Got a letter today from Merc central to tell me that there was a recall on my new car for a software update on the emergency help system that I didnt know that I had. But, and this is the dodgy bit, the car will download and install this software update automatically and without any action on my part.
My car could end up chatting to some bird in Dusseldorf . Could it suddenly start driving on the wrong side of the road? Might it be checking up on where I take it and reporting back to HQ? For that matter could it suddenly decide to head towards Poland?
This level of efficiency is entirely alien to a British motorist. I shall buy a Jag next time round.
P.S. Enjoy the avatar. Wont be there much longer. I have been daft and sold the boat
Checking up on you? Not half. It logs how you drive, service aspects etc. All relayed through "head office". All info available should you have an accident, they can say how fast you were going, that you had ignored a brake warning light or whatever.
A relative of mine bought a new Roller five years ago. Very excited he took it on the ferry to France. It wouldn't start on arrival so he faced the ignomy of being the only car unloaded. After much contact with the Paris agent, including having him head down in the passenger footwell searching for a special lever..., they loaned him a big Ford to carry on his visit. Eventually, a couple of weeks later, a chap from UK office flew out and worked out that it was my cousin's fault as he had failed to tell "head office" that he was taking it abroad so the computer had assumed it was being stolen! To be fair to them, they did pay for another holiday for him...
Have you heard that the keycomputers work through head office now...not directly with the car. So if the head office computer goes down you can't open the car.
Or, how about my client who ran out of electric in his electric Leaf a few metres from the charging point but the car freezes solid and can't be towed...long wait for special recovery truck to move it across carpark to charger.
The simple life of waiting four hours for the AA because your points have burnt out and you'd put off buying a spare set are long gone!
Nick
