And a close look at used cars, from before 2010.
Although, in a pinch, I could probably disable the cell radio in a car, but it's just better to not have to bother with that.
You’re potentially losing side airbags, collision avoidance and other safety features that became relatively universal since 2010.
The better option is to just steer to brands that take privacy and security at least a little seriously [1].
[1] https://foundation.mozilla.org/en/privacynotincluded/article...
My point is that buying a newer, safer car and disabling the telemetry (in my Subaru, for instance, it requires pulling a fuse) is almost always a better choice than buying an older car. For you. For anyone you may have with you. For everyone outside.
I'm good with that.
Sure. Not everyone is comfortable making that choice for everyone who might get in their car with them or pedestrian in their vicinity. For them, buying a newer car whose telemetry can be torn out is the realistic alternative to sucking it up.
They're all crap. But some are worse than others.
> I’ll consider buying a newer car eventually, but only if I can physically disconnect the modem
Right. This is this point of doing the research. I don't know a way to tear out the telelmetry on a Tesla. On a Subaru, on the other hand, it requires ripping a fuse.
My 2011 Acura doesn't do OTA updates either, and that's the way I like it.