Thread

1. hattar · 1790888358 · focus · HN ↗

   I currently drive a mid 2000s Ford truck, which runs great and meets my needs, but lately I got interested in minivans/people carriers. I pretty quickly realized that newer vehicles seem to not just record, but export a lot of driving data.

   The minivan market is small. There are really only 4-5 available and every single one sends telemetry data from the car and makes it hard/impossible to opt out of selling your data. Additionally, without pretty extensive work there is no means of physically disabling the telemetry, which forces you to trust they'll honor your opt out request (vs re-enabling it with some update).

   I'm clearly in the vast minority on this, but it's so frustrating that there are no options beyond buying and installing a third-party bypass to disable this type of tracking. Worse, I'm aware that the absence of data is data itself. Is my insurance going raise my rates because my vehicle won't provide telemetry for them to buy?

   1. sippingabonedry · 1790889053 · focus · HN ↗

      Ford until recently sold a minivan that was ugly as sin (looked like an '87 Vanagon) because it was a panel van with seats added. They are popular with the campervan community.

      As it was essentially a commercial vehicle meant for upfitters turning them into work vans for electricians and plumbers, it would probably be easiest of all to disable telemetry.

      From what I can find, permanently disabling FordPass at the hardware level is as simple as unplugging the cell modem or pulling its fuse.

      1. renjimen · 1790890582 · focus · HN ↗

         I have the Ford Transit Connect "Wagon". It's a 2016 model with no internet connectivity. It can fit a double mattress in the back and is tall enough to sit up on the bed, unlike nearly every SUV. I cannot recommend it enough for an everyday vehicle that doubles as a camper.

         Of course, Ford discontinued this model in North America because their margins are better on trucks and SUVs.

         As for the aesthetics, we really like it. It's certainly a darn sight better looking than a truck or SUV, which are all aggressive-looking pedestrian killers.

         1. sippingabonedry · 1790891811 · focus · HN ↗

            That's the one.

            It's reminiscent of a time when vans were vans — but it shares most of its parts with the Focus so should be relatively easy to maintain and repair.

            1. rootusrootus · 1790893751 · focus · HN ↗

               > shares most of its parts with the Focus

               Hopefully not the transmission.

               1. fingerlocks · 1790931080 · focus · HN ↗

                  Yes, the transmission too. Never buy a used connect from a person that used it in the trades.

                  1. [deleted] · 1790959795 · focus · HN ↗

                     [deleted]

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