Subscription Fees for Normal Car Features - Thë Dëplöräblë Cödërs Clüb ☣️

Just like what they did with software, now subscription fees are coming for your car. The article below talks about subscription fees for heated seats in your car. This is outrageous.

https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2023/05/14/survey-69-of-americans-arent-ready-to-pay-subscription-fees-for-normal-car-features/

I can see paying a subscription if you want something like XM radio or Onstar, but if you buy a new car, any bells and whistles will be available only as a subscription. Its called Features on Demand. Heated seats are built into the car to begin with, so I guess if you don't pay the subscription fees every year they will be deactivated? That's just not right.

I'm not sure if this applies just to new EVs or any new cars, but already built-in functions like heated seats shouldn't be considered a subscription like a radio. This is a new way to be nickeled and dimed to death.

I saw a statistic that right now, the age of the average American owned car is about 12 years.

When I was a teenager that was absolutely unthinkable. Cars were suited for the scrapyard after about 5 years unless they were collectibles.

I could see the US car fleet looking like Cuba's if this fuckery keeps up.

Years ago you bought the computer. The computer as part of the price came with a Windows OS license. If you need Office you bought a license. All was good and you used the software till the computer was dead or Windows vomited - whichever came first (usually Windows vomiting).

Thats long gone. Now both Windows and Office are by SUBSCRIPTION. Microshaft wants you to pay a year subscription fee on both. On top of this they are pushing people to One Drive so your stuff is not even stored on the computer any longer.

Same thing has happened to apps on the phones. You used to buy them, now they want you to a MONTHLY subscription fee.

All of these companies have realized that the telco/insurance model is the way to go. In both cases you NEVER STOP paying. Every month you have to pay for phone/internet service and every month you get to make an insurance payment.

All the bean counters have now figured out that they can charge you for EVERYTHING as a service. As the World Economic Forum said - "you will own NOTHING and be happy".

Those were the days when you bought a computer with software and owned it all, but that's gone forever. I have my old MS Office suite that I bought in 2010, but after it got to end of life with MS and I retired, I took it off my computer and started using Open Office. I really don't need it for much anymore.

The subscription model these companies are using is the ultimate nickel and dime scam. I know they need to make money, but that business model just p*sses me off.

The World Economic Forum should finish their statement "you will own NOTHING and be happy with that, you useless eaters." They hate humanity.

Software rental is a con unless over the course of time the software genuinely gets additions that you want and gets no additions which you did not want. But the software will one day reach the point where it cannot be improved in any meaningful way. At that point, the rental price should be reduced to a lower level to reflect the lower amount of work being put into it, adding the occasional small thing and fixing anything that needs it. But which companies are honest enough to do that!

Software rental is a con unless over the course of time the software genuinely gets additions that you want and gets no additions which you did not want. But the software will one day reach the point where it cannot be improved in any meaningful way. At that point, the rental price should be reduced to a lower level to reflect the lower amount of work being put into it, adding the occasional small thing and fixing anything that needs it. But which companies are honest enough to do that!

Windows and especially Office is already at that point. What else can you possibly want it to do? It does to much in my opinion. They could probably strip 75% out of it and no one would notice except for that 1% of users that love to do arts and charts (Powerpoint) and jerk off over Excel spreadsheets with fancy formulas.

Wow! 12 years is a long time to keep a car, but some of today's cars are made to last. I've had my Honda Accord for almost 5 years and its the most reliable car I ever owned. I can see it lasting even longer than 12 years, which is a good thing because I don't want to be forced into an expensive EV.

Every time I see pictures of the cars in Cuba it reminds me of a classic car show. I don't know how they keep them running. Yes, I can see the US turning into Cuba in a lot of ways. We even have political prisoners just like them.

My current car is going on 16 and my last VW Golf got to 30. Not joking :) .

In 2018 I finally sold a 1990 Camry sedan with 240K miles.

I've never had a nice car in my life, until now. My previous was a 2008 Tahoe which I got with 160K and drove it until 265K without major repairs. Cosmetically it started to look very challenged, due to multiple deer attacks and me banging into things. But, zero debt, no car payments - ever.

Decided to upgrade recently, spend the currency before it got devalued, got a top of the line GM SUV which stickered for 68K. The PO financed it so it cost them even more than that. It's 10 years old with 170K miles and a new engine. Paid about 1/5 of the new price and I am pretty happy, runs very nicely. Everything in the engine bay is new. If the transmission fails, I am OK with that, I will still come out ahead even if I install a new one. Front end also.

Taxes and theft risk are lower on a used car. Plus if it gets wrecked, I am not out of 60K. (Yeah, I know, insurance, but).

I stopped by a dealership to pick up a minor part and was shocked. Not at the sticker prices but at their posters suggesting financing repairs. As if they are giving you a favor. Repairs have become so expensive at GM/Ford dealerships you have to finance them. OMG. I am not even going to ask.

I think I am going to buy some more auto repair tools. A nice scanner probably. I got a cheap one for $40 but thinking about a $500 one.

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I Am Lost: I've gone to look for myself. If I should return before I get back, please ask me to wait.

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Thë Dëplöräblë Cödërs Clüb ☣️

Subscription Fees for Normal Car Features (Public Board)

Average age of US private party cars ^^^^^

No Different Than Software

No Different Than Software

No Different Than Software

No Different Than Software

Average age of US private party cars ^^^^^

Average age of US private party cars ^^^^^

28 years here

Autos without debt