Comment by encrypted_bird | Hacker News Reader

Comment by encrypted_bird | Hacker News Reader

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My ideal car:

- No Internet connection - No touchscreens - No LCD dashboard; I like dials. - 100% user-repairable; there should be no need to go to a dealer if one can easily fix a problem themselves or one wants to go to an independent mechanic (often cheaper!) - Buttons and (analog, not digital) dials for the media center - Media center with ONLY Bluetooth, CD player, and radio media center - Analog locks (not software based) - A Physical, metal key (not a chip)—I like to be able to go to my local hardware or key shop and make backups, thank you very much. - I don't need navigation; I have a phone for that.

And I don't need an app either:

- Wanna check the fuel/battery level? A little thing called a fuel gauge on the dashboard will work just fine. - Wanna check the tire pressure? Use a pressure gauge, feel the tire directly, or look at the tire, or base it on feeling while driving, i.e. the same little things we've done for decades just fine (not to mention the app or dashboard may not take into account used or third-party tires, as each tire brand/type/size is filled up to its own pressure rating). - Wanna lock/unlock doors remotely? Detached key fob. - Need diagnostics? OBDII still works excellently.

I was shopping for a new car and could not fathom why would you buy one that is heavy on electronics and especially software. Software does not age well unless it is designed in a controlled environment like aviation, which is not what happens with car systems. Besides the risks of being locked out of bugfixes in the future the software features are marginal to the overall experience and utility of the car. I would argue that cars made today are hardly any better than the ones made a decade ago. The problem is that making similar cars is not that profitable unless you spice it up and sell that feature for a premiuim.

Pretty much that exact list is why both of my cars are 94 Buick Roadmasters (admittedly, no factory Bluetooth, but yes on everything else).

Incredibly reliable, very easy to work on, cheap high-quality parts, everything’s analog, you get a full suite of gauges (except oil pressure, but there is at least a light for low oil pressure and low oil level). 94-95 is OBD1, but GM’s OBD1 implementation is almost as detailed as OBD2 (just without per-cylinder misfire detection and secondary post-cat O2 sensors). Keys are $4 at the hardware store (if you disable the pass-key system, which was an anti-theft system that relied on a resistor in the shaft of the key - if you leave that, more like $25). Key fobs are $15 and can be programmed in 30 seconds. Oil changes cost $60, transmission fluid changes cost $150, diff fluid changes $150 ish (cut all those numbers roughly in half if you diy). Tires are $90-110 per for good ones, less if you have someone who can get them for you at cost. And they’re incredibly comfortable.

Only real downside is fuel economy, ~17mpg city, ~25mpg highway. With some tuning knowledge you can get that up to 30mpg highway on premium fuel. And if you don’t like the image of driving an old car, that can be a downside too.

2010 Crown Vic is newest of that kind of car. I like it.

Same. This is why I am rooting for Slate (https://www.slate.auto/) to succeed. I hope everyone in this ridiculous software war loses and in the end they realize that there is a huge market for just basic no-frills car.

While I definitely hope Slate is a huge success and I really love its premise, it's a shame that, judging from their homepage images, the dashboard is an LCD screen, no dials.

Their vehicles remind me of the Datsun trucks I saw as a kid in the 80's. I believe back then their value proposition was that they were cheap too.

I don’t want anything without CarPlay anymore but I agree with your general sentiment. Google maps while driving and the ability to respond to messages by voice is great.

A Honda Civic 1999 fits you perfectly. No need to wait anymore.

No need to drive a shitbox. These points are easily covered by 90s/early 00s decent Italian/German cars.

Those are money-pits. Even if nothing goes wrong, everything is complicated and premium.

What you're describing is a 1990's car, except for the bluetooth part. I would buy one like this too, assuming it's half the price that is. I've never used the mapping software on any of my vehicles, google maps on my phone is way better.

I do like me a good 90s car. Honestly, though, my above-listed criteria would be my ideal car. But, a good number of cars up through the 00s would be enjoyable for me, if not exactly perfect. For example, the 2007 Dodge Charger is pretty good. :)

Apologies, everyone, for the poor formatting by the way. It seems HN does not in fact support markdown lists.

My 2013 Scion FRS is exactly this. I think you can get the GT86 or BRZ currently in similar spec.

Sounds like my 2011 Camry, which I absolutely love and hope to never sell.

this with embedded solar panels in the car would be my ideal next car purchase, everything else is unnecessary spending and clutter

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