I’m planning to buy my first car, but I’m seeing a lot of brands implementing policies that seem to take advantage of their customers. Things like requiring extra subscriptions for basic features, tracking driving habits, and forcing unnecessary data collection have me worried. Are there any car brands out there that don’t engage in these types of anti-consumer practices? I’m looking for a reliable company that respects its customers in the long run. Any advice would be appreciated!
Late to the party but I used to work in the Auto industry.
The brands I trust in order: Toyota, Honda, Volkswagen, Mazda, Subaru.
That’s the whole list. Brands outside this list tend to produce dogshit cars, IMHO.
Brands on the list are known for being fairly reliable and easy to maintain. Buy the lowest trim options for the least amount of tech if that’s your prerogative.
After their 10$ subscription to remote start, I’d remove Mazda from the list.
Also, their diesel engines were shit and I would avoid one at all costs. My wife used to own a Mazda CX-5 diesel and it developed severe engine problems that were beyond fixing six months in, we sold it for 40% of what we bought it for.
Subaru remote start through their service is $150/yr. You can still go third party remotes though if you want to buy and install yourself.