Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month • Hacker News Board

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#231

Post by piaste » Thu, May 04, 2023, 7:04 PM UTC

ajross wrote: post #108

GiorgioG wrote: post #2

It won’t be my interest in saving the planet that stops me from buying cars, it’ll be bullshit like this. I want to own my car. I don’t want it to be connected (beyond acting as a hotspot) to the internet or to some central service. Have we not learned anything?

> I don’t want [my car] to be connected [...] to the internet Really? No remote access, security notifications, navigation facilities? No watching TV while charging? No OTA updates that obviate the need to take it to the dealership for routine fixes? No open source location analytic API? I mean, I'm sure there's some bad stuff that happens too. But this is very much throwing out the baby with the bathwater. I won't t…

I may not mind too much having essentially an Android phone embedded in the dashboard (although I'll try to jailbreak it as much as I can, and cripple it if I can't).

However, I REQUIRE an air gap between the Internet and any electronics that are involved in piloting the metal box that is currently transporting my squishy flesh at 130 km/h.

So no, no self-driving Tesla for me.

(As an aside, what kind of person gets excited over "open source location analytic API[s]"? Do you actively enjoy being tracked by your corporate overlords?)

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#232

Post by Dylan16807 » Thu, May 04, 2023, 7:04 PM UTC

ericpauley wrote: post #211

vannevar wrote: post #64

The first EV startup that emerges with a dumb EV (minimal software to actually operate) for around $30K will have a best-seller. Nobody actually wants the subscription-based car, it's gradually being forced on consumers via industry collusion.

Toyota already sells that. They even include a gas range extender for free with purchase! In reality the CO2-adjusted eMPG of most EVs purchased today won’t outpace the Prius for the expected life of the car.

* and has more than 25/40 miles of range.

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#233

Post by alexb_ » Thu, May 04, 2023, 7:04 PM UTC

jrockway wrote: post #149

lcnPylGDnU4H9OF wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These complaints remind me of complaints I've heard about "day one" DLC (DownLoadable Content) in video games. For those unfamiliar, it's content which is available in the game upon its release but you have to pay extra for it. Sometimes, players are given the option to buy the Ultra Digital Deluxe Collector's Edition which comes with the DLC and "exclusive" shit (and also costs extra). If it's not rent seeking, it's…

Isn't this all the same thing as what airlines did after 9/11? You pay the fare and get a seat. Want it to not be a middle seat? That's $50. Want to carry on a bag? That's $50. Want to check a bag? That's $50. Want to check out the lounge before you depart? That's $50. Want some WiFi? That's $50. Want a snack? That's $50. Now your flight is $200 more than the quoted fare. (OK OK you can probably get WiFi and a snack…

...Are you of the impression that people like this? People hate it. It's like, the one thing everyone complains about all the time when flying. How did you get to the conclusion that people like this about flights

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#234

Post by pc86 » Thu, May 04, 2023, 7:05 PM UTC

ddalex wrote: post #153

horsawlarway wrote: post #38

I want to see this legislated out of existence. To be clear, because every time this comes up some dickfucks come in here and start making excuses about how it's better to rent in some cases and that this is just amortizing the whole payment, and there are some people who want this: No. This is a fucking terrible deal even just using mercedes numbers. It takes a whopping 30 months (2.5 years) for the monthly payment…

> at literally no cost or effort. But somebody designed, implemented and tested (presumably) the feature of remote enabling functionality for money, manages the subscription and payment systems, real time communications to the fleet of cars, etc.... that costs a lot of money and effort, doesn't come for free.

And imagine if instead of wasting their time on that they added more features to the vehicle, or made existing features better.

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#235

Post by Dylan16807 » Thu, May 04, 2023, 7:05 PM UTC

vannevar wrote: post #64

The first EV startup that emerges with a dumb EV (minimal software to actually operate) for around $30K will have a best-seller. Nobody actually wants the subscription-based car, it's gradually being forced on consumers via industry collusion.

When you say subscription-based car that just sounds like a lease, which is fine.

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#236

Post by alexb_ » Thu, May 04, 2023, 7:06 PM UTC

ddalex wrote: post #153

horsawlarway wrote: post #38

I want to see this legislated out of existence. To be clear, because every time this comes up some dickfucks come in here and start making excuses about how it's better to rent in some cases and that this is just amortizing the whole payment, and there are some people who want this: No. This is a fucking terrible deal even just using mercedes numbers. It takes a whopping 30 months (2.5 years) for the monthly payment…

> at literally no cost or effort. But somebody designed, implemented and tested (presumably) the feature of remote enabling functionality for money, manages the subscription and payment systems, real time communications to the fleet of cars, etc.... that costs a lot of money and effort, doesn't come for free.

"It's okay that they lock things behind subscriptions because how else would they pay for the mechanisms necessary to lock things behind subscriptions"

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#237

Post by dh2022 » Thu, May 04, 2023, 7:06 PM UTC

PaulDavisThe1st wrote: post #222

dh2022 wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You don't have to use bad words. But since you brought it up - here is a recent lesson. Consumers do not like touch screens and it seems car makers are listening: https://slate.com/business/2023/04/cars-buttons-touch-screen...

Corporations do not make (significant) sums of money on a button vs screen choice, and there's important evidence about the safety and ergonomics that favors buttons. Paying extortion to get more speed? That's just a cash cow.

You are missing the point. (So I will spell it out for you: consumers have more power than your comments indicate).

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#238

Post by mywittyname » Thu, May 04, 2023, 7:07 PM UTC

entrox wrote: post #74

horsawlarway wrote: post #38

I want to see this legislated out of existence. To be clear, because every time this comes up some dickfucks come in here and start making excuses about how it's better to rent in some cases and that this is just amortizing the whole payment, and there are some people who want this: No. This is a fucking terrible deal even just using mercedes numbers. It takes a whopping 30 months (2.5 years) for the monthly payment…

> You will be charged fucking $6000 dollars for a item that is already present in your car. How so? The one-time fee is $1950. Also, this is nothing new: top end Mercedes-AMG cars always had an optional "AMG Driver's Package" [0] for years now, which did nothing but electronically unlock Vmax from 250km/h to 290km/h. No changes in hardware at all. It used to retail for around $2500. Now you have the possibility to or…

The AMG Driver's Package also came with a track day at the AMG Driver's Academy.

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#239

Post by alexb_ » Thu, May 04, 2023, 7:08 PM UTC

ajross wrote: post #108

GiorgioG wrote: post #2

It won’t be my interest in saving the planet that stops me from buying cars, it’ll be bullshit like this. I want to own my car. I don’t want it to be connected (beyond acting as a hotspot) to the internet or to some central service. Have we not learned anything?

> I don’t want [my car] to be connected [...] to the internet Really? No remote access, security notifications, navigation facilities? No watching TV while charging? No OTA updates that obviate the need to take it to the dealership for routine fixes? No open source location analytic API? I mean, I'm sure there's some bad stuff that happens too. But this is very much throwing out the baby with the bathwater. I won't t…

Nope, absolutely fucking none of that. The "baby" in here is not a baby, it is a gigantic pile of dogshit that seconds as a tracking device. I'm more than happy to get rid of all of it.

Re: Mercedes EVs can go faster for $60 a month

#240

Post by somethoughts » Thu, May 04, 2023, 7:08 PM UTC

horsawlarway wrote: post #38

I want to see this legislated out of existence. To be clear, because every time this comes up some dickfucks come in here and start making excuses about how it's better to rent in some cases and that this is just amortizing the whole payment, and there are some people who want this: No. This is a fucking terrible deal even just using mercedes numbers. It takes a whopping 30 months (2.5 years) for the monthly payment…

What would be interesting is if we have continued high interest rates whether the push for monthly subscriptions will subside.

Recurring revenue brought back for a DCF at an interest rate of 5-6% is very different from when an interest rate of 0-1% is used.

Also if the credit crunch gets worse with continued high interest rates, access to the upfront capital from the customer to fund expansion/R&D becomes a lot more interesting compared to when banks are throwing money at you.