Subscriptions are just a pernicious way for car companies to get more of your money. From Eric Peters at ericpetersautos.com:
Here’s a story you may find interesting:
A guy bought a new Toyota Camry equipped with factory GPS navigation, remote start (via an app) and Apple Car Play. A year after he bought the car, these features stopped working – because the one-year “free” subscription to these features that was included when he bought the car ran out. If he wants to be able to use his car’s GPS, the remote start and the Apple Car Play, he must henceforth pay to use them. Serially. Every month, a bill. Twenty-five a month bucks to be able to use the Apple Car Play. Another $25 to be able to use the remote start and $15 per month for the GPS.
It all comes to about $50 per month, which amounts to about $600 annually. Factor that out over a six year loan and the tab comes to $3,600. That’s a tidy little revenue stream for Toyota.
It is not just Toyota that’s doing this, either.
Tesla was the first to apply the Bill Gates/Microsoft model to vehicles. Microsoft used to sell software. This was a long time ago, back in the ’90s. You bought the box that contained the CD that had the software and once you paid for it – once – it was yours, physically as well as legally. You could use what you had bought on more than one computer; you could give the CD that contained the software to your kid to use. It maybe got old (out-of-date) eventually, but it was like owning an older car that maybe didn’t have the latest features but nonetheless still worked and – the important thing – it was yours to do with as you liked.
You’ll own nothing and love it.
NO Zil or Trabant for you!
That would make a good book, the cars of evil empires.
Reading about a new political PAC founder that says FUSA is nothing more than an ATM and munitions depot for Israel, conquered without a shot fired thanks to the wretched hive of scum and villainy in DC.
Reading about high speed rail czar esteemed CPUSA (D) party member comrade kommissar Gavin refusing to shut down solar panel farm on the Nevada border even though Texas financier has pulled out and the utility company says shut it down.
Tell me more about all the freedom.
Governments got into this scheme many years ago when they told you that you owned your house and car when you paid for them but you have to rent the right to travel or live in your abode by paying them yearly rent to use such things. If you fail to pay armed thugs (I mean legal law enforcers) will remove your property from you and if you resist you will be imprisoned until such time as you agree to the state’s charges. If you use your tools you will be charged yearly for using them to support yourself. It seems businesses are finally catching up to the plan.
~ Chad Chadburn