My Problem with Self-Parking Cars

There's a new series of car commercials out -- it might be a Buick -- that hinges on the auto's amazing ability to automatically parallel park itself. In the first, a bunch of 20-somethings are car pooling. The only available space near work is tight one. When the crew is skeptical that the young woman can navigate it, she hits a button and the car parks itself. Which causes the guy riding shotgun to exclaim: Now you're just showing off! But what is she showing off here? The ability to buy a car that parks itself. Impressive?

In the second variation, a young woman is taking her boyfriend home to meet her parents for the first time. In a stereotypical touch, the father is already disapproving, and when the boyfriend pulls up, with the daughter in the passenger seat, the old man figures the loser is going to scratch his car when trying to park. But, no! The boyfriend hits a button and the car automatically parallel parks itself. At which point the father judges the young man as worthy of his daughter. Because he bought a car that can park itself.

God help us all if people actually think this way. Of course, I'm biased here. One of the reasons I fell in love with my now wife is that once when we were out together and she was driving, she executed a perfect parallel park into a tight spot. I thought to myself, this girl is competent. I'm not dealing with a helpless female here! True story.