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Mazda's $10 Subscription for Remote Start Sparks Backlash

carscoops.com

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Re: Mazda's $10 Subscription for Remote Start Sparks Backlash

#71

Post by floxy »

jshier wrote: post #34

Has Mazda made their remote start at all useful? My Mazda can only be started, I can't set the climate or control the seat or steering wheel heating. Some settings can be set before the car is turned off, if you remember, but some reset no matter what. And the few times I have tried remote start, it has stopped after a short while, as apparently the system requires continuous cellular connectivity to keep the engine…

What percentage of people use the app at all? And also interested to know how many people tried the app for a week or so, and then never again. There is no shortage of people over at /r/mazda, etc. recounting how they found the app so worthless, they tried it a couple of times, and then deleted the app.

Re: Mazda's $10 Subscription for Remote Start Sparks Backlash

#72

Post by onewheeltom »

glimshe wrote: post #59
karaterobot wrote: post #5

> However, irrespective of whether one can afford (or is willing to pay for) a subscription, the key lesson from all this is that, if automakers have their way, the car ownership experience is going to change dramatically in the near future. Yep, unless people stop buying cars that offer these features, it's just going to get worse and worse. But here's the thing: they won't.

I have a Mazda but simply don't use the paid wireless features. It works fine and is still an incredible value. BTW I think they charge for this feature because it requires the car to be connected to the Internet for it work, as it receives the remote start command from the Internet (so it works if you are far from the car). The Internet connection is certainly not free for Mazda.

But the article said that remote start used to work from the keyfob. Which does not require internet. So they replaced a working option that cost them nothing with a paid option that required internet.

Re: Mazda's $10 Subscription for Remote Start Sparks Backlash

#73

Post by purplezooey »

For those saying "people need to stop buying cars that have locked subscription features" -- soon it may be very hard to do so. The industry has been allowed to consolidate so much, and our antitrust enforcement so lax, that the market is tightening in favor of a few players.

Re: Mazda's $10 Subscription for Remote Start Sparks Backlash

#74

Post by ryandrake »

karaterobot wrote: post #70
scottLobster wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For now. Give it a few decades when all those used cars are no longer on the market. We're already entering the age where media is solely released on streaming platforms with no legal physical copies ever produced, let alone available to consumers. Cars will go much the same way. The only way to counter it would be some kind of legally enforceable "right to ownership", which could be argued is the next step after "ri…

If you give up in advance of an expected loss, you create that loss, whether your expectation was right or wrong. On the other hand, if people didn't buy these vehicles, the companies who sell them would have to stop or be outcompeted. If, in the future, companies again try the same tactic, rinse and repeat until they go away. I think we both agree about what the outcome will be, but I am placing much of the blame on…

You can't rely on uncoordinated action from individual consumers to solve a problem that is being created by coordinated, collaborating companies.

If BMW came out with a car that gave you an electric shock every 5 minutes of driving, people would just not buy BMW and the problem would eventually work itself out. But if every car manufacturer slowly introduced it and normalized it, to the point where soon no other alternatives exist, then we'd all just accept it and buy cars that shock us.

Re: Mazda's $10 Subscription for Remote Start Sparks Backlash

#75

Post by ryandrake »

everdrive wrote: post #21

I'll say as clearly as possible. I will go to extraordinary expense to avoid subscriptions in cars. If I have to spend 30k making an old car run and be road worthy, I'll do it solely out of spite. I can take this quite far: there is a lifetime Spotify ban in my entire household because the early Spotify client paused advertisements if you turned the volume off.

Problem is: How many people are like you? Not enough. We can't rely on a few individual principled actors to influence an entire industry where people's full time job is to oppose those principles. The free market is not going to solve this problem, unfortunately.

Re: Mazda's $10 Subscription for Remote Start Sparks Backlash

#76

Post by ryandrake »

lemoncookiechip wrote: post #27

I can't wait to read about renters not only having to pay their landlords rent, but also extra subscriptions for common amenities, like central heating, A/C, and even shower. The dream is a subscription for everything.

Sadly, I think if we started seeing landlords charging tenants a per-month shower fee or a per-use fee for the home's door, we'd have commenters on HN defending it.

Re: Mazda's $10 Subscription for Remote Start Sparks Backlash

#77

Post by RajT88 »

Replacing a local option which worked forever with a subscription locked alternative is a no-go for me.

As long as aftermarket solutions exist, I will opt for those every time. Aftermarket systems being locked out due to DRM is a natural consequence of the DMCA and everyone should write their congressperson about it. People did not appreciate at the time the far-reaching implications.

Re: Mazda's $10 Subscription for Remote Start Sparks Backlash

#78

Post by maxerickson »

glimshe wrote: post #59
karaterobot wrote: post #5

> However, irrespective of whether one can afford (or is willing to pay for) a subscription, the key lesson from all this is that, if automakers have their way, the car ownership experience is going to change dramatically in the near future. Yep, unless people stop buying cars that offer these features, it's just going to get worse and worse. But here's the thing: they won't.

I have a Mazda but simply don't use the paid wireless features. It works fine and is still an incredible value. BTW I think they charge for this feature because it requires the car to be connected to the Internet for it work, as it receives the remote start command from the Internet (so it works if you are far from the car). The Internet connection is certainly not free for Mazda.

If covering the cost were the issue, they could probably easily cover remote access features for like $25 a year (and easily get the contracts to do it).

Maybe not stuff that uses more data at that price.

Re: Mazda's $10 Subscription for Remote Start Sparks Backlash

#79

Post by RajT88 »

onewheeltom wrote: post #72
glimshe wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a Mazda but simply don't use the paid wireless features. It works fine and is still an incredible value. BTW I think they charge for this feature because it requires the car to be connected to the Internet for it work, as it receives the remote start command from the Internet (so it works if you are far from the car). The Internet connection is certainly not free for Mazda.

But the article said that remote start used to work from the keyfob. Which does not require internet. So they replaced a working option that cost them nothing with a paid option that required internet.

That is the way of things more and more these days.

Insert yourself in the middle of a transaction and charge a toll. The transaction in this case is remotely starting your car.

Re: Mazda's $10 Subscription for Remote Start Sparks Backlash

#80

Post by DougN7 »

jauntywundrkind wrote: post #62

I'd love if there were a bring-your-own option. A usb-a port you can plug in your kwn always on cellular controller to. It's unfortunate as hell for car companies that they need to become maintainers of Internet of Cars infrastructure that needs to stay running, that brings legal obligation & maintenance. It's be better for consumers if there were free market options, and it's save so much pain and development costs…

You probably just hit a billion dollar idea. Come up with a (many really) car computer replacement. They generally use standard protocols and there can only be so many variations. Your solution could end all the car subscriptions, give more and better options, unlock heated seats, etc. With physical access to the car there is only so much a manufacturer could do to stop it.
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