Subscription Car Features

[Jerold]

I knew this day was coming. You buy the car with all the hardware then you pay every month to keep using the features you bought.

 

[Moirae]

I can't believe this is a thing. Companies suck.

 

[djrahbee]

I think Mercedes announced something like this last year didn't go well from what I remember

 

[#ARRMArcfanboy4life]

The only time when something should be sold on a subscription in a car is when it requires support from manufacturer. The only comparison I could think of is multiplayer videogames that need servers to keep the game going.

 

[speeding_Infraction]

that is some bull only subscriptions for my truck are gas and insurance.

 

[Surchaufeur]

I knew this day was coming. You buy the car with all the hardware then you pay every month to keep using the features you bought.

Been going on for a while
You will own nothing and be happy

 

[Tex Koder]

These manufacturers are trying to pull the same stunt as Tech companies,ie Adobe, Microsoft, Apple, Netflix, Tesla etc.

They "Allow" you to use their software/hardware/service...
As long as you pay.

As soon as you dare stop paying.. Off with your heads you peasants!
Especially true for Apple these days with their products.

What's even more insidious is what Tesla has planned - FSD as a 'service'.
If you decide to not pay your monthly subscription to them, they will (in the future) flip a switch at their discretion to have Your vehicle fully self-drive itself back to their service center automatically.
No tow truck necessary.

Leaving you or your family out in the cold/heat where ever y'all may be.

 

[Doom!]

First world problems suck.

 

[Tex Koder]

First world problems suck.

Step on the Gas!

 

[Robbbbbb66]

Step on the Gas!

That's just f**king sad......... think of all the RC lipos that can be made with the resources in those cars.....

 

[ZooKeeper]

BMW doing this isn't new news, this news came out last year sometime I think. Paying for heated seats should be part of the car purchase price if it's an included option, no software, upkeep, or ongoing maintenance is required here. This is no doubt a bone head move. Basic functionality and features of a vehicle should not be subscription based, including occupant comfort systems.

Being an IT person, software based features of a vehicle I can see requiring a subscription. We'll use my '21 Ford F150 as an example.

My '21 F150 has hands free self driving which requires a subscription to use. I have yet to pay for it. It wasn't until halfway through last year when the hands free driving feature was actually available for use, after a series of OTA (over the air) software update. Once the feature finally became available for use, Ford gave a year of service for free. They have since provided another 6 months of free service. When it expires, I plan to pay for the hands free driving feature subscription. I find it incredibly convenient for the road trips my family takes.

The way I look at it, my payment for the service goes towards improving the hands free driving feature. It'll help make the system available for use on more roads (currently Ford says it only works on about 100k miles of roadway within the US) as it requires Ford to map the roads appropriately for its self-driving system. It'll also help make the system safer and more reliable to use. Software developers and data analysts are required for this continuous improvement to occur, or there are no new roads or safety checks being added. Same can be said for security patches when a vulnerability is found in the connected car's software (looking at you Kia...) though, I believe these should be fixed/patched on the manufacturer's dime just like when a recall is issued and a physical repair is required to replace a component on the vehicle.

I can remotely start/lock/unlock my truck from anywhere I (and the truck) have cell phone reception. Being able to remotely unlock my truck was a HUGE benefit last year when my wife drove the truck to AZ (we're in IL - I didn't go with on the trip) and locked her keys in the truck. This ability requires the use of cell services that Ford doesn't own or control, they'll need to pay AT&T, Verizon, etc. for use of those cell services, so I would expect them to pass that cost back onto the user of those services.

 

[Jerold]

BMW doing this isn't new news, this news came out last year sometime I think. Paying for heated seats should be part of the car purchase price if it's an included option, no software, upkeep, or ongoing maintenance is required here. This is no doubt a bone head move. Basic functionality and features of a vehicle should not be subscription based, including occupant comfort systems.

Being an IT person, software based features of a vehicle I can see requiring a subscription. We'll use my '21 Ford F150 as an example.

My '21 F150 has hands free self driving which requires a subscription to use. I have yet to pay for it. It wasn't until halfway through last year when the hands free driving feature was actually available for use, after a series of OTA (over the air) software update. Once the feature finally became available for use, Ford gave a year of service for free. They have since provided another 6 months of free service. When it expires, I plan to pay for the hands free driving feature subscription. I find it incredibly convenient for the road trips my family takes.

The way I look at it, my payment for the service goes towards improving the hands free driving feature. It'll help make the system available for use on more roads (currently Ford says it only works on about 100k miles of roadway within the US) as it requires Ford to map the roads appropriately for its self-driving system. It'll also help make the system safer and more reliable to use. Software developers and data analysts are required for this continuous improvement to occur, or there are no new roads or safety checks being added. Same can be said for security patches when a vulnerability is found in the connected car's software (looking at you Kia...) though, I believe these should be fixed/patched on the manufacturer's dime just like when a recall is issued and a physical repair is required to replace a component on the vehicle.

I can remotely start/lock/unlock my truck from anywhere I (and the truck) have cell phone reception. Being able to remotely unlock my truck was a HUGE benefit last year when my wife drove the truck to AZ (we're in IL - I didn't go with on the trip) and locked her keys in the truck. This ability requires the use of cell services that Ford doesn't own or control, they'll need to pay AT&T, Verizon, etc. for use of those cell services, so I would expect them to pass that cost back onto the user of those services.

Back in my day we had this thing call a key. It was made of metal and you would put it in the door and turn it to unlock the door. Then put it in the ignition to start the car. And if you had a GM product, you got one key for each.

The windows had a crank to make them open and close and another lever to open the door. This was too high tech in the day. Oh, those are real metal, image that.

The radio had simple knobs for volume and tuning - Clockwise is louder or higher frequencies. Those fancy buttons are radio presets. Below that is the climate control; although, we called it the heater. If you had lots of money you could get A/C as an option and the A/C back then could make ice. It was run by a giant compressor that kicked in and the engine idle wold drop. All of this operated by levers.

I really miss the simple days, everything came with the car and worked until it didn't. Then you broke out your tools and fixed it yourself.

Now you buy the car and hope by the grace of God that some child "engineer" half way around the world doesn't decide that now I have to swipe right, double click, enter a code to turn on the wipers. The the Software Gods have complete control and make your life choices, all hail the Software Gods.

Sure you can use voice control, if it works at all. Don't get me wrong, I love my cars, but I don't want to have a conversation with them every time I want to change the radio station. Simpler is better, especially when you're trucking down the highway at 80 mph and need to adjust the A/C vent.

What I don't need is a touch screen that tells me which way my wheels are pointed and there is a red light I can CLEARLY see. Why do we have this, it's not only stupid it's a distraction. Eyes on the road not on the big ass tablet on the dash board.

 

[speeding_Infraction]

Then you broke out your tools and fixed it yourself.

This is my favorite part

 

[Tex Koder]

Back in my day we had this thing call a key. It was made of metal and you would put it in the door and turn it to unlock the door. Then put it in the ignition to start the car. And if you had a GM product, you got one key for each.
View attachment 312095

The windows had a crank to make them open and close and another lever to open the door. This was too high tech in the day. Oh, those are real metal, image that.
View attachment 312093

The radio had simple knobs for volume and tuning - Clockwise is louder or higher frequencies. Those fancy buttons are radio presets. Below that is the climate control; although, we called it the heater. If you had lots of money you could get A/C as an option and the A/C back then could make ice. It was run by a giant compressor that kicked in and the engine idle wold drop. All of this operated by levers.
View attachment 312094

I really miss the simple days, everything came with the car and worked until it didn't. Then you broke out your tools and fixed it yourself.

Now you buy the car and hope by the grace of God that some child "engineer" half way around the world doesn't decide that now I have to swipe right, double click, enter a code to turn on the wipers. The the Software Gods have complete control and make your life choices, all hail the Software Gods.

Sure you can use voice control, if it works at all. Don't get me wrong, I love my cars, but I don't want to have a conversation with them every time I want to change the radio station. Simpler is better, especially when you're trucking down the highway at 80 mph and need to adjust the A/C vent.

Simple is better , 95% of the time.
Especially when it came time to get Parts to repair any of those said automotive problems/issues.

What I don't need is a touch screen that tells me which way my wheels are pointed and there is a red light I can CLEARLY see. Why do we have this, it's not only stupid it's a distraction. Eyes on the road not on the big ass tablet on the dash board.
View attachment 312096

When you have 11 cameras looking 360° outside for you, even though you have massive windshield, windows, and glass roof.

Plus the interior cams to stare at you to make sure your eyes are open and your actual hands are on the staring wheel.

All those built-in cameras and sensors connected to the vehicle ECU and wirelessly to the MCP (Tesla Datacenters) in Realtime, 24/7 so they can track you and make sure you are using their "products" in accordance to Their Rules & Policies.

 

[LibertyMKiii]

I was watching something about the Tesla Model S P100D. It is known for its high performance 1/4 mile time and 0-60.
After 100k miles (roughly 4-5 years time) its performance and range has already dropped. There isn't a tune-up you can do short of replacing the battery pack.

Makes me want to stick with petrol-powered cars for a while longer if they cannot sustain 4 years and 100k miles without some significant losses.

 

[Surchaufeur]

I was watching something about the Tesla Model S P100D. It is known for its high performance 1/4 mile time and 0-60.
After 100k miles (roughly 4-5 years time) its performance and range has already dropped. There isn't a tune-up you can do short of replacing the battery pack.

Makes me want to stick with petrol-powered cars for a while longer if they cannot sustain 4 years and 100k miles without some significant losses.

Logic. Baterries wear out with time and lose their power capacity. But petrol going to be banned almost worldwide soon

 

[Tex Koder]

Logic. Baterries wear out with time and lose their power capacity. But petrol going to be banned almost worldwide soon

Hmm..
Are you sure?

Semi Trucks, Trains, Airplanes, Helicopters, Cruise ships, Mega Cargo ships..
Are these all going electric anytime soon?

 

[Doom!]

I think they are going to get quite a bit of fight out of the consumer when Electric vehicles are unsustainable. They will have to rethink the electric only nonsense. Just not realistic at the moment.

 

[Surchaufeur]

Hmm..
Are you sure?

Semi Trucks, Trains, Airplanes, Helicopters, Cruise ships, Mega Cargo ships..
Are these all going electric anytime soon?

Carbon neutral agenda. If some petrol vehicles remain like trucks you going to pay taxes for it if you already do then it will be increased. Thats how the game is played.

 

[#ARRMArcfanboy4life]

Been going on for a while
You will own nothing and be happy

I prefer the "you'll own everything, and they will be pissed.

This channel is a fan of the owning things.
https://www.youtube.com/@rossmanngroup