Popup ads in cars are a new phenomenon, but they’re not the only form of alerts people get on their dashboards. You could argue popups have been in cars for decades… if you consider bright, glaring, flashing warning lights as popups.
Earlier today I wrote about how Subaru is getting in on the pop-up ad game, joining the likes of Jeep, Dodge, Ram, and Chrysler in showing marketing blurbs to people through their infotainment screens. Jatkat has been having a similar problem with their Chevy Tracker, a car that GM doesn’t even make anymore:
My Chevy Tracker has ads on the dash too. It keeps popping up with “Service Engine Soon”. Nice try Mr. Dealership, nice try.
Meanwhile, Doughnaut argued these ads are far worse than your average pop-up, simply thanks to Subaru’s infotainment shortcomings:
Knowing how slow and shitty Subaru’s infotainment systems are, you’ll likely get to your destination before it registers that you pushed the “X” button.
This morning, The Bishop tackled the curious case of the Jeep Recon, and how it looks sort of strange with the doors off. He also presented an argument for how it could be easily improved with black-painted door sills. Eggsalad highlighted something I’ve been thinking about since this thing debuted: Taking off the doors just seems like too much trouble for what you get.
For his midlife crisis car, Pop bought an ’84 Camaro Z/28 with T-tops. I think the tops came off about 5 times before he decided that it was more hassle than it was worth. I predict the same for the Recon.
Finally, Thomas Hundal wrote about what seems to be the most ridiculous car auction this year, where a bunch of strange Renaults are set to be sold off in France next week. The cars on offer are so weird, Rad Barchetta has concluded that whoever designed them was not of their right mind:
It’s always been my understanding that if cocaine is introduced to an auto production line, you’d end up with a Delorean. Guess I was wrong.
Stay away from drugs, kids.
Have a great evening, everyone!
Top graphic image: Chevrolet
Thanks, Brian!
I see a great business opportunity for the tuner shops. Add delete!
That’s a WAY nicer Tracker than mine, I ain’t ZR2 material 🙁
My Mazda6 tries to get me to buy washer fluid sometimes. ????
A 2001 Jetta TDI I had didn’t put a message on a screen, (there were no screens) but when the washer fluid got low would set off the unnecessarily loud warning annunciator, at inopportune moments. Same thing with when the fuel level got low.
My ’17 Accord just turns on a little light when the fuel gets low. And I don’t know what it will do when my washer fluid gets low.
But dang, that VW was just incredibly loud when some fluid got low.
You should see my ‘05 Phaeton.
“BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!”
Right now, it’s giving me an “Insufficient coolant” warning (with accompanying “BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!”), despite the coolant being just fine. But I think that’s down to a faulty wire, possibly rodent damage.
And it will do the seatbelt warning chime/light sequence if the engine is running and your seatbelt is off, every 30 seconds, into perpetuity, regardless of whether or not the car is moving and/or in gear.
I’m curious if the Bentleys that share that same platform and electrical architecture are as persistent. Most probably.
I remember seeing an episode of Top Gear when a Lambo made a tone I had heard before in my car squawked about something. I don’t remember what. Probably trying to drive off with the hand brake engaged. But I knew that noise.
My ’09 Grand Cherokee uses the same warning chime for everything, whether it’s a serious problem or just low wiper fluid. The fun part with that wiper fluid is that the reservoir can reach juuuuuust the right level that a hard bump can briefly set off the ‘low fluid’ warning, but it immediately clears. It scared the heck out of Mom the first time it happened when she was driving.
Woohoo! That makes COTD #3 for me! I think that when I get to #5 I get free fries with any burger purchase.
Nope napkins with your shower spaghetti
I am envious. I have thought I have commented pretty hilariously on occasion but have never nailed a COTD. I guess I’m not as funny or witty as I think I am. That said, there are a lot of funny and witty people commenting (almost always nicely) on this site.