Our car isn't as clever as we thought
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325751)
Rockingham, Australia
October 13, 2018 12:01am CST
Lenore Plassman (@sallypup) recently wrote about the car they hired recently. You just had to push a button and the engine would start. Our new-to-us car is much the same. It is a top-of-the-range Toyota Kakadu (see photo) and we are pretty pleased with it so far.
It has a range of fancy features and we’re still finding out some of them. The part that I can’t stop telling people about is the heated seats. We scoffed at the thought in Ireland which is where we first came across them but now we’ve tried them out, believe me, that are pretty cool - or rather, warm.
The sun visors, once they’ve been pulled down into position, have a section which can be moved to the side to provide more protection from the sun. Then, between the two front seats is a console which can be made cold by pushing a button. It would hold about four cans and a few rounds of sandwiches.
But it’s not perfect. The sun roof can be activated by pushing a button. The roof part slides back leaving an insect-type covering then push again and this slides back too leaving you free to enjoy the breeze. However, we couldn’t get the thing to close again. Eventually I solved the problem by putting my hand up and manually closing the flap. So it isn’t quite as clever as we were thinking.
25 people like this
23 responses
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
13 Oct 18
I am happy to know that you have acquired a new Toyota Kakadu (upper range). Toyota brands are very good and reliable as I have got a Innova model from Toyota. The problem of the sunroof can be fixed by the workshop people when you will take your Car for first servicing! Have a nice time in your new car!
5 people like this
@arunima25 (85269)
• Bangalore, India
13 Oct 18
You have a nice car. I think that the problem with sunroof can be fixed.
My husband has Innova from Toyota. Toyota cars are reliable. I have a small car and my husband calls it a toy car.
3 people like this
@vandana7 (98823)
• India
13 Oct 18
@arunima25 These people will not believe the convenience small cars offer..LOL. Parking in particular.
2 people like this
@arunima25 (85269)
• Bangalore, India
13 Oct 18
@JudyEv I like small cars as they are easier to handle in India's traffic.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157552)
• United States
13 Oct 18
I like the idea of a built in cooler. It sounds pretty awesome, even if you have to manually close the sun roof.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325751)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 18
We were forced into the purchase really when our other car gave up the ghost in a strange city but we are now pleased with it.
@JudyEv (325751)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Oct 18
If you were really a macho man, it wouldn't bother you. 
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
13 Oct 18
Still its a cool car, maybe that thing got trouble and you need to bring it to the technician.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325751)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Oct 18
I think it's meant to be the way it is. I just didn't write it very well.
@Kasjnak (4492)
• Romania
13 Oct 18
I'm still driving an old Ford Focus with just a fes features. My seats get warm only if there's someone sitting, they take some body heat .
That is a nice and reliable car, Toyota. Guess the sun roof thing can be fixed easily if you take the car to a workshop 
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That is a nice and reliable car, Toyota. Guess the sun roof thing can be fixed easily if you take the car to a workshop .2 people like this
@m_audrey6788 (58485)
• Germany
13 Oct 18
Not too much familiar with vans but it looks nice 
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (169940)
• United States
13 Oct 18
Well no car is perfect..Heated seats would come in in handy in the Winter.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95136)
• Marion, Ohio
13 Oct 18
The heated seats could be very nice. Glad you got the sun roof closed.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95136)
• Marion, Ohio
14 Oct 18
@JudyEv There may be something not working right.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325751)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 18
@wolfgirl569 Could be. Maybe I should read the manual - or is that going too far?
@JudyEv (325751)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 18
There are buttons for everything so we just assumed there was a button for the sun roof.
@JudyEv (325751)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Oct 18
I would have thought so too but it seems it comes from Gagudju, an Aboriginal language which used to be spoken in the area that is now the Kakadu National Park. It is a rugged place so I guess they thought it sounded tough for a 4WD vehicle.
3 people like this
@JadePlatypus (234)
• Australia
13 Oct 18
It look great. Good for travelling. My husband got himself a new car recently, a Holden Malibu, 2017 model! (We're getting posh now!) It has a push-button start also, and a funny handbrake button that I sort of don't trust. The car-yard also connected his phone up so that he can talk 'hands free' while he drives, but he doesn't use that at all, thankfully. It has reverse camera too. All these wonderful things, but I still love my old Toyota Rav 4. No bells and whistles except it beeps if I leave the headlights on!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325751)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Oct 18
This has a reverse camera too which I find handy when I drive it. If you don't do your seat belt up it starts beeping and doesn't shut up till you belt up - so to speak. My little car just has a red light warning about the belt. It doesn't go on and on about it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325751)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Oct 18
@JadePlatypus Yes, ours does that too. They think they are so smart! If we're working round the paddocks we do up the seat belts then get in. That fools it.
If we're working round the paddocks we do up the seat belts then get in. That fools it. @JadePlatypus (234)
• Australia
13 Oct 18
@JudyEv Same here. With his car, a bag on the passenger seat - the car thinks its a person -and you drive halfway to town with beep beep beep beep. Mine just flashes a red light. I can ignore that.
1 person likes this
@anya12adwi (6037)
• India
13 Oct 18
That must be really costly and damn expensive for us though.. You can always ask for the help to their customer care.. I think the car is new one for you.. That is why you are still learning about your car
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325751)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 18
@anya12adwi It is very bad sometimes. We know a person where something went wrong with the car and it locked itself and he couldn't get out. Luckily he had a mobile phone,
1 person likes this
@anya12adwi (6037)
• India
14 Oct 18
@JudyEv I am glad that you could do it manually atleast and in some cars, you cannot do even manually
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
14 Oct 18
Wow, what a very nice car you have. It has those beautiful features.
Maybe , you just have to discover how to automatically close again the opened sun roof.
Here , our cars must be without sunroof, or we will be fried by the scorching heat, no matter if it is windy.
1 person likes this
@cmoneyspinner (9221)
• Austin, Texas
13 Oct 18
That experience doesn't sound too bad. It only required manual intervention, not Divine intervention.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
14 Oct 18
But I like it, now that you told me about all the fun stuff.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325751)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Oct 18
We like it too. Sometimes I think it is smarter than we are - which mightn't take much doing.
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
17 Oct 18
But it's a Toyota. Those things run forever! I would buy another one in a heartbeat!
1 person likes this
