BMW Is Giving Up on Heated Seat Subscriptions Because People Hated Them::The blowback worked—but subscriptions for software-based new car features will continue, according to a BMW board member.

  • @tabular
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    959 months ago

    Heated seats is my goto example as an attack on ownership. Good to see it stop but I don’t want your proprietary software or SaS either. Give me a dumb car with no computer.

    • @[email protected]
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      329 months ago

      Seems to be harder and harder to get a new car without all those “smart” features. Soon, it might be impossible to find one at all, just like it’s impossible to find consumer-grade dumb tv in the market right now.

      • @raspberriesareyummy
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        229 months ago

        It’s why I am considering availability of public transportation when house-hunting nowadays. When my car breaks down, I hope to be able to NOT buy a new one. Ideally, for the rare occasion that I need one in the future, I could rent one.

      • EvilZionistEatingChildren
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        49 months ago

        Yes, and they will tell “Look! Consumer DEMANDED those smartcars! We are only replying to a demand!”

        • @dual_sport_dork
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          9 months ago

          Yeah, just like they did with station wagons. “Look! No one is buying station wagons anymore ^because we stopped making them^ so it’s all SUV’s going forward! Which cost the same to manufacture but we can sell for a higher price!”

    • @DarthBueller
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      179 months ago

      Such subscription models essentially beg to be hacked and/or for third parties to come up with entire replacement computers for the vehicle that bypass entirely all of the locks.

      • @PutangInaMo
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        39 months ago

        Subaru did this with remote start. Instead of just selling you the damn option you have to pay a subscription. Fuck that I’ll just walk outside and start the car…

    • The Menemen!
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      89 months ago

      Yeah, I wouldn’t want a car without e.g. a trip computer. But I also defintly don’t want a “smart car”.

      • @tabular
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        29 months ago

        Do you mean the old mechnical trip computer, or are you refering to trip with software-only features?

        • The Menemen!
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          39 months ago

          The modern one, but the offline version.

          • @tabular
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            09 months ago

            Do people install Linux on it? :D