Recommend Me a "Dumb" Car

Lglenr on 24/07/2023 - 18:56

I'm so over cars telling me how to drive.

Current car tech makes so much sense and no doubt it helps a lot of people, I get it, but it feels so intrusive and frustrating to live with the false positives:

  • lane keep assist: beeps/moves the wheel when I have to merge lanes to avoid a parked car
  • autonomous emergency breaking: slamming on the brakes to point of lock-up to avoid going through a spoon drain @ 5km/h is more dangerous than just going with it
  • blind spot monitoring: I don't need to be alerted to something that doesn't impact me unless I want to change lanes

I guess just want to drive a pre-2010 tech level of car but one that's new(ish).

My guess is most new cars will have some/most of the features above. Are there any cars (preferably mid-size wagons) that allow you to switch these features off and keep them off? Even if it means going in with an OBD tool?

Automotive

Comments

  • bambadee on 25/07/2023 - 20:47
    +4

    As a Toyota Crown owner, I feel obliged to recommend a JZS171W Toyota Crown. Perfect for all your luggage-hauling needs, and stylish.

    • glenr on 25/07/2023 - 22:24

      I had a Cressida back in the day. I feel this suggestion strongly!

      • bambadee on 25/07/2023 - 22:27

        I got my second Crown a couple months ago now, a JZS171W so the wagon, and man, it has everything you could possibly need.

  • Windows98 on 25/07/2023 - 21:13
    +5

    "Cars don't need power steering!"
    "Cruise control is so pointless if you know how to drive properly"
    "People who can't brake without ABS are terrible drivers"
    "Driving assistants are for bad drivers!"

    = every boomer everywhere

    • smartazz104 on 26/07/2023 - 07:30
      +3

      Right before they hit the accelerator instead of the brake.

    • derrida derider on 02/08/2023 - 17:06
      +1

      Not this boomer kiddo. But it is true - most old people resist change. They particularly hate to admit that skills they struggled to master are now thoroughly obsolete and unnecessary (I can remember my Dad when I was a kid bemoaning that kids had no idea how to use a crank handle properly - "they'd break their thumb every time"!).

      It is hard (and sad) to remember that when my generation (born 1953) were young adults they were incredibly rebellious, determined to revolutionise the world. So don't kid yourself - you younguns will become even more stick-in-the-mud and selfish than your parents, because you are starting from a more conformist and materialist base.

  • ribze1 on 25/07/2023 - 21:52

    Honda Accord Euro Luxury 2005-07 model. Good looking, reliable car with none of the tech you hate but has nice things like electronic driver's seat, HID lights, climate control and heated front seats - not a gimmick during winter.

  • daowiies on 25/07/2023 - 22:28
    +1

    Mazda 3 or 6 wagon from the generation prior to the current one should have what you're after and would be new enough (2013 to 2018 ish).

  • OzzyOzbourne on 25/07/2023 - 22:34

    Are you ok with a vehicle with abs and airbags?

    • glenr on 26/07/2023 - 07:51

      Yes, they are a must have.

      • OzzyOzbourne on 26/07/2023 - 14:40

        I'd suggest an older Toyota or Nissan. Say pre 2005

        • glenr on 26/07/2023 - 21:28

          Probably a bit long in the tooth unfortunately. Great cars in their day though.

  • josaya on 25/07/2023 - 22:51

    Think part of the ANCAP safety rating criteria is if you can "turn off permanently" Lane Keep Assist. Anything you see that a "tuner" can touch is moddable, or cheat some systems by taping over the LKA camera, both which will show in the ECU logs if anything "happens" (so I don't recommend it if you have abysmal luck).

    It's possible non-premium cars didn't get LKA until around 2015, as it was still optional for ANCAP, so you have a bit more leeway if you're not after a german car, or the top level trim. If you're going for second hand, you could always ask the owners, then add it to you lists of checks on test drive.

    I feel there is a sliding scale between comfort\safety and driving enjoyment…I prefer a 90's shitbox unless carting family around, which we then have a good laugh at how bad my driving is with all the beeping (i.e. collision\lane assist when you take the shortest path through median islands at 20kph).

  • geekcohen on 26/07/2023 - 05:53

    I guess just want to drive a pre-2010 tech level of car but one that's new(ish).

    Go back to 2010 then and buy a VE Commodore.

  • Commander Shepard on 26/07/2023 - 06:47
    +1

    The newer Renault Megane GT Wagon could be a good buy. You can find a good one under 20k. And all the assists can be turned off. And the lane keep assist doesnt interfear with the steering.

    The oldsr Megane GT220 is also excellent.

    • glenr on 26/07/2023 - 07:52

      Interesting suggestion! Hadn’t considered a Renault, thanks!

  • drprox on 26/07/2023 - 07:24
    +2

    I empathize OP, I replaced a newer car with an older one recently and love not having my car hit the brakes or flash lights at me when driving up narrow streets with parked cars! I also like not pushing 50 buttons to get it in the right drive mode, turn off auto stop/start and adjust settings every time I start it!

    • glenr on 26/07/2023 - 07:53

      Great info. Any regrets or things you miss?

      • drprox on 26/07/2023 - 07:55
        +1

        Nope!
        Edit - oh at times I miss active cruise but that's it

  • payless69 on 26/07/2023 - 08:06
    -1

    The new Honda has blind spot warning taken out.
    Because Dumbanese lets them keep his sheep dumb, pay for the lobbyists instead of safety!
    This creates more work with the resulting accidents!
    Get an old Mitsi, as dumb as one can get!

  • Coolguygamer on 26/07/2023 - 09:59

    Mazda 2 is great my family has been buying them for years

  • OG Puppy Banana on 26/07/2023 - 10:16
    +1

    I agree with the emergency breaking locking the brakes as a massive frustration.

    My driveway is downhill and when I reverse over the garage drainage grills, it may randomly trip and lock up. The workaround is to always give some minor force to the brakes as the car rolls down.

    As much as like to turn off low speed brake assist, there's a chance of it being very useful. I'm thinking of a scenario where I'm reversing out of a 45 degree park and some car is flying through the road which I can't see. Car will stop well before I've even registered a car is there. So, it's good stuff!

    Otherwise I love lane assist, speed controls and blind spot monitoring. When I sent my car in, I was using my sister's pre 2010 Yaris and I couldn't wait to get these features back as they make the driving experience far more enjoyable. I actually find that setting speed on the steering wheel rather than the pedals, and using lane control/assisted steering for long drives helps me concentrate more on the road.

    • glenr on 26/07/2023 - 13:25

      Appreciate the reply. When it works, it's great. I'm balancing up whether the times it doesn't work is worth it. Each to their own.

  • JimB on 26/07/2023 - 10:34
    +1

    I think it's the car and how well they program the safety tech.

    Some cars I drive are very obtrusive that yank the steering wheel and beeps like a MOFO, also many false positives and slams the brakes.

    My own car, you wouldn't know about the safety features unless you're driving like a DH.

    • redvaldez on 26/07/2023 - 12:04

      Came to say the same thing. I've got a 2018 Outback and I find the safety features non-intrusive. I don't drive like a nanny either.

      Only issue I've had is that someone did a single pegger burnout down the road from me, and the Eyesight system reads it as a lane marking and thinks I'm departing out of my lane!

    • glenr on 26/07/2023 - 13:26

      Agree totally. I've learnt from the replies that it varies greatly depending on the car.

  • Drakesy on 26/07/2023 - 10:59
    +1

    I honestly think the new safety standards that Australia's ANCAP ratings imposes is going to result in far more minor prangs but less major - cars slamming on brakes unexpectedly, correcting people's sterring inputs etc. (Which in itself is a hazard).

    And this is where i don't agree with our increasing safety standards, it's become a farce where the human factors are almost completely removed to the point where we become a passenger in our own vehicles which, in some cases have flawed safety devices installed.

  • capslock janitor on 26/07/2023 - 12:09
    -1

    I NEVER HEARD IT HARDBRAKING FOR A SPOON DRAIN

  • capslock janitor on 26/07/2023 - 12:12

    MY 2C WITH OUR CAR -

    LKA CANT BE TURNED OFF
    AEB IS HIT N MISS BUT GOOD FEATURE
    BSM IS JUST SMALL LIGHTS ON THE SIDE WINDOWS

  • coffeeinmyveins on 26/07/2023 - 12:46
    +1

    blind spot monitoring: I don't need to be alerted to something that doesn't impact me unless I want to change lanes

    Cars can't read your mind. They don't know if you're about to try and change lanes. It's also not about just changing lanes, knowing that there's a motorcycle in your blindspot can save their life and you a costly incident.

    lane keep assist: beeps/moves the wheel when I have to merge lanes to avoid a parked car

    This won't happen if you're indicating.

    You actually sound like the target market for all this tech based off your comments. lol

    • glenr on 26/07/2023 - 13:31

      I've already admitted I should do better when merging lanes for parked cars, definitely take that on the chin. I do check my blindspot when doing so, but if it's to pass a single car on the left and I remain in the left lane but straddle the line, I don't always indicate. I should and will do better.

      I don't rely nor use blind spot monitoring. I don't think anyone should rely on blind spot monitoring, do you? lol.

      • coffeeinmyveins on 26/07/2023 - 14:07
        +1

        I don't rely nor use blind spot monitoring. I don't think anyone should rely on blind spot monitoring, do you? lol.

        I think everyone should because of the literal definition of a blind spot. Too many people just do a quick shoulder check and then just YOLO into the lane, taking out the motorbike or car that was there. If there's a bit of tech that shows "hey there's something there" then I'm all for it.

        • glenr on 26/07/2023 - 15:57
          +1

          You think people should rely on it? For real? You trust the hardware & software implicitly that it's always correct? All it would take is a fuse to fail and you've hit that motorcyclist.
          A blind spot is blind until you move your head/body to be able to see further. Relying on a driver aid instead of doing it manually is completely against what's taught & best practice.

          • Protractor on 26/07/2023 - 20:13
            +1

            @glenr: Imagine MC riders relying on it. Crazy
            Sadly best practise has been outsourced, like everything else.
            Funny thing is technology isn't made of meat like we are. I wonder what the future legal ramifications are when this tech goes awry and multiple car crash or deaths 'cos failure' or dependency on tech.Ppl will always take it for granted that whatever is in their car works.
            Baaaaa

            • glenr on 26/07/2023 - 21:25

              @Protractor: 100%!
              I’ve had the oldest tech & the newest. Both have taught me to not rely on anything mechanical or software.

        • ihfree on 27/07/2023 - 10:51

          If there's a bit of tech that shows "hey there's something there" then I'm all for it.

          It's useful to glance over and see that something is there, however, it shouldn't replace a check. Personally, I see drivers ignore it and have had drivers change lanes despite the little dot being lit up. Maybe those drivers don't know how it works.

  • rfarlz on 26/07/2023 - 12:52
    +4

    The quality of the driver aids varies a lot between makes, the good ones go unnoticed unless they're needed and the worst ones drive me crazy. I drive a lot of rental cars for work and the makes I can remember as being the best and worst are below:
    -Kia (Sportage): Absolutely infuriating with very trigger happy lane departure interventions and AEB and so many varying noises and warnings coming from the car. Would also reset all settings at the end of a trip.
    -Toyota (Rav4, Camry, Prado): Really really bad adaptive cruise, it's very risk averse and the set speed seems to only be a rough guide of the speed the car will travel at. Annoying audible noises for the lane departure also
    -[All Japanese makes] All Japanese cars seem to reset every single setting for every trip, whereas some others (such as Ford and Audi) will recall things like auto hold being activated or the last used adaptive cruise distance.
    -Audi (Q3, Q5, Q7, and I assume other Vag cars) generally good with unobtrusive LKA (but does tend to wander a little) and minimal audible warnings. The warning about travelling too close to the car in front is a little annoying though.
    -Mazda (CX30, CX5, CX9) special mention for the operation of the auto hold and auto stop, in Mazdas they activate based on how far the brake pedal is depressed. Sitting at lights with light pressure won't activate either, push a little harder and the auto gold activates, and push further and the auto start/stop activates. Works really well for situations like a brief stop at a stop sign.
    -Ford (Escape, Ranger) By far the most balanced and unobtrusive I've driven, really nice LKA with no audible warnings, AEB gives an audible warning well before jamming the brakes on and the adaptive cruise recalls the last set distance.

    Actually ended up buying an Escape for my partner based on experiences with rentals and how nicely the UI (including driver aids) works.

    • glenr on 26/07/2023 - 13:28

      This is what I'm talking about! Thank you for the detailed reply. Also tallies with my personal experience that it varies greatly depending on the manufacturer (even between models of the same manufacturer).

      Those Mazda features are pretty clever, never knew about those. Cheers.

  • Bid Sniper on 26/07/2023 - 14:58

    Opal card

    • kerfuffle on 26/07/2023 - 15:55
      +1

      How does that work when OP lives in Adelaide?

      • Bid Sniper on 26/07/2023 - 16:17

        He asked for dumb

        • Protractor on 26/07/2023 - 20:08
          +4

          You certainly delivered

  • Fobsessive on 26/07/2023 - 16:59

    Honda Accord Euro

  • aromaticsnail on 26/07/2023 - 20:05

    EK Civic

  • Calvin27 on 26/07/2023 - 20:45

    Suzuki grand vitara. Dumbest 90s car ever. Everything on that car came from the 90s but somehow they managed to keep production going until 2018.

    Nothing beeps. THe trim is old school. The suspension is rough as an older car. But they can be newer and reliable lol. Also 4 speed auto for the win and thirsty as by modern standards.

    • glenr on 26/07/2023 - 21:26

      Like it! Drove one around Iceland as a hire car - really enjoyed the car (not as much as the country & scenery tho)

  • bigbadaboom on 27/07/2023 - 12:52

    "pre-2010 tech level of car but one that's new" - dunno about wagons but a sedan like this Toyota Axio could work - newish, has space, well priced, hybrid, Japanese, minimal unnecessary gizmos. https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/details/toyota-corolla-2017… my mechanic was saying good things about these.

  • OldSchoolHarry on 27/07/2023 - 17:38

    2019 Kia Sportage has the option to permanently turn off Lane Keep Assist, AEB etc.

  • npnp on 27/07/2023 - 21:20

    I'm pretty sure Toyota Kluger lets you switch off both lane assist and blind spot monitoring but not the Autonomous brakes.. I would recommend that you look for a newer car in which you can switch these off rather than looking for an old car that doesn't come with them altogether. Safety of cars are continuously improved, hence, in an accident, even without those features, you are definitely be safer in a newer car.

  • jedimaster on 27/07/2023 - 22:57

    Hyundai Accent hatch

  • Bookiejim on 27/07/2023 - 23:54

    Anything Ford.. 👍

  • LoserScott on 28/07/2023 - 01:38

    What dumb car do you have for me to recommend you a dumb car.

  • Akya on 28/07/2023 - 06:38

    Mitsubishi Mirage - manual. Old tech but still reliable :) my work colleague had one for years which convinced my husband to get one. We bought our secondhand 2015 model last year and it’s a great little car. It’s got bluetooth and that’s it for newer tech. The auto is apparently not as fuel efficient.

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