FWIW I did both a GDPR request and a Lexus Nexus data request on both of my Mercedes and they had zero info on me. My buddy did the same and same results. I’m not sure they are collecting any data even though they say they may, or they’re actually honoring the opt out setting. Either way I’m not worried about my Mercedes cars. My brother requested his data and his Toyota and Lexus had a LOT of info on him.
this post was submitted on 14 Oct 2025
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I don't own a car and am not a fan of most modern "features", but, I must say, I'm quite fond of adaptive cruise control. Setting a follow distance and just cruising for long drives is far better than pumping the brakes every 5 minutes for folks mucking up passing lanes or trucks attempting to overtake on lane-limited roadways. I bet if everyone used it, traffic snakes wouldn't be such a nuisance.
I'd rather never own a car, but if I needed one, I'd be hard pressed to sacrifice privacy for that sweet adaptive cruise. Of course, network connectivity isn't required, so perhaps there will eventually be options.
It’s a band-aid measure that makes cars behave more like buses, trains, or any other form of transit that takes the mental strain off of the individual. Yet it still uses cars, so we all still get those sweet sweet carbon emissions and ridiculously outsized infrastructure degradation. It’s a step in the right direction but we’re still on the wrong path.
I fully agree with that. Well designed public transport, human-powered local transit (bikes!), and more densely packed infrastructure for human populations are the way to go with respect to the global predicament. This is a big part of the reason I refuse to own a car. But, I can appreciate some features added to the old ways, while gritting my teeth.
And all of a sudden data roaming costs isn't an issue anymore ;) Who pays the mobile subscription? Or do car manufacturers pay the telco's with a part of the data gathered ....
Yes, the OEMs pay for it. They get sims that are prepaid for like 10 years.
We need more development of open source cars
I'd love this, but I doubt that it is ever going to happen. Open-Source-Hardware is not as widely spread as open source software which is also still a niche. The big difference is that you can easily develop OSS on your own in your free time, but with hardware its a lot more difficult. And then think of all the parts necessary to build a car and then again all the certifications to actually get it on the street and after that the question of liability in case of accidents....
I think the real obstacle isn't even the regulations but the safety systems. The various US DMVs can comprehend things like scratch-built or kit cars, but the level of engineering to make a thing that can even sometimes decelerate a person from like 60 to 0 without killing them more with exploding airbags is several levels above that required to make a thing with wheels that drives forward.
So you can build and probably even drive a car from plans you got off Github, but if you crash it it will kill you.
This is a loose-loose-loose.
- New cars don't respect people's privacy.
- New cars cost more due to the extra camera/sensors/compute/connectivity necessary for tracking.
- Less people buy new cars due to increased cost and tracking. Instead drive older, more polluting cars for longer.
The word is lose.
Maybe 3 of the 4 wheels need tightening?
So it's a loose-loose-loose-tight situation when it should be a tight-tight-tight-tight situation
How is the old Zoe there? It even asks for consent for maps data.
Well that's it, I'm just going to drive my 23-year-old 350Z Roadster forever. As a 90s computer geek, I would have never imagined that future technology would turn me into a classic car guy, yet here we are.
I miss the days when spyware was treated like a virus; now it's the norm.
Late 90s and early through mid 2000s cars are gems as they are still very reliable as well as easy to maintain. Being a privacy advocate in this day and age practically requires you to get a cheap wrench set and learn the basics of maintaining one of these era vehicles.
2000s car is classic car
☠️☠️☠️ i feel old.
This is something I'm looking for also.. but extended to the max. It seems all EVs have to be feature packed. I don't want that. Give me an option to have manual windows, no central locking nor remote, and if the tire size is right, I won't even need power steering. A/C AND USB-A would be the only creature conforts wanted... Probably an EV converted beetle?
"manual" for "pressing a button" or for cranking?
Cranking! That allows no electrical wires needed to cross into the door. Simpler and less prone to failing.
You need power steering. That's not even a luxury, that's a safety feature. Being able to steer the car quickly and without excessive force is kinda important. You going to be trying to convince us that A.B.S., air bags, and seatbelts are a luxury next? Just get a damn bike or ride the bus.
I've driven many cars without ps and when going fast enough that a quick reaction is necessary, it can be handled fast enough. Not a major safety issue more than looking at GPS is a safety issue. I ride over 100km a week on my MTB so thanks for the suggestion.
Have you ever driven a small car without power steering?
I used to drive a small hatchback without power steering, once you're going walking speeds it is easy enough to steer. It's really only a problem when standing still or driving super slow (not a danger to anyone).
Have you? Several of the first few cars I drove did not have power steering and without any doubt or hesitation I can say they were not as safe to drive. And having been personally struck by a vehicle at slow speeds I'm pretty confident that your argument there doesn't hold up to scrutiny. I'm not saying they can't be driven. I'm saying that they are less safe, the same way cars without anti-lock breaks are less safe. Both require extra training and practice to operate safely in an emergency situation, training that is increasing difficult to get because most people drive cars that have had these essential safety features for their entire lives.
A cabin bike?
Fun fact, French auto brands are defacto banned in the US. You can’t insure them.
I don't think we are missing much, I haven't heard anything but horror stories about french car reliability. This is purely from German acquaintances I have as well as some mechanic opinions I have been given.
Why not?
Freedom, probably.
No idea on the technical reason, but it’s complicated. There’s a lot of foreign brands that are banned here.
I have a 2014 Chevy volt. Not a full EV, but used ones are affordable and the 3g cell modem no longer works.
We get 30-38 miles per charge depending on the outside temperature which covers most of our day to day driving. It will charge from a regular wall outlet (120v at 8 amps) in 12 hours. The ICE engine gets an oil change every 2 years since it gets rarely used.
If you're going with another Ford, you should be good to get one as new as 2017, since that's the last year they used 3g cell radios. It can't report back since the network was shut down.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but the sensors store data locally and then get uploaded to the Internet when you take it to a mechanic, who plugs your car into an internet-connected computer
List of automotive connectivity module providers: https://www.evbusiness.net/ev-directory/automotive-lte-5g-module-manufacturers/
Find which one your car has. Then see if you can find a repair manual with schematics. Find where the cell antenna connects. Non-destructively disconnect it. This way your telematics won't be affected. It will just look like you're always in a cell dead-zone.
Edit: don't do this if it's a lease, a rental, or there's a loan on the vehicle. If you own it outright and it doesn't void the warranty, go nuts.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but the sensors store data locally and then get uploaded to the Internet when you take it to a mechanic, who plugs your car into an internet-connected computer.
You have to neuter the sensors, not just the cell antenna
Source?
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