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I was recently looking at starter cars for my daughter as a college graduation present, and I think you'd be surprised how far down-market those features have m

I was recently looking at starter cars for my daughter as a college graduation present, and I think you'd be surprised how far down-market those features have moved. A brand new Toyota Corolla is $22k and comes with both. For older cars, you can get a nice stereo for $300. If you aren't an audiophile, probably $100.

devilbunny 2y ago
I drive a 20+ year old SUV, mostly just for commute. It’s too noisy to bother with a good stereo. You can get a Bluetooth-capable stereo with hands-free microphone for around $100, and while I haven’t yet installed it, I just bought a 7” screen double-DIN stereo for under $300 that has (wired) CarPlay and Android Auto integration, plus a backup camera. It even has ports for a front camera if you want one, though you’ll have to buy it separately. That’s a huge capability upgrade for very little money, and not at a discount retailer either. I got it from Crutchfield, whose value proposition is extensive installation advice and lifetime tech support from actual experts based in the US.
- Aaargh20318 2y ago
  > I just bought a 7” screen double-DIN stereo for under $300 that has (wired) CarPlay and Android Auto integration, plus a backup camera $300 is more than I spend on gas each year. Not worth it.
  - fragmede 2y ago
    What does the price of gasoline have to do with whether or not it's worth it. You have to spend that on gas regardless, so why not have a nice screen while you're doing that driving that you have to do anyway for?
    - Aaargh20318 2y ago
      It’s not about the price of gas, it’s to illustrate how little I use my car.
  - devilbunny 2y ago
    I mean, if you don't really drive it, then yeah, it's a waste. But if so, why do you even own a car? Renting is pretty cheap if you only need one occasionally. Backup cameras aren't necessary, but they're damned handy. I thought front cameras were kind of silly until I drove a car with one, but it turns out they're very useful in the right situations.
    - Aaargh20318 2y ago
      > why do you even own a car? Renting is pretty cheap if you only need one occasionally. Because owning a small, cheap car doesn’t cost much and is way more convenient than renting one. For example. I use my car when I need to transport something I can’t take on my bike. I might need to pick up a package from the nearest parcel point that’s too big or too heavy to transport otherwise. This is about 500 meters from my house, just too far to walk with a heavy package (done that, not fun) but renting a car for a 2 minute trip seems a bit ridiculous. Or I may want to buy a few crates of beer for a party. A bit inconvenient to get by bike (although possible). This is a 1 kilometer trip. Again, not worth the trouble renting a car for but not a problem if I already have a car anyway. Or I may need to take some stuff to the recycling center. Again a short trip (2 kilometers). You may start to see a pattern here. If I had to rent a car for those situations then it would take me more time to pick up and retrieve a rental than for the trip I need it for.
      - devilbunny 2y ago
        Fine, but if you own a car that you use for that level of convenience, you shouldn’t care that much about a $300 one-time expense. It’s just not that much compared to the cost of owning a car. You may not care about the features of that sound system, and so don’t want one, but that’s a different story than “it’s too expensive”.

devilbunny 2y ago

I drive a 20+ year old SUV, mostly just for commute. It’s too noisy to bother with a good stereo. You can get a Bluetooth-capable stereo with hands-free microphone for around $100, and while I haven’t yet installed it, I just bought a 7” screen double-DIN stereo for under $300 that has (wired) CarPlay and Android Auto integration, plus a backup camera. It even has ports for a front camera if you want one, though you’ll have to buy it separately. That’s a huge capability upgrade for very little money, and not at a discount retailer either. I got it from Crutchfield, whose value proposition is extensive installation advice and lifetime tech support from actual experts based in the US.

Aaargh20318 2y ago
> I just bought a 7” screen double-DIN stereo for under $300 that has (wired) CarPlay and Android Auto integration, plus a backup camera $300 is more than I spend on gas each year. Not worth it.
- fragmede 2y ago
  What does the price of gasoline have to do with whether or not it's worth it. You have to spend that on gas regardless, so why not have a nice screen while you're doing that driving that you have to do anyway for?
  - Aaargh20318 2y ago
    It’s not about the price of gas, it’s to illustrate how little I use my car.
- devilbunny 2y ago
  I mean, if you don't really drive it, then yeah, it's a waste. But if so, why do you even own a car? Renting is pretty cheap if you only need one occasionally. Backup cameras aren't necessary, but they're damned handy. I thought front cameras were kind of silly until I drove a car with one, but it turns out they're very useful in the right situations.
  - Aaargh20318 2y ago
    > why do you even own a car? Renting is pretty cheap if you only need one occasionally. Because owning a small, cheap car doesn’t cost much and is way more convenient than renting one. For example. I use my car when I need to transport something I can’t take on my bike. I might need to pick up a package from the nearest parcel point that’s too big or too heavy to transport otherwise. This is about 500 meters from my house, just too far to walk with a heavy package (done that, not fun) but renting a car for a 2 minute trip seems a bit ridiculous. Or I may want to buy a few crates of beer for a party. A bit inconvenient to get by bike (although possible). This is a 1 kilometer trip. Again, not worth the trouble renting a car for but not a problem if I already have a car anyway. Or I may need to take some stuff to the recycling center. Again a short trip (2 kilometers). You may start to see a pattern here. If I had to rent a car for those situations then it would take me more time to pick up and retrieve a rental than for the trip I need it for.
    - devilbunny 2y ago
      Fine, but if you own a car that you use for that level of convenience, you shouldn’t care that much about a $300 one-time expense. It’s just not that much compared to the cost of owning a car. You may not care about the features of that sound system, and so don’t want one, but that’s a different story than “it’s too expensive”.