It’s not perfect, but it beats trying to describe your surroundings to someone who’s never been there...
Totally get that—last winter my car broke down in a giant mall parking lot and the app kept thinking I was on a nearby street instead. I ended up walking around waving my phone in the air hoping for a better signal. GPS coords definitely saved me some frustration (and cold fingers). The plus code thing is sneaky, though—I’ve copied that by mistake before and the tow guy had no clue what I was talking about.
I ended up walking around waving my phone in the air hoping for a better signal.
That sounds way too familiar... I once broke down in my '78 Cutlass at a county fairground, and the GPS kept insisting I was in the middle of a cornfield. The tow truck guy called and asked, “Are you sure you’re not just lost?” I had to describe the world’s saddest funnel cake stand just to get found. Tech’s great, but sometimes it’s just you, your car, and a lot of explaining.
The tow truck guy called and asked, “Are you sure you’re not just lost?” I had to describe the world’s saddest funnel cake stand just to get found. Tech’s great, but sometimes it’s just...
Honestly, I get the frustration, but I’ve got to push back a bit on the “tech’s great, but sometimes it’s just you” idea. My S-Class has built-in roadside assistance with an actual human on the other end—never had to explain weird landmarks. Maybe it’s not perfect everywhere, but having a car with its own cell antenna makes a difference. Not saying it’s failproof, but it’s a huge step up from waving your phone around and hoping for bars.
I get what you’re saying about built-in systems, but not everyone’s driving around in an S-Class, you know? Most of us are stuck with whatever our phones can manage out in the middle of nowhere. Ever had a roadside service app just freeze up or drop your location? I’ve had to use old-school directions more than once. Do you think these car-based systems will ever be standard, or is it always going to be a luxury thing?
Yeah, I totally get where you’re coming from. Those built-in systems are nice, but most folks are relying on their phones and a little luck. I’ve seen plenty of people end up using paper maps or calling in locations the old-fashioned way. Honestly, I think it’ll be a while before those features are standard everywhere, but you’re not alone—lots of us still have to improvise when tech lets us down.
