That’s what I like about CarPlay. Just give me a dumb screen with CarPlay compatibility. I’ll get new features with my phone upgrades. The rest of the car could be mechanical for all I care. I prefer cable clutches anyway.
Profit. They can add all those features and charge significant higher margins. The same as the bigger the car the bigger the profit so they push huge SUVs and pickups on everyone.
The main issue is that the NHSTA requires a backup camera, which requires a screen. Since they have to make room for that screen, manufacturers now want to make it a premium thing they can use to justify up charging.
I don’t see a solution to this until someone actually tries to make things cheap again and small screens become the trend.
Luckily modern cars are generally a lot safer to drive than your old magna. Air bags (not new, just better), crumble zones, automatic emergency braking, lane assist/departure warning etc. have come a really long way in the past 30 years. They’re not only less likely to be in major crashes, they’re also safer for both people in the car and outside the car (bikes/pedestrians) if it happens.
Hehe you forgot ABS :) It’s up to me to pulse the brakes to keep steering, learned that in a defensive driving course.
I have a newer 2003 Verada as well but it’s decided it no longer can find TDC (code 22, 23) so I’m saving up for the diagnostics and possible repair or replacement.
I agree a newer car is safer, and am hanging out for an EV when I can afford one. In the mean time the simple reliability of the Magna is a trade off I must make.
As for repairability, I’m aware that I will soon need to replace the capacitors in the ECU and TCU on the Magna since they die of old age. It’s a failure mode for older cars that people might not anticipate - same as how all electionics die eventually.
Get a “smart” TV, never connect it to the internet, and attach a Chromecast and connect that instead because they cost about $30. The Chromecast with Google TV has apps for Kodi and Plex along with the basic streaming services so you can turn your TV into a media center.
That way, the only thing that will stop being unsupported is the Chromecast and you’re only out $30.