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Ask HN: Best cars without too much digitalization?

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

#261

Post by kgermino »

runjake wrote: post #250
kgermino wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm pretty sure my 2019 Honda's HVAC knobs are physically connected to the flaps they control. You can feel/hear the dampers moving with the knobs.

The dampers might be, but the system is still controlled by Android running on a puny OMAP processor in the 2019 Fit. I'd paste the link to the technician's manual, but it's not public, though you can find it on less than ethical places. A fun practice is to pull the fuse on the Android unit and try using your car. It will work, but it's... unpleasant.

Interesting. I wonder why - it seems like more trouble than it’s worth. The controls aren’t complicated: a button to turn A/C compressor on and off, one for the rear defogger, a mixing valve for temp and a four notch thing for fan speed.

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

#262

Post by coffeefirst »

chrisseaton wrote: post #213
necovek wrote: post #187

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As I explained in my another comment on this thread, sometimes they can behave unpredictably — eg. car brakes without a need — causing someone else to crash into you (these are most common crashes I see in the city streets). Perhaps they are not useful for me because I am a very attentive driver (eg. I prefer not to talk on the phone even with the BT hands-free system while driving because it takes my attention away…

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

Related, every car company will think it’s software is perfect. In fact they’ll insist on it, because otherwise they’d be treated as responsible should something go wrong.

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

#263

Post by chrisseaton »

jjav wrote: post #251
willis936 wrote: post #224

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

There is nothing automatic braking will do to help you from getting T-boned. In fact only an attentive driver can prevent that one. Automatic braking will prevent you from rear-ending the car in front, yes. Although an attentive driver should also be doing that.

> Although an attentive driver should also be doing that.

Society doesn't allow people to say that they're good enough to opt out of safety mechanisms designed to protect us all.

This is why 'I don't wear a seat-belt I can brace myself' also doesn't cut it.

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

#264

Post by avmich »

chiph wrote: post #232
noduerme wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right on. My gf is on her second 2008 Lexus and feels exactly the same way. It's a luxury ride but it doesn't try to take over for you.

2004 GX470 here. Horrendous gas mileage, but comes with ABS, stability control, full-time 4WD, and airbags. Of the modern safety systems, the one I'd really like to have is the blind-spot monitor. I have had rentals/loaners with collision detection systems (radar/camera) and they have all false-alerted on me and applied max brakes. I'm lucky I wasn't rear-ended as a result.

Airbags since 2004? What's the working age for such things?

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

#266

Post by greenie_beans »

carabiner wrote: post #152

Pre-2015 Tacoma. Doesn't even have climate control. Has the Entune touchscreen stereo, but you can ignore that if you don't listen to music. Everything else is knobs and buttons. But also, keep in mind this is generational. A 2003 Honda Accord has an astonishing amount of digitization relative to a 1980s car. It used to be common for fathers and sons to work on their cars at home for repairs. Not just maintenance, ac…

I wish they still made the Tacomas with that body style

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

#267

Post by rmk »

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…

Having driven some of the older models ('10-'12 sedans), I found their transmission/gear shifting not as refined as Hondas from the same period. They do strike a decent balance between digital and physical, though.

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

#268

Post by b215826 »

kelnos wrote: post #193
b215826 wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> All of this technology contains properties that identify your vehicle from similar vehicles WHILE making the roads safer. This is simply not true. Things like touchscreens are cheap gimmicks and the roads do not get any safer by using them in a car [1]. Mazda recently announced its decision [2,3] to replace touchscreens with analog controls as they provide more tactile feedback and I hope more manufacturers follow.…

Parent didn't say anything about touchscreens adding to safety, though. I think you're attacking something unsaid.

And OP wasn't complaining about the things the parent said.

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

#269

Post by e-clinton »

HWR_14 wrote: post #111
fletchowns wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's a dying breed though, complicated "driver assist" systems are becoming standard or even mandated :(. I'm on the opposite side of this. All the new safety & driver assist features are the best part about getting a new car. I wouldn't buy a new daily driver that doesn't have blind spot monitoring, collision avoidance, lane keep assist, etc. Once you have these features and you are accustomed to how they work, yo…

> I wouldn't buy a new daily driver that doesn't have blind spot monitoring, collision avoidance, lane keep assist, etc. Once you have these features and you are accustomed to how they work, you can't go back. And I don't like them. But only one of us has the government taking away our choice by making them mandatory. I wouldn't mind them if it wasn't for the fact that they universally seem to be points of failure th…

They made seatbelts mandatory too. Yuck!

JK!

These system do save lives though. Driving is a privilege, not a right. So I’m fine with these mandates as they don’t really get in my way.

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

#270

Post by jeegsy »

e-clinton wrote: post #269
HWR_14 wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I wouldn't buy a new daily driver that doesn't have blind spot monitoring, collision avoidance, lane keep assist, etc. Once you have these features and you are accustomed to how they work, you can't go back. And I don't like them. But only one of us has the government taking away our choice by making them mandatory. I wouldn't mind them if it wasn't for the fact that they universally seem to be points of failure th…

They made seatbelts mandatory too. Yuck! JK! These system do save lives though. Driving is a privilege, not a right. So I’m fine with these mandates as they don’t really get in my way.

> Driving is a privilege, not a right

Why is that?

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