How far is it, Daddy?

Most cars today have low fuel lights. As Motoring 2008 proved the other day, this can mean anywhere from 50 to 188 km left in the tank.

Some cars also have trip computers which typically show, among other things, Distance to Empty.

But in my recollection, every single one of those switches to "Refuel soon!" or some such message, as soon as it gets below 50 km to empty, so you don't really know how far you really have to go.

Seems to me this is precisely when you would MOST WANT to know this number! So why do they take it away? Are they just trying to scare you into re-fuelling right now? What if this means diving off into some scary part of town when you really didn't have to?

"Bonfire of the Vanities" was a lousy book and a worse movie, but l still don't want to replicate the opening scene. (If you don't know the story just ignore that last sentence. It isn’t worth the pain of going through all that).

Comments

[Rob m]

I couldnt agree more.

I drive a chevy cobalt as my get around... and it really bothers me because the "LOW FUEL" statement replaces my distance to empty at 75 KM left in the tank.

Now, this is exactly when I would like to know my distance to empty. As I often catch myself pulling off the highway (probably) unnecesarily to refuel when I could have made it to the local station that is on my way home.