. EV makers seem to be in a competition to make their operation as needlessly tech-y and inconvenient as possible. Integrating some of these functions into touchscreen menus has to be one of the dumbest ideas ever, with tesla leading the way.
I would think the NTSA would get involved, given how there are legitimate safety issues here.

 

[WinterDeere]

Like two couches driving down the road. Soft ride. Floated along like a boat.

How did I end up in a forum of old fuddy duddies? I spend my drive time avoiding getting stuck behind these land yachts, or the "living room on wheels" that most SUV's have become.

Trucks aside, I keep one solely for towing and bad weather, you won't catch me in anything with a bench seat or less than 200 hp/ton. Bucket seats and sport suspension, please!

 

[Jstpssng]

I got me a car, it's as big as a whale
And we're headin' on down to the love shack
I got me a Chrysler, it seats about twenty
So hurry up and bring your jukebox money


You know you want to sing it.

Funny thing, I got behind a Jeep today with the plate # RkLbster.
Different song but same act.

Kate Pierson had (has?) a great voice, although you wouldn’t know it from her B-52s era.

 

[ovrszd]

Tip armrest up.
Push bottle holder in.
Remove inverter from floor.
Slide wife over.

I could live with that.

Of course, wife's version would be:
Tip armrest down.
Put bottle in bottle holder.
Turn seat heater on.
Stay on you own side of the vehicle.

Yep. Both trucks can seat 3 in the front.

 

[ovrszd]

I got me a car, it's as big as a whale
And we're headin' on down to the love shack
I got me a Chrysler, it seats about twenty
So hurry up and bring your jukebox money


You know you want to sing it.

Love that song!!!! And that girl can sing!!!!