Dave has been in Eugene the past few days for University of Oregon Trustee meetings, but returned to me late this afternoon just in time to sign a lot of papers take possession of our new tow car - a 2015 Jeep Cherokee Limited.
We drove a Jeep Cherokee last week. We did our research and when we were ready to buy, contacted our auto broker, Auto Solution. Peter and Mark found the car we wanted (at a dealer in Bend, Oregon) and had someone drive it over for us this week. Peter drove the car out to Taylor Manor this afternoon.
Not gonna lie. Though just a little bigger/heavier than our old Honda CRV, the Jeep Cherokee is a much sturdier vehicle. I ordered the Jeep in a dark grey, with black leather interior. (Probably going to regret this decision in hot/dusty Indio... but I am not in charge of washing the tow car.)
The Jeep is loaded with so much stuff. I am a fairly tech-savvy gal, but wonder how many people can actually utilize all the technical features this car includes: Connect to the world via UConnect. UConnect controls your phone calls, voice messaging, restaurant reservations, inter-planetary travel, music, etc. - using voice-only command. Charge your cell phone via a charging "pad" - no cord needed. The car does not have a key, only push-button start... or start the car with your cell phone. Find your car with your phone. Lock/unlock your car with your phone.Beam me up, Scotty.
The Jeep has electrical plug-in's for a laptop, DVD player, etc. Push a button on the key fob and the rear hatch opens. It parallel parks itself. It backs-in to a parking space by itself. On cruise-control, the Jeep will automatically reduce speed if the car ahead slows down. The shifter-thangy has a mode for automatic down-shifting on long hills. A warning sound/sign appears if you are in danger of crashing. If you are swerving about in your lane, you will hear about that as well. Though not a hybrid, the car turns itself off when stopped in traffic/at intersections to halt polluting emissions. Pretty sure there are many more features we will discover after reading the owner manual... which is, of course, on a DVD!
I may need a teenager to set-up my new car.
A little over-the-top for a vehicle I need to tool-around to the grocer or drive between Indio and Los Angeles... and drag behind the motorhome? True - but many of these new-to-us options are completely normal/standard in current cars.
Cars no longer require keys.
We are hopelessly behind he times. Our cars are 8-ish and 16-ish years old. They go forward and backward and stop. Dave's Chevy Tahoe is so old it has a cigarette lighter. (Not a cigarette lighter "adapter" for a phone charger - his Chevy has one of those old-school push-in cigarette lighters.)
The new and the old - Peter left us the new Jeep and drove away in our old Honda. I did not cry.
It's an Old Bubbe with a New Car!I drove the car about one mile, then tucked her in for the night. Too. Much. Information.
Tomorrow is another day.
While My Driver was away at his trustee meetings, I took advantage of a sunny morning and scrubbed all the patio furniture in hopes of a quiet Shabbat on the deck - our first outdoor meal since we have returned to Oregon.
Just a simple supper of grilled chicken (marinated all day in fresh rosemary, white wine, garlic and lemon juice from Mary & Captain Jim's tree in Indio) and Israeli Salad (tonight made with tomato, green pepper, cucumber, radish, red onion, avocado, Zaatar, white wine vinegar and olive oil from the next-hill-over). Everything organic. Everything delicious.
Until my next update, I remain, your "I have a lot of owner manuals to read" correspondent.