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The End of Car Ownership: 2026 cars and beyond

A couple of months back, the wife and I started discussing the possibility of one more new vehicle for retirement. She told me to find an analog vehicle with a manual transmission! I came back with a pre-1976 emissions test exempt vehicle with air conditioning and an auto trans and I can swap EFI into!

We're tired of paying $3kyr for insurance, $600+yr registration, and biannual smog testing for a pickup that gets driven 5-6K miles a year? Works out to about $1.20 per mile in operating costs and that's me owning an auto repair shop doing all work myself at wholesale prices!!!!!???? That $5-600mo saved could allow us to retire earlier and live a more comfortable life?
 
TheRobSJ said:
I guess I’m the opposite guy here in this thread. I love all the fancy features. So I’m always gonna have a new car as new stuff keeps coming out. Just got another one a couple months ago actually. Not very exciting as I traded in a 23 white Acura TLX for a 25 white Acura TLX and it’s pretty much the same car. But it does have a couple of bells and whistles my 23 didn’t have. Wireless CarPlay and remote start. The latter is a thing I’ll take advantage of on super hot days to get the interior cooled off a bit before I go to the car and drive off. But wireless CarPlay? That’s a nicety I use every single time I drive it. While it wasn’t a super big deal to take my phone out and lug it in before, I gotta say that’s it’s an extra little luxury to just leave it in my pocket now.

I know some new cars are locking the electronic features behind a subscription model now, which I think is complete bullshit that they’re doing that. Telematics systems (OnStar, etc) have always been subscription based, and since they are essentially a cell phone plan I be been fine with that. But stuff like advanced cruise control or something petty like heated seats being subscription based is absurd. Fortunately, many new cars don’t do that game. So I suspect the ones that do will nickel and dime themselves into losing customers.
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I feel similarly about fancy new machine tools. Bell's and whistles there? Lemmie at em lol.
 
TheRobSJ said:
I guess I’m the opposite guy here in this thread. I love all the fancy features....... remote start. The latter is a thing I’ll take advantage of on super hot days to get the interior cooled off a bit before I go to the car and drive off.
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Ah, remote things! When we were in Vegas for work conferences it was 137F in the parking garage and a bit higher in the car. By the time I schlepped through the venue and waited for elevators the car was 78F and ready to take me places in comfort. It uses battery only for ten minutes to do that. 23 rav4 hybrid

When you're in your 20s a broiling car is an annoyance, in your 60s and beyond it's a health threat. And diminished safety for other motorists when you're driving heat-stressed. Remote AC and heat are essential features for an aging population of motorists, which everyone in this thread embodies. Limiting tech features is like saying fuck ABS on my bike, and lean sensing ABS, and wheelies control, I'm going to get an old 1157 Bandit and trust my right wrist! Cause all this experience is superior to microprocessors...:laughing
 
Abacinator said:
Just give me heated and ventilated seats :laughing
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I would add heated steering wheel. One you have them you will always want them. Not to worry they will be on your car, but with a monthly subscription fee.:mad:
Abacinator said:
BMW backed off on their subscription model after *literally everyone* complained
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We looked at a new 2023 X3. The X3 already had an extra charge to use Apple play. The talk of the subscriptions and the lack of adaptive cruise control (chip shortage) made us tell the salesman NO. We loved our 2018 X1, kick in the ass to drive.

Bought a 2023 Audi Q5, like all the bells and whistles. But is a cell connected car that does updates and if not driven for several weeks we need to do a resign in to get our setting restored. We vacation in a Class B van several time a year so when we get back we need to to the resign in. Just a PIA
 
bikeama said:
Bought a 2023 Audi Q5, like all the bells and whistles. But is a cell connected car that does updates and if not driven for several weeks we need to do a resign in to get our setting restored. We vacation in a Class B van several time a year so when we get back we need to to the resign in. Just a PIA
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Imagine one day the server to sign in doesn't respond.... that would be rough...
 
nakedape said:
Ah, remote things! When we were in Vegas for work conferences it was 137F in the parking garage and a bit higher in the car. By the time I schlepped through the venue and waited for elevators the car was 78F and ready to take me places in comfort. It uses battery only for ten minutes to do that. 23 rav4 hybrid

When you're in your 20s a broiling car is an annoyance, in your 60s and beyond it's a health threat. And diminished safety for other motorists when you're driving heat-stressed. Remote AC and heat are essential features for an aging population of motorists, which everyone in this thread embodies. Limiting tech features is like saying fuck ABS on my bike, and lean sensing ABS, and wheelies control, I'm going to get an old 1157 Bandit and trust my right wrist! Cause all this experience is superior to microprocessors...:laughing
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It is a more nuanced choice than that man. I believe the majority of Americans can not afford new cars and yet we have structured our lives around being able to drive. The bike comparison is false. Bikes are a luxury item most users have for fun. Awesome. Reliable and affordable transportation is not that. If new cars with all the bells and whistles were cheap to own and fix long term I wouldn't be hopeful for a 25 year old Jeep Cherokee that didn't break the bank. For anyone who can keep a new car payment and upkeep for it without feeling any money stress, great! go for it. I think there is a HUGE population of people who can no longer do that though and what are we/they supposed to do? I'm 47. My eyes and reflexes are not as sharp as they were when I was 27 but my experience, attention and temperament are better than they were then too. I drive accordingly. Safety features like air bags, crumple zones and driver aids are great. IF YOU CAN AFFORD THEM. if you can't they are worthless.

I have never ridden a bike with fancy rider aids. I don't think those nice features are the decider if I'm being safe out on my Ape or not. I'm sure they could save my life in some situation. So could not riding over my head.
 
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Dmitriy said:
I'd buy this:
global.toyota

Toyota Adds a BEV to the Pixis Van Kei Commercial Vehicle Lineup | Toyota | Global Newsroom | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) has added a battery electric vehicle (BEV) to its lineup of Pixis Van kei commercial vehicles in Japan, available for sale starting February 2, 2026.
global.toyota global.toyota

160 miles / $20k
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Let it be know that the Tribe of Vehicular Luddites holds no ill will towards electrified vehicles in general. We consider them a valid option if they retain the core principles of simplicity, reliability, serviceability and affordability we deem necessary for comfortable middle and working class ownership. :thumbup
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
 
Dmitriy said:
I'd buy this:
global.toyota

Toyota Adds a BEV to the Pixis Van Kei Commercial Vehicle Lineup | Toyota | Global Newsroom | Toyota Motor Corporation Official Global Website

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) has added a battery electric vehicle (BEV) to its lineup of Pixis Van kei commercial vehicles in Japan, available for sale starting February 2, 2026.
global.toyota global.toyota

160 miles / $20k

Top speed ~30 but come on when does BA traffic go faster then that. lol
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This looks like an awesome option for suburban home owners who could use a truck every now and then but dont want a 60-80k bro dozer. Would buy for 20K.

oh look, this can be done for a not stupid amount of money.

  1. Advanced safety and peace of mind

  • It comes equipped with the latest Smart Assist*15 active safety system. The Collision Warning Function and Collision-Avoidance Support Braking Function recognize vehicles traveling straight in the oncoming lane when turning right at an intersection, as well as pedestrians crossing from the opposite direction when turning right or left at an intersection.
Click to expand...
 
I bet if Ford actually made a Maverick plug in hybrid with like 40 mile range ala Rav4 / Prius Prime for sub $30k people would jump on it quick.
 
Blankpage said:
Discontinued? Bummer
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If it wasn’t for RDX and MDX, Acura would have probably been dissolved a few years ago. The problem is that the takedown models are just too good and the premium model is not premium enough. TLX is just a fancy Accord that had a base price $10k more than the Accord. Same can be said for the current Integra to the Civic.

Unless you just had to have an exclusive feature that the TLX had(like the SH-AWD drivetrain, fancy stereo, etc), most buyers didn’t see $10k worth of reason to get it over the Accord.

And to think…20 years ago the Acura TL was the very best selling luxury sedan in the country. The brand needs some help.
 
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As a low-tech guy, I find most of the bells and whistles of newer car's unnecessary and maybe even annoying.
Although, my newest vehicle (2014) does have a back-up camera, which is nice... but 9 times out of 10 I forget to look at the screen until after I back-up using my mirrors. :laughing
 
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Rtmac said:
As a low-tech guy, I find most of the bells and whistles of newer car's unnecessary and maybe even annoying.
Although, my newest vehicle (2014) does have a back-up camera, which is nice... but 9 times out of 10 I forget to look at the screen until after I back-up using my mirrors. :laughing
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IMHO, this is how tech is supposed to be used. Its like a bullet proof vest for best practices. Great in an emergency but do you really want to be this kinda driver with it?
target-practice.gif
 
Mike95060 said:
Seriously, I don’t care how “safe” this makes me. It can eat a bag of dicks. I still believe in some measure of personal responsibility. Especially while on the road. I don’t want to be surveilled constantly for my safety by anyone. Ever.

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Looks like that was from some drunk driving rule changes back 2021 and rich white guys fucking loooooooove drunk driving, so that's not going to happen. Pedophilia and drunk driving and mma machismo are three things you can count on from that demog. :laughing
 
CrazyCooter said:
A couple of months back, the wife and I started discussing the possibility of one more new vehicle for retirement. She told me to find an analog vehicle with a manual transmission! I came back with a pre-1976 emissions test exempt vehicle with air conditioning and an auto trans and I can swap EFI into!

We're tired of paying $3kyr for insurance, $600+yr registration, and biannual smog testing for a pickup that gets driven 5-6K miles a year? Works out to about $1.20 per mile in operating costs and that's me owning an auto repair shop doing all work myself at wholesale prices!!!!!???? That $5-600mo saved could allow us to retire earlier and live a more comfortable life?
Click to expand...
What is it??!?!!
 
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