I have a 2010 Toyota Corolla. She’s been my trusty steed for the last 14 years and is in good working order. I recognize she won’t last forever, and if, god forbid (mostly for her) I get in an accident, I will need to get a new car. So what dumb cars do you drive, and what would you replace them with?
I recommend a 2010 Toyota Corolla.
Are you my doppelganger? Lol
I was just pointing out the car OP already had, which isn’t far off from the newest “dumb cars” you can get.
He’s asking what he can switch to that’s even newer than 2010, while all my cars (that I have no intention of ever replacing due to age) are already 5-15 years older than his.
If you don’t live in that one country where they get stolen easily, Hyundai I10 and I20 base models are the perfect dumb car
Absolutely nothing to go wrong; the most technological thing on them is a Bluetooth stereo, and the little 1.25L motor only needs an oil change every 20k kilometres to keep it sweet
Unfortunately we don’t get those in the US, and they even stopped selling the i30 (Elantra GT) here in 2020. You can fortunately still get the Elantra sedan, but the hatchback definitely adds a ton of practicality to it.
Many Toyotas. Even their newest series LandCruiser is doing well and will continue the legacy of doing well because durable mechanical simplicity is what it brings to the competitive table.
A lot of Toyotas last a long time and are easy to work on. That in turn makes them popular, making parts for them even cheaper.
Honestly? Consider grabbing another Corolla if you liked your Corolla. The Toyota price tag pays itself off in longevity and low ongoing cost. They just don’t die and do their job well for a long time.
Agreed. My 2011 Toyota Auris hybrid is still chuntering along with minimal issues. A friend got a new car recently and its electronic horrorshow puts me right off giving up my dumb old car.
Toyota all day every day. The best, most reliable car brand.
One rule of thumb; Never buy a Chevy. Absolute garbage vehicles that you will pay endless money to maintain.
Chevy trucks are good
Maybe, but their cars are pure shit
Toyota has a subscription service for remote start. https://support.toyota.com/s/article/Does-Toyota-Remote-Co-10227
Gonna catch some flak for this, but a Ford Focus… Just get the manual transmission. That car will easily go 200k miles, and all the bad press about the automatic has pushed the price down. My friend has the manual version and it’s about as bulletproof as you can get.
I’m assuming US?
One thing to note is that the US started requiring back up cameras in all cars manufactured after May 1, 2018. Your best bet to find a dumb car would be to look at base trims of some cheap 2015, 2016, and 2017 cars. Cars like the Elantra, Forte, Sonata, Altima, Versa, and Sentra did not have touchscreen displays in their base trim. I know because I basically lived in rental cars during those years and am very familiar with all of them.
Now, definitely watch out on the Korean ones though due their cheapening out of security equipment…but the Kia Boyz have probably salvaged titled all of them by now. I would also be hesitant on buying a used car with a CVT because it’s a crapshoot if the previous owners actually kept up with the mandatory maintenance on them.
I think the Mazda 3 or Toyota iA are good used car choices to keep on your radar. There is a “screen” in both cars, but they are dialed controlled when the car is in motion. They both have a REAL automatic transmission too. No CVT stuff to worry about.
Genuinely curious; aside from required maintenance, you don’t seem too overly jazzed about CVTs - may I ask why?
If something goes wrong with them, they are expensive to fix
Oh, so like a regular automatic transmission.
My 2012 caravan 6s-auto just ate itself last month. Minimum $4k. The van isn’t worth that.
For about ten years prior to 2020, I only had a company car. I’ve gone the past four without a car but I’m looking around for something to make it easier to visit family and take short trips.
Not only is the cost of a new car mindmelting, all the crap they put in them now is detrimental to me considering anything made in the past few years. I would sooner opt for a car with roll down windows and an AM radio than have to drive down the street with a giant computer screen shining in my face pinging me with all sorts of distractions. And that’s coming from someone who spent over ten years installing car stereos and remote starts, etc.
I don’t know what to do either. I’m looking at cars made around 2010-2015. I’d probably drive less than 2,000 miles a year but I’d still worry about wasting money on something that isn’t going to last me at least ten years. I also have a thing for cars that feel good to drive, typically German cars, so these cheap little Hyundais and such probably aren’t something I’d consider.
for less than 2000 miles a year its likely better to just rent?
Like Enterprise? I’ve looked into this. First, the demand goes up / supply goes down when everyone without a car wants to rent a car for the holidays. Second, there’s only one facility anywhere near me. Third, they have limited hours when you can pick up and drop off making it unreasonably difficult (only open til 12 on Saturdays, closed Sundays).
I also looked into car sharing. I forget the name of the service but I’ve spoken with people who have rented out their cars for it. It’s a scam. People have had thousands of dollars withdrawn from their bank accounts for minor body damage without warning and without evidence that they were responsible.
2018 Subaru Forester
It might be a bit more updated than most, but in general less smart than most cars today.
- Still have to press a button on the key to unlock the doors, or use the convenient key.
- Need to put the key into the ignition to start.
- Doors do not automatically lock out unlock.
- Manual parking break.
- Rear door is 100% manual (if you didn’t count un/lock with key fob).
- Basic Bluetooth functionality.
- Equipped with OnStar, and Sirius.
- Shipped with 3G cellular, which no longer works. They do offer a free upgrade, I never bothered.
By my own assessment, it’s the dumbest modern car you can get.
I have a 2015 Dacia Logan, that’s just smart enough (can connect to Bluetooth).
Is 2002 recent? Still loving my vintage wrx.
When the wheels fall off I’d like to go with something electric, but those tend to be phones with wheels. Maybe a used volt?
Hey if it still runs and they were readily available. In terms of recent I was talking newer than my car, old enough not to have a computer system or backup lights.
The new corollas are just as good.
Buy another Toyota no newer than 2013 and you’ll be good.
My wife has driven both her Hyundai Accent (2012), and her Kia Forte (2011) for 300k miles. Technically I think they’re the exact same car. Transmissions have never given us a problem, but we change the fluid in them religiously at 50k miles; and oil every 10k.
Occasionally we’ll have to change a battery, alternator, or coil-pack, but other than that they’ve been great.
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.
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.
