I feel about cars how I feel about computers: They’re great when they work, they suck when they don’t. Before we moved to Mississippi I leased a Nissan Rogue, which I loved. My lease was up right about the time we sold our house, so everything worked out almost perfect in that regard. For about the first year of our innkeeping experience, we only had one car. It’s all we needed. But then my husband took a job outside the home and it wasn’t convenient for me to drive him to work every morning and pick him up every evening. Neither was it convenient for me to be stuck at home without a vehicle.
When we began our search for a car for me, I wasn’t looking for anything in particular, just a car to get me from point A to B and back. New cars were very expensive, but we couldn’t find a used car that I liked. Except the Challenger. I like that one. As we were thinking about putting an offer on the Challenger we stopped at one more dealership, just to be sure the Dodge was really the one we were going to get. I spied a cute little red Mercedes parked at the exit of the auto shop on the side of the dealership. Hmmm.
I questioned the salesman about it, just because I thought it was shiny and cute and probably more age appropriate for this old lady. The entire time I’m thinking, “But I really want the Challenger.” And I followed that up with, “the Mercedes is undoubtedly out of your price range anyway so don’t fall in love with it.”
Well, surprise, surprise! The Mercedes was actually less money than the Challenger and in better shape to boot. Say what now? An affordable Mercedes? It had high miles on the odometer, but I was assured that the doctor who traded it in, bought it new and it was mostly highway miles. Whatever that means. Miles are miles as far as I’m concerned. Anyway, since I formerly had a Subaru with almost 300,000 miles on it, I wasn’t too concerned about the “high” miles (66,752) for this 3-year-old car.
Well, when I found out the price, I instantly knew, that this was going to be my car. And it was and it continues to be. I’ve had it 4 years now and the odometer is just over 77,000 miles. I just don’t drive very much. But, I use my car a lot. I take a lot of really short trips around town.
Anyway, where is this all going? I’ll tell you. As much as I love that Mars Red C-250 Sport, it’s kind of a pain in the ass. It’s super sensitive. There’s a sensor for everything. And they like to “go off.” All. The. Time. Flashing lights, warning messages on my dash board, all the bells and whistles. I get a small heart attack every time something flashes on the dash.
The most recent episode happened while I was driving – always happens while I’m driving. I got this message: “Inoperable. Do not drive.” Five yellow lights flashed simultaneously. WHAT!?! What the hell is going on? I was afraid to pull over because I didn’t want to get stalled somewhere along the road. I slowed down, crept along for a few feet until I realized my brakes were still functioning and the steering wheel appeared to be working. All good signs.
I continued on – very slowly – to my destination (no I did not turn around and go back home or to the mechanic). I thanked the Lord for guiding me safely along, turned off the engine, and said another prayer that I’d get back home again.
Turns out, it was “nothing.” Well, not really nothing, but more or less, nothing that needed immediate attention and an “inoperable, do not drive,” message to freak me the hell out. It was a front wheel sensor. I’ve had it replaced, for $200, and am safely on my way again. Until next time.
Seriously, this car has a warning light for everything. Flashing red light = build-up on the mud flap. Best scrape all that excess dried glop off for maximum fuel efficiency. Flashing green light = windshield wiper has a nick in the rubber. Replace it at once in case it rains and the wipers miss a drop of blinding moisture with each swipe across the glass. Yellow light = the seat warmer may not heat to desired temperature. Best have it looked at, so your butt doesn’t freeze.
And all those symbols? What’s with the damn symbols? My car has more emojis then my social media page. I have no idea what all the squiggles and ellipses mean. What’s the square thing with a hole in it? I know my dashboard can spell actual words because it told me I was in danger just a few days ago. Why can’t it just spell out what the problem is instead of playing a guessing game with a flashing symbol? Am I low on gas or do I need an engine overhaul? That harp-looking thing is my tire gauge. Who knew? I was looking for the classical music station to make it go away.
Anyway, that’s my story of my sensitive car. I have a love / hate relationship with it. When it runs, it’s sweet. When the lights go off, I hate it with a passion. Do you guys have emojis in your car? Is your car super sensitive with a lot of sensors? What’s a funny car problem you’ve encountered involving a flashing symbol on the dashboard? Please tell me I’m not the only one who has to consult my owner’s manual every time a light goes off.
I’ve got some exciting things planned for the year that only my newsletter followers will know about. I promise you’ll only get 6 newsletters for the entire year, so I won’t clutter up your inbox. Here’s the link if you want to sign up and be the first to know things: http://bit.ly/JansenSchmidtNewsletter
Word of the Day: Nisi
Fun fact about me: Mostly the flashing warning lights piss me off because I know it’s going to cost me money to have them turned off.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, May 2022. Images by Pexels and Google.
jansenschmidt 
We have a Mercedes and our son drives it. It was a originally my mother-in-law’s car but we got in 2019 from my sister-in-law. It’s got a strange ownership history to match its sensitivity. It’s a 2005 with less than 100,000 miles (I think). It’s a money pit with its alarms and warnings. But it’s a car and it’s paid for and it gets where it’s going even with the alarms. So hang in there… cars can be like that. Happy summer!
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I still like my car, it’s just annoying that there is almost always a light on for something. Usually it’s a silly little thing, but the lights are annoying. If I took my car to the shop every single time a light came on, I’d be at the shop at least once a week.
I want to go back to a simpler time. All the automatic windows, door locks, yadda, yadda, yadda, just make for one more sensor light to go off. That never used to happen when you had to roll up the window with a crank.
Thanks for stopping by. Have a lovely day off.
Patricia
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Well, what do you know. I also have a Mercedes (GLA 250) also purchased used (2015). It’s my senior crisis car. Never owned one before. Had it about 6 years and only put about 6,000 miles a year on it. I don’t have too many light warning problems but the one that drives me crazy is the tire pressure notification. Seems it wants more air in the cold weather and less in the hot weather….duh. Three tires could be at 38psi but if one is at 37 psi, on comes the notification. Talk about sensitive! If I worried about it every time, I’d spend most of my life at the air pump. I just turn the notification off. Otherwise it’s been a great car with no major expense.
Try telling it how much you love it. Some cars just need more TLC than others.
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YES – the damn tire pressure light is ALWAYS on. It fluctuates all day long. So annoying. That’s the one that never goes off. I can drive it home from the shop after having the recommended tune-ups and oil changes and 15 minutes down the road that damn light will come on. I just laugh. I think it’s because my fat ass is on the driver’s side so there’s more pressure pushing down on that side of the car. I get in – on comes the light.
Thanks for sharing your sensitive car story. I really haven’t had too many problems with this car except for the wheel sensor. I think I’ve had the same one replaced 3 times now. Bizarre.
Have a fantastic Memorial Day and – I know I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating, especially today – thank you for your service.
Patricia
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I’ve had my car over a decade and still love it, but from time to time it will flash a code that I have to look up. And those annoying codes don’t go away until you address the issue, even if it’s to change the oil. Still love my car, though! Your Mercedes is cute. 🙂
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Thanks. I do like my car, it’s just got bells and whistles for every single little thing. I had a Subaru for years. That thing would not quit. Had almost 300,000 miles on it when I finally traded it in and got my Nissan on a lease. It was a sad day, but it was also time to let it go.
Have a wonderful rest of the week.
Patricia
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