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Please subscribe to use your cruise control...only $25 per month!

LogGrad98

LogGrad98

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Car companies want to use a subscription model for car features previously simply paid for when you bought the car. The only thing I could see being worthwhile would be maps update on a built-in GPS, although Carplay and Android auto are largely making those obsolete. Some companies tried making Carplay access a subscription feature, I think it was Toyota, and got substantial push-back so they pulled back on that. Seeing as this is a relatively demand-inelastic good/service this could be huge. If all of them follow suit and make the same things subscription is that collusion? What if they started making safety features subscription, like collision avoidance, lane-keep assist or even air bags (maybe not the main airbags but side airbags or knee bolster airbags)? Could be something big down the road.

Almost all companies already have some things on subscription. I think it said BMW is charging $25 for adaptive cruise control or something. And this would be in perpetuity. So you have your car paid off and still pay maybe a hundred bucks a month for "features".

Being as this is potentially a hundreds of billions dollar add-on to an already bloated market where do you think this will go? Will the government get involved at some point? I could see consumer advocacy groups having conniptions over this.

news.yahoo.com

Car companies want to make billions by charging monthly fees for features like heated seats, but buyers won't pay up

How would you feel about paying $10, $20, or $100 per month to access features already built into your car? Some buyers are calling foul.
news.yahoo.com news.yahoo.com
 
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I didn't even pay for OnStar nor portable wifi. I wouldn't subscribe to any of the features mentioned, and can't think of one I would subscribe for.
 
It would have to be a pretty special feature for me to pay for it. Reminds me of the first brand new vehicle I ever bought when I was 20 or so. An 88 Mitsubishi 4x4 pick up truck. It was completely stripped down. Didn't even have a rear bumper (who knew that a rear bumper is an option?). The salesman tried to up-sell me on things like a stereo system (it didn't even have an AM/FM radio), fancy rims, bigger tires, undercoating, etc. When I told him no, that I just wanted the truck as it is he actually got mad at me and pawned me off onto another sales person letting me know it wasn't worth his time as he was only going to make $50.

As Fish so eloquently said, "**** that ****!"
 
And with it will just come an aftermarket of defeat devices. Anything that is mechanical in nature can be configured manually just like any other car before they had microchips in it.

I don't see this taking off - people don't want to be nickel and dimed.
 
The scary thing is that all of the automakers seem on board. If everyone starts charging for basic features, what choice does anyone have? When do they start charging a subscription for air conditioning, for example? Or lock down your entire stereo/head unit unless you subscribe? The problem is they have a captive customer base. If all of them are doing the same thing then it will just become the norm.

This would make used car sales a nightmare. It won't matter what features your car has, because they have to be unlocked with a subscription anyway.
 
LogGrad98 said:
The scary thing is that all of the automakers seem on board. If everyone starts charging for basic features, what choice does anyone have? When do they start charging a subscription for air conditioning, for example? Or lock down your entire stereo/head unit unless you subscribe? The problem is they have a captive customer base. If all of them are doing the same thing then it will just become the norm.

This would make used car sales a nightmare. It won't matter what features your car has, because they have to be unlocked with a subscription anyway.
Click to expand...
The bean counters always want to drive recurring and guaranteed accounting, but getting the technology aligned as well as customers somehow buying into it like it's a good thing is usually what torpedoes most money-making endeavors.

It will be much adieu about nothing, but entertaining discussing.
 
I think people will opt for stripped down options and get after market upgrades if this is the route they go. For features you cant go that route people will shop a brand not doing that. It also really hurts the resale value which some people might not care about but most do. I do not see it happening with the exception of higher end cars possibly.
 
Get in the car in the morning.

Car: *Please enter credit card to start*

Enter card in the chip reader.

Car: *You have 100 miles remaining*
 
Scat said:
It would have to be a pretty special feature for me to pay for it. Reminds me of the first brand new vehicle I ever bought when I was 20 or so. An 88 Mitsubishi 4x4 pick up truck. It was completely stripped down. Didn't even have a rear bumper (who knew that a rear bumper is an option?). The salesman tried to up-sell me on things like a stereo system (it didn't even have an AM/FM radio), fancy rims, bigger tires, undercoating, etc. When I told him no, that I just wanted the truck as it is he actually got mad at me and pawned me off onto another sales person letting me know it wasn't worth his time as he was only going to make $50.

As Fish so eloquently said, "**** that ****!"
Click to expand...

Im not even kidding when i say that i actually prefer windows that you manually have to roll down and locks that you manually lock and unlock. Also i literally never ever use my heater or AC (unless my wife is in my truck). Never use my interior dome lights. Im a weirdo.


Sent from my iPad using JazzFanz mobile app
 
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