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jmward01today at 5:28 PM12 repliesview on HN

I want this for cars but to keep the modern powertrain. So an EV without the tracking/touch screens, etc etc. Or an internal combustion engine car that is just simple and efficient (and again, no tracking). I'll take the low-tech but nice features like heated seats and power windows still thank you.


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jadboxtoday at 5:48 PM

I'd love this. I really don't want my car to be an iPhone with "apps" and random background software on it. The car touchscreen was perhaps the worst design choice in the history of the automobile, and is likely the cause of countless crashes. It's insane when I see car UIs that have the 'cancel / go back' button located in DIFFERENT areas depending on the screen context.

oxag3ntoday at 7:43 PM

Modern cars evolved in terms of safety, this includes active safety too. All the safety features require OEM hardware/software that locks you in, for example replacing windshield in many models requires dealership calibration.

And with all the distracted drivers looking into their phones while driving, I want more and more cars to get at least emergency breaking systems.

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therealdrag0today at 8:04 PM

FWIW: Hyundai EVs have physical buttons for everything important. It has a screen for CarPlay but it’s small compared to competitors. (I got the Kona for these reasons)

numberstoday at 6:00 PM

it seems like Slate might be trying that but there's no real cars from them yet so they're just renders at this point. but yes, same concept but printers is my wish.

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liampullestoday at 7:49 PM

I own a base model 2020 Suzuki Swift GL, which I specifically bought because it has no touchscreen. It has a radio with Bluetooth and dials - that is it.

No issues so far.

Unable0841today at 7:41 PM

Check out Slate auto

KaiserProtoday at 7:20 PM

https://www.telotrucks.com/ is pretty much that

Cheap, fast enough, practical, goofey looking.

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aardvarkrtoday at 7:29 PM

Sounds like you just want a car from the year 2000.

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RajT88today at 6:43 PM

I wonder if we'll see a repeat of what happened in the 60's and 70's: American car companies didn't want to make small and cheap fuel efficient cars, so an upstart (Japanese automakers) came in with exactly that and stole their lunch money.

These days, the big foreign manufacturers are all in the same game as the domestic ones - software nonsense. Tariffs are keeping other foreign competition out at the moment, so it'd have to be a new domestic manufacturer, or an existing one who deviates from the standard auto playbook.

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speedgoosetoday at 6:35 PM

So a Dacia?

cmrdporcupinetoday at 5:51 PM

I honestly don't care about power windows (or seats), do you really? I guess one advantage is being able to easily open windows other than your own.

Heated seats and stearing wheel, yes please.

But yep what I want is a Saab 900 "cockpit" car -- everything can be focused on and manipulated (physically!) without my eyes leaving the road or my hand having to explore too much.

But, yeah, electric.

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