NEVER buy a car with these features according to the 20+ years of CAR WIZARD mechanic experience!

[@FlatPlaneCranky]

Just bought a 2023 Tundra with the 14” screen. Let my son borrow it for the afternoon, he connected his phone to listen to his iTunes. The next day my insurance company raised my rates and added my son to my policy. The email said that a private company showed that my son drove the vehicle. He already had his own vehicle that he was insuring. My insurance company demanded he give all his insurance info and some private info for proof. He declined for privacy reasons and my insurance cancelled my policy. These new vehicles with their tech are on condition that we give up our privacy to enter their world. It’s not worth it people.

[@Flies2FLL]

Do you have Progressive? They install a device in your car and if you are a gentle driver your rates can go down. But if not.....

[@samuraisaint2360]

That’s a big invasion of privacy! Wow

[@kuebby]

What insurance company? And do you have one of those nanny devices installed for your insurance rates?

[@ThisIsDavesGarage]

Big NO. Who is that insurance company? I'll be avoiding any new Toyotas!

[@heathj7794]

My dad's insurance tried to add my cousin to his policy raise his rates because my cousin drove his car for a months over a decade ago. All these companies are nothing but scams

[@richardbicycle5262]

So the moral of the story seems to be simplicity is better. Seems like we're learning this lesson everywhere these days!

[@a.m.9357]

Reminds you of Scotty Kilmer? 😄 You gotta love that guy.

[@Phiyedough]

Yes, buy a car old enough to not have an immobiliser and you will probably also avoid all the issues mentioned in the video!

[@Nikkk6969]

My $4000 2001 ford ranger requires nothing but oil changes.

[@kskeel1124]

The dealership I work for took a Chevy volt in on trade recently even though our mechanic told them it needed an EV battery... Low and behold we took the vehicle to a local Chevy dealership that told us the customer had brought the vehicle in 11 days earlier and were told it would cost $23,000 to replace the battery...🙄

[@lot2196]

It's almost impossible to find vehicles without all that crap. I drive a simple Honda Fit, it's a great car but really only available with a CVT transmission. They make 6 speed manuals but I couldn't find one.

[@Fnorden]

My Dad would say about cars, the more extra features the more that can screw up. This was back in the 60s 😊😊

[@mypronouniswtf5559]

My 1968 Chrysler 300 2 door hardtop still has the original power seats and power windows that work! I rebuilt the engine at 270,000 miles..Owned the car since 1991 daily drove it off/on during the years..I buy/sell/restore classic cars for a hobby since a teen in the 80's..Chrysler's power windows and seats were the most reliable even back then,i owned several 60's and 70's and they still worked..My 70 Charger 500's power windows still work as far as I can tell they were never messed with..

[@donaldpruett852]

YOUR DAD WAS ONE SMART DUDE. I'm 79. I would buy back my 1976 Chevrolet 4X4 short bed pick-up with the 350 V8 and the 4 spd. manual transmission if I could find it. Or even my `86 Dodge 4x4 w/ 4 spd. Nothing on those trucks I couldn't fix and did. In 2006 I had to special order a brand new Dodge pick up truck with the smallest V8, the 6 spd. automatic and a posi rear end. I also ordered it with hand crank windows and rubber floor mats. Auto manufacturers are trying to make the driver an irrelevant part of the driving process. No more new vehicles for me. I'll buy and fix up an old one.

[@jumpinjehoshaphat9075]

​@@mypronouniswtf5559jealous of your Fleet. My first car was a 68 Newport and of course it was sold along with my 68 charger. Test drove a 64 Imperial Crown Coupe when I was in high school didn't buy, probably didn't have the money. I guess the man didn't ever sell it and it ended up in a junkyard I saw it there. It was nice, two-door, kind of a slate gray with a red leather interior actually maroon., we live and learn but maybe some of us learn too slow. Enjoy

[@maverickphantom005]

The logic is as follows- a navigation system cannot break if it does not exist. The less options a car has, the less things will break. Simple.

[@mystisith3984]

Simplicity is virtue. A wise man once said "best part is no part" & I totally agree with this approach.

[@taix371]

The fact that a person pays for a car with seated seat features but they have to pay to use them with a monthly subscription is a huge scam and should be illegal.

[@jeffreyjeziorski1480]

Yes, a seated seat just can't be beat, it would be neat if it could heat. So when it breaks and you need to eat, don't repair the seated seat.

[@yxmichaelxyyxmichaelxy3074]

And, if no one subscribes, they are still covered. No monetary loss since you still paid for their installation. Sheer genius.

[@yxmichaelxyyxmichaelxy3074]

My car brand-new cost less than 99% of the cars on the road that are also equipped with heated seats. I also have a heated steering wheel. Love it in the winter al

[@yxmichaelxyyxmichaelxy3074]

My car brand-new cost less than 99% of the cars on the road that are also equipped with heated seats. I also have a heated steering wheel. Love it in the winter al

[@yxmichaelxyyxmichaelxy3074]

My car brand-new cost less than 99% of the cars on the road that are also equipped with heated seats. I also have a heated steering wheel. Love it in the winter al

[@swabby429]

I am even more committed to keeping my 1999 Camry CE (entry level). It is almost entirely analogue. There is no screen at all. The guages are analogue, it has a five speed manual transmission, and an easy to service 4-cylinder engine. The highest cost repair was the replacement of a worn clutch. Otherwise, the car looks and drives like new. Best of all, it's been paid for, for over two decades.

[@lindagolembieski7405]

❤

[@Notfiveo0]

Mrs. Wizard is talented, quite the eye for beauty.

[@darrenmcgovern1969]

I feel the exact same way about my 1999 manual Corolla CE. No head aches just cheap reliable transportation.

[@johnschaefer2238]

Swabby I’m with you. I have a 2001 Honda Accord a 1996 Impala SS and a 2004 Jeep Wrangler LJ. All without the complications of these crazy computer systems they’re stuffing in today’s vehicles. I do most of the basic maintenance myself and leave the difficult work for a trusted source. So far all have been mostly trouble free. Got 94,000 on the Honda, 65,000 on the Jeep and 185,000 on the SS.

[@davidross6158]

@@darrenmcgovern1969a

[@EdgarAllanGo]

1:10 #1 eyesight feature on Subaru vehicles 2:27 #2 Fuel management (GM/Chrysler) Run from this feature 4:45 #3 EV Battery packs (holy crap) Extreme heat and extreme cold factors 7:38 #4 Mazda RX series rotary engine 9:40 #5 all inclusive screen 11:45 #6 app based features and technology 13:24 #7 subscription based features 14:51 Bonuses (Ford and Nissan) KZbin recommended this video to me, and it does not disappoint. You just found a subscriber! Audio is crystal clear, visuals with the discussion, and a good camera angle. My favorite part is you don’t yell as you discuss things.

[@spankeyfish]

Nissan Leaves, especially the first gen, are notorious for their shit batteries that degrade quickly, especially in hot climates, cos the packs have no active cooling system. There's a small number of companies that are working on replacement/upgraded battery packs for early Leaves e.g. Muxsan & EVs Enhanced. Leaf battery packs are dead easy to repair and modify compared to newer EVs and structural battery packs are impossible to repair as they're usually filled with a foam adhesive to stiffen them.

[@windmuser]

Thank you.

[@jessestreet2549]

he didn't mention the trucks with the $15,000 dollar exhaust systems. (late model F150's) i might be wrong on the cost but i remember being astounded.

[@Terry-p7t]

I wonder about the reliability of the Honda 3.5 v6 cylinder deactivation.

[@mabamabam]

Doesnt point at you either, or jump out of the trunk

[@joshuawilson7023]

Car wizard is absolutely right with losing the cellular options to control your car. My 2013 Santa Fe has Bluelink when new, but used 2G towers for connection. When 2G was shut down, so was our Bluelink connection. A feature we paid extra for, is now useless.

[@russellhltn1396]

Yes, and when 3G shut down, some more cars dropped off-line. Like a lot of GM On-Star systems.

[@ellerybice3787]

You should be using charcoal sticks for your cave scribbles.

[@VolkerHett]

I'm in Germany and once had an Opel Adam. A small hatchback on a shortened GM SCCS platform made from 2012 to 2019. I had the one with 1.4l 4 cylinder and 100HP (I couldn't go for the 1l Turbo because my car can't have less displacement than my motorcycle, it's the law 🤣) and a large canvas sunroof. I opted for On-Star which worked pretty well. I.E. where is the car, locking the doors remotely, fuel consumption and all the relevant information like tire pressure, engine Oil and so on. Then GM sold Opel to PSA - which is now Stellantis - and switched off On-Star in Europe rendering the system useless! P.S.: Lesson learned (for the umpteens time) there is no cloud, just other peoples computers. Never rely on "smart" cloud services unless you own the infrastructure yourself. Be it "smart home", "smart TV" and avoid "smart" locks and door cameras like hell.

[@brianw8411]

Whenever a company markets their device as “smart” I simply walk past it. Just because it connects to the internet doesn’t make it “smart”. It usually has the opposite effect.

[@cormaro13]

Wow u described what happens when technology changes cause its been 10 years.... did u really really think we would be on 2g cellular services for ages ?????

[@nsbioy]

Never buy a vehicle with this feature: monthly payment

[@Ehliax]

True wizard 🧙

[@jamesberryman751]

Spot on...

[@justinistreason4095]

Haha

[@Schlipperschlopper]

never buy any EV

[@_RiseAgainst]

True success is having a $900 truck payment for 84 months.

[@rhvfd10]

Fun fact, GM made a few pickups in 2021 with no AFM due to part shortages. I own one. Probably will be rare birds going forward

[@bluecollarbuilds]

Dont get rid of it it’ll last you for a while

[@lilairstrike535]

damn. that’s definitely going to be a rare one. love those kinds of rare situations that GM has especially with their trucks/suvs

[@HypocriticYT]

They couldn’t use cylinder deactivation because it got a bad name 😮

[@Phatgolfr]

When you're shopping for one of those how can you tell it doesn't have the AFM?

[@KuntalGhosh]

so you can look up what parts are missing and then others could get rid of those parts to delete afm

[@73buickman]

I'll take my simple older cars

[@Dansk55]

More of these please. I can't stress enough how important it is for consumers to be educated. We determine what manufacturers put in these depreciating equipment. We set the standards. If people don't keep buying these cars, they won't be built.

[@muskiefishing9219]

Aman brother, wish everyone had had a Brain like you. And used it.

[@dingdong2103]

The info on Nissan batteries is incorrect though. Nissan is one of the manufacturers who build modular car batteries, making replacing the faulty cells almost as easy as rebuilding a set of legos. Maybe nobody just does that around Wizards shop, it's a chance for business... A Tesla battery can be refurbished for about 3-4 thousand bucks in an unofficial repair shop. Tesla will not support repairs in any way. Also, if your screen breaks it's no problem. Just use your cell phone. It has GPS navigation, GPS speed sensors, even the AC can be turned on by a mobile app in many cars. I wouldn't worry about the software either, if there's demand for it, someone will hack the car systems and either upgrade the interfaces or bypass functions like the heated seats to physical buttons. You can already reflash engine softwares, enable hidden features etc. with a 100 dollar tool.

[@OffGridInvestor]

Except they go cartel style and THEY ALL put them in. Often this ALREADY happens, like the emissions crap... it's forced BY LAW.

[@heikkpek]

Unfortunately it's the first owners that determine what manufacturers put on the market. And the problems are probably 3rd owners' headache.

[@daftnord4957]

with everything, especially electronics like phones and laptops. we need everyone to support right to repair.

[@wolfalaska7638]

From 1970 to 1977, I owned what I call a pure automobile. 1970 Dodge Charger R/T 440 Magnum 4 speed manual tranny with Hurst pistol grip shifter. Super Trac Pak. Manual steering. Manual police drum brakes. Luxury item: AM radio with 5 push buttons. Heater. A pure automobile with cables connecting the throttle to the carburetor. Let's Roll ! Wolf

[@methylbenzodiazepine]

I agree with the central screen display. I was in an $80,000 Mercedes. It was a new car 2023. The center screen froze and would not respond. The outside temperature was over 90 deg F and inside the car was hotter. Yet, you could NOT turn on the A/C or control the temperature. I will stick with my 1998 Corolla with manual dedicated controls. The car is 26 years old and the AC works amazing

[@thomasmusso1147]

🎵 "Everything keeps going right .. Toyota." An advertising jingle from some years back.

[@romgl4513]

Unless it's a brand new Toyota with the same advanced features that will fail @@thomasmusso1147

[@BiggerFatterBlog]

American and German automotive engineers are dreadful.

[@DonutVIP]

Probably cost more then the car to fix it, when ever I see these exotic car I can't imagine spending 700 dollar oil change

[@davidanderson8469]

Yep. Young people like all electronic crap. I'll take the knobs and levers. The electric parking brakes are anothr cost cutting failure.

[@terryloh8583]

Great advice. I think you're 100% spot on about the 'features as a service' model. Refusing to update or support older devices is just another form of designed obsolescence to get people to buy the next device. And I think it's even worse than the Wizard stated. Just follow the news concerning 'right to repair' and the struggles Louis Rossman has gone through on the behalf of his customers, and the ridiculous cost-inflation that happens when tech companies institute these sort of practices. He has uploaded dozens upon dozens of videos where the Apple geniouses have either refused to repair, said they were unable to repair, or quoted outrageous prices to repair various products. Refused to recover data from M2 drives that Apple unnecesarily soldered to the board. Sometimes the fix was as simple as replacing a $20, commonly used part (that Apple wouldn't repair and wouldn't supply parts or the specs so it could be repaired by someone else), or properly connecting the monitor ribbon. It isn't just shocking, its wasteful and greedy, and infuriating to see our elected officials get snowed (or paid off) by industry lobbyists in hearings and sometimes sabotaging laws intended to protect the public.

[@leonardkellum6984]

Having slave factories in China with nets for the suicide jumpers shows me what the managing minds of the elitist warmongering authoritarian types are capable of. I have watched Louis also, in 2008 2 banker types tried to warn about the crash, those truthtellers are out of work - lying banksters don't hire snitches, they hire today's politicians, a guy named Bankman got kisses thrown to him from a congresswoman, just got out of some of the trrouble he's in because of the FTX mess.

[@OneOut1]

OR paid off ? Lol. That's gunny.

[@test143000]

You are funny. Statistically, hardware vendors drop support when a user base diminishes to an insignificant value, like 1%. If all these users buy the lates device, this hardly would have any impact on vendor's profit. Releasing updates is not free for hardware vendors. At some point a user base shrink to a point it doesn't make sense to support old hardware, but you can use a phone which doesn't get updates anymore, it doesn't turn to a brick overnight.

[@bronovalter391]

This is why I bought my bottom of the line Honda Fit with a manual transmission. Not a lot of features means not a lot to go wrong!

[@leedaniels7196]

And reliable brand too!.🤗

[@gagamba9198]

And most thieves/carjackers don't know how to drive stick.

[@warrenpuckett4203]

@@gagamba9198 Yes but they also use tow trucks. Steering wheel cranked to full right & chained to the brake pedal. Battery removed. And a stick shift. Gone. If they want it. They will get it. They will even come back with wheels if you remove them.

[@TheOzthewiz]

@@gagamba9198 A manual transmission is the BEST anti-theft device available. You can't hack one, IF you can't drive it! PERIOD!!

[@skatingsam96]

​@@leedaniels7196the brand doesn't matter all too much. All brands have crap cars and good cars. Some brands just get it right more than others. The first gen fits had some problems

[@jellyroll5247]

Old Toyotas. Beauty in its simplicity. Easy to work on and reliable as hell.

[@scottlowell493]

Fact: a 1986 Toyota sr5 is more reliable than a 2023 chevy colorado.

[@jellyroll5247]

@@scottlowell493 100 percent. By far the most DIY cars built.

[@edwardgreenjr167]

Over 20+ years in the IT field. All my cars are from the 'analogue gauge' era. Sure, I've installed things over time to get them 'up to date'. Full android touch screen head units, replacement LCD duel dash cam rear view mirrors. ETC. But they didn't come with those features, so I can repair/replace easily when they fail. Sometimes I get the urge to get something newer, and I remember the horror stories from peers who had even a cracked screen under warranty. Automakers are trying to go the way of electronics - disposable. Their is value in being able to still repair you own stuff, and I just do not see that ability in new cars.

[@invictusaeternum]

I share this sentiment exactly. It is an objective opinion based in fact.

[@yurimodin7333]

YUP, 20 years of IT here as well......Even my laundry machines have analog timers. I really need to find an OBD1 or earlier vehicle so I can legally go carb & distributor.......I am currently doing a hot rod with a 96 but they don't do inspections around here.

[@justdoingitjim7095]

Speaking of "analog," back in the 70's I went to my credit union to get financing on a 1966 Mustang. I gave him a list of all the features it had and listed "Gauges, not 'idiot lights." He had a good laugh over that one, but agreed with me as far as relying on warning lights, instead of having gauges that let you see the problem starting, instead of reacting after it became a problem. Think over heating and lower voltage. The warning lights wouldn't come on until the car was fully hot and needed to be shut down immediately and seeing your voltage lower than normal would let you know to check it before a dead battery left you stranded!

[@leonardkellum6984]

@@justdoingitjim7095 the engineer who gave us "designed obsolescence" had an idea stretched to ridiculous lengths, considering our planet of limited resources

[@timmy707707]

I'm sticking with my 1995 Explorer. Runs like a top

[@99Vood99]

Wizard you are spot on about these vehicle being deeply tied to an operating system. They will intentionally deprecate/phase out your vehicle under the guise that the operating system is no longer security compliant. We are trending towards very dark times.

[@volvo09]

Yep, that sort of technology is not what I want in my car. Even today's cars with apple car play, or Android auto, there will be a day those services get upgraded and you need a new vehicle with "v2" of those systems to be able to use them, even if your phone supports both.

[@fifthward1983]

the democrats want to outlaw private auto ownership , you will have a never ending lease thats going to hurt the poor and middle class the most. the ev's are another step in that direction ,thats why im against ev's. they have nothing to do with the ''environment'' , its all about control .

[@StopLyingBro]

Yup planned obsolescence

[@_PatrickO]

Any time a car company uses the word "security" as a reason they are lying. The car industry to this day still sells all their cars with easily hackable keyfobs. Keyfobs that prevent replay attacks and spoofing have existed for almost a decade now, but still are not used industry wide. The car industry provably does not care about security. They use the word "security" only to lie to you when they need a fake reason to explain away poor design or any anti-consumer "feature".

[@EarlFaulk]

Sounds like that's only going to be a problem with apple

[@thomasmiddlebrooke1012]

This is why I bought a stick shift Corolla. Buttons, manual seats, dedicated gauges, and the only screens in are non-essentials.

[@BigMacIIx]

I miss mine, It was unkillable..

[@bretthibbs6083]

@@BigMacIIx I had one when I was in high school and I loved it and it was inkillable and I drove that car everywhere up and down the east coast and across the country from Florida to Minnesota and drove it for Dominos delivery it was a 85 corolla but mine was an automatic.

[@retrocompaq5212]

depends on what you need, i cant stand a car with awful brakes, handling and power

[@BigMacIIx]

@@bretthibbs6083 My first cars was a manual 88 Mazda 323. I had a 5-speed corolla 2011, and I still have a AWD '06 Matrix and dailly driving a 6-Speed 2017 Legacy ;-)

[@BigMacIIx]

@@retrocompaq5212 Are you talking about the Corolla? A stick shift made all the difference with engine brakes and high rev at low gear, and the AE86 drift car is legendary.

[@MsJamieburns]

I just bought a 1997 Lexus. 80,000 ORIGINAL miles. Love it!

[@59seank]

LS400 ???

[@MsJamieburns]

@@59seank yep.

[@nevinkuser9892]

wow. congrats!

[@MX-CO]

Perfect

[@metalslug26]

My wife and I have an Audi Q8, and a few months back a 3.5k dollar module, that controls features like lane assist, blind spot warning, front and back cameras, bumper senors and some AC features went bad. The dashboard also had a few warning lights and advised that I had limited features available. Again 3.5k dollars, for new module and repair was roughly 1200 dollars. All covered under warranty, yeah don't keep these cars after warranty expires.

[@nobodynoone2500]

Audi are very nice until the lease ends. Not a good car for long-term ownership.

[@oldfag_adventures]

buddy it's german! don't keep it ever 🤣🤣 maybe as a rental but only if you want a headache on your vacation!

[@metalslug26]

@@oldfag_adventures Speaking of vacation, we were going to travel on the road to visit my wife's relatives a few days into this happening. I told the Audi dealer shop advisor, this better get resolved before our road trip, because I'm not driving an 80k suv on limp mode and put my family in danger. They expressed shipped the module from Germany. They didn't assume this part wouldn't malfunction lol. Got the car a day before our road trip.

[@stealthg35infiniti94]

My friend says the exact same thing about Bring Money Withyou cars she owns.😂 They become money pits as they age.

[@oldfag_adventures]

@@metalslug26 should have let them snail mail it so you could take a rental on the dealer's dime 🤣 either way good luck between now and your warranty expiring, god knows you need it

[@Chilibendrix]

I feel that the auto-stop/start feature on a lot of new gas cars deserves a dishonorable mention, that's gotta rob tons of life from the starter, especially when driving in heavy traffic.

[@nekite1]

I have a 2010 Honda CR-Z hybrid that has that feature. It does have a starter motor, but the electic motor is the one that starts the engine back up. The starter motor is very rarely used and only if the batteries for the electric motor are depleted. Works like an absolute charm.

[@jbondbmw]

That is why I turn it off overtime I start my '20 F150 5.0 and have since it was new. It is a useless feature.

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Not to mention it's a pretty useless feature to begin with.. The cents you save on fuel isn't worth the price you'll be paying later on to fix that system when it inevitably breaks.

[@zorilla0]

@@R3TR0R4V3 You could say that about every fuel economy feature that has seen widespread adoption in the last 20 years. Direct injection, dual spark plugs per cylinder, cylinder deactivation, small turbos, CVTs, 7+ speed automatics, etc. That 0.2 MPG savings is going to be wiped out several times over as as soon as you get the four-figure repair bill needed to fix any of it.

[@martinsvensson6884]

Yes, but that function you can at least disable. So far.

[@jorger2020]

You really provide a real public service with these videos CW. In my opinion the future does not look bright, quite the opposite. If I could advise one thing, it would be something like: people, stay minimalist in your choices, now more than ever less is more

[@timbaubense]

I agree! To bad the vast majority wants the latest and the greatest to impress their neighbors.

[@CadgerChristmasLightShow]

That's why I felt confident when I bought my 2021 Kia Soul a couple years ago. It was the perfect mix of old and new tech with no unnecessary extra crap loaded into it. It has a tried and true multi port 2.0 4 cylinder that's been used for over a decade now, no turbo crap. It has a physical flip key, no push button start. It has a classic physical lever e-brake. No sunroof, no heated and cooled seats, no extra fancy BS that will be broken in 5 years. It has all the right features I particularly wanted, which wasn't a lot, but still being quite modern in its design.

[@jorger2020]

@@CadgerChristmasLightShow Words of wisdom there

[@donnaphen503]

One of the best videos I've seen. I was never into lots of bells & whistles in cars, especially automatic features that turn on or off things. I can't fathom having a touch screen that controls Everything and then it fails! Thanks for the effort you devote making our lives a little bit better. Don

[@frotobaggins7169]

I agree, however, I drove a ford with the air conditioned seats, that was lovely. :D

[@jabba0975]

If the car's seats has heating elements, there's gotta be a way to rewire them with a simple switch.

[@chevypreps6417]

lol

[@Nomad397]

🤣 simple lmfaooooo

[@BK-qp8zp]

I did this. Get an aftermarket seat heater, as It doesn't connect to the car's system. You can also get an aftermarket remote.

[@FosterFarmsOk]

the wires to the heat element will under the seat somewhere. Just have to run a positive wire from a fuse to a switch and ground the other wire.

[@fortyseven1832]

The problem is the heating element grid will break or burn out. You'll have to pull the seat covers to replace those.

[@dixonrenyin95ugo]

Car Wizard, your knowledge, skills and car analysis is of immense value to all your viewers. Thank you so much.

[@J45yu456]

This video needs a sequel and beyond. A series to share wisdom and experiences from the Wizard is needed!

[@sunbeam8866]

Which the relentless advance of technology will provide!

[@tom8592]

People should demand or don't buy. "KEEP IT SIMPLE" PERIOD!

[@robertwhite9898]

🎯🎯

[@Lowkey_ID]

You said this, now KIA has announced they're going back to buttons!

[@tommccutchan3508]

Also, your take on “subscription features” is spot on. We a had Onstar services in our 2008. Saturn and we were paying for the basic level Onstar services, but GM canceled it because it was G2 technology and they said they couldn’t support it any longer.

[@partymanau]

Hot wire the damn stuff.

[@godfreyberry1599]

Just another form of built in obsolescence before everything else in the line of gadgets inevitably fail.

[@holymoly3053]

That’s 2G cellular technology. The cellular companies discontinued that technology. The larger cellular companies have even discontinued 3G technology.

[@richardandre9811]

@@godfreyberry1599couldn’t agree more, and such invasions! Wow!!

[@TheOzthewiz]

I have it in MY '20 Blazer, but I don't want to pay MONTHLY for services I might NEVER use! It would come in handy IF my vehicle was stolen. For tracking AND DISABLING the vehicle, WITHOUT police chasing and pitting MY "baby".

[@DIY-AutoMech]

Thank you...AMD. Great videos for Part 1 & 2. I had a failure on my 2005 Sienna sliding door lock release actuator about 10 yrs ago. The dealer wanted to charge $800. I told him I can live with manually opening the door 😁. As a DIY myself, I searched on KZbin and found a few videos on how to replace the small motor assembly. There was one video that a DIY'er opened up the motor assembly and just replaced a $2.50 12v tiny motor. So I did the same. It took me about 1 hr to replace. Saved myself $800 with a $2.50 part. I learned a lot from both of your videos on Sienna vans. Will inspect the radiator and transmission cooling lines. Thanks again for all the great tips and advices. 👍👍👍👍

[@JettaRedIII]

I have an 8 year old car that I love! Until last year, I could lock, unlock, locate, and enable valet mode remotely with my phone. Then the cellular technology used (3G I believe) was no longer supported and I lost all of those features. Not really a big deal for me, but goes to show you what might happen.

[@mcwillzz23]

Infiniti? I’m in the same boat. 2014 Q50 Hybrid Premium, bought it exactly 1 year ago today with 10,800 miles. Put just over 18k on it since!

[@kirkhodson1466]

Same with Lincoln

[@nickwarner8158]

If you want to keep your car, find and remove the antenna that locates it. Just because it isn't supported by the factory doesn't mean it can't be taken. Never let a car be able to be controlled by a phone unless you don't care whose phone is doing it.

[@Crosshair84]

Yup. People are going to take a bath on resale as many of these "cool" features stop working and become more and more dead weight.

[@Crosshair84]

@@nickwarner8158 Absolutely. It seems like the people who are most enthusiastic about these "features" are the people who know the least about how technology works. At my work, all of our on-site software engineers actively avoid this sort of stuff. They know, or have a good idea of, how it works and they don't trust it.

[@EnriqueVendeCasas]

More than ever before I'm proud of my 1999 toyota avalon. Runs like a champ, looks like a champ with almost 25 years and 240k miles.

[@atmartens]

I can totally see that with the screen part. I personally dislike them from a design perspective. I hate that they would put a rectangle screen behind a round steering wheel. I also don’t want all my controls in one place because it’s distracting.

[@Leo555ZZZ]

Keep driving your old car,,it's better for the planet and better for your wallet.

[@erikgranqvist3680]

About EV's: at least in my country, some insurance companies deduct the value of the battery pack to zero quite fast. That means that if your 6-7 years old car is in an accident, the insurance company will not pay for a new battery, and the insurance money you get when it's totalled you get scrap money - since they value the battery to zero.

[@shauny2285]

For the time being, I'd only buy a hybrid vs. an EV..

[@red_ben3487]

Yup. EVs are extremely easy to total. Not worth it.

[@joeolejar]

That's why I still drive my 1993 F150. Manual everything.

[@jackandblaze5956]

Yeah but I bet you've got power steering and AC. Does it have crank windows? My 73 F100 has VF270 AC. That's vent wings + floor vent+ 2 crank windows at 70 mph AC. No power brakes either. It's a good, sweaty workout.

[@joeolejar]

Crank windows and wing vents. AC has been rebuilt and power steering leaks and the speakers in the doors are "fuzzy". Changed hinge pins all around. Won't get rid of the long bed truck.

[@jackandblaze5956]

@@joeolejar Awesome then! I didn't realize they still had wing vents in 1993. That must be one of the last ones. And a long bed is indeed a keeper. I used to wish mine was a short bed, but now I'm glad it's not. Who knew, new long bed trucks would be 99% extinct by 2024?

[@joeolejar]

I see at least four other F150 long beds in this part of NC. Some are in pretty rough shape. The one I have was treated with a proprietary rust treatment when new and is in better shape as a result. The clear coat started to peel about 5 years ago, but only one small area on the bottom of a door with rust.

[@justinlee2642]

And manually push it down the road 😂😂

[@niceguy391987]

Another big thing to avoid are those fancy matrix LED headlights as Audi and other brands offer. Those cost each $3000, not included the control modules and the labour to take half the front of your car apart and replace them. In total it's between $4K and $5K to replace one of those.

[@NeoAutodroid]

that's insane ! it took me two minutes and $15 dollars to replace an old halogen bulb on my old car, I can't imagine spending thousands to replace lighting "modules" on some of these newer cars

[@mj8495]

Even the most basic LED headlight assemblies are $1000 or more...no option to change the bulb anymore

[@russdshannon]

When my Mazda 6 GT was wrecked (by the other driver), my one headlight that was damaged was $2,790 to replace. Insane. I buffed it and kept rolling.

[@Phiyedough]

This was about cars but life in general seems to get more complicated and frustrating with every year that passes. I still use a desktop PC but find myself increasingly marginalised because the internet is now geared toward phones and apps. I hate using a phone as a computer but that is often the only option.

[@NeoAutodroid]

even with the introduction of the laptop computer we began sacrificing maintainability on the alter of convenience

[@nouseforaname6846]

Phone is all I use. Never owned a pc

[@LAndrewsChannel]

@@nouseforaname6846 ... and?

[@godfreyberry1599]

Phones are at least, for now, far more dependant than computers until a new way is found to frustrate and extract hard earned cash.

[@ATruckCampbell]

Cars have become like phones, non replaceable battery, useless features, subscriptions for stupid shit, fancy glass back until it breaks, does not last because of planned obsolescence. If any of it breaks it is hundreds of dollars to fix, and better off getting a new one, so after two years or less you trade it in for another brand new phone with the same problems. This is what the manufacturers want.

[@Uhrmacher2]

It's worth mentioning the StarLink system on new Subarus. There is some issue where they will start to drain the battery all of a sudden. I have a 2019 WRX STi, and one day, my battery was completely dead. I replaced the battery with a new one, and the battery was dead in under a week. It turns out it has something to do with the StarLink system (maybe the GPS tracker) that goes bad. After I pulled the fuse that supplies power to it, my battery and car are back to normal. There has been a class action lawsuit that few people are aware of. Apparently there is a fix for it, which I will have to get, since pulling the fuse disabled my front speakers.

[@steves5172]

Hello! I feel really good having watched your channel as my vehicle (Peugeot 407, sedan, January 2005) is nearly 20 years old and is , like me, out of date but more fixable than its successors. All gauges are analogue, I have switches, and push buttons and the only screen is on my radio / CD player! I believe totally that EVs can be pollution free but we just aren’t there yet. In some ways Fred Flintstone had it spot on! Thanks for an honest and informative channel!

[@Yohann67]

Former ASE Master Tech with a degree in automotive technology(1987 that is). I initially eye roll when I saw this or any “list” or warnings about cars (#Scotty), so I was pleasantly surprised when you presented a cogent argument and real world issues. Nice work. 👍

[@schrodingersmechanic7622]

Scotty is clickbait

[@Yohann67]

@@schrodingersmechanic7622 IKR, his titles are quite annoying.

[@3_Dogs_In_A_Trench_Coat]

And there I was thinking I was alone.

[@josephdavis4201]

Scotty's arms are flying all over the place from this thread.

[@Yohann67]

@@josephdavis4201 I can just see it!

[@Pedal2Metal_on_YouTube]

Another reason why I'll hang onto my '99 F150 4.6 5 spd... it's easily the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned in all my 35 yrs of driving. I've owned it for 21 yrs now, and it's never needed anything except basic maintenance items.

[@theemasher777]

My man. I also own a 99' F150 with a 4.6 but with a 4spd. Very basic and parts are cheap. Only thing wrong with it is the odometer doesn't like to stay lit, but the trip is analog so it's not a huge deal. I drive a lot of new vehicles at work and a modern truck just simply has way too many modules and systems at play they can be a train wreck. They will not last the way our trucks have.

[@mattdonna9677]

My 1980 F150 shortbed with an inline 6 cylinder can beat up your F150.😊

[@tim8deb]

@@mattdonna9677 😄 for sure. but my 76 will beat yours up LOL

[@Ankeneering]

Same, kinda. 97 5-speed Land Rover disco with ZERO options. Super basic. Easy to work on, and despite Land Rover reputation it’s been a daily driver for 10 years and has been bombproof. Except for the one thing electric and “luxurious”…of course, the windows. Which, I’ll probably source some roll-up parts from the UK. Big fan of stupid simplicity.

[@frankconley6321]

My 98 dakota v6 is still going well after 25 years. No electric seats, windows, door locks etc. Have replaced a few things: water pump, alternator, power steering pump.

[@froey198033]

These are the reason's I stick to older vehicles. I'll be damned if I can't use my AC or heated seats. I will never buy a new vehicle because of the technology they put in it.

[@leviscott8519]

Good looking out Mr. Wizard! You are a brilliant technician and your integrity and honesty is a rare trait. Congratulations on your success! You and Mrs.Wizard have earned it!

[@cavalieroutdoors6036]

I'm a mechanic by trade and I agree with most of this. I will add with respect to the screen problem, it's already costing several thousand dollars to fix. I had a customer request a navi screen the other day on an older Acura, 2004-ish. The part is no longer available new, and a rebuild on the existing one was around $3000 - just for the part. Labor would probably be another $300 or so to remove and install. And of course they'd be driving around with a gaping hole in their dash while the unit was out being rebuilt. Just think about how often you replace computers and TVs, now imagine you're using that to control critical components of your car. They're *going* to go bad, and probably before the car reaches 20 years old. And nobody will be making replacements. If they are, they won't be cheap.

[@Mr.Corinthians]

They should have learned from the 80s Riviera with the CRT and decided it was a bad idea.

[@ke7eha]

I did the research on this about 7 years ago. At the time, a phone had an average lifespan of 29 months, and a car had an average lifespan of just over 12 years. I had a design requirement for an electronic device to have a lifespan of 50 years (largely in storage, but it had to work after that period of time in storage). The auto manufacturers know these numbers as well. Why design and build something to last a million miles when 15 years and 150,000 miles is good enough for the majority of cases?

[@eastonwilliams1722]

@@Mr.Corinthiansits all by design to further indebt you. You are a slave to the jews

[@successtrainingservices9937]

Thank you Car Wizard FYI Nissan built a BEV: Leaf with zero TMS Thermal Management System. Without a proper TMS to cool (think hot weather), these batteries die pretty quickly. Australian owners developed class action suits against Nissan as their batteries were rendered useless. Nissan is a troubled company in fact the debt is considered junk and their former CEO is wanted by Japanese police as he fled the country in some kind of suitcase.

[@MrPaige222]

Nissan SUCKS compared with Honda and Toyota. I used to sell used cars. Never saw any Nissan with over 200k miles. And those with 150k were ready for the scrap heap. Even the infinity models. Except for the manual transmission mid size trucks, I never bought any of their products at auction.

[@OffGridInvestor]

I'm an Australian and had no idea of the lawsuit. However you don't see many leafs here, although teslas are everywhere.

[@henrycarlson7514]

@@MrPaige222 I personally have a 2002 Nissan Frontier with 225,000 miles . I do take it to the Shop regulary for oil changes and Regular Inspections

[@MrPaige222]

@henrycarlson7514 As I said, their mid sized trucks are the exception. Especially with a manual transmission. Your truck will probably rival a Toyota for longevity, especially since you're servicing it.

[@Glidedon]

My Nissan has been flawless for ten years now… NV2500 auto transmission

[@centralcoastcamper9631]

One of the best , most reliable vehicles I have ever owned was a 1990 Chevy Cheyenne Pickup, 2 door short bed, 4.3 V6 with 4 speed auto trans. Manual windows manual door locks. I drove this thing past 300,000 miles and nothing ever broke! They need to bring this truck back! Everything nowadays is way over engineered and way over priced plastic! As the Wizard says the junk yard will be full of them due to unavailable specialty parts.

[@billp5656]

GM really had the v6 figured out and they were bullet-proof

[@MarvinHartmann452]

These were actually pretty reliable. We had one were I worked and we got it until it was totaled at around 400k km.

[@crspcritter]

Yup ; my 1990 Silverado was the best . 305 and turbo 400 . Had it twenty years . Still was running good . Never failed . Starter and water pump was all .

[@amerigo88]

The V-8 version is the Chevy 5.7 liter (350 cubic inch) engine. GM chopped off two cylinders dropping it to a V-6 at 4.3 liters (263 cubic inches). My understanding is they share many parts, or at least they did in the early days of the 4.3 liter V-6.

[@Seelingfahne]

Genius idea with the picture frame as a whiteboard! Thanks for sharing the wisdoms!

[@brutonstreettailor4570]

Thanks Wizard, from the UK. All relevant advice, to take some of your points to the extreme the cynic in me can see manufacturers remotely shutting off your A/c because you passed a service interval in your car without taking the car into them for service ! I hope you feel better. God bless you and yours for the most real-world informative repair channel I’ve come across.

[@sunbeam8866]

the 'AC denied' feature is already built in to some of today's vehicles If the ECU detects a sufficient need for service!

[@autoteleology]

@@sunbeam8866In fairness, I kind of hope they do under certain conditions, like a big leak in the system, to prevent Billy Bob from constantly dumping refrigerant into their swiss cheese air conditioner and being single handedly responsible for global warming lol

[@sunbeam8866]

@@autoteleology The point is to get you into a new car. They'll just cut to the chase, and remotely shut down your 'old' car!

[@tim3172]

@@sunbeam8866 The point is to get your POS repaired before you blow it up due to putting even more load on a strained engine by running the AC.

[@sunbeam8866]

@@tim3172 Today, the point is to get your "POS" off the road. Parts supplies are drying up for many older cars, while repairs to newer cars, once out of warranty, may cost, to quote the Wizard, "$5000 to $10000"!

[@TOONMAN200]

I'm a retired 35 year mechanic, everything you mentioned in this video, I have been telling people for years. We have 2 Chevy Equinox, 1.5 gas turbocharged engine. Basic car very few, high end features, very comfortable, nice to drive. This car uses a good proven dependable hydromagnetic transmission, still has buttons and knobs, to control everything. We are very happy.

[@CadillacDriver]

Lol. Piece of shit engine.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

"hydromatic"... By the way, all my cars have three pedals...

[@TOONMAN200]

I am a fan of stick shift, especially in a sports car, in my younger days all my cars were a stick shift. Now i'm a old guy and only drive automatic.@@davidhollenshead4892

[@bredub63]

I hear what you’re saying and all but how the hell were you a mechanic for 35 years and buy and promote a Chevy equinox they are known shit boxes lmao

[@TOONMAN200]

Everybody is entitled to their opinion, we still love our Chevy Equinox.

[@matte8441]

I was a Toyota technician and the app based features were the Achilles heel of all newer Toyota cars. When it first came out the cars were coming back in tow trucks because the system drained batteries, it was more common on HVs. The battery problems eventually trickled down but some customers have theirs randomly not work, I prob get 1-2 diags per day.

[@user-pf6wl4hv5j]

What model year was that stuff rolled out?

[@jasonh.8754]

I've never bought a newer car, but if they need apps to run, I'll never get one. Apps on my phone are just a collection of bugs constantly waiting for an update.

[@chuckasualty]

not sure if this is what you're referring to but, I bought a 2020 Camry (brand new) and there is a 'MAP' button on the infotainment system. When I push it, I get a message that tells me the app is not installed. I asked about at the dealership and I was told that this app was no longer supported. seemed silly to have that put in a brand new car and then tell us we can't us it🤔

[@matte8441]

@@chuckasualty That basically means your Camry didn’t come with navigation from the factory. Back then it’s possible to download apps via Entune but like the dealership said it’s no longer available.

[@matte8441]

@@user-pf6wl4hv5j 2018 onwards. 2019 on some vehicles

[@RogueA.I.]

As an owner of multiple rotary engine vehicles, I can attest. It is a community for enthusiasts. Steer clear if you don’t enjoy searching for parts or diagnosing your own issues. If you want it as a daily, make sure you have a backup. I really love the rotary but it’s not for everyone.

[@monte99cm]

I think this is a very fair response. This is likely why many RX cars were converted to traditional V6/8 motors in the 2000's. Rotory motors are nostalgic but not logical in modern applications. Heck most were leaking on the showroom floor. Still unique and wonderful in their own right.

[@engineerisengihere44]

Wenkel rotaries that is, I highly doubt you put a traditional rotary in a car. If you did I need to see it

[@RogueA.I.]

@@engineerisengihere44 I see no need for your clarification.

[@TheOzthewiz]

Too bad the "rotary" did not pan out as planned. Can you imagine how SWEET a rotary powered Corvette or even an AMC "Pacer" would have been with that engine. Even the Suzuki "RE-5" rotary Motorcycle was a GREAT idea!

[@RogueA.I.]

@@TheOzthewiz Check out Rob Dahm for a rotary corvette

[@christen1075]

Another reason to keep the ‘94 BMW Hooptie. As Popsie said, “son, it got four tires and a steering wheel just like every other car. And if you listen real close at night, you’ll likely be hearing it rust. And lastly, don’t fall in love with something that can’t love you back.”

[@RaiderWolf-yd6nm]

_Another reason to keep the ‘94 BMW Hooptie. As Popsie said, “son, it got four tires and a steering wheel just like every other car. And if you listen real close at night, you’ll likely be hearing it rust. And lastly, don’t fall in love with something that can’t love you back.”_ The problem is that whether you love it or not, soon you will have to get a new one with possibly a bunch of new fangled doohickies on it that will stop working when the manufacturer decides to either make you pay a subscription for it or will turn it off because of some obsolete technology standard. Hang on to that BMW as LONG as you can! That's the moral lesson I get from your comment.

[@christen1075]

@@RaiderWolf-yd6nm I got a 1998 Buick Riviera sitting in the driveway with a crooked hood and a new fender and bumper cover that I’m going to somehow get on that rig and keep driving it since the 3.8 L GM engine with the Supercharger is another one of those cars that can go 300,000 miles and not miss a stroke. And it’s four years newer than the BMW in terms of Hooptieville. Plus, there’s a lot of commonality with parts from the junkyard. I think I’m gonna take two weeks in Cancun at an all expenses covered resort instead of dropping a couple of thousand bucks on an airbag module made by Bosch for a Bentley. Yeah, that’s how bad it’s become for people who owned these electronic F-35 Lightenings on wheels.

[@jegr3398]

Any car that can reliably get you from point A to B is a good car. Especially if you don't have to make payments on it. I'm driving a 15 year old Camry. Wouldn't even dream of buying a new vehicle.

[@kaasman78]

I think as another item....we should think about LED/Laser headlight units. Lots of newer cars have them. They should last a pretty long time...but when they go dark, it will be thousands to replace the units. And they WILL go dark.

[@mohnnadmercedes8246]

Also the color is extremely annoying and not good for your eyes. The blueish tone is not healthy nor comfortable in dark unlike warm colors

[@ifried91]

Omg on new generation Ford Expedition.. that’s a total bumper + housing off job to replace a headlight or turn signaling light

[@plektosgaming]

This is why I have simpler projector lights. They dim with age like halogens and cost $200 or so to get new elements for, typically, but they are basically miniature arc lamps and will always make SOME light, even 10 or 20 years old. LEDs.. they overheat and go out without warning. As for lights, I am a fan of sealed-beams personally as they were cheap and effective. But everything is cheap plastic now.

[@mrvwbug4423]

@@plektosgaming Sealed beams were cheap I'll give you that. Effective, I beg to differ there. Modern LED lights (in vehicles designed to use them) are light years better than any sealed beam, even modern projector beams blow away sealed beams regardless if they're running halogen or HID (but they suck with LEDs unless they're designed for LEDs).

[@mrvwbug4423]

@@mohnnadmercedes8246 Until you realize that the wavelength of HIDs and LEDs is much closer to pure white and wildlife absorb it less so the modern lights are much better at illuminating wildlife, especially Moose than halogens are.

[@philjimmybob5650]

Eyesight: Not that bad! I have a 2016 Outback with Eyesight. It just recently quit working (the BSD BLIND SPOT DETECTION) after 7 years. It is a rear and side looking radar detection unit. It did annoy me a little bit that I had to take it to the dealer to fix it however. Got it "aligned" for about $120 at the dealer. Also, if it did have a major repair required so what, it just quits working. Nobody says you have to repair it. As for the front Eyesight detection it has always worked nearly flawlessly even after I replaced the windshield with no alignment done. Personally, I think the system is worth having.

[@MyRideSC]

Agreed.

[@GixxerRider1991]

Seeing all of this makes me happy I don't have to deal with any of it. I daily drive a 2017 Nissan 370Z which has a simple interior with a radio and CD player, a naturally aspirated engine, and a manual transmission. It's amazing fun to drive and has been very reliable so far.

[@omegarugal9283]

it cant get any simpler than than

[@md5manvideos932]

@@omegarugal9283 Horse and buggy

[@im3phirebird81]

@@md5manvideos932 feet :)

[@johnh5896]

I bought a Nissan 300zx turbo in 88 drove it for 30 years original rotors only things I changed was oil and tires .

[@godfreyberry1599]

That's what it's all about - no self-inflicted drama in a world that has more than enough of it's own to contend with any day of the week. Only view a computer screen as a neccesary evil, best used as such - cetainly not to be elevated to a position of prominence in everything we do.

[@briangraham6415]

The app and software issue will probably be the biggest one. You raise a really good point. Even if the manufacturer doesn’t drop support, you have to worry about either your phone manufacturer ending support, your cellular company ending support for the modem’s radio in your vehicle. Ford already screwed this up on vehicles within the last 5 years.

[@robin_holden]

Yep, so did Volkswagen. I have a 2016 eGolf that used to have phone app connectivity but it used the 3G data network, which was switched off last year. VW knew this was going to happen, but still built cars using the same parts, knowing that the features would be useless in five years.

[@Qrail]

At 5:37, you speak the truth. My Gen1 Leaf had 65k miles on it. A great, reliable car with only 2 issues in 7 years. A bad 12volt battery, and an unrepairable flat tire. Still had original brakes at 11 years old. What sucked was the state of health of the big battery. 46.5% remaining gave me about 35 miles on the guess o meter. I traded it in on a PHEV. I still get 35 electric miles on my new car, but then it runs on gasoline for the next 600 miles.

[@mrvwbug4423]

They key part of that statement is "Gen 1", those are all basically over 10 years old now and were some of the earliest EVs on the market. Anyone buying one should've known they were being early adopters of new tech that would rapidly become obsolete given the rapid evolution of EV tech. The gen 1 Leaf is a bit of a unicorn in the EV world for having a very short lived battery. Teslas average 200k miles on a battery, and when you look at the cost of Tesla battery replacement it's really no more expensive than replacing an engine in a comparable ICE luxury car like a Mercedes or BMW., most BMW and MB engines don't see 200k miles, aside from maybe a few old MB diesels.

[@Qrail]

@@mrvwbug4423 yes, I admit to being an early adapter. Leaf #301. I also owned a Smart Electric Drive. At the end of the lease MB wanted $18,800 to buy it out. I bought a Prius instead. Tesla is on my list for purchase at the end of the year.

[@tdgdbs1]

@@mrvwbug4423 I don't see many 200K miles Teslas; whereas 200K Toyota hybrids are plentiful.

[@mattduin7144]

Ive had my subaru for over 6 years and the eyesight has been perfect no issues at all

[@Stevespecs]

Still daily driving 04 Toyota 4 runner. Couldn’t be happier. Not the best on gas, but always has gotten me home. Best vehicle I’ve ever owned.

[@LuxLazar]

The more advanced cars get, the more I like older cars. Looked at some new trucks and its turbos, hybrids and etorques. That 90s pickup with a simple V8 and electronics sounds more appealing.

[@OutnBacker]

They are, in fact, more appealing. A fool and his money are soon parted...

[@samz2053]

old vehicles are good till you get into a bad accident !!!

[@LuxLazar]

@@samz2053 very true! But with the way I drive I wouldn't worry about it. Old and slow.

[@samz2053]

@@LuxLazar Stay safe brother

[@zenithperigee7442]

@@samz2053 , to be fair, "old cars" don't have to be the "Model T". Old(er) cars still have good safety features but without the nonsense "CHECK FACEBOOK MSGS FROM YOUR CAR DASH!!"🙄Same goes with the "stupid" that's built into engines, some 90's, earlier 2000 models still had tried and trusted push-rod engines & none of this BS "floating rockers that shred your cam lobes" or "DIRECT INJECTION where your valves become carboned up prematurely and require cleaning/replacement" or the "17 speed super-duper-auto-triptronic transmission!!" Just absolute garbage that customers pay THOUSANDS to own then THOUSANDS to maintain/repair/replace. And now there are the hypocritical "all-electric vehicles that still use power generated from the consumption of fossil fuels" to charge... And as we know they cost many thousands more to own and then to replace the battery like the WEEEzurrd lol, said "$19,000 for a USED Tesla battery"... You can buy a whole freaking new petrol/diesel car for that, maybe an "econobox" but still. You could buy a couple of decent used cars for that.

[@samaccurso]

This is why I'm keeping my 98' lexus gs400, just simply simple & reliable.

[@kftc1980]

No touch screen? My LS had one, and I swapped it out for the reasons listed in the video. Was a little complicated, but selling the old screen paid for it.

[@comment8767]

The plastic parts under the dashboard get brittle with age. Mechanics refuse to work on them since everything breaks when it must be disassembled.

[@jamesdarcy3902]

I have a 2015 Subaru Outback and so far no issues with the Eyesight System ( includes blind spot warning and rear cross traffic alert), 140,000 miles.

[@obsoletevalues6209]

I had a 2020 Outback that I just traded in. Even though the Eyesight was working, the electronics only worked about 19 times out of 20. The backup warning, the distance between your car and the one in front of you when in cruise control, the "blind spot" warning light on the side view mirrors, and etc. You got lulled into totally trusting the electronics, and they definitely DO NOT work 100% of the time.

[@mikeplacentra9342]

We have a 2017 Outback with Eyesight…during the first winter our windshield was broken by a rock kicked up from a plow. The Eyesight DID have to be calibrated by the dealer, and it was $200. HOWEVER, our insurance gives us a 15% discount for that feature alone. Also, you must activate Eyesight by pressing a button on the steering wheel, it does NOT default to being on while you’re driving. Sometimes it gets confused by the lines on a road, especially if that road is in the process of being repaved, and you get those “line” on the road from the machine that grinds off the top layer of asphalt. It’s a fairly novel feature, and it only really nudges the wheel if it senses you are straying from your lane. It will also flash a warning to keep your hands on the steering wheel if it senses you are trying to let the car drive for you. But other than the windshield replacement and subsequent calibration, we have had zero issues with the feature.

[@drcovell]

If I am too old or inattentive to follow my lane properly 99.99% of the time, I’d better quit driving!

[@AntonEMaes]

Surprised air suspension didn’t make the list. I’ve heard even Lexus’ coughs up expensive problems

[@Kryptic1046]

Agree. I will never buy a car with air suspension because of all the financial horror stories I've heard and read.

[@chriszaiser]

I'm only 3 minutes in, waiting for him to say ABC suspension...😅

[@Tdaz250]

Not even nearly as much as range rovers

[@teddekkerfan92]

I love the air suspension in my LS 460, however i know how to fix it and have the tools, but even the individual strut is 800-1000. It's very expensive if you can't fix it your self

[@Jakek200]

Second that! GM has come out with a new air suspension system in the new SUV's (around 2021) and it is TOTAL JUNK. Constant failures in those and outside of warranty its $$$

[@SportsKnowItAll11]

Owned two Subarus over last 10 years. Absolutely no issues with Eye-Sight system. I personally have recommended Subarus with Eye-Sight to my friend who told me it save their life by stopping before a collision with an idiot who blew a stop sign.

[@plektosgaming]

As for screens, The more dangerous issue is that at high speeds above about 60-70mph, our field of vision narrows to about 15 degrees to either side. The speedometer and other information is outside of this narrow cone if it's where you have to turn your head to see it. This means it's as distracting to your driving as texting or anything else that makes you have to re-focus on the road. As for the Patriot, it was a great little truck as it was frequently on sale for 13-14K, IFF you got it with 4wd and manual transmission. Yes, that's like 5% or less of the ones that were made. But minus the CVT and with a manual transfer case, it was basically a previous generation Wranger in SUV form. The only issue was that it didn't have a low range, but unless you're going over rocks, that's fine. Then it was fine as a basic truck, not too dissimilar from the myriad of small pickups and SUVs from the 90s. That still is the case with all Jeeps. Manual, 4WD. Everything else is asking for trouble.

[@randischwarz5072]

Wizard, I usually agree with the advice you offer, but this time I have disagree. I have owned 4 Subaru's with EyeSight(TM) and never had an issue. I have owned a 2015 Outback Limited 25i, a 2021 Ascent Touring, a 2022 Outback Touring XT and currently a 2023 Outback Touring XT. I live in southern end of NJ where we have much wildlife. Before I retired I would go the train station at around 4am to go to work, Some of the roads were very dark. One morning in my '15, suddenly the vehicle just stopped on this very dark road, what the heck is going on. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a huge back mass...it was a huge buck crossing the road. The EyeSight system saw the buck when I could not and saved me from having a very bad day. At the time I purchased the vehicle it was an option. After this event it was worth every penny. I am not an auto technician as you are, however, I do know enough Subaru owners who have not mentioned any issues with the system. I can tell that the older versions had open cameras which were susceptible to dirt and over spray. Maybe the folks you have met did not bother to read the owners manual where it explained the care of the cameras. I never allowed any glass cleaner, interior protection sprays to be sprayed inside the cabin. Te new version of the system the cameras are sealed.

[@Nerowpej]

No issue at all me too, the system is so great !

[@workforce520]

Something I really like about how GM designed a car like the Volt is that it has active thermal management for the batteries which is something Nissan never did with the Leaf. It will help condition the battery to help it maintain a more ideal temperature.

[@plektosgaming]

Well.. It all works until it's about 110F. If you live in the desert, it's seriously unhappy for basically 2-3 sold months. Tesla recommends not exposing the vehicle to heat over 40C. The issue.. it hit 48C yesterday where I live when you factor in the extra heat from the road and infrastructure nearby. This isn't good for charging as you can imagine.

[@ateam6486]

Hey, Jeep Patriots are great. I make lots of money fixing them.

[@eefaircloth9671]

A lot of these problems make me want to buy a brilliant red Barchetta from a better, vanished time

[@msw7021]

My Uncle has one at his country place, that used to be a farm

[@mattreiter6556]

I'm getting a gleeming alloy air car

[@vonJaerschky]

Was that before the motor law?

[@philipweber404]

This thread is absolute gold😂

[@joshgreen2164]

Excellent reference!

[@derekwhidden9730]

The thing with screens or even the touch controls is a pretty peeve with me. I had a friend that was going through cancer treatment and she had to have someone drive her to her appointments and I offered to do that. She has I think a 2010 Fusion which is a really beautiful car AMD one I considered for a time. Driving it however with those touch controls was really problematic at first and a distraction later on. If you try to change the temperature of these hvac for example, you must take your eyes off the road and adjust it on the screen or on the tough controls. Neither one of these have any tactile feel. Yes there are steering wheel controls but you have to navigate a menu beside your speedometer and that takes your attention as well. This was not something I dared attempt going through a construction zone with narrow lanes. And I know Im probably going to get a lot of hate in response to my opinion. But those people are doomed to have bad luck while trying to use their controls. Trust me, I already see people swerving around texting and driving.

[@Myriadys]

Honestly, yeah, it's the worst trend in autos besides maybe every car being an SUV nowadays. It shouldn't take menuing to change basic HVAC settings like recirc or direction.

[@retro440]

That has been one of my major peeves about 'modern' vehicles, too. Even my 13-year-old Town and Country has a touch screen in the middle of the dash. The radio controls, navigation, and others are located there where I must take my eyes completely off of the road to use. Maybe, I'm old fashioned, but, in my world, watching the road and driving the vehicle should be my number one priority. The location of the screen is, almost, laughable. It faces where NO ONE CAN POSSIBLY SIT. OMG, at least have it face the driver!

[@TheNotimprezed]

Its hard when you are new to the car, but becomes second nature quickly.

[@derekwhidden9730]

@@TheNotimprezed that is true of any car. Im sho old my first car had the dimmer switch on the floor. Then I got an 86 Mazda pickup with the dimmer on the column, as well as the headlights and the wipers. It took me about a month to get used to that. But the radio and HVAC were physical switches. Once you learned your way around them you could operate then with your eyes closed. Screen controls and touch controls require your eyesight because there is no tactile feeling. Maybe you want your defroster because it started raining and you end up turning your radio up to full volume instead. Yeah that never happened in my 86 Mazda.

[@texleeger8973]

@@derekwhidden9730 At 72 I still retain left foot muscle memory for ye olde click-click of hi/lo on the floor. But my 1976 Fiat 128 was very modern [sic]. It had hi/lo on a stalk. I felt very nouveau Italian chic.

[@ricfax]

More reasons I love my vintage automobiles and avoid dealers like a plague! 💕 I can add tech for communications, entertainment, security, etc., including backup cam and upgrade those systems as needed without it affecting the operation of my vehicles.

[@platonicrhino6842]

a-fucking-men, i picked up a 99 base model jeep a couple of weeks ago, easy to work on, cheap parts, paid in cash. most advanced part on the whole vehicle was the aftermarket head unit that the guy before me replaced the stock radio with, and that's all i want.

[@aircooledhead]

@@platonicrhino6842 I bought a brandy new Jeep in 1999. In 2009 I gave it to my cousin as a weeding present. He’s still driving it. Yes, it has some issues, things need to be fixed. But what to expect from a 20+ year old vehicle that’s been a daily driver since new?

[@TheOzthewiz]

The thing I HATE about the "vintage" automobiles is the CARBURETORS! I owned vehicles with THOSE devices in the '60s, '70s. I had to CONSTANTLY fiddle with the "choke" adjustment and "idle" mixture/speed, especially during cold weather. In today's cars, you get in, turn the key/push a button and off you go. NO stumble or hesitation, hot or cold and NO fiddling with fuel mixtures!!

[@TheDolphins1973]

Just bought a brand new Camry…love the fact that the gauges are analog…. They will never fail

[@claytonkeates2614]

I've been considering buying an older truck that's in excellent condition, and I can work on myself. Prices are outrageous, and these "conveniences" are anything but. I have an older Ford truck that is super simple and kept in good shape. And it turns heads. Subscriptions for power windiws?! Officially out of hand, haha. Great video.

[@haldorasgirson9463]

I love my 2007 Ford Econoline. I had the 6.0L diesel engine bullet-proofed when I bought it and it has been flawless. I hope to a get a couple of decades out of it.

[@jamesthornton9399]

Yes get a super simple car. My Brother in Law has an EV With a Screen for HVAC and speedo.

[@steverichdrummr]

Thanks Mr. wizard for this very interesting information.To be honest though, I'm going to keep driving my 40 to 60 year old vehicles, for as long as I possibly can, which I hope is until I die. I fix mostly everything myself. I don't fix big things though, like transmissions. I just had one rebuilt on my 1978 Bonneville, and it now drives like new again.

[@MarvinHartmann452]

These gm will surely last forever if you live in a place where snow isn't a thing. They should make simple car like these again. I don't need that fancy stuff either.

[@steverichdrummr]

@@MarvinHartmann452 Marvin, I wish we didn't have the damaging road salt here, but we do. I've had to purchase my cars from the south.

[@johnknight9150]

Never mind the ridiculous situation we have now, I've never liked when the stereo, sat nav, and car operation are all combined. Putting aside the fact that the screen might die and take everything out, what happens when all the satnav and stereo functions are old and outdated? On an older car you can just replace the head unit, which is separate to the car computer, and you're good to go. On a more modern car, I'm *stuck* with whatever head unit came with the car, 'cos it runs the car. Good luck pimping that, Xzibit!

[@dudetrustme8320]

Haven't watched yet but here's what I'd say: Connected cars Button start Controls on screens Lane assist Features that take control when you drive CVT Proximity lock/unlock That's just what instantly comes to mind

[@ferrochinabisleri1587]

Just finished watching a video about an elderly lady and her one owner 62 year old '57 Chevy Belair, still looking like new and perfectly working...

[@comment8767]

She obviously wasn't in a place where roads are salted.

[@bentnickel7487]

As a retirement daily driver I bought a rust free, low milage, 1998 Ford Sedan, it's easy to work on, doesn't have internet anything and if I want a new contraption, I buy aftermarket and service it myself. Life has gotten too damn complicated. If I want to take a trip and drive any distance, I just rent a car for the week.

[@CJAYTODD]

Im so old school, just explaining the joy of your radio having knobs to my kid. 😎👍

[@martinda7446]

Hope you are feeling fit and well Wizard. Remember, we all value you over content. Take a rest if needed.

[@Fony_turgeson]

what do u value? u know him u think he cares about you?

[@villixeb]

@@Fony_turgeson Real constructive and helpful...If you don't have anything nice to say...maybe don't comment at all...sheeesh

[@domingorodriguez3077]

@@villixeb people just get tired of *ss kissing for no reason. no need to do all that

[@villixeb]

@@domingorodriguez3077 Doesn't seem like ass kissing to me...just a few kind words. Your comments on the other hand are purely to belittle someone and put them down...much worse in my opinion

[@matts5417]

Hi Wizard, just wanted to mention there are other options besides the dealership to calibrate Subaru's EyeSight system. I work for an independent shop and we do ADAS calibrations, we have the Bosch/Hunter ADAS Link and DAS3000 setup at it can do the majority of Subarus. The '23 Forrester is the only one we can't do with the Bosch tools but we can still get them done with a remote connection. EyeSight is a straight forward system to calibrate, there is a static calibration with a target and a dynamic calibration (the car is driven) to fine tune the last few percent of accuracy of the cameras. We have a HawkEye Elite alignment rack to do the alignment check and a designated area just for calibrations that has a very level floor and non reflective walls and floor coatings. The systems that use both a front Radar and a single camera can be more difficult to calibrate than EyeSight in my experience. On a side note I agree with you on cylinder deactivation, even Hondas have problems with this.

[@ottovonbismarck7094]

HUGE tip for those with an MDS hemi and you have the dial shifter, if you set your gear limiter to 8 on the steering wheel, you disable V4 mode and get fulltime V8 just for pressing a button

[@heathj7794]

It's the eco mode button in my Durango

[@honusbigtime591]

I do this around town every time and leave on the MDS when doing long easy cruise control trips on the hwy to get the fuel savings. So far so good at 78k 2017 Ram hemi. I did have to get exhaust manifold bolts done though which is ridiculously common on hemis. My buddies 2021 has had both sides under 100k miles.

[@andremauboussin2705]

More sage advice from the wizard😁 I agree completely and will keep in mind the screen only vehicles/option packages when shopping for my next car/truck. Thx wizard!

[@patterisepi]

Wizard runs an old school shop and it shows when speaking of new cars. I would take one easily replaceable screen over 30 different smaller screens and dohickeys any day. Also considering the leafs, you can fit a new 40kWh or even 62kWh battery to the early leafs and puff you have great range.

[@gorak9000]

He never said the screen wasn't replaceable, just that it's stupidly expensive for basically what amounts to a tablet. You can buy a tablet for $300, but the same thing packaged up for a car will be like $5k or $6k. Learn to comprehend what you're hearing

[@jonathanhernandez4304]

Because I'm stubborn, and have disposable income, I purchased a 2015 Passat. I love it. But I keep up on maintenance and even though I drive it hard at times, I am always aware of it's potential problems. So, I back the Wizards "don't buy" recommendations on this model. But, just like Wizard, I also buy things that are not practical because I'm a boat owner also. It's disposable income used to satisfy my preferences. It's that simple. Don't buy this stuff if you really need affordable transportation and are living paycheck to paycheck. Thank Wizard for all the lessons you share 😊

[@mrvwbug4423]

He exaggerates a lot of problems, but I would agree on modern VWs, they are not known to be reliable.

[@cormaro13]

Just cause its disposable income doesn't mean buy useless crap that's not worth the time or money 😂 especially a vw and a boat u probably only take out every few months

[@ltcmoose2001]

The key with the 5.7 lifters is changing the oil every 5k. When the old oil comes out of the pan it still looks very serviceable. I have the dealer do the oil change ( my dealer gives me a very good price on oil changes). I know that the correct spec oil is used. I have a 2014 hemi and and 2021 hemi. There is a big difference in the sound 21 vs 14. The 21 is much quieter. On start up the 21 Engine runs at higher RPMs for 15 seconds longer to make sure the lifters are fed with oil. I am thinking about changing the lifters at 100k on the 14 before they fail. I do not beat on the cars and do not do lots of idling. Even If I have to do the 4k lifter cam replacement, it will be still cheaper than buy a new ride.

[@doct101]

196k on our 11 5.7 runs like a champ … does have an exhaust manifold leak Trans still smooth no major repairs .. pulls trailers .. mixed of city and highway driving … if engine fails can buy a rebuilt one for about 4k plus install or a brand new crate one for 6k .. Also the interior has held up incredibly So yes very worth replacing engine when needed

[@Redneckboy991]

I bought my GMC brand new back in 2009 with a 6.0 liter. It came with active fuel management. So far it's still running great with no issues. The truck is a beast on fuel in the city, but highway driving is where the savings is.

[@gregnowak2492]

I have a 2014 Ram 1500 with the Hemi. I’ve always driven with the MDS turned off. Currently, I’m at 247K with no issues.

[@Vracktal]

I reckon we'll start seeing aftermarket control systems for EVs at some point as these early ones start to age out. At the heart of it an EV is just a battery, a battery management system, a heat management system and some motors.

[@outkast40]

5 new batteries are in production and batteries will have no problem lasting 1 million miles . NASA is working on a battery as well. But old Tesla vehicles won't be able to upgrade to better and cheaper batteries.

[@Crosshair84]

@@outkast40 We've been hearing about "breakthrough batteries" for the last 20 years. It was marketing bullcrap in 2003 and it's marketing bullcrap today in 2023. I'll believe it when it happens.

[@outkast40]

@@Crosshair84 Sorry but the great united states gets technology last. The new batteries are in new cars in Asia and Europe. CATL is the company.

[@davidanderson8469]

@@outkast40 You must be young and love all this tech crap.

[@outkast40]

@@davidanderson8469 guilty as charged ! I'm just an old mechanic .

[@emanhero6311]

That’s wizard for this video. Now I got scared back my budget with all these repair cost. That old 3800 Buick is looking really good right now.

[@cometcal2]

Car options in the old days were much simpler. My first car was a 1971 Toyota Corolla. The sticker price was considered a good value because it came standard with loads of options for no extra charge. Front disc brakes, carpeting, radio, cigarette lighter, sun visors, whitewall tires, dual speed wipers, reclining seats...

[@scottsheppard6077]

My first car was a $300 1972 Toyota Corolla. It was caveman simple with a 4 speed manual transmission. I miss those days.

[@bluecollarbuilds]

Bought a 2014 ram with the Hemi and I immediately installed a comp cams MDS delete kit. I’m glad i did because i saw one of the lifters was in the early stages of going out. Its been rock solid since

[@JDMHaze]

Dodged a bullet

[@bluecollarbuilds]

@drewpballz6794 I also threw on a hellcat oil pump so hopefully its bulletproof now

[@DerrickJohnson-be3xz]

How many miles did you have when you did the MDS deletion?Im thinking about doing mine-it’s a 2014 charger 5.7with low mileage thanks.

[@bluecollarbuilds]

@@DerrickJohnson-be3xz 138k

[@bfulks2001]

You just blew my mind. This was incredibly informative. I am hoping to only buy one more car for retirement. I would love to see a video of your picks for " If I could only buy one more car"

[@epytaffskitchenstink]

I bought a 2012 Honda Civic in 2012 when I retired ( sold my 2005 Dodge dually Cummins, which was and probably still is a great truck ) , simple 4 cyl with chained cam not a stupid rubber belt, 4 spd auto trans and the car is like new and runs beautifully. Keep it simple .

[@dr.mattpavlic305]

Buy a mid 2000's / 2010ish Toyota - whether it be 4Runner, Camry, or Rav4. Buy the V6/V8, service them regularly, and enjoy peace of mind. We got rid of our Germans, even though they were nicer, for 2006 4Runner V8 and 2008 Rav4 V6. Literally zero issues that have left us stranded. Parts are cheap. Easy to repair, and no BS.

[@thetechrealist]

Buy a Toyota minivan, the sienna is reliable and extremely useful for grandchildren. That should be your last car.

[@epytaffskitchenstink]

@@thetechrealist Not everyone has grandchildren.

[@thetechrealist]

@@epytaffskitchenstink I know......and that's sad

[@Bertuslouw76]

A good idea when considering buying a vehicle is to find out what spare parts are kept in large quantities at the dealership and independent workshops of that vehicle. This will give an indication of what items go bad regularly and how much it will cost to replace them.

[@johnhufnagel]

i'm literally buying spare cars to get some of the unobtainium parts to keep mine running. :D

[@Jakek200]

Or find out what parts are on constant backorder because they fly off the shelves so quick supply cant keep up with demand.

[@sunbeam8866]

Well, so far, there are lots of parts still available from various sources for my '96 Camry and Tacoma.

[@evoman44]

Good point. One of the benefits of some sporty cars and off-road vehicles that become popular among enthusiast is the good aftermarket support of good quality performance parts available for them.

[@raydemos1181]

I am fully stocked up from the U pull junk you for my 2001 Subaru, I even have a spare engine and trans, 3 starters, alternators, etc, master the art of transportation is my moto

[@numberlover8181]

Another thing that's rough on electric vehicles is always using a fast charger. If the previous owner has one, I'd pass.

[@r3d-1truth17]

Going, going, gone!! You knocked it out the park CW. I’ve been preaching these things since the start, and I couldn’t be more thankful I’m not alone. Most of the things you spoke about, I’ve personally been a victim to (except AFM). And something you skipped, because all these autos are basically computers with wheels, the vehicles require updates to keep running right. I had a check engine light & start issue when my vehicle needed an program update for a return spring fault on the throttle…an update! And after update, they changed shift patterns in trans, which causes a low rpm hesitation now..smh 😖

[@TheMubmub]

Although I'm from the UK and all of the vehicles in the video are aimed at the American market I found the video very informative. I drive a 10yr old Vauxhall Antara 2.23lt. automatic. turbo diesel injection. Don't have to pay extra for the, electric windows, mirrors, heated seats, air con . sat-nav, bluetooth, or the economy function control, all comes as standard. After watching the car wizard video, it just strengthens my resolve to never buy an ev. Thank you car wizard.

[@patrickcannell2258]

I live in Africa and I drive an old Golf with a carburetor still. Only electronic devices are the ignition and sound system. Did up engine after 293 000km. I could still see original honing marks. Just new rings, bearing shells and hydraulic lifters and done 330000 km. I service ever 10000km and change gearbox oil every 30000 km. No such thing as "filled for life."