Mazda's $10 Subscription for Remote Start Sparks Backlash

Post by hysan » Tue, Oct 01, 2024, 1:28 AM UTC

ryandrake wrote: post #75

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.

Post by EasyMark » Tue, Oct 01, 2024, 2:42 AM UTC

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.

Post by glimshe » Tue, Oct 01, 2024, 2:45 AM UTC

EasyMark wrote: post #83

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.

Why can’t they just use an RF widget like we’ve had for 30 years? No subscription needed.

Post by bathtub365 » Tue, Oct 01, 2024, 5:10 AM UTC

Justsignedup wrote: post #15

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.

Can't stop buying if no options exist. I need a car. Toyota has done this for a while. BMW has IAP heaters in chairs. Etc. Etc. Etc.

Post by m463 » Tue, Oct 01, 2024, 9:10 AM UTC

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.