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Ask HN: What's the best car without undesirable features?

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Re: Ask HN: What's the best car without undesirable features?

#31

Post by intrasight »

I just bought a 2016 Volvo XC70. Only 40K miles. It checks all you boxes except the MPG (I think it's 28). It'll replace my 2004 XC70 - which only has 120K and could probably run for another 100K miles. But I was ready for an "upgrade" - including a backup camera and Bluetooth and USB port. I'll put on Blizzaks like I have on my current Volvo, and I'll be able to go anywhere in most any conditions.

Edit: I've a well-serviced 2004 XC70 for sale.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best car without undesirable features?

#33

Post by zdragnar »

el-dude-arino wrote: post #3

Well I an tell you right now you don't need 4wd, it snows like a MF where I live and if you have FWD with proper snow tires (which you should regardless), you will drive circles around 4WD/AWD cars with just all season tires on in winter. Just buy a mid-2010's honda civic or a toyota camry.

Snow tires help you decelerate, and provide a bit of extra traction to accelerate from a dead stop.

4wd will get you moving from a dead stop as long as you aren't bottomed out. I've gotten several cars un-stuck with both a pickup truck and a UTV in 4wd, neither of which were bothered by the snow that had left the cars marooned.

AWD is better than FWD with snow tires if and only if it also has snow tires.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best car without undesirable features?

#34

Post by grepfru_it »

itake wrote: post #18
sneed_chucker wrote: post #4

Basically, just buy a car from 2008-2012 in good condition with low miles.

My 2018 Honda Fit meets all these features. and it has Apple Car and rear view cameras.

Something to be mindful of about connected cars.. they are monitoring you while in offline mode and will upload all of their contents when connected to the dealership system. This system is used by dealers for all service requests and independent repair shops for specific service requests.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best car without undesirable features?

#35

Post by serf »

MrDrMcCoy wrote: post #19
Shekelphile wrote: post #8

You won't find a new one. If you want a car made newer than the last 10 years you would need to look at models sold into fleets which would limit you to basically work trucks/vans and base model ford and GM sedans and subcompacts. Last time I was car shopping base trim ford fiesta's were under $10k and came with a manual transmission, no power windows, no power locks, no cruise control and a standard double DIN radio…

I've never bought an ex-fleet car before, and don't recall ever seeing listings like that on any of the usual used car sites. Would you please point me in the right direction for how to shop for these?

govdeals is good for that. caltrans has an auction site for people in california; presumably other municipalities have something similar.

abetterbid has listings of where local auctions are -- these are often good for that type of purchase.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best car without undesirable features?

#36

Post by rossdavidh »

rossdavidh wrote: post #32

I have a 2014 (ICE) and a 2022 (Hybrid) Toyota Corolla, and I'm happy with both. I'm not really a car person, but they are good for people who aren't really car people. They both "just work".

Oh wait technically there is a touch screen in the 2022 one, but since I forgot it was there I guess you can tell it isn't very distracting.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best car without undesirable features?

#38

Post by zhivota »

el-dude-arino wrote: post #3

Well I an tell you right now you don't need 4wd, it snows like a MF where I live and if you have FWD with proper snow tires (which you should regardless), you will drive circles around 4WD/AWD cars with just all season tires on in winter. Just buy a mid-2010's honda civic or a toyota camry.

Honestly I did fine with FWD and no snow tires on my 97 Ford escort in college in the snow belt (200+ inches of snow a year). People love to waste money on AWD/4WD.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best car without undesirable features?

#39

Post by WWLink »

You can get a 2023 or older wrangler, and replace the radio with anything else. Without the factory radio there's no internet connection. The 7" and 5" radios don't even have the modem to begin with (although apparently some 7" come with a 'telematics module' to give them internet). You can swap them out for any double din radio that fits (There's a kit or two) but the dashboard doesn't offer much space so it'd have to be a radio without a cd player.
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