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Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

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Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#441

Post by hibikir »

EricE wrote: post #344
cpursley wrote: post #315

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think Mazda is one of the exceptions. Plus, they have great driving dynamics in general. Only thing stopping me from getting a new Miata is all the dangerous bro-dozers on the road.

Meh - with a Miata you just zip out of their way. Miata owner since 1998 and I even survived commuting for 22 years in Northern VA. Life is too short - get and enjoy a Miata!

I was also a Miata owner: An NB Madzaspeed. A lot of fun to drive, and it's nimbleness saved me from a couple of crazy accidents. Unfortunately the car has one major weakness: It doesn't matter if the car is very agile if you are surrounded by vehicles with far worse characteristics. The car was rammed 3 times in 12 years, either on the side or the back, by people in brodozers that either couldn't see it on the side, or had crappy braking performance. The person in front of me does an emergency-level stop, and with the Miata I stop too, 3 feet before I hit them. 3 seconds later The brodozer behind me, however, has failed to brake, and launches the Miata forward. I walk out fine, the car in front of me gets very minor damage, as I was stopped and with my foot on the brake pedal, but the Miata's frame is bent, and the repair estimate is over 5k.

So yeah, hell is other cars

Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#442

Post by Rebelgecko »

for1nner wrote: post #301
devilbunny wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know about their markups, but Mazda has been pulling out touchscreens and putting back buttons for audio and climate control purposes. Not sure how far it's made it through their models.

Mazda always refused to go fully touchscreen. Instead they have somehow rationalized that a control wheel and featureless buttons down in the center console are safer for people to use while the vehicle is active. It's idiotic.

I've found that the wheel is much easier to use while driving than a touchscreen, since you don't have to look down or stretch your body away from the steering wheel.

Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#443

Post by stork19 »

SoftTalker wrote: post #397
rootusrootus wrote: post #342

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> As an European, where we drive mostly stick Enjoy it while it lasts. As of a couple years ago, more than half of all new cars sold in Europe are automatics. That doesn't seem too surprising, I imagine the same logic that made manuals appealing in the past is why automatics are appealing today.

Automatics are more fuel efficient, and govenment keeps raising the efficiency requirements. Automatics do this by having a lot of gears and changing up very aggressively. It would suck to drive a 7 or 9 speed manual (maybe truck drivers feel differently; I think 5 is optimal for a car) but automatics can manage it and squeeeze out another tenth of an MPG. I love manual transmissions and will never buy an automatic u…

Noooo. Manuals are on average much more efficient. I drive a 1st generation Honda Insight, and the manual version gets ~10 mpg more than the automatic.

Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#444

Post by toastal »

InitialLastName wrote: post #306
toastal wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I switched to a motorbike that has almost nothing ‘fancy’ about it--along with public transportation.

Yeah, my bicycle tracks me so little that sometimes I track myself just to feel included.

That was actually adorable. Kudos.

Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#445

Post by ghaff »

SoftTalker wrote: post #397
rootusrootus wrote: post #342

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> As an European, where we drive mostly stick Enjoy it while it lasts. As of a couple years ago, more than half of all new cars sold in Europe are automatics. That doesn't seem too surprising, I imagine the same logic that made manuals appealing in the past is why automatics are appealing today.

Automatics are more fuel efficient, and govenment keeps raising the efficiency requirements. Automatics do this by having a lot of gears and changing up very aggressively. It would suck to drive a 7 or 9 speed manual (maybe truck drivers feel differently; I think 5 is optimal for a car) but automatics can manage it and squeeeze out another tenth of an MPG. I love manual transmissions and will never buy an automatic u…

I assume the efficiency requirements are why my car doesn't provide a way to permanently turn off the auto idle start/stop. The button's to temporarily disable it is convenient enough to make it something of a reflex. But it's a feature I really don't like when I'm making an unprotected left hand turn for example.

Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#446

Post by brewdad »

Loughla wrote: post #219
thorin wrote: post #212

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is this a US thing? I recently bought a reasonably high end Skoda (which I think would be made in the same factory as VW, SEAT etc). It has a big touch screen in the centre console, but that's really only used for the radio / media / phone calls etc. This is all non essential stuff and so I can deal with it being on a screen. Everything relating to driving is an old skool analogue control. A couple of things I don't…

No, it's the same. You can control hidden things from the touch screen (like light length when opening the door for example) but most cars still have tactile nobs for everything outside of radio/bluetooth/media. There are some cars that have touchscreen for essential things like climate control, but those are absolutely in the minority.

Thing is, those cars with touch screen climate controls will let you set a temperature target much like your home thermostat. Once you figure out the right temperature, you don't really ever have to change it. I haven't changed the temperature in my car for months. I'll probably adjust it as summer turns to fall but it will be a one or two degree change one time and then I won't touch it again unless my kid drove the car and messed with it.

Putting things like windshield wipers or headlights on a touch screen would be a nightmare though.

Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#447

Post by dylan604 »

ghaff wrote: post #296
dylan604 wrote: post #291

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I think at least one manufacturer was considering eliminating FM radio all together. Are you sure it wasn't the elimination of AM radio? I have not heard of anyone suggesting to kill the FM radio, but I'm not that dialed in

Actually I guess it's both. https://musictech.com/news/industry/ford-tesla-bmw-am-fm-rad... AM radio is sometimes used for information updates on roads etc. but I'm sure very few people use it.

interesting. maybe i blocked the FM part out, but i was distinctly remember AM. removing radio entirely makes sense, as i didn't really think that an FM only radio would be any cheaper than AM/FM would be.

>but I'm sure very few people use it.

The conservative side of the spectrum loves the AM band

Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#448

Post by dylan604 »

alwaysbeconsing wrote: post #323
dylan604 wrote: post #286

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How did you find a 2024 model car on the used car market?

I think they mean that the used car market gave them a good sale price on their 2021.

ah, after re-reading, i can see that as well

Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#449

Post by dv_dt »

neogodless wrote: post #308
cpursley wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The touchscreens are really a dealbreaker on new cars. They’re not just prone to quick obsolescence, they’re dangerous.

We just bought a 2023 Mazda CX-5 Select for $29k. No touchscreens in the whole car! And no dealer markup - we paid slightly under MSRP. But... it is certainly satellite connected (you can manage locks, windows, etc. from your phone, as well as remote start). Wish it was included in this privacy investigation. I'd love to know more about what they do with what they know about our car and how we use it.

I had a close in-law that had a total braking failure with their ~2017 Mazda Cx-9, which was one thing, but then the dealer was pretty horrible about acknowledging or even diagnosing it. In the end, they sold it off early instead of continuing to own it with the unknowns on the brakes. So it's an anecdote, but one that makes me look pretty seriously against Mazda - though maybe it was more the dealer than the company.

Re: Internet-connected cars fail privacy and security tests conducted by Mozilla

#450

Post by SamuelAdams »

EricE wrote: post #351
forgetfreeman wrote: post #320

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder how the car would respond to having the sat antenna run through with a 1/2 inch drill bit? Would that solve the problem?

Just unplug the cellular modem. I have three "dumb" cars and I'm going to continue to baby the crap out of them. I have zero interest in anything new. Maybe a Mazda if push came to shove.

Easier said than done. Where is that located? Is there a service manual that explains where that part is?
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