Car Conundrums

Since the car has been in the workshop for the past few days getting fixed, we've been fortunate enough to get to use dad's car as he was outstation on business the past few days.

Only thing is, we've been driving our Kembara for far too long and we rarely touch dad's car - only once in a while when it's the most convenient car parked, for when we want to head out to tapau some supper. Even then there were times where the first 5 minutes was spent figuring out buttons and levers.

At least that was for when we wanted supper, which would mean we'd be taking the car in the middle of the night just around the neighbourhood. Imagine now us having to take the car to brave the morning jam, the evening rush hour, the pouring rain and the likes.

Of course, we're not totally some himbo that doesn't know how to drive (you don't hear us complaining about parallel/reverse parking!) but dad's Audi was an experience indeed. The only warning dad gave us before he left was, "Be careful, the car is big."

Which turned out to be rather helpful advice as that was the first thing we learned when we were reverse parking at the workplace. Switching from a Kembara to a sedan car we knew we had to factor in the boot now, and dad's reverse sensor was still reliable. Still, once we backed into our spot and the front of the car nicely within lines, we got out only to find that the back of the car was on near intimate terms with the next car's bumper, way out of the parking lines. Big car.

Right. So now we know how much space to allow for the car. And when it started raining we also remembered that the windshield wipers lever was on the right and signals were on the left. Only occasionally you will see this car suddenly signalling to turn left on a highway when it suddenly starts raining.

The air-condition kept us occupied at traffic lights too. :) While we could work out which ones worked the temperature and the fanspeed, what does the 'Auto' button do? And this button with an 'Up' symbol? Or the one with a 'Down' symbol?

Only at one point did we need to consult the manual. When the car needed refueling. There we were, sitting in the car at Shell, hunting all over for a lever to open the fuel flap. After 5 minutes (thankfully it was raining rather heavily, we could pretend that we didn't want to get wet) we found that all we had to do was push near the hinge - there was no lever in the first place.

Good thing dad is back and the car's finally fixed.