You would lose half that bet. I do have a smartphone. I never (and will never) use it in a running vehicle. If the engine’s on, the cellphone is off. Not DND, or standby, or sleep. Powered down completely.

You think I’m weird now, wait until you find out I never turn the radio on in the car.

The point wasn’t that they’re doing better or worse. The point is that they’re not a car company, they’re a tech company that makes cars, and comparing them to traditional car companies in most aspects is rarely relevant.

As of last year, yes, I know. For the record, I didn’t vote for it. Not sure how that qualifies as “convenient” in any way, since being pushed out of the new-car market seems to be the opposite.

Tesla is not better, they are different. They make cars, but they are not a car company. Trying to lump them in with similar-but-not-the-same companies and then being baffled why they don’t follow the same rules as those other companies do is a futile exercise.

Sometimes less is more, RC. “Slow car fast,” yeah? ;)

Yep, I know. Have had a long time to get used to the idea. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to, but the odds are real low. Good thing is I don’t mind buying used/pre-owned, and I know how to take care of cars for a very long time, so it’s not like I’ll have to take the bus or something. :P

The standard Sport had the nav screen, but if you got the fleet version or (I guess?) the radio delete, it came with one of these. The numbers on mine are orange instead of white like that one, and it was hard to find the right search term to even find these damn things, but it looks like they’re pretty cheap on ebay.

I am somewhat astonished that your example is a pair of vehicles I have actually driven. Good choice here. Yes, the 70s 124 is a much more entertaining and satisfying (I hesitate to use the term “better” because it’s sorely imprecise) driving experience than the ‘19. Absolutely, without question.

Yeah, see, that’s more like it. My mistake was only lookin at the ‘19s and ‘20s since that’s what this article was referring to. Currently rolling in a ‘14 CX-5 Sport so I’m good for the foreseeable, I think. Thanks again. :)

I understand your points, but it’s a bit precocious to say that cars are better without computers and infotainment.

The 10AE sitting in my garage says, “I agree!”

Since that’s roughly the last time I purchased a vehicle new, it seemed appropriate.

Even the base model’s got a screen in the dashboard, and there’s no radio-delete or “fleet trim” option. They all do these days, unfortunately. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

Since I did not emerge from a 20-year coma yesterday, I am well aware of this.

I don’t hate them. I simply refuse to own a vehicle with one since they provide me with exactly zero value—I neither need nor want any of the functionality and unquestionable future problems a screen is needed for or provides. Insert oldmanshakingfistatclouds.gif here.

I am very well aware of this, and have been for approximately five years.

Whatever the justification, they’ll all boil down to “I have more money than sense.”

1st: Remember the other day when y’all were like, “Why isn’t Tesla’s stock being valued like the big three? They’re an automaker too, right?” Here’s your answer. They’re not an automaker with a dated, entrenched, vulnerable market. They’re a tech company with a strong growth arc, plenty of financial backing, and very…