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Why never buy a BMW or any other that does the subscription scam

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WAI4WD:

--- Quote ---In this way, BMW might be able to save money by streamlining production, but unless a customer actually orders heated seats in a car, they'll just be sitting around until they're paid for, via a subscription or otherwise.
--- End quote ---
Pretty much what I thought... instead of making various seats, they make one, which is cheaper overall. If you buy the feature, you get it for life. If you want it later on, you can activate it at a cost.

yvesjv:
The argument can be summed to: subscriptions based services are coming for cars and not everyone likes this future.

yvesjv:
Yanks are starting to push back and calling it what it is::
https://www.thedrive.com/news/new-jersey-legislators-aim-to-ban-most-in-car-subscriptions

Munro:
If increases in costs are mitigated because production is streamlined, I don't really see the issue.  If you don't check an option box or opt in later, that's on you.  If you have paid for your vehicle to have a feature, then it goes without saying that such features should work for the life of the vehicle, and be transferrable between owners.

To my eye, the approach from certain consumers seems to be "my car has seat warmer hardware installed, therefore it should just work no matter what."  Expecting to have unfettered access to a feature you haven't paid for is a pretty puerile attitude, in my opinion.

dilbert:
In my opinion it is naive to believe that a manufacturer installs inactive hardware in a new car for free, and they only charge customers who opt to activate said hardware. There is no doubt in my mind that the manufacturer will recoup the (mitigated) cost of the installed hardware at point-of-sale, regardless of whether the consumer chooses to activate it or not. Those who choose not to activate are paying for something they don't want, but are going to get anyway. They are probably also indirectly subsidising the people who do choose to activate.

It's a bit like having aircon shoved down your throat; or more recently having "intelligent driver assist" systems and devices shoved down your throat. Yes, the latter is mandated by government, but the principle is the same. You end up paying big time for something you may not want.

It's an unethical practice designed to minimise the manufacturer's costs of production, and maximise the manufacturer's take at point-of-sale. Corporate greed, not the customer, is the motive.

Where are we headed? It's foreseeable that when you open your car door you will see a message on the head unit saying "Have you paid your subscription this month? If not, Isuzu HQ will not let you start your car!" Or you'll be consigned to a limp mode. Or the message advises that your credit card has been debited for the following activated services...bum warmer...hand warmer...sport mode...ECU update...6th gear...radio...etc. Where does it stop?

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