Followers in the U.S.:
I frequently bemoan the state of new cars on the market. Too much invasive vehicle telemetry and "safety" features that are more hazard than help because they aren't ready for prime-time.
Starting to look into replacements for my wife's car, which has become a money pit rather prematurely (only 140k miles and scheduled for a new transmission).
I know most cars are awful, so Im looking for recs if you've bought a car in the past few years that you're actually happy with.
@paulknightly I'm quite happy with my 2019 Chevy Volt, but it does have OnStar that can be used for remote tracking and control. I never investigated disabling it, but I've heard it is possible.
I had to replace the 12V battery after 5 years, and the cabin heating valve stuck/broke and had to be replaced by a dealer (my local mechanic couldn't source the part), but other than that it's just been a few oil changes and a new set of tires.
Best of luck finding something that works for you; I hope it is EV or HEV.
Paul Knightly
Boyd Stephen Smith Jr.