I have a 2010 Toyota Corolla. She’s been my trusty steed for the last 14 years and is in good working order. I recognize she won’t last forever, and if, god forbid (mostly for her) I get in an accident, I will need to get a new car. So what dumb cars do you drive, and what would you replace them with?
2018 Subaru Forester
It might be a bit more updated than most, but in general less smart than most cars today.
- Still have to press a button on the key to unlock the doors, or use the convenient key.
- Need to put the key into the ignition to start.
- Doors do not automatically lock out unlock.
- Manual parking break.
- Rear door is 100% manual (if you didn’t count un/lock with key fob).
- Basic Bluetooth functionality.
- Equipped with OnStar, and Sirius.
- Shipped with 3G cellular, which no longer works. They do offer a free upgrade, I never bothered.
By my own assessment, it’s the dumbest modern car you can get.
“Dumb car” is kind of relative. Computer engine controls have been around since the mid 1970’s. And while the first ones were not very good, they have become pretty darned reliable over the intervening years. And as someone who has owned cars and other heavy equipment with mechanical points and down draft and up draft carburetors, you won’t ever see me willingly own a car with any of that anymore.
If you really want to minimize the electronics as much as possible, look at 1990’s to no later than 2010 models.
Though to be fair, much of the problems with cars are caused by the accessories like power windows, door locks, air conditioning, and power seats. Those are far more problematic than the basic car itself.
I think they mean all the newer techno crap that cars have like touch screens and the like not power windows, AC and engine related stuff thats been around for decades. And I agree with that. I want a car that has the basics and yeet the touch screens and other garbage no one asked for but it seems theres not really any choice anymore.
Those touch screens are all a part of the accessories. And I dislike them intensely also. I also find it very disheartening that in some new cars a software up date is needed to make the dock locks work. A friend had to take his mother’s Kia in to rematch the door locks to a new key. They needed to remove the door handles and plug them into a computer to do so.
The last new car I bought, (2015 Jeep Patriot), made me search EVERY car dealer in 2 states before I found one that had manual door locks and manual windows. I often haul dogs around with me and while they are quite good at locking doors and rolling up windows, they really, really suck at rolling them down or unlocking the doors. It took me a couple of months of weekly searching to finally find one for sale.
Kia are bastards when it comes to anti consumer practices, my 2012 Kia had an airbag warning light come on right before it’s MOT and my usual garage said they couldn’t read the fault code, I tried specialised diagnostic readers and even borrowed a garage spec one from a neighbour and still couldn’t get anything from it.
In the end I had to take it to Kia themselves and get them to read the fault code for £130, turns out the fault was exactly what everyone thought it was but couldn’t confirm and now they want £750 to replace a single airbag module that needs to be coded to the car once it’s installed. My car has been in their garage since the start of January and there’s still no sign of the part arriving yet but I can’t install one myself because of the fact that only Kia can recode it to match the car.
For about ten years prior to 2020, I only had a company car. I’ve gone the past four without a car but I’m looking around for something to make it easier to visit family and take short trips.
Not only is the cost of a new car mindmelting, all the crap they put in them now is detrimental to me considering anything made in the past few years. I would sooner opt for a car with roll down windows and an AM radio than have to drive down the street with a giant computer screen shining in my face pinging me with all sorts of distractions. And that’s coming from someone who spent over ten years installing car stereos and remote starts, etc.
I don’t know what to do either. I’m looking at cars made around 2010-2015. I’d probably drive less than 2,000 miles a year but I’d still worry about wasting money on something that isn’t going to last me at least ten years. I also have a thing for cars that feel good to drive, typically German cars, so these cheap little Hyundais and such probably aren’t something I’d consider.
for less than 2000 miles a year its likely better to just rent?
Like Enterprise? I’ve looked into this. First, the demand goes up / supply goes down when everyone without a car wants to rent a car for the holidays. Second, there’s only one facility anywhere near me. Third, they have limited hours when you can pick up and drop off making it unreasonably difficult (only open til 12 on Saturdays, closed Sundays).
I also looked into car sharing. I forget the name of the service but I’ve spoken with people who have rented out their cars for it. It’s a scam. People have had thousands of dollars withdrawn from their bank accounts for minor body damage without warning and without evidence that they were responsible.
I’ve read through your comments, and honestly, you’re just going to want to buy an old civic or another Corolla, and if you need to, swap in a new engine. You really have to choose working on an old car to keep it running, or live with even the basic standard safety features like a backup camera. Keep in mind that the new lane assist or collision avoidance stuff can be turned off in virtually all new cars. Plenty of new cars don’t have an obnoxious infotainment screen as well.
Plenty of new cars don’t have an obnoxious infotainment screen as well.
maybe list them for OP instead of hinting at their existence.
I mean, I can’t list every one of them? It all depends on if you find a 6 inch screen too big or something Tesla sized.
I know my Ford Maverick and my wife’s Kia Soul are pretty tame with the infotainment system.
just having a couple brands and models to look into is pretty helpful. I know i’m sick to death of massive screens with touchscreen buttons for everything. i drive my step mother’s recent model BMW sometimes and trying to just change the radio station is a chore that involves clicking accept on a screen with a huge disclaimer warning you not to get distracted by the touchscreen while driving before you can even operate it.
Keep in mind that the new lane assist or collision avoidance stuff can be turned off in virtually all new cars.
Manufacturers are making this more and more difficult to control by the user.
Get something similar but cheaper. Those things spend decades in the sands and humid cimates and they’re still rolling around. That Toyota will probably outlive you and your kids if you treat it well.
They’re like those Diesel powered Mercedes from the 90s but much cheaper and easier to fix.
And not as good
