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

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101–110 of 183 posts

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

#101

> 1. Internet connectivity. If the car is connected, it's tracking me. Just because you can't connect to the Internet from your car doesn't mean that the car is not being tracked. Pretty much all cars built since 2016 or so have built-in infrastructure to collect various telemetry and send it to the manufacturer; prior to that there were dongles that were installed by various parties (automotive clubs, insurance comp…

I know about collecting data, but sending? how?

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

#102

> 1. Internet connectivity. If the car is connected, it's tracking me. Just because you can't connect to the Internet from your car doesn't mean that the car is not being tracked. Pretty much all cars built since 2016 or so have built-in infrastructure to collect various telemetry and send it to the manufacturer; prior to that there were dongles that were installed by various parties (automotive clubs, insurance comp…

Bingo: pre-2016 cars.

Get a pre-Internet, pre-subscription Subaru; Foresters and Outbacks are both known to last 300K miles. Great in snow. Great resale too, far better than an EV.

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

#103
post #101

> 1. Internet connectivity. If the car is connected, it's tracking me. Just because you can't connect to the Internet from your car doesn't mean that the car is not being tracked. Pretty much all cars built since 2016 or so have built-in infrastructure to collect various telemetry and send it to the manufacturer; prior to that there were dongles that were installed by various parties (automotive clubs, insurance comp…

I know about collecting data, but sending? how?

There is essentially a mobile "modem" built in.

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

#107
Same question, but amending the requirements:

- touchscreen for camera and entertainment system is okay, for anything else - no-go

- not an EV

- no automatic breaking

- automatic gearbox

- SUV

- preferably on the higher end

Is there something satisfying the requirements from Mercedes or Volvo maybe?

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

#108
post #39

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…

Don’t buy a Jeep wrangler

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

#109

I'm in a similar boat. You might be look at a ~2020 Mazda 3. This was after Mazda announced they were moving away from touchscreens [0] but before internet connected remote start came standard [1]. Cars produced since 2018 are required to have a backup camera and therefor will have a screen of some kind. The AWD hatchback claims 24/32 MPG and these reviewers got 41 MPG from it [2]. Get the base model to avoid the Car…

Mazda 3 is my first and current car since 2013.

Amazing vehicle. Just do basic maintenance (and sometimes not even that) and it continues to work with no issues.

I'll have to upgrade to something bigger, suitable for a family of 4 + occasional grandparent visits, but I love love my Mazda.

I would probably go with one of the following: - Kia telluride (AWD) or carnival (sadly only fwd) - Genesis gv80 - Porsche cayenne

wife gets to choose, and I think she will go with Porsche.

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

#110
I like my Kia Soul. It’s a sedan frame in the shape of an SUV. Mine is gasoline averaging 33mpg but there are electric versions.

I bought one of the last models with a 6 gear manual transmission. Shifting is super smooth. This is the best security money can buy.

There is no touch screen of any kind. The stock radio supports Bluetooth and MP3 via USB stick. I use a physically tiny 256gb USB stick currently containing 6000 tracks at 320kbps for a total size of around 60gb. I have not found the file number, file size, or total disk size limitations yet. File navigation, playback, and even options for radon track selection are great.

This car cost me 17k and they cost a bit more now. When I bought mine it was 5stars by JD Power for maintenance and true to that rating the car is years old and has been super cheap to keep in excellent condition provided regularly scheduled tune ups.

The only subscription associated with the vehicle is XM satellite service. The corresponding hardware is built into the vehicle. I have chosen to never pay that subscription.

My version of the car features no internet, network, or tracking/observation features of any kind. People have cell phones for that.

I highly recommend.

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