(Reminder:
in case you forgot, I drive a 2016 Toyota Prius Hybrid. It’s keyless, with push
button start and touch-lock/open driver’s door.)
On
my most recent visit to family in California’s East Bay Area, I rented a 2017 Hyundai
Accent from Hertz. Nice car, very comfy, good get-up-and-go. Except that ... it
had a key.
“What’s
wrong with that?” you may ask. I refer you to the reminder above.
The
first time I drove the car was an adventure. I slipped into the driver’s seat,
reached forward to start the car ... and couldn’t find the start button.
Forehead slap. I forgot I had to use the
key. So I had to unbuckle my seat belt, arch my back, and squeeze my hand into
my tight jeans pocket to retrieve the key ring with the key and remote. Then I
had to find the ignition, which wasn’t in plain sight, on the steering column,
step on the brake, aim the key, stick it in, and turn it.
How
many steps is that? Five, right? Or is it six? Anyway, with my Prius, I just
step on the brake and press the start button. The car even tells me what to do
on its dashboard screen
At
our destination, I had to lock the car, so I touched the driver’s-side door
handle (my Prius has three small ridges on the door handle to touch-unlock the
door).
Forehead slap. I had to dig out the remote and key from my pocket again.
Later, I tried to unlock the
car by just opening the door like I do on my Prius (just grab the handle and
the door unlocks). Nope. Need the key or remote, which I had to dig out of my pocket
again.
(I should clarify that the
automatic features on my Prius only work when the special remote is close by,
like in my pocket.)
The final frustrating moment
came when I had to open the trunk. After fruitless groping for the latch with
my arms full, I had to put bags back in the shopping cart and dig out the key
ring, discover there was no trunk opener on the remote, and open the trunk with
the key.
Frustrating indeed.
Upshot? The convenience of a
keyless car has made me lazy and reminded me of what I used to do without even
thinking (or complaining about it.
But then, that’s why they
invented blogs, right? So I can grumble.
