If you were wondering why used cars and new ones often cost 40% more than they did in 2019?

 So, if you were wondering why Autos especially used cars now cost 40% more than they did before this is the main reason. When we tested Mercedes cars in August  2021 we found out about the terrible chip shortage that car dealers call "Chippageddon" ( named after Armageddon) and were told it was a 6 month wait at that time to custom order the car we wanted. When I tried out a 4 cylinder Mercedes the response time on the throttle was about 2 to 3 seconds which is enough in an emergency to be killed or t-boned by another car or truck. I didn't want any car with no response for emergencies. 

We gave up because we didn't want to order something 6 months out. Then recently we asked about other cars made in Japan that were all wheel drive and were told it was a 4 month wait at least.

Finally we found the biggest dealership for the all wheel drive car we wanted and went there in Los Angeles. They had between 5 and 12 of the car model we wanted so we didn't have to order and wait 4 months. Instead we were able to buy that car the same day we went there. It took one full day to drive there from Santa Barbara and to drive back to Santa Barbara including purchasing the car but we finally succeeded WITHOUT having to order something and wait 4 to 6 months to get it and not be even able to try it out to see if we actually liked it at all.

So, I guess if there's a will there's a way to get the car or truck you actually want. (If you are willing to spend a whole day in Los Angeles at a really large dealership to do it).

We were down there for a Pepperdine University Graduation in the family so it was easier to actually pull this off than one would think.

Also, what I found interesting is many upper end cars now have similar technology to Tesla in regard to self driving features.

Not everyone is ballzy or capable of using these features, however. But, since I like to use cruise control about 90% of the time and have trained myself how to do this while driving on all my cars and trucks I found it fairly natural to use automatic steering and automatic braking combined with cruise control on our new all wheel drive.

But, it's not for everyone. I wrote before how if someone can pilot a plane without peeing their pants or worse that that kind of person likely could manage using automatic steering, automatic braking combined with cruise control.

The experience driving north from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara up 134 and 101 was a learning experience for me. But, after having done that I was able to drive north from Santa Barbara to SF Bay area using this technology too.

I am recounting how it is sort of like driving with your child or grandchild was steering the car and braking and sitting on your lap and you were overseeing what they were doing all the time to make sure everyone was safe. That's about what it is like. So, you are still the driver it's just that these things help you drive. 

But, they will shut themselves off at any moment without warning you so be prepared for that.

If the devices feel insecure about anything whether it's the steepness of a corner, improper road markings regarding lanes or sharp turns this all turns automatically off so be prepared for that or you will have an accident.

The best place for people to try out these devices likely would be on a road fairly straight without much traffic. That would be ideal to train yourself how to deal with all this.