Find a nice used MK 7 Golf. Bonus if you get a Wolfsburg produced model. You can have all the nice modern features of android auto physical controls, and radar cruise control, but without the constant monitoring. You can get it with faster engines or AWD if that’s your jam, or a diesel estate wagon if you live in the civilized side of the world. manual transmission avaliable too.

They’re a popular platform with a strong community, albeit weak water pumps, so budget it in. the trunk is a black hole to store your shit.

James May said it was the best car for being a car or something like that, Clarkson owned a bunch of gti’s as well.

Look for base models if you go newer. Some models will have tech packages for higher trims

Not a strict guide, but privacy wise the earlier in the 2010s the better. If you can find a low mileage 90s/2000s that’s even more simple and less connected, but you begin to enter the age issue where everything rubber is disintegrating. Pretty much to care about your privacy in a car you have to become a little bit of a gearhead to keep some simple old beater healthy and maintained.