I got an email from my car yesterday.
I’ve never received an email from a car before. So, it was my first time.
I was sort of expecting it. But when it came, I guess I still wasn’t prepared for it.
What did the car want?
It wanted to tell me to put air in a tire.
No, really.
You see, I got a new car recently. And it came with OnStar.
Now, OnStar was not a selling factor for me. I didn’t expect to get a car with OnStar. Didn’t know for sure I was getting a GM car. Ford would’ve been fine. But, I found what I wanted … and in the right price range … in an Impala.
So, we got a car. And it came with OnStar. I thought it only came on a Cadillac or something. But, no, it comes with the Impala.
Well, the OnStar thing is all set up and all. And one of their features is they’ll send a monthly maintenance report on the car.
Well, the first monthly maintenance report came yesterday, Tuesday, 2-1/2 days after we got the car.
And, it told me the tire pressure in the left front tire was a little low.
It’s supposed to be 30 PSI. It was 26.
So, the car emailed me and told me about it.
I stopped by a BP station last night after supper, and put air in the tire.
Air used to be free. But hasn’t been for a while.
The BP on Macon Road wanted 75 cents.
So, I got out, took the caps off the valves, put three quarters in the machine, then ran around, putting air in the tires, trying to read the gauge when there’s no good lighting.
So, I wasn’t sure what the air pressure was when I was done, just that, according to the gauge at the BP … which only works when you’re burning seconds off your 75-cent allotment … the tires are now pretty much even.
And, it seems that 75 cents is too high a price for some people.
No one was near the air pump when we pulled in.
After I put my money in, cars started lining up to try to get my leftover seconds.
Yes, I took my own sweet time about putting the caps back on the tire valves. And adjusting my seat belt. And mirror. And looking both ways. Twice.
Anyway, now I get emails from my car.
Oh, and this means that now the Wife and the car both give me tasks to do.
Ain’t technocracy great!
December 5th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
I get an email from the Vue once a month myself. I’ve only used the OnStar once, and that was to contact law after witnessing an accident. Now if the frig would just do up my grocery list, email it to Publix I’d be in heaven!
December 6th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
I tried sending you a comment yesterday and it would not let me. I’ll try again today.
We bought a Tahoe SUV last November and have OnStar. It hasn’t sent us an email yet, but it sure gives us lots of advice in the information on the dashboard! My grandsons get a kick out of it telling them they don’t have on their seat belts.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
Has it sent you an email telling you how special you are?
December 6th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
No, it’s just like the cat. It only communicates with me when it wants something.
The cat wants Little Friskies. The car wants air in the tires.
I was thinking of calling the car “KITT” … but it’s more like “CAT”
December 7th, 2007 at 7:05 am
I have enough to do without my car complaining to me. Geeze, I could just see what it would send me:
Put my fabric back on the sides, wash my windows, inflate the tires, change the oil, and and and… sigh…
December 8th, 2007 at 9:42 am
At least it wasn’t spam…
Basil gets email from his Chevrolet: [T]he OnStar thing is all set up and all. And one of their features is they’ll send a monthly maintenance report on the car. Well, the first monthly maintenance report came … Tuesday, 2½……