AUTO HISTORY: Gone, but Not Forgotten

I was reading entries on autoblog.com the other day, a resource I check regularly to keep up on everything auto, and I came across a posting that I found odd. In fact, I initially found it to be somewhat disturbing. According to the post, Ford’s launch of its much anticipated Fiesta this summer will include “tap for three blinks” turn signals. Other Ford models will soon follow. Apparently, this is common on European vehicles, and has been available domestically on some VW, Audi, Chrysler, and recently, GM models. It took me several readings, to first understand what it was, and then why it would be necessary.

The argument is that there are too many drivers that turn on their turn signals and leave them on, making for dangerous driving. We have all come up behind a driver with their blinker left on, wondering if it was safe to pass, or would they pull out in front of you. In my experience, the inattentive flasher is only an occasional annoyance. Regardless, “tap for three blinks” allows the driver to engage the turn signal, the blinker flashes three times and turns off automatically. The argument is that it frees the driver to concentrate on the road, and ensures that turn signals are properly extinguished. Maybe so, but I view it as yet another intrusion on the fun of driving.

I really enjoy driving. I enjoy the physical process of operating the vehicle. Whether it’s driving a challenging mountain road, or cruising the open highway, I enjoy the feel of the road as I operate the car’s various components. It’s fun! When it comes to turn signals, I enjoy the decision making process of evaluating the traffic; turning on, then off my turn signals. I don’t need “tap for three blinks”. In fact, I prefer not to have the fun taken away. But, like so many other changes, “three blinks” will become standard, and the price of a new car will increase to pay for it. Naturally, a few years from now I will look back on this and say, “What was I thinking? How did I live with out it?”

With “tap for three blinks” on the horizon, it got me to thinking about some of the other changes to cars and driving over the years. Here is my nostalgic list of the “Gone, but Not Forgotten”:

Manual door locks
Crank windows
Floor mounted high beam switches
Standard transmissions
Full sized spares
Bench seats
Cigarette lighters
Carburetors (and their shortcomings)
The ability to service your own car
Tube tires
Rust
Clear visibility (especially backing a vehicle)
Radios: AM, to AM/FM, to 8 track, to cassette, to CD, to iPod/Mp3, to USB drive
Free air for your tires
Full service fill-up

Feel free to add to my list, just don’t take the fun out of driving.