car feature subscriptions...

[daveamkrayoguy]

I still don’t get “adding horsepower” to an engine that way, then reducing it when you’re through “hot-ridding”, is that even possible?

 

[vacerator]

If there are subscription features you weren't told of before signing, that's on the sale rep. Sometimes they're cheats, sometimes they just aren't aware. Most likely, something like this would be in the first category... I bought a new truck last year, and was told, incorrectly, that the "Tremor" package only came with the 3.5L twin turbo. I would have much preferred to have the 5.0L V8 for less issues at high mileage... that said, there are so many other electronic gizmos on the thing, it will probably be gone by then anyway.

I agree! While the Ford compacted cast iron engine blocks are well engineered and strong, there are too many expensive parts and issues once out of warranty. The electronic controls are nightmares. We leased a demo. 2020 Edge ST with 2.500 miles on it in April of 2021 because it was about all they had, and it was a very good deal. The 2.7 twin turbo was very quick, and it had every option except the high performance red caliper brake package. It wasn't ordered with it because it only comes with summer tires. We could have bought it in Feb. of 2024 for $25,000 and it only had 11,000 miles in 3 years. However, with every creature comfort as a Mercedes, we passed. From cooled front seats, heated rear, GPS, adaptive cruise, lane keeping assist and correction, panoramic roof, 21 inch wheels, toeing package, 12 speaker B&O sound, power memory 10 way drivers seat, , steering column, 10 way passenger seat, variable interior lighting colors, etc, if just a few of those fail, your talking thousands of $$$$ in repairs. Ford relinquishes responsibility of 90% of a vehicle after 3 years, unless it's a recall. Our 2024 is the ST line with the 4 cylinder. If we decide to buy it, it's a more practical choice.

 

[lavamat_jon]

Our 2023 Audi S3 Sportline is a brilliant car, has every feature you could possibly want - electric seats, heated seats, climate etc and we love it. However, it only has cruise as standard - for radar adaptive cruise (a standard feature on base VWs a few years back) you have to pay a subscription. Slightly frustrating but we don’t bother because we find standard cruise enough and the value of the subscription isn’t worth it. It’s just fortunate we don’t have to pay for the heated seats .

Our 2019 Mercedes A class required us to pay £300 odd to download CarPlay which is a pretty standard feature on most cars especially since 2015ish. We replaced that with a BMW 1 series (which we didn’t keep for long as it was very underpowered) but that had features you could subscribe to.

We then had a Mazda CX30 between that and the Audi, which was ever so nippy when we first got it performed an over the air software update which massively altered the way the gearbox worked to the point acceleration was slow and at times dangerous.

Went back to Audi and have been pretty pleased ever since.

I’m far from a technophobe, don’t believe in conspiracies, liberally minded and like to keep up to date - but the subscription model of almost everything nowadays does add up once you have a few behind your belt, and from my eyes from a professional background in product & marketing it is often done to mask money making as convenience and added value.

Jon

 

[qsd-dan]

Not sure how it's on your side of the pond but here in the US, Audi has a miserable reputation for reliability. They're also incredibly hard to work on making repairs very expensive as well as parts being expensive. Mercedes is close behind Audi.

 

[lavamat_jon]

Generally Audi/VW seem to be very reliable over here, we’ve never had much trouble with several Audis/VWs over the years. Mercedes less so, which is why we got rid.

Never had trouble with fixing VAG cars over the years, but then again they are more mainstream here, most garages will fix them, you’re never too far from a main dealer if you need one, and parts are easy to get hold of and not prohibitively expensive.

 

[qsd-dan]

Is your Audi a diesel?

 

[lavamat_jon]

It is - 2 litres TDi, averages 60-70mpg on a motorway run (and we aren’t light footed). We had a petrol Audi before the Merc and that was almost as economical too, but not quite.

We’ve also just got rid of a 2006 1.9TDi Golf, engine still running perfectly at 170k miles but unfortunately succumbed to rust. Even being almost 20 years old I could still get 60-70mpg on a good run.

Unfortunately diesels are being phased out here (and quite rightly due to the emissions), but you can’t beat the fuel economy or torque of them.

 

[qsd-dan]

I don't think we get diesel engines here in the US, probably due to emissions.

 

[phillymatt53]

I don't think we get diesel engines here in the US, probably due to emissions.

My next door neighbor is into home remodeling and property maintenance.
So he naturally needs a pickup truck.
Recently, he found an online ad for a lightly used 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel for a good price. - and 18K miles on it.
That ad was put in by a widowed woman, it was her husband's truck, and was always kept in the garage.
I got a ride in it and the truck looks like it just came off the showroom floor.
Plus I love the blue-silver color.
My neighbor's quite pleased too.

 

[vacerator]

Hey Matt, that Ram aint all rusted out! It's never been ion salt? You don't see one like that here.

 

[phillymatt53]

Hey Matt, that Ram aint all rusted out! It's never been ion salt? You don't see one like that here.

Yes sir!
That Ram, according to the widow, told my neighbor that her husband passed away years ago, and the truck just sat in their garage.
Even the interior looks factory-new.
And..... I forgot, it's even got a pristine bed-liner-top cover too.

 

[vacerator]

O, ok, makes sense now. Owners and mechanics lothe newer Rams. Even some who build them won't lease or buy them. Front ends are junk and don't hold up well with wider or larger wheels. Cummins EGR heaters erode and metal fragments get into the crank cause and cause engine bearing failure etc. V8 and V6 cam phaser issues, etc.

 

[phillymatt53]

O, ok, makes sense now. Owners and mechanics lothe newer Rams. Even some who build them won't lease or buy them. Front ends are junk and don't hold up well with wider or larger wheels. Cummins EGR heaters erode and metal fragments get into the crank cause and cause engine bearing failure etc. V8 and V6 cam phaser issues, etc.

That's why my neighbor prefers older, well-kept vehicles.
None of that bluetooth crap, rear cameras, and big screens in the dash.

 

[phillymatt53]

I still don’t get “adding horsepower” to an engine that way, then reducing it when you’re through “hot-ridding”, is that even possible?

I remember some years ago they came out with some goofy two-stage system which kicked in all 8 cylinders if you accelerated, but while cruising it shut off some of them, to save gas?
Might have been on Lincolns or Caddys, not sure.
I though that was dumb.

 

[vacerator]

Yes Matt, the first was the Cadillac 8-6-4 with intake valve deactivation. While it was good for economy and emissions, the microprocessor wasn't perfected and the shift between cylinders could be felt and was erradic. Most were just disconnected making all 8 fire. That 368 cu. inch cast iron mill was the last before aluminum blocks.
Others have followed with more success. GM had an issue with 2020-2022 5.3 and 5 litre V8's and revamped it for 2023.

 

[phillymatt53]

Yes Matt, the first was the Cadillac 8-6-4 with intake valve deactivation. While it was good for economy and emissions, the microprocessor wasn't perfected and the shift between cylinders could be felt and was erradic. Most were just disconnected making all 8 fire. That 368 cu. inch cast iron mill was the last before aluminum blocks.
Others have followed with more success. GM had an issue with 2020-2022 5.3 and 5 litre V8's and revamped it for 2023.

Thanks, yeah, that 8-6-4 crap made me suspicious.
I'm not surprised that it had issues.

 

[phillymatt53]

The one cool thing about my Lincoln Mk VIII is that air suspension system.
When you hit about 60mph, the air pressure was partially vented, causing the car to lower about 2 inches - closer to the road.
Then when you slowed down, like on an off-ramp or making a stop, the compressor would pump the car back up.
I must admit, on the highway, that beast really felt like it was floating on air.

 

[vacerator]

Yes, so you have the LSC right?

 

[phillymatt53]

Yes, so you have the LSC right?

Yeah, sort of, it's the 1996 model, fully loaded, even a corded console phone.
But it's missing the LSC badge for some reason.
It's also got the JVC Premium Sound system - cassette radio, and a Sony 10 disk CD player in the trunk.
I added a 300W dual sub in the trunk up against the back seat - concert hall sound!

 

[lavamat_jon]

That's why my neighbor prefers older, well-kept vehicles.
None of that bluetooth crap, rear cameras, and big screens in the dash.

Maybe it’s because I’m of a younger(ish) generation, but I couldn’t be without Apple CarPlay or the reversing cameras and sensors.

I will admit though it’s a shock when I reverse a car without one and I have to actually look where I’m going .

 

[vacerator]

Yeah, sort of, it's the 1996 model, fully loaded, even a corded console phone.
But it's missing the LSC badge for some reason.

I thought the air bladder lowering was exclusive to the LSC. Unless it was on the MK-7 LSC.

 

[phillymatt53]

I thought the air bladder lowering was exclusive to the LSC. Unless it was on the MK-7 LSC.

The 1996 model was apparently the Anniversary model.
Two years later, 1998 was the last of them.

 

[phillymatt53]

I checked out a 2006/2007 Lincoln, I forget the model....
It was supposed to take the place of the Mk VIII.
But the interior was so bland and cheap crappy looking.

 

[vacerator]

Oh, that was the MKZ. Ford CD-3 Fusion/Mondeo platform. The interiors became cheaper from 1994 on. My friend had a 1990 MK-7 LSC. It drove great and I liked the sweeping curve of the dash in front of the driver.

 

[phillymatt53]

Oh, that was the MKZ. Ford CD-3 Fusion/Mondeo platform. The interiors became cheaper from 1994 on. My friend had a 1990 MK-7 LSC. It drove great and I liked the sweeping curve of the dash in front of the driver.

Ah, that MKZ, now I remember!
As to those MK's, I agree about the ride AND handling of them.
And that curved dash is also sweet, reminiscent and possibly borrowed from the 1962/63 Thunderbirds. - my favorite vintage Fords!
I do like that small LCD screen in the middle which gives you oil change warnings, MPG estimates, etc.
However, during my 10 minute short stop&go trips from home to the repair shop
it says I was getting 12.5 MPG, ugh.
But my one long distance turnpike trip to Virginia, mostly on Cruise Control, I was getting 28MPG. - not bad for a 4.2L 32V DOHC Intek V8.

That's the best weekend trip I ever had - to Winchester Va, Labor Day Weekend. September 2005.
Meeting Patsy Cline's husband, Charlie, and daughter Julie.
That weekend they dedicated the home Pasty grew up in, and unveiled a plaque out front.
Lots of dignitaries there too, the town Mayor, etc.
Very moving emotional street scene, hundreds showed up, but when a famous singer came out on the front porch, dressed in one of Patsy's cowgirl outfits, and sang Patsy's "Sweet Dreams", I lost it.
I started to tear up, and Julie noticed and came over to give me a kiss on the cheek.
Charlie shook my hand too and thanked me for being so faithful to Patsy.
What a weekend!
Those small town people were so hospitable, polite, "good ole down-home" types.
After the ceremony a lot of us drove to Shenandoah Memorial Cemetary to visit the grave - when I yet again broke down in tears like a child.
(I get emotionable visiting the dead)
So....
Here's a picture I found on the 'net of the plaque unveiling.
It shows Charlie,(blue shirt) Julie,(white blouse) and ME,(white shirt, denim shorts) standing there discussing stuff.