He’s suave but hard of hearing

About a year ago I purchased a 2005 Cadillac STS (a new car left over months after the 2006 models had arrived) that has the navigation system [“She’d Rather Be Intoning, ‘Home, James,’ ” Jan. 18].

The Cadillac system is integrated with nearly all functions of the car, so a voice command will open windows, change the climate control, dial the phone and many things I have yet to discover.

The really good thing is that I have my choice of voices, as well as languages. Being a gay man, I chose one of the English-speaking male voices, which I am convinced is David Niven’s.

His directions are mostly accurate, and he has yet to chastise me for missing a turn.

The voice command system is another matter. Even though I try to speak clearly, not too fast and in the proper format, Mr. Niven declares a command nothing like mine and then performs it.

I have the command for “windows down” dead on, and the windows lower in unison. When I suggest “windows up,” Mr. Niven says, for example, “Temperature 65” and the next thing I know the air conditioning is blasting away. Over a year has passed since this car and I have become a team, and I have given up on the voice system.

Mr. Niven does still accompany me on trips, and I find his voice perfectly acceptable. As long as he agrees with me about where were are heading.

JOHN STRAWWAY

Encino