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Comment by blfr | Hacker News Reader

Yeah, I don't like how overcomplicated many products are becoming but even then wouldn't buy a car without at least AC and Bluetooth.

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My must-have now is the backup camera with steering integration. I can hook up a trailer like a god now.

"Where is your god now?"

"Right behind you."

Actually new vehicles are legally required to have backup cameras. At least if they are sold in the US [1]. I would love to see a simple, back to the basics vehicle but there is so much regulation and safety requirements that it is unlikely for any basic vehicle to be sold in the US.

[1]: https://abcnews.go.com/US/cars-us-now-required-backup-camera...

It's absolutely a good thing that these cameras are required with how many children are run over frequently as drivers reverse their cars.

You could easily pick up an after market bluetooth-enabled product. A/C is definitely important however.

Though A/C doesn't really need much in the way of electronics.

interestingly, I go the opposite direction. I try to buy cars without AC (environmental reasons), without electronics (expensive to fix when they fail 'cos the constructor takes a huge premium on these), with the least possible automation ('cos I think these are overpriced)...

Basically, the more sophisticated a car is, the higher the risk of failure and thus price to fix the failures. Now, I buy inexpensive cars. Maybe if I go for expensive brands, the risk is less.

I won't buy a car if it has bluetooth or cellular connectivity, but that is getting harder to find. I want that shit air-gapped. Someday I might have to just rip out the media head and telematics unit after buying it if I can't find one anymore.

I'd describe myself as having above-average privacy anxiety but I have to ask, what's the threat model here? I'm way more concerned about ALPRs than I am about Bluetooth or a data connection.

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