I feel personally attacked by this comment.

Nah. If they’re wrong, go ahead and correct them yourself.

Internet connected (smart) or non-internet connected (dumb). At least that’s what this phrase means with all other context.

When people refer to “smart” vs “dumb” cars, I don’t think they’re referring to the ECU. They’re referring to internet connected vs non-internet connected cars, in which internet connectivity is still a fairly recent development.

I daily drive a vehicle with a factory tape deck and CD changer, where all the electronics work flawlessly, from the sunroof to the back window rolling down. My wife wants me to ditch it, but they’re going to have to pry the keys out of my cold, dead hands.

They also have a reputation for not breaking.

I suppose if you go back to the ‘80s models or earlier this might be true. Otherwise, my first exhibit to the contrary would be plastic water pumps and plastic timing chain guides.

Clean water, air, and food. There’s plastic in everything. I don’t think any of us will ever get to experience any of this ever again.

This is precisely what I came in here to say.