I Bought An Old Tech-Free Car: Here’s What I Discovered

Following a lengthy period without a vehicle, I decided it was time to re-enter the world of car ownership by purchasing a 16-year-old Alfa Romeo. My previous car, a BMW, boasted all the typical modern tech features, including a touchscreen, Sat Nav, hands-free and Bluetooth connectivity. My current model has none of that.

You may be thinking that my recent purchase was just another intentional step on my digital downsize journey, but this isn’t true. The technology (or lack of) was not something I considered at the time. It’s simply been a side effect of buying an older vehicle.

Before I continue, I should point out that my car is not completely devoid of all mod cons. It does have heated seats, cruise control and electric windows. When it came off the production line in 2010, it was possibly rather cutting-edge. However, by today’s standards, it can be considered archaic.

Anyway, here’s what I discovered when I got the keys to my new (old) car:

Playing CDs In A Car Again Is Pure Nostalgia

My car is like the one described in the song “Buck Rogers” by Feeder, if you’re familiar with it. Although it might not quite look like a Jaguar; It’s got leather seats, it’s got a CD player…

I hadn’t owned a car with a CD player for almost a decade. I found my stash of CDs from my old car, which had been stuffed inside a case and placed at the bottom of my wardrobe. I dusted this assortment of mainly indie guitar mashups off and placed them in the glove compartment of my Alfa Romeo.

Playing a CD in a car for the first time in years took me back to when I got my first set of wheels many moons ago. CDs just sound different to music from phones and other digital sources, although it’s hard to explain exactly how. I find it quite exciting not knowing which song is coming on next, adding suspense and anticipation to the most mundane of car journeys.

I Don’t Miss a Multimedia Player As Much As I Thought I Would

Having become used to driving a car with a multimedia player, I thought not having this modern feature would be an issue. Although it does allow you to call people and change radio channels with ease, as of yet, I haven’t been longing for touchscreen technology quite as much as I thought I would.

There have been a couple of journeys where a Sat Nav has been required. For this, I’ve simply placed my phone on a magnetic holder that fits into the air vents. Although calling people when on the road is currently out of the question, it’s enabled me to concentrate on what you’re supposed to do when at the wheel of a car; drive.

Simplicity Equals Peace Of Mind

There are obviously lots of things that can go wrong with a car, but by minimising the number of bells and whistles, the chances of something failing are greatly reduced. My car does exactly what it was designed to do; it gets me from A to B.

There is a consensus that cars have too much technology these days and I’d be inclined to agree. Here are things I don’t have to worry about, because I don’t drive a Smartphone on wheels:

Screen & Software Recalls – 144,00 vehicles were recently issued as part of a Mercedes-Benz recall due to instrument panel failure

Feature Paywalls & Subscriptions – BMW admitted heated seat subscriptions were a mistake but say they are not ready to scrap subscriptions for other features

Overcomplicated Keyless Entry – Tesla has been criticised for eliminating traditional fobs entirely, instead favouring Bluetooth and smartphone integration.

I’ve already questioned whether certain types of tech make our lives better, so maybe I should add some of these above to my list!

The Dilemma: Should I Fill My Car With Tech?

If I want to, I can replace the current CD unit with a multimedia player, providing the convenience of hands-free calls, built-in Sat Nav, and a DAB Radio. These would all be accessed with a touchscreen. My mobile phone would also be paired via Bluetooth connectivity.

This tech upgrade may sound rather tempting; however, is it really worth it? As I mentioned earlier, I’m coping pretty well without all the tech accessories that come with modern cars, and I’m also rather enjoying the simplicity of it all.

The cost is another factor I need to consider. I’d probably be looking at around £125 for a Multimedia unit, and that’s without the fitting. Now, of course, I could fit it myself, but quite frankly, I wouldn’t trust my limited DIY skills to be up to the task. I’m just not sure it makes sense to throw more money at an old car, with little resale value.

I’ve therefore decided that I’m going to keep my car just the way it is for now. Tech-free equals hassle-free!