From: atropos@mac.com   
      
   On Feb 15, 2026 at 9:27:12 AM PST, "Nyssa"  wrote:   
      
   > BTR1701 wrote:   
   >   
   >>  On Feb 14, 2026 at 1:27:43 PM PST, "Rhino"   
   >>   wrote:   
   >>   
   >>>  What will you do if the 4Runner finally bites the dust?   
   >>>  Buy a vintage car, which could be very expensive? Or buy   
   >>>  something newer but disable all the spyware? (There are   
   >>>  enough car-savvy people in the world that I have to   
   >>>  believe that there will always be people that know how to   
   >>>  shut down the spyware.)   
   >>   
   >>  Barring a crash, my 4Runner will outlive me.   
   >   
   > Ditto for me and my 1987 Ramcharger. :)   
   >   
   > I had the transmission rebuilt last year, plus replaced   
   > the radiator, water pump, and other such items over the   
   > past few years, but it's still going strong with 216K miles   
   > on the ticker.   
   >   
   > I'll trust Old Faithful over the newer shiny items with   
   > outrageous sticker prices and full of gunk that I don't   
   > want or need and that cost a small fortune to replace   
   > when they quit.   
   >   
   > My "new" truck is a 2011 Ram 1500, but without most of   
   > the extras...no GPS, wifi connection, cameras all around,   
   > etc...and I've only put 20K on it in 15 years. Backup   
   > vehicle to Old Faithful or when I need extra cargo space   
   > for hauling loads of big stuff.   
      
   The only one of the crop of fancy gizmos on modern vehicles that I've thought   
   to myself I might actually want is the camera on the back that feeds to a   
   little screen on your dash and allows you to see behind you as you back up.   
   That would be handy, but that's it. None of the other stuff appeals to me even   
   if it wasn't snitching on me to the government or deciding for me how, when,   
   where, and under what circumstances I can drive my own car.   
      
   Wait until they start implementing their "15 Minute Cities" and they use your   
   car's GPS gizmos and computer lockouts to geo-fence your vehicle, where your   
   own car won't allow you to cross the imaginary boundaries they've assigned to   
   you. No need for the government to spend money on physical barriers or   
   enforcement cameras mounted on every street. Your car just won't let you drive   
   outside your assigned zone without government permission.   
      
   > Yep, they'll take my Ramcharger outta my cold death hands,   
   > but it will then go to a buddy of mine who loves working on   
   > the old boy. He's a year younger than the truck. ;)   
   >   
   > Nyssa, who knows a good thing when she's got it   
      
   I've been encountering a lot of people lately who know I have a good thing   
   when I've got. I've been asked at gas pumps and grocery store parking lots if   
   I'm interested in selling my 4Runner. (The answer is a polite hell no.)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)