randY49 said: No one "needs" a smart key, but no one "needs" a radio, anti-lock brakes, steering-wheel mounted controls, cruise control, sunroof, cup holders or air conditioning either... but they sure make the car better to use. Click to expand...

Most of what you mention are already established features that won't cause you to lose access to your car. While I don't think a smart key is the worst trendy tech evil, it is still an expensive and insecure way to access your vehicle. Thieves have already found out how to scan your key signal and take your car from you using a transceiver. They don't even need to slim-jim your door or smash your ignition. AND, when you lose your transponders, it's another way to get you to buy something expensive just to maintain access to your car. Maybe this is not much worse than the smart key my truck uses, because that key is like $70 to replace, but it's a "convenience" I don't "need".Speaking of my truck, it has TPS sensors that have recently expired. It will cost me $500 to get them all replaced if I want to restore the TPS system. I opted to just disassemble the cluster and disable the TPS LED. Because it's funny, in the owner's manual, manufacturer states that you still need to check the pressure regularly!The other unnecessary tech in new cars is the touchscreen interface. That certainly will become outdated, and if it no longer connects with future peripherals like smart phones or whatever, who's gonna want a used car with a bunch of blank screens? How about those cars that integrate A/C, Nav and radio into one system? I know Honda is good about not going that far, but some cars do. When that vehicle is old and the integrated system craps out (could be as simple as touch screen becoming non responsive, which does happen) how do you fix that? Get another old, ready to crap out unit from a junkyard car?Just my opinions though, it seems Honda will probably provide something for everybody with these new Civics. My Prelude is nearly 30 years old, nothing has gone wrong on that car in 30 years aside from maintenance. Despite my truck having most of the new school tech, I still thoroughly enjoy driving such a simple Honda, and don't miss anything the new cars dangle at ya. And I am glad that in 1986 Honda didn't feel compelled to put a Commodore 64 in the dash!