Trucks in a basic work truck trim are pretty sparse.
Kind of wish I kept my 89 Caprice when the transmission seal went bad about 5 years ago.
Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?
31–40 of 340 posts
Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?
#32Between privacy risks and road safety, I made my choice very easily. I can understand the nostalgia of old cars with very little electronics, a carburator, a starter with a battery, a mechanical dashboard,... But on a daily basis they are dangerous, smelly, expensive, and not that reliable.
Whats the newest car you can buy with a carburator?
Probably something built in the 1980's, if not the 1970's. Fuel-injection was pretty near ubiquitous by around the mid 80's as best as I can remember. I doubt very many, if any, cars were built new with carburetors anytime from 1990 on...
Edit: the above refers to the US specifically. As other commentators have pointed out, the situation is different in other regions.
Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?
#33I think lower-end cars with the base level infotainment option have the least amount of telematics. Surprised car makers haven't started trying to get ad revenue from displaying ads on cars' touchscreens
Don't put the idea into their heads!!!
Kidding aside, I think customers can argue that such ads can be distracting to the driver.
Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?
#34Alfa Romeo Giulietta. They stopped making it in 2000 and it was not sold in US for much longer.
But there are lots of them in perfect state in Europe.
Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?
#35Lada Niva 4x4. Old school soviet, but modernized car. With airconditioning and some modern gimmicks. Very easy to fix and maintain. Good fuel economy, some versions even pass Euro 5 emission limits.
I liked WW2 jeeps and their simplicity, this seems like modern equivalent.
Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?
#36They don't sell them in the US anymore, but I drive a 2019 Honda Fit and it's great. Very versatile (holds four adults, 8ft lumber, 36" doors, etc). The base trim is very tech-lite: bluetooth radio but nothing fancier than that, physically controlled hvac and chair controls, traditional key, basic LTMS (no dedicated chips in the tires, just a calculation based on different angular velocity across the wheels), etc. It…
Honda Fit owner here as well, the car is great, but unfortunately it's being discontinued in a lot of places. I think only Japan will still have them, and they even have an EV option.
My Fit has been absolutely great.
I’ve learned a lot by working on it, but I do have the say that the plastic engine protector is a travesty. Clips were originally broken during a commercial oil change. Ever since, I’ve just been using self tapping screws to reattach it.
Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?
#37Between privacy risks and road safety, I made my choice very easily. I can understand the nostalgia of old cars with very little electronics, a carburator, a starter with a battery, a mechanical dashboard,... But on a daily basis they are dangerous, smelly, expensive, and not that reliable.
I don't think he's talking about going to a carbureted car though. Just something with a simple EFI system, and not a bunch of proprietary, in-car electronics. Definitely like a post above mentioned, the late 90's to 2000's cars have most modern safety features, good reliable fuel injection, but no integrated LTE modems, or crappy infotainment systems that are horribly out of date like newer cars.
Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?
#38They don't sell them in the US anymore, but I drive a 2019 Honda Fit and it's great. Very versatile (holds four adults, 8ft lumber, 36" doors, etc). The base trim is very tech-lite: bluetooth radio but nothing fancier than that, physically controlled hvac and chair controls, traditional key, basic LTMS (no dedicated chips in the tires, just a calculation based on different angular velocity across the wheels), etc. It…
> It's a dying breed though, complicated "driver assist" systems are becoming standard or even mandated :(.
It saves lives, even if the systems are not 100% effective.
Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?
#39There's going to come a time in the near future where analogish features are going to be seen as luxury components.
Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?
#40Ask the dealer if Internet connection is an option, if so, can it be added later, can it be turned on remotely? In many cars today, the answer to all three is yes.