This story could be fairly long, so hang in there.
On December 23rd I was in a car accident in Hollywood. Someday I’ll tell you the full story, but the main facts you need to know is that it happened, it was annoying, no one was majorly injured, but it made the beginning of 2019 difficult for me. It was 100% the fault of an out of town driver, in a borrowed gigantic truck. I wasn’t even moving, but he merged into my tiny Mini Cooper slowly, but seeming deliberately. In the end, my Mini (first car I bought) had been totaled.
Fast–forward months of working with three different insurance companies, and touring dozens of dealerships, and months of physical therapy. I found the car that would be my new whip! I don’t really consider myself a “car guy” but, I’m fairly excited about this car. It’s the biggest purchase I’ve ever made, and in a very real sense, my biggest asset.
I didn’t exactly know what I wanted in a car, but I knew it was time for a bit of an upgrade. I needed something I could spend a lot of time in (commuting in Los Angeles) but also something I could take to the mountains, go camping in, and get back a little bit of the racing feeling I’ve been missing in the past decade. I spent a lot of time researching, planning, and test driving. Ultimately I realized this car is something I’m going to have for a long time, so I should get it exactly how I want it.
I ended up custom building a 2019 BMW X2 M35i. That process alone is fascinating, and if anyone is interested in doing similar, I have LOTS of opinions and research. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there’s a LOT of tech in new cars. From sensors and back up cameras, to Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charging, heads up displays in the windshield, touch screens, automated climate controls and even windshield wipers that know when there is rain… it’s wild.
After waiting for them to build it, then ship it from Germany all the way across the ocean, that first drive was pretty magical. Again, not quite a car guy, but damn is it fun to drive. With all the tech, it makes my commute feel very safe too. Which was a concern after the accident in December. One thing I’ve noticed is how much voice recognition is such an asset while driving. I have lots of opinions about voice controlled devices. They are handy for many, but for me, I don’t prefer them. You’d be hard to convince me I need Alexa, Siri, or whatever in my home. In this car though, it seems to make a lot of sense.
I use Siri through Apple CarPlay to get me directions, send text messages, and even add things to my OmniFocus lists, which has been a game changer for me. If you have this capability in your car, I encourage you to try it out. Really explore what it’s capable of and figure out where in your life it makes sense to use it.
My favorite part, is thanking it for a job well done. After interacting with the car, I make sure to end with a simple “Thank you”. This is not only polite and may be in my favor when our world is taken over by the robots, but it makes me feel a little more positive. Even when it glitches out and breaks, I give it a quick “thanks”. These small gestures go a long way.
If you have to have a car, please drive safely, be respectful of those walking and biking, and honestly just slow down. I found that if you set up your environment right, it’s not the worst.
🖤 Geremy