car feature subscriptions...

[cfz2882]

... seems with certain new cars you can pay to unlock features built into the car you bought-extra horsepower, special interior lighting, and other doo-dads... several decades past are the days of checking off options such as radial tires,fm radio,v8 engine,automatic transmission,etc.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

really? how?

 

[phillymatt53]

really? how?

Hi Dave,
I assume that it's like when you want to subscribe to say,.... optional streaming music services, etc.

It's all about marketing, hype, and digging continuously into your back account.
What cracks me up is the cost of having a car these days.
High price, high cost of repairs, making cars so that they require taking it in for service because of the complexity of design.
You're never done buying one.
And teased to pay for options.

Gone are the days of changing your own brakes, shocks, engine repairs, etc.
Buying your own radio and installing it.

It's about corporate greed, and milking the consumer.

 

[DADoES]

Dave, think of satellite radio ... it's integral to the automobile's entertainment but non-functional if one doesn't pay a continuing subscription. There are now other optional features that are handled as such which previously had to be selected for a given vehicle at the time of purchase. The automaker can enable or disable them via the airwaves.

Signed: Goofy Glenn

 

[phillymatt53]

Dave, think of satellite radio ... it's integral to the automobile's entertainment but non-functional if one doesn't pay a continuing subscription. There are now other optional features that are handled as such which previously had to be selected for a given vehicle at the time of purchase. The automaker can enable or disable them via the airwaves.

Signed: Goofy Glenn

And just another way of having control over the consumer for an extended period of time.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

And just another way of having control over the consumer for an extended period of time.

Well, if my car has those features right now, how do activate them (illegally?) myself?

I wish my radio had a seek & scan, so it will automatically run through stations until I get something I want to listen to...

What special interior lighting? Is it there & I need to activate a special switch...

Per-month by some remote control?

What if I fall behind on the payments for these devices? They'll be turned off...

And in the case of my engine, brakes, transmission, it seems to dangerous to trifle with anything inadvertently going out or shutting off, and maybe just from some glitch in the command...

 

[cfz2882]

Seek and scan radio was a cool feature in the '79 Park Avenue
For cars affected by this features subcription phenomenon, think of buying a smartphone and then buying apps to set up the device to your liking...features are built into the car-just extra cost subscription to unlock them...

 

[phillymatt53]

Well, if my car has those features right now, how do activate them (illegally?) myself?

I wish my radio had a seek & scan, so it will automatically run through stations until I get something I want to listen to...

What special interior lighting? Is it there & I need to activate a special switch...

Per-month by some remote control?

What if I fall behind on the payments for these devices? They'll be turned off...

And in the case of my engine, brakes, transmission, it seems to dangerous to trifle with anything inadvertently going out or shutting off, and maybe just from some glitch in the command...

Why should you PAY extra for a feature after you're done paying for a car?
It's yours now, and you own the vehicle.
Options should be installed and operative once you own it, not hidden, and offered later on.
That's the way cars used to be sold.

 

[phillymatt53]

Seek and scan radio was a cool feature in the '79 Park Avenue
For cars affected by this features subcription phenomenon, think of buying a smartphone and then buying apps to set up the device to your liking...features are built into the car-just extra cost subscription to unlock them...

So it's like this...
You're paying say, $45,000 for a vehicle, cash.
And it's got hidden features not told to you until later on, that will cost you more.
So..... part of that original cost was for putting those fancy hidden options in at the factory.
To me, that's a ripoff and sneaky sales.
It gives a new meaning to Highway Robbery.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

... seems with certain new cars you can pay to unlock features built into the car you bought-extra horsepower, special interior lighting, and other doo-dads... several decades past are the days of checking off options such as radial tires,fm radio,v8 engine,automatic transmission,etc.

Are you serious? What the heck? You would think they would've came with the car you paid for and bought.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

Hi Dave,
I assume that it's like when you want to subscribe to say,.... optional streaming music services, etc.

It's all about marketing, hype, and digging continuously into your back account.
What cracks me up is the cost of having a car these days.
High price, high cost of repairs, making cars so that they require taking it in for service because of the complexity of design.
You're never done buying one.
And teased to pay for options.

Gone are the days of changing your own brakes, shocks, engine repairs, etc.
Buying your own radio and installing it.

It's about corporate greed, and milking the consumer.

Oh. Which car brands are notorious for this?

 

[gelaundry4ever]

really? how?

I'm like, what the heck? This can't be.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

Why should you PAY extra for a feature after you're done paying for a car?
It's yours now, and you own the vehicle.
Options should be installed and operative once you own it, not hidden, and offered later on.
That's the way cars used to be sold.

Exactly!

 

[phillymatt53]

Oh. Which car brands are notorious for this?

Sorry, I don't keep up with car stuff anymore.
That was when I was in my 20's.

 

[william8]

I have SiriusXM radio options on my home theatre pre-amp. I f I want to use it, I have to subscribe, not unusual at all. The car manufacturers don't own that service, not sure why you think they should pay for it?

All TV's have cable TV inputs, if you want to use it, you have to pay for it. This is nothing new.

As far as I know, VW is the only company charging to unlock horsepower, and only in the UK.
Doesn't mater to me. I bought a VW once, since my uncles have a VW dealership, and I could get it at cost. Worst mistake I ever made, and I'll never buy another.

They also sell Buick (made in china), GMC (mostly made in Mexico), and Audi, which is too expensive. So I go to a Toyota dealer, and buy an American built car, with far more US content than any American manufacturer, except maybe Tesla.

And I can still repair my own car, it's still mechanical. Brake jobs are still the same as always, at least on our Toyota and Honda. And ever since OBD II, troubleshooting is a breeze.

 

[william8]

Well, if my car has those features right now, how do activate them (illegally?) myself?

I wish my radio had a seek & scan, so it will automatically run through stations until I get something I want to listen to...

What special interior lighting? Is it there & I need to activate a special switch...

Per-month by some remote control?

What if I fall behind on the payments for these devices? They'll be turned off...

And in the case of my engine, brakes, transmission, it seems to dangerous to trifle with anything inadvertently going out or shutting off, and maybe just from some glitch in the command...

If your car had those features, don't you think they would have tried to get you to sign up? I think your good to go.
What do you drive?

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

A 2023 Buick Envison, and, NOPE!, I don't think such an offer was ever presented, nor would I have any feature put in from the factory waiting to be activated...

There are a few things I wish my car did have, but it didn't come with or just some minor deletion to save whatever manufacturing costs, I doubt a subscription via cell phone or Internet would add or solve...

So, as we're right now inquiring, Where are you getting the information and who do you know has actually done any of this or obtained these features, via Websource, not from the factory?

 

[statomatic]

Well I'm happy with my 26 years old car and my other older cars...

 

[ea56]

In 2001 I bought a new Buick Century. When the salesman was finishing up on the paperwork he took me out to the car to show me how the OnStar system worked for making telephone calls. At that time neither of us had cellphones and this was an attractive feature. He explained there was a monthly fee of $9.95 for the service that I could charge to my credit card for automatic payment every month. For the approx. 14 mo we owned the car I seldom used this feature, but it was nice to have when I needed to make a call.

When I traded the Buick for a 2002 Ford Ranger I had become accustomed to having the ability to make an emergency call from the car so I got a Tracfone, my first cellphone.

Our current car is a 2007 Honda Civic LX which we purchased new in 2007. It has no subscription services, no GPS, I can read and follow a map or look up directions before leaving online, its just a straight forward, basic automobile that out of the 23 cars I’ve owned since ‘69 is the best one of all except for the ‘67 Buick Skylark 2dr HT that I owned when we first got married in’81. I say keep it simple. We always give our cars a name and Ruby is 18 years old and this is the longest that I’ve ever owned a car, and will probably be the last car I ever buy. She’s like and old, trusted friend now and is about to turn over 67,000 miles on the odometer before the year is out.

Eddie

 

[phillymatt53]

I have SiriusXM radio options on my home theatre pre-amp. I f I want to use it, I have to subscribe, not unusual at all. The car manufacturers don't own that service, not sure why you think they should pay for it?

All TV's have cable TV inputs, if you want to use it, you have to pay for it. This is nothing new.

However, some people have gone cable-free due to the increasing costs and quality of programs.
I used to have cable until it started to annoy me.
Originally, cable was commercial-free, which was just a way to get people on board and generate income to the cable suppliers.
But then it became just another source of commercials - marketing crap.

Now, with digital over-the-air broadcasting, which is free, I can enjoy having 100+ channels of my choice, and merely hit the Mute button on commercials.
That good old rooftop antenna is once more a useful money-saving device.

 

[rinso]

It all started with Pay Per View.

 

[vacerator]

I too use Sirius XM in the house. As for our Hulu streaming tv subscription, which is for our live TV watching, we cancelled it yesterday. Many have done so, including other Disney owned cruises and park visits.

 

[william8]

So, as we're right now inquiring, Where are you getting the information and who do you know has actually done any of this or obtained these features, via Websource, not from the factory?

Which information? SiriusXM? That's been on some cars for 15 or 20 years. I drove a brand new 2025 Envision Avenir (Made in China!) at my uncles this summer. The only features I saw was Onstar, and SiriusXM. You have to scroll through the screens to finf them. I think both are free for a period, then you pay. It had an "sos" button on the overhead controls for "onstar".

Not sure if that is what you are asking about. Peppy little car, but I much preferred my Camry. No offense, the Buick was cramped for me.

It's a cool looking car, they are always driving something off the lot. When I see one I like I try it at family gatherings.

 

[william8]

However, some people have gone cable-free due to the increasing costs and quality of programs.
I used to have cable until it started to annoy me.
Originally, cable was commercial-free, which was just a way to get people on board and generate income to the cable suppliers.
But then it became just another source of commercials - marketing crap.

Now, with digital over-the-air broadcasting, which is free, I can enjoy having 100+ channels of my choice, and merely hit the Mute button on commercials.
That good old rooftop antenna is once more a useful money-saving device.

I was just pointing out that you had to pay for it. I dropped cable TV is 2012. Plenty of Over the air content, and free streaming services. Although here I only get abot 35 stations, which is better than the 14 I got in 2012.

Wait till they all switch to this:
https://www.watchnextgentv.com/ and our tuners become obsolete!

My parents got cable in 1969, only 13 channels. It was NEVER commercial free, except premium channels lie HBO etc., which came along later. Just gave you the ability for guaranteed reception of the networks.

 

[harvestgold68]

I’m still driving my 1997 Volvo 850 T5 sedan and still happy with it. It’s got power this and power that and a sunroof, leather interior and very few sensors as it is mostly a traditional mechanical car which I like. On time oil and oil filter changes keep it happy. Other than new tires, brakes, front tie rod ends and a few batteries it never fails me. At almost 70 years old I don’t drive too many miles anymore or every day but for three times a week driving my old Volvo suits me. And I sure don’t have a desire to get involved with a $40,000 car loan for some new car!

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Well that’s about all I think that’s possible with any cars is subscribing to Satellite Radio…

Not anything there has to do with or is possible with any of these other features or accessories…

I have a hard enough time with my collection of hard copy media without radio subscriptions…

I wish cars could still be equipped with CD or even tape, as I used to enjoy those formats but hated having to pause…

Anyway why not only discuss that—what’s real?

 

[vacerator]

We might consider a TV Superbox? or something.

 

[harvestgold68]

In 2001 I bought a new Buick Century. When the salesman was finishing up on the paperwork he took me out to the car to show me how the OnStar system worked for making telephone calls. At that time neither of us had cellphones and this was an attractive feature. He explained there was a monthly fee of $9.95 for the service that I could charge to my credit card for automatic payment every month. For the approx. 14 mo we owned the car I seldom used this feature, but it was nice to have when I needed to make a call.

When I traded the Buick for a 2002 Ford Ranger I had become accustomed to having the ability to make an emergency call from the car so I got a Tracfone, my first cellphone.

Our current car is a 2007 Honda Civic LX which we purchased new in 2007. It has no subscription services, no GPS, I can read and follow a map or look up directions before leaving online, its just a straight forward, basic automobile that out of the 23 cars I’ve owned since ‘69 is the best one of all except for the ‘67 Buick Skylark 2dr HT that I owned when we first got married in’81. I say keep it simple. We always give our cars a name and Ruby will is 18 years old and this is the longest that I’ve ever owned a car, and will probably be the last car I ever buy. She’s like and old, trusted friend now and is about to turn over 67,000 miles on the odometer before the year is out.

Eddie

The 1967 line of Buick cars were great in design, style, power and dependability. I especially liked the looks of the 1967 Buick GS 400 2 dr hardtop (of the Skylark line) but I never bought one and ended up with a 1968 Ford Mustang 289 V8 coupe as my first used car in the 1970s and it was nice but in retrospect I really would’ve liked having a 1967 Buick GS 400.

 

[combo52]

New car features, just pay for what you need, I got a brand new car two years ago. It probably won’t be my last new car. I still want to get an electric vehicle or at least a plug-in hybrid.

Hi harvest gold 68, post number 25 your 97 Volvo has lots of electronics in it and sensors. It wouldn’t even start without the computer and the many sensors that make it work.

We canceled Disney yesterday because of the association with the Jimmy Kimmel show being canceled for no reason, these companies are gonna have to start to learn to pay for their stupidness and greed.

John L

 

[william8]

Well that’s about all I think that’s possible with any cars is subscribing to Satellite Radio…

Not anything there has to do with or is possible with any of these other features or accessories…

I have a hard enough time with my collection of hard copy media without radio subscriptions…

I wish cars could still be equipped with CD or even tape, as I used to enjoy those formats but hated having to pause…

Anyway why not only discuss that—what’s real?

I was talking about what's real, I disagreed with the original post. And you can still get a CD player, My wife's "new" '24 Honda, and my Camry BOTH have them. Some cars no longer offer it, people listen to music off their cell phones with bluetooth.

I think many will also work with a USB external player.