4 ms·
Is there a good list of things that I as a customer can do to mitigate the risks? E.g. pulling various SIM cards, not ordering feature X, avoiding producer Y?
by corty 5y ago
Is there a good list of things that I as a customer can do to mitigate the risks? E.g. pulling various SIM cards, not ordering feature X, avoiding producer Y?
Of course one could always drive a historic car... ;)
- sandebert 5y agoI suppose a "historic car" should be called "feature car", the same way as old-school mobiles are called "feature phones".
- sgt 5y agoThat's funny! So, I would argue that "feature cars" are amazing value right now. Even early 2000s or early 2010s are exceptionally reliable (unless you buy a 7-series E65 BMW or some nonsense) and cost almost nothing to run. Much more sensible than paying $80k for a new Tesla, even though it's clearly better and a shiny new toy.
- bombela 5y ago* unless you buy a 7-series E65 BMW or some nonsense But they drive so smooth...
- Pasorrijer 5y ago* When they drive
- sgt 5y agoAsk Hoovie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdXfFEt21aQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdXfFEt21aQ
- maccard 5y ago> Much more sensible than paying $80k for a new Tesla, even though it's clearly better and a shiny new toy. There's a huge middle ground between a 10 year old civic and an 80k tesla.
- sgt 5y agoI sort of agree - yes, there's a big middle ground in terms of luxury, but in terms of the main reason for having a car, they do exactly the same. They take you from A to B in relative comfort.
- maxerickson 5y agoAn 8-year old Accord?
- giuliomagnifico 5y agoI don’t know where is a good article with a comprehensive list of all the things you can avoid, also cause if you don’t use all of the features of a new car, I suggest you to buy a mid ’90 car. Some services rely on the internal e-sim of the car, so you can’t disable at all it. I think the most secure thing to do is don’t use an old keyless entry key fob, or don’t leave your car near the key or leave the key inside something that can shield the key signal: https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/technology/how-to-protect-your-car-from-keyless-entry-hacking.html https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/technology/how-to-protect-y...
- SyzygistSix 5y agoUnfortunately the modern feature people are most likely to use is the crash protection and life saving features of modern cars when in a crash. I don't like modern electronics in cars but the safety features make buying a modern car compelling.
- UweSchmidt 5y agoAbsolutely. When my next car is due, I'll try to find the "last good year" of low-enough tech cars (kinda similar to the last-good year for Macbooks that used to be ~2015) that do the job without half-baked cognitive load increasing features. After that the mess is hopefully sorted out and we'll have rented electric cars - the operating company will should sufficient incentives to provide a robust and safe experience for their customers.
- DyslexicAtheist 5y agothe Land Rover Defender (or old V8 Toyota) might be an option. Been driving Defender this since 2006, and I will never sell it. The car literally hasn't changed its optics since the 80ies and a few dents only give it more "character". I got sick of being ripped off in the garage (and that car is known to never be free of flaws but never is fully broken either - classic British engineering:)) ... I downloaded all explosion charts from RU websites and the parts catalog can be found in popular LR forums for OEM or the much cheaper wholesale parts (10-20x less the price in some cases). It's a learning curve but instead of spending money on in garage (and get ripped off) over the years I invested it in tools and try to repair anything myself. Sometimes I'm back on the road within 24 hours sometimes it takes me a month. Meanwhile I made friends driving similar cars who can help out. Not an option for everybody (space & patience), but I know my car now better than most mechanics. It turned me into a massive engine nerd too and I also got all the diagnostic tools to look at and clear error codes over the OBD-II. If a large 4x4 isn't your cup of tee then a Lotus Elise can result in similar fun. My latest project is a Caterham which I'm building from scratch and hope to have it on the road later this summer (https://www.caterhamcars.com/it https://www.caterhamcars.com/it) Anything battery powered or electric for me would never be an option. People say it's "not so green" but my opinion differs. I think getting the latest model of X every 2-3 years is far more toxic to the environment.
- chrisseaton 5y agoI'm passionate about Defenders (I've commanded a squadron of them) but even I'm not massively thrilled about driving one these days - they didn't even have air bags or any kind of collapsable steering column until 2020.
- DyslexicAtheist 5y agoyes true. I think that the Defender's low number of driver casualties might be due to the type of people who drive them (conservatively). Unlikely that somebody wants to race in that car. My previous cars were BMW's and these things turned me into a reckless douche the minute I sat behind the steering. The saying is Defenders "don't go fast but they can go everywhere". I changed my driving habit and attitude on the road considerably (I started taking the scenic routes and learned to enjoy the ride, with an unusually high sitting position, wave at other defender drivers if I see them, and could fit all friends of my kids inside). AFAIK the pedestrian safety rating for them is why older models (after the Ford/Puma engine) was abysmal and they discontinued. If you hit a pedestrian or cyclist that's probably it. That has always been my main worry. But I think the safety for the driver/passenger is pretty good when using common sense and when not driving them like the stig. I hit a wild pig once in a forest in France and it was splattered across the front but not so much as a dent in the car. They also come with roll-over cages on the US market which tells something about what can go wrong if you lose control. Never got one since I don't drive rallys. Still their handling (directness of the steering) is much better than a Wrangler (where the steering is horribly "spongy").
- WalterBright 5y agoPut your car in a Faraday Cage.
- nix0n 5y agoI've got a 2009 Toyota and when I upgraded the stereo to add Bluetooth, I just didn't connect the wire from the head unit to the CAN bus. (The installation kit from Crutchfield included the pinout.) On a newer car, I'd probably install a toggle switch for that wire. (I'd love to hear from anyone who's actually tried that.) Edit: Also, I always open the door with the physical key, and I don't even carry the button.