I know thats part of the problem for FM (AM antenna is in the head unit). But I can get better reception with a $20 radio inside the car than the car radio. I think the radio at this point is purely an afterthought.
Any new but low tech cars?
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No, they won't be building anything you like again. I suggest finding a well cared for used example of what you like and keeping it.
Check out bringatrailer dot com. Plenty of low miles older vehicles for sale. I bought a 2008 Miata, no tech to speak of. Abs and stability control. Manual hvac, manual lights, manual transmission, power windows, manual top.
New radio reception sucks because all the kids are streaming.
Tech is good actually
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Regarding radio, my current car has HD (digital) radio (and SiriusXM), but I just stream Spotify or audiobooks.
I love Android Auto too
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Regarding radio, my current car has HD (digital) radio (and SiriusXM), but I just stream Spotify or audiobooks.
I love Android Auto too
Are there any suvs now without the playschool digital guages ? I prefer the look of analog.
Don't know your expectations, but the Honda HRV in the 2 lower trims, is fairly basic, yes has Honda sensing suite, but still a lot of actual buttons, most importantly, it still has the port injected 2.0 engine that is extremely reliable. Excellent ride if you put decent tires on it.
I asked Grok (X’s/ Twitters “AI”) this a while back and was told the most low tech truck on the market was the NA V6 Ford F150.
I just now asked Grok what the simplest car is. It’s either the Chevy Express cargo van or a Nissan Versa. It also mentioned a Jeep Wranger without an infotainment system.
I just now asked Grok what the simplest car is. It’s either the Chevy Express cargo van or a Nissan Versa. It also mentioned a Jeep Wranger without an infotainment system.
Bitog logic when it comes to “simple” cars.
We got a 2025 3 weeks ago. The first time we drove a demo at the dealer, I asked the sales mgr how I could operate the rear AC, other than going back there and using the console. She said probably the easiest way is to tell Amazon to do it.
“Amazon, turn on the rear AC to 72.”
And it does it. She explained, that’s faster than figuring out how to do it on the screen.
Yes there is like-able tech and then intrusive tech.
The autonomous emergency braking on my first try at a new Subaru base Impreza a couple months ago almost killed me the first week of ownership. A car was turning left off a undivided state highway (RT 125 So.), I was passing on the right (half way into the breakdown lane) and the car SLAMMED on the brakes with a line of cars going 50 mph on my rear bumper! Somhow avoided a crash. Later I called the dealer and we found the DISABLE button for this Ninny Nanny consumer reports forced option and toggled it OFF. I had shut off the lanekeeping assist but was unaware of the emergency avoidance and braking safety Nanny.
At least these options will remain disabled (once toggled off on the buried menu) even after key off /key ON. cycles.
I do appreciate blind spot monitoring, but this car didn't have that, LOL.
The car also had an excellent FM and AM radio with HD radio. worked great with no CAN bus or satellite com EFI/RFI racket
I also got used to and appreciated GUI HVAC controls. Sadly, and stupidly, the head unit is canted back about 20 degrees and the top screen is prone to washing out in sunlight making it absolutely useless for visual WAZE route maps and finding other head unit ICONs. Good thing WAZE has excellent audio cueing.
On my next tech loaded temporary trial vehicle - a '25 XL Ford Maverick - it's ridiculously too large screen can wash out also, though that screen is mounted vertical. Depending on time of day, I could not see if specific HVAC option were toggled on or off. Just a tiny red cursor at the GUI button; a dangerous and terrible implementation. You would require a co-pilot to assist - or alternatively use the optional voice commands - that most of the time dont work and you end up swearing at the tech and driving off the road - because you have lane keeping disabled. ARrrrggh!
Infantile A.I. is already working to kill us. There're Here!
I get the aversion to everything listed except the first 5. Turbos are the way to go, push buttons have proven reliable and convenient for decades, remote start has also been around forever and is reliable, e brakes are fine other than making brake jobs a little more complex, and screens as a whole have also been a thing for quite some time and in the case of digital gauges no touch further simplifies.
It is easier for the brain to comprehend the sweep of an analogue dial. Be it clock or a tach or a speedo. Digits require a brain two step.
Must be some genetically encoded and ingrained sundial phenomenon.
The Pie Slice factor: tPSF
The knobs are much easier to use at least. And I think a defective knob is much cheaper than a defective screen? Probably just a cleaning would be most fixes?
I really don't think there is a lot out there. I'm not a fan of the touch screens. They are a distraction. I equate them as driving while texting on a cellphone.
This is exactly what I did, 1996 JDM import with 84k miles when I bought it. Could not possibly be happier. Will never own a vehicle with a touch screen if I can help it.
I know, I almost drove to Florida to pick up a brand new LS $14,995, the dash on those is very different from the insta fail dash gauges on the higher trims .
I would have picked up a Buick version of the Trax but they are too bloody expensive and this GM game of wheel of random engines is not appreciated either, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5
Miss the old days when every car had the same engine choices, devil you know.
The very rare Trax LS base has old fashioned dials.
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The electrical architecture in any modern car makes them difficult to diagnose or work on. To think other wise is foolhardy. Just because a vehicle doesn't have a touch screen and does have a 5 speed manual still doesn't mean there are at least three different computers at a minimum controlling functions.
It’s a mindset, just like a manual transmission with clutch.
Believe me, I have both work issued and personal tablets, I can use a tablet. Android 14 enterprise, and iPad. Tab active 4 (coworker got a 5).
But I do prefer hard buttons to a screen in a car. I don’t need the car to park itself, stay in the lane, give me a pic of Dr Hook’s debut album, or fight my wife and my iPhone to see who should connect to CarPlay. It’s truly distracting. I certainly don’t need the vehicle to drive from Philly to Hartford all by itself.
The Lexus is a 2006 and one big or two big blunders.
Fan speed can only be adjusted by the screen. Inconvenient.
There is no intermittent on the wiper, only rain sense. This malfunctions when the glass is fogged up.
Now we’re in 2025 and such are ok as long as the 5G hotspot works and one doesn’t need hands on the wheel lol
