Asklemmy

This is only tangentially related, hopefully someone else here knows, are the newer fleet vehicles coming out still barebones? It might be a consideration if so

If I were you I'd probably just buy another 2020 Corolla or if I was feeling fancy a 2011.

Old stuff is your only option, imo. Almost everything in the last decade has some kind of tech bullshit in it.

I see very little mention of Mazda here. 2014+ Mazda 6 or more recent 3 or cx3 are great looking and aren't all out on tech that would drive you nuts. And much more fun to drive than Toyota. Give those a look.

Your best bet would be to go for something used in good condition before 2014 that's when cars started being internet connected and having controls being software buttons in screens and the like. If you have a bunch of money you could try to import something but the 25 year rule is an issue if you live in the US

Alternatively, does anyone know of (a) car(s) which are easy to remove any computer systems?

Is the Holden/Vauxhall/Opel/Chevrolet Astra available in your country? I had one for a few years, tidy little car, built well, runs well. When it was written off I bought another, very happy with it.

Just switched from a 2015 Corolla S to a 2014 RAV4 Limited, absolutely love the feel and I don't imagine I'm ever going to leave the brand honestly. Toyota just makes damn good cars and they last forever. Look for good used RAV4s or 4Runners in your area pre-2016. My mechanic has swore by the engine Toyota used from 2008-2016, he says it's probably their best engine they made, and after that they changed styles.

Whatever vehicle it is ... you should get the option for rich Corinthian leather interior

I drive an Audi S4. It has issues. If it’s no more, I’d probably replace it with another unreliable German vehicle. I also drive an F150, and it has broken a few times. If it croaks, I’d probably replace it with another F150…

Why I do this to myself? No idea.

I think what is a good choice greatly depends on your location, which affects prices, availability, spare parts availability etc.

I switch back and forth between my 96 Tacoma with 250k miles and my 06 Scion xB with 190k miles. Love them both. Bury me in one of them.

GM W-body and GMT platform cars from around 2002-2008 I've found to be decent. The GM 3800 V6 engine and 5.3L Vortec V8 are extremely reliable and easy to maintain yourself if you're into that kind of thing. You can very easily replace the stock radio with an aftermarket unit that has Android auto/Apple Car play and won't spy on you. Since it's an American car and so many were sold in America, both new and used parts are pretty easy to find and pretty cheap. The biggest thing that kills these cars is rust, especially if you live in the salt belt, so just make sure you look underneath the car before buying.

Look for: Pontiac Grand Prix, Chevy Monte Carlo, Chevy Tahoe, Buick Regal, Chevy Avalanche/Silverado. A good example of these can be found for under $10k easily and if you look a little harder you can usually find good ones or ones that need minimal work for less than $5k.

Personally I plan on driving these cars until it becomes impossible to find them anymore. There's a junkyard near me that specializes in GM cars where I can get parts for DIRT cheap.

Currently I have an 05 Avalanche (140k miles) and an 07 Grand Prix (165k miles). Before those I had an 05 Grand Prix which died only due to rust, engine and transmission still strong at 160k miles. They hardly ever have issues, and when they do they are typically cheap issues or issues I can easily fix myself.

Sure - they're nothing flashy, but the cost of purchase + repairs is almost certainly less than the cost of a new or lightly used car alone. Also, minimal complicated computer systems, and no corporate spying.

If at all possible, consider replacing your car with an E-bike. Way cheaper, both in upfront and maintenance costs. No insurance, no gas, no registration fees, etc, etc. With the right set-up you can haul a week's worth of groceries in the rain and not even think twice about it.

How dumb do you need it? Old used BMWs are supprisingly cheap right now, and BMW was pretty late to adopt "smart" car technology. They also have a reputation for not breaking. For these reasons, I am considering buying one for my first car (uni!), but it sounds like it could work for you, too.

Subaru Crosstrek remains about as analog as a car can be these days. Otherwise, you have to get a Chevrolet pickup truck or something.