It's very comfortable, drives smoothly, stow-n-go seats, cool keyfob entry and "keyless" ignition. All the works. And since research shows that cup holders are so important to women, I can accurately report the cup holders in the sliding back doors are a vast improvement over the ones in the 2005 T&C.So overall, we have been quite happy with this new Town and Country for the last month.
Until last night. Actually, last night precisely at 11:45PM. When all suburbanites are tucked safely in their beds, dreaming of a big yellow bus coming by bright and early to take their little cubs off for the day. Dreaming, that is, until AN ALARM STARTS BLARING for no reason.
Ok, maybe there was a reason. Maybe some wild animal snuck under it and jostled some wires. Maybe some adventurous hooligans were going door-to-door looking for an unlocked vehicle where they could quickly snag a cell phone or laptop. Who knows. Goodness knows we never figured it out. But at precisely 11:45PM, the high decibal horn began it's frightful call.
In the attempt to get into the car, we grabbed the cool keyfob -- this modern day genius of an invention. And discovered to our chagrin that when the alarm is going off, it is impossible to get any buttons on the key-fob to work.
On Chrysler's website they say -- "The intuitive keyfob that's available with Town & Country can do everything from starting the vehicle remotely to opening the available power liftgate and sliding doors." They neglect to say it won't respond while alarm is sounding and the owner is in complete panic mode.
So, where was the owner's manual that would explain how to stop the alarm? In the glove compartment where every able-bodied American keeps their car's owner's manual, of course. Just beyond the locked doors. Locked doors of a vehicle that is screaming into the night. And just in case the neighbors weren't quite sure who was disturbing their sleep, all of the lights inside and outside the vehicle were on permanent flash.
While scrambling around, adrenalin pulsing, we discovered the alarm will stop sounding all on its own after 3 full minutes. And eventually, we figured out that if you pull the keyfob apart, you will find a valet key allowing entrance to the vehicle - though using that key will also start the alarm sounding for another 3 full minutes. And in reading the owner's manual, we discovered once you gain access, the way to shut the alarm off is to start the car using the vehicle's keyfob. So simple, yet so confusing. Especially in the middle of the night. When your heart is racing a mile a minute. When the temperature is in the low 50s and you realize you are only wearing a sleeveless nightgown.
I think in my next life, I will go to design school to make car alarms more user friendly. I will also invest in long sleeved pajamas.
In the mean time, perhaps I should read the vehicle's owner's manual. On second thought, I prefer to enjoy driving my 1993 Honda Accord, without car alarm and keyfob.
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