While on vacation in Arizona, we came back to early still snow on the ground, we rented a 2013 Dodge Journey. Overall it was a nice ride, a little low on power but then most rental cars are. The seats were very comfortable even the far rear that made it a 6 passenger were not that bad according to the couple that rode about 25 miles back there. The one problem with the seats was the adjustment and the feature that made the second seat slide forward to gain access to the rear. The rear seat was difficult to slide and we never did get the rear access feature to work. The HVAC and radio controls were touch screen and very easy to use. Satellite radio was also a nice feature when you are in a strange town and don’t know the stations it is a great help. My wife said that it sounded like the same guy on the 60s station back home, not only sounds like but is. Gauges were sparse, only temp, which I imagine is a necessity in Arizona. I liked the speedo which had both needle and digital. The remote lock and unlock was keyless, which is becoming standard, but the lock and unlock feature was a bit difficult to understand how it was working. Any closer than 5 feet and the doors lock and unlock when you pull on the handle. The handle also has a lock all button which is nice, you do have 5 seconds to check for a locked door which I like to do but the time is to short. Owner’s manual would have helped here and with the seats. Finally found it by the spare tire on the day we were leaving. The major drawback is the rear visibility, if you have ever driven in Phoenix you know what I mean. The traffic is terrible and the speed limit is largely ignored. The second row of seats have high headrest which restrict visibility and the mirrors just seem to be improperly placed. Would I buy one, doubtful, I like to drive a pickup and my wife likes her Bonneville. If I was shopping for a crossover I would give it a second look but only after driving a few others.

As usual I had coffee this morning with Santa as we have done for many years, he needs my advice on his naughty or nice list. So if you have been nice no worry and you know the rest of the story. I did notice fewer politicians on the nice list this year. One deserving addition to the nice was Heidi. As usual you will have to wait till Christmas morning to find out which list you are on. Sorry no coal this year, to expensive, using charcoal in its place. After many years I still could not convince him to put me on the nice list. Just can’t see the upside in being good all year, I would miss out on so many things. My advice to all of my friends who are on the wrong list with me is to go out and buy yourself something nice. My Christmas is made complete by a wife of 48 years, who still puts up with me, 2 great kids and 6 great Grandchildren. Santa can’t put that in my stocking MERRY XMAS TO ONE & ALL

You are driving and having a discussion with your passenger when your radio joins in and offers a few comments. You cars computer system has been hacked. Now I don’t know if the ability to talk will be possible, but it is possible to listen into a conversation. The hacker can also tell your location using the GPS, disable and apply your brakes, they could also disable the ignition and lock or unlock your doors. I think there are several more apps that will come up as more hacking is done. Think of that 17 year old you have been yelling at to stay off your grass having control of your cars computer systems. He will be the one laughing as you try to unlock your doors to exit your car when you get home. You will notice many of the items that can be hacked are also ones that can be accessed by On Star, don’t know if this a coincidence or not. I am sure the HVAC system will be on this list as will security systems. That 17 year old could possibly turn up the volume and change channels on the radio, remember you are locked in. Rethinking that emergency escape tool you seen advertised earlier.I don’t know how the manufactures plan to update the onboard computer systems but I hope some serious security is part of the plan, but then some other 17 year old geek will beat it. Listen up shops time to hire a geek, don’t wait give them the opportunity to get in on the ground floor. I am not the sharpest tool in the shed but I started when computers were in there infancy, greetings cards have more memory then my first computer, I grew along with them. When I say MS DOS or Windows 95 and you don’t start giggling you don’t know what I am talking about.

Just had a flat and you open your trunk to discover no spare, you may have a tire inflator or some other tools that are supposed to inflate the tire but trust me these seldom work. Time to call a tow truck, at the shop they tell you the price of the tire and you respond ”no I don’t want to buy a whole set just 1 tire” and then you find out that is the cost of 1 tire. Several manufactures have dropped the spare from their vehicles in the past several years with little publicity about it. It would not be a bad idea to check if you haven’t that there is a spare. A few have included different options to reinflate the tire but if it is a sidewall or blow out or you were on the highway and shredded the tire these are of little use and tow trucks can run well over $50.The part I don’t understand is they are using very expensive tires on these same cars. Are they thinking because the tire are expensive they won’t have a problem? I just don’t see any cost saving here. It may be a weight thing, but I don’t see the saving as being that much. I have had several pickups that did not have a spare or it was impossible to get it out, I did give mine a kick this summer and it felt like it had air in it. So far no problems, now I wish I wouldn’t have mentioned it as I probably will have a problem. What is next 2 buckets with pillow for a back seat?