Hertz sends me into the wilderness

[dexander]

Hertz normally gives me a Taurus or Sable when I rent from them. For some reason this time they gave me a Subaru Outback. This car clearly requires a graduate degree to operate. The stick alone would require a whole course. It is some weird stair step contraption that took a while for me to figure out. It isn't really manual but it isn't

Comments

You are asking for this.

[two_pi_r]

Linux normally gives me a vi or vim when I edit with them. For some reason this time they gave me a GNU Emacs. This editor clearly requires a graduate degree to operate. The keyboard shortcuts alone would require a whole course. It is some weird multichord contraption that took a while for me to figure out. It isn't really manual but it isn't really automatic either. For a while I thought I was doomed to editing manually for the duration of my file. Being an Emacs, I am sure some secret control will also activate the decent editor options. The syntax highlighting controls are conveniently hidden behind the menus. The indent secludes itself far underneath the M-x keystroke. There are weird symbolic status annuciators on the status line that I still haven't deciphered. The editing controls work opposite of what seems intuitive to me. I am sure with time it would all be "obvious" to me and I would consider it great but it is very unlike any editor I have ever known.

Re: You are asking for this.

[dexander]

You seem to think I was complaining. I wasn't. The car is very nice. I wish I had longer to figure it out. If I was made of money I might even go buy one.

[flainn]

Subarus are all-wheel-drive, all the time.

[houdini_cs]

It's a Subaru, AWD (not 4WD, mind you) should be on all the time.

As for the stick, there's a D location as well as a "I want to shift" location, if it's like the ones I have seen. What happens if you just don't shift?

[dexander]

I said "for a while" because I had figured the stick out.

[baldjuglingogre]

those little "hook your finger under me and lift to make the window go up" controls threw me off the first time i used them, too. As for the rest: sit down and take a few minutes pressing buttons and such before beginning to drive any rental car. also learn how to make the stereo work and adjust the mirrors before getting on an interstate highway.

-Tim

[dexander]

I did that. The car fascinates me.