I hear you—modern cars might nag you with warning lights, but at least they don’t usually leave you guessing. One thing I’ve noticed is that with newer vehicles, roadside assistance (like with Progressive) can actually read some of those codes remotely now. That’s come in handy for me; once I thought I was in for a big tow, but it turned out to be something minor. Still, there’s something about the simplicity of classics that I miss, even if they’re more unpredictable.
Honestly, I’m a bit on the fence about all this remote diagnostics stuff. Here’s my take:
- Sure, it’s convenient when Progressive (or whoever) can pull those codes and tell you what’s up before you even pop the hood. Saves a lot of guesswork and, sometimes, unnecessary tows.
- But I’ve seen it go both ways. Sometimes those codes make things sound scarier than they are, or you get a generic “check engine” and the advice is still “take it to a shop.” Not always as magical as it sounds.
- With older cars, yeah, you don’t get all the warnings, but at least you can usually poke around and spot a loose wire or a cracked hose yourself. I kinda miss that.
- There’s also the privacy angle... not everyone’s thrilled about their car sending out data, even if it’s just for a breakdown.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had clients save time and money thanks to remote diagnostics. But I wouldn’t rely on it 100%. Sometimes you just need a good old-fashioned look under the hood.
I kinda miss that. - There’s also the privacy angle...
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had the opposite experience a couple times. That “generic check engine” code? Last year, Progressive’s remote system flagged a bad O2 sensor on my Camry before I even noticed anything was off. Saved me a trip to the shop just for a diagnosis. Guess it depends on the car and the situation, but I’ve found it can be more helpful than not.
As for poking around under the hood, I still do that too—just with a little more tech in the mix now.
I totally get the privacy thing, but man, if Progressive wants to know how many times I stall at a stop sign, that’s on them. Their roadside help actually bailed me out when I locked my keys in the car at the grocery store—super embarrassing, but way better than calling my mom again. Tech’s a little creepy sometimes, but it’s saved my butt more than once.
- Totally get where you’re coming from. The privacy stuff is a bit much, but honestly, the trade-off’s not so bad when you’re in a jam.
- I’ve had to use their roadside help for a dead battery—felt ridiculous, but they showed up fast and didn’t make it awkward.
- If they want to track my “bad driver” moments, fine... as long as they keep bailing me out when I mess up.
- Tech can be weird, but it’s hard to argue with results.
