Thoughts from the Curb

Dec 10, 2008 - The Rant: No Seatbelt Dinging in Murano and Edge

We're currently working on a crossover comparison test featuring the Nissan Murano, Ford Edge and Toyota Venza. While at the track yesterday, Magrath, Sadlier and I were in the Murano doing the usual chore of noting numbers, chatting, general testing assistance and since it was insanely windy yesterday, chasing down errant garbage barrels that were blowing around our test track (aka Cal Speedway's parking lot). There was also an errant Port-A-Potty I saved from taking out a Benz GLK.

On one of those barrel runs, it dawned on me that the Murano wasn't dinging at me for not having my seatbelt on. This morning I discovered the Edge doesn't ding at you either. Praise be to them both. Now, I don't go around without my seatbelt on. In fact, I feel naked without it. However, we were in an open parking lot going at slow speeds, so a belt isn't in the least bit necessary. I'm sure there's a few real-world instances where no seat belt chime would be nice -- I'll let you think of them. 

Like so many cars, the Venza and the GLK on hand immediately start dinging and pinging at me like there was an incoming surface-to-air missile. Audis will ding at you when you're in park. In park, damn it, as in not moving at all.

Seatbelts are lifesavers and you're an irresponsible idiot if you don't wear one. I'm OK with seatbelt laws. But please don't ding at me.

-James Riswick

8:50 am | Categories: the rant, behind the scenes at edmunds.com Permalink | Alert Administrator

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