Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?

#221

Post by ics » Fri, Nov 19, 2021, 10:49 PM UTC

screye wrote: post #182

I would recommend Mazda vehicles. Their entire lineup offers a small set of effective and minimally intrusive digital/smart features. But, outside of that, they keep it simple. The no-touchscreen is a much safer way to interact with the vehicle, and afaik they have stuck to the traditional 'car' formula. Most of their cars can be purchased in manual and have pretty good driving mechanics for a honda/toyota competitor…

Owner of a more recent Mazda3 hatchback here. For the last few years I've driven many different makes and models either for work or as rentals on vacation and would agree that they're one of the best if you're looking for a new car.

Looks great, feels great, and all of the tech seems carefully considered and balanced. The closest thing to a complaint would be that I do prefer an analogue gauge cluster, but the digital display is tasteful and after driving I rarely even notice that it's on a screen.

Before purchasing, I was really looking for a hybrid or PHEV but nothing came close to feeling right in the same way. If Mazda offered exactly the same car that wasn't ICE, I would probably sell and buy again in an instant.

Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?

#222

Post by joshu » Fri, Nov 19, 2021, 10:50 PM UTC

screye wrote: post #182

I would recommend Mazda vehicles. Their entire lineup offers a small set of effective and minimally intrusive digital/smart features. But, outside of that, they keep it simple. The no-touchscreen is a much safer way to interact with the vehicle, and afaik they have stuck to the traditional 'car' formula. Most of their cars can be purchased in manual and have pretty good driving mechanics for a honda/toyota competitor…

it is also an extremely nice looking car. and mazda reliability seems to be going upward.

Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?

#223

Post by zubiaur » Fri, Nov 19, 2021, 10:51 PM UTC

dmead wrote: post #77

I have a 2004 buick park ave and i couldn't be happier with it.

3.8 series II. That thing will live forever!!

For grad school, I got a cousin of it, a 2002 olds. These w body, V6 GMs are so smooth!! So pleasant on the highway! And get 30 mpg? I can’t bring myself to get rid of the thing. In fact I’m a bit obsessive about keeping it nice. It’s so inexpensive to mantón and run, and it is a good, spacious, smooth car.

Not luxurious, but still quiet and smooth. Not sporty, yet it passes anything on the highway with ease. Not flashy, but neither am I. Not new, yet still, somehow, reliable. Not techie, yet wit a cellphone mount and a Bluetooth (wired) adapter, I can do just about every thing I want.

Like you, I couldn’t be happier with my old boat.

Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?

#224

Post by willis936 » Fri, Nov 19, 2021, 10:52 PM UTC

necovek wrote: post #218

chrisseaton wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I am a very attentive driver Everyone thinks they're a great driver.

I did not say I am a great driver, but an attentive one. That means that when I drive, I focus on driving. I am sure there are people who can notice the same things I do while paying less attention on the road: that would make them "better" drivers.

The most attentive driver in the world cannot prevent an inattentive driver from T-boning them. Automatic braking can.

Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?

#225

Post by naoru » Fri, Nov 19, 2021, 10:55 PM UTC

Got a 2016 Kia Rio QB hatchback with a 1.6L G4FC engine this spring as my first car. It had a bit more than 30k km on it, very slightly dinged (I already had bonked it twice though).

Reliable as a brick. Drives like one too. But boy is it stupidly simple — no bluetooth even, chucked in a USB receiver and called it a day. No touchscreens, no fancy driver assist, no cameras, no nothing. Just an AC and motorized windows.

Paid around $10k for it. Worth every rouble.

Korean cars are very popular here in Moscow. Basically every taxi is either Kia or Hyundai, Toyotas are less common. Outside of major cities Renault (Dacia) and Ladas are prevalent because they're even cheaper.

Want a dumb car? Come to Russia. We have some.

Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?

#226

Post by PeterisP » Fri, Nov 19, 2021, 10:58 PM UTC

Sohcahtoa82 wrote: post #176

throw8932894 wrote: post #35

Lada 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.

Lada? O_o Isn't that the brand of car I usually see shatter like glass in a crash in dashcam videos from Russia?

In Lada, you are the crumple zone.

Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?

#227

Post by passer_byer » Fri, Nov 19, 2021, 10:58 PM UTC

A Volvo 240 DL, model years 2000 to about 2010. Completely reliable daily driver, safe, comfortable sedan that can goo 500,000 miles with reasonable care. I had three of them over the years. Today, my daily driver is a 2017 Toyota 4Runner after I put 250,000k miles on a 2008 Toyota Highlander. These can go 500,000 miles with reasonable maintenance. I also buy used so others take the depreciation hit.

Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?

#228

Post by chiph » Fri, Nov 19, 2021, 11:00 PM UTC

germinalphrase wrote: post #185

officeplant wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I assume they are talking about the splash guard / aeroplate underneath the engine which helps with MPGs to some extent. The plastic engine cover doesn't even need to be touched during an oil change.

Correct. Only talking about splash guard.

Look up the plastic clip part numbers on a Honda parts site, then cross-reference them via eBay or Amazon to get a significantly cheaper knock-off. I've been able to get a bag of 20 for the price of 1 bought from the dealer parts counter. If they don't last, well you have plenty of spares now.

Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?

#229

Post by wiredfool » Fri, Nov 19, 2021, 11:00 PM UTC

mindcrime wrote: post #32

postalrat wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

My 88 Chevy beater truck was the last year of carburetors, as it had an old small block v8 in it.

Re: Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?

#230

Post by jacquesm » Fri, Nov 19, 2021, 11:01 PM UTC

Nothing new. Buy something a decade and a half old or even two, have it rebuilt to spec and enjoy a computer free and reliable ride that if you pick the right car will likely appreciate in value for a while.

My 'daily driver' (or at least, before I got my e-bike it was my daily driver) is 24, drives like it was made last week and will probably outlast me. It is not the most fuel economic car but it gets me where I need to go and is quite reliable.