When should we stop buying new cars?

[bigbob]

Saw this article on the BBC website about Merc US offering more power in BEVs as a subscription service. I recall a thread on here moaning (rightly so) about BMW doing the same with heated seats. Where does it all end and when is enough enough?

My Volvo came with a SIM card in it which is now time expired and I have not replaced it. Also I refuse to have a ’smart’ electric meter. Is it time I moved to the woods with a pallet of tinned beans (and a tin opener) or do others feel the same way about the ability of faceless organisations to remotely control things that you have bought?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-63743597

 

[safrane]

Motorist = Cash Cow

 

[mowlas]

They will have done extensive consumer insight research into current, changing and future attitudes towards travel. This seems to imply that younger/future generations may see cars as a means to an end and more of a commodity.

Best thing to do is vote with your feet. The article does talk about a backlash against this charging model. They mention that the acceleration option will be for the US and not UK market.

 

[CatmanV2]

They will have done extensive consumer insight research into current, changing and future attitudes towards travel

What a ridiculous suggestion. They are clearly all morons with no idea

C

 

[Scaf]

My XJ has all sorts of stuff from sat nav updates and traffic news to some elements of remote access that require licenses to keep up to date. It’s all a pi$$ take so I have not bothered.
What online access I want I get using my phone as a hotspot, but even then it’s a gimmick and not really needed.

 

[Tallman]

They will have done extensive consumer insight research into current, changing and future attitudes towards travel. This seems to imply that younger/future generations may see cars as a means to an end and more of a commodity.

Best thing to do is vote with your feet. The article does talk about a backlash against this charging model. They mention that the acceleration option will be for the US and not UK market.

I’m not sure I buy that. Corporates are more interested in hooking consumers and then milking them. Subscription services initially seem cheap but are rarely so. Buy a cheap printer then get whacked with expensive ink. Buy a cell phone on subscription not knowing that you are financing said phone at a high interest rate. Corporates make it as murky as possible so the consumer doesn’t even know he or she is being fleeced…and then they sell your data too. We need far more stringent consumer laws that show exactly what you are getting for your buck, and what the corporate gets.

 

[Zep]

I think it’s more like People = Cash Cow.

But we enable it by being willing consumers. If you don’t want to subscribe, don’t have the extra power. In many ways, it’s quite a clever model, you are reducing manufacturing complexity and getting the people that drive their cars harder to pay more of the warranty claims through the subscription. In that way it could be better for the average consumer.

Somewhere, deep inside these faceless companies there is a computer working out how best to get double mokka skinny latte drinking cash rich millennials to part with their money. It is by far and away much easier to sell someone something for £20 a month for 5 years and for £1k upfront. So that’s what they do.

Consumer laws aren’t there to determine value for money, they are there to protect people from mis-selling and high pressure selling. They quite rightly have no affect on the sales of subscriptions, because they aren’t forced on people. You can always choose.

I used to have a subscription to Evo Magazine, but over time had less time or inclination to read it. But it took me a year to get round to cancelling it. Do I need protection from consumer law for that? No, I just need to be more organised, it was my fault.

If you don’t want subscriptions and there isn’t an upfront option, then do without would be my suggestion.

 

[Oneball]

Don’t know about the Merc thing but with BMW the option was monthly subscription or outright purchase, the outright purchase was exactly the same price as it was prior to the subscription option. Just journalistic hyperbole to generate clics.

 

[RodTungsten]

They will have done extensive consumer insight research into current, changing and future attitudes towards travel. This seems to imply that younger/future generations may see cars as a means to an end and more of a commodity.
……

You only have to look at current car adverts to see where this is going for the current generations.

 

[RodTungsten]

…. And I do wonder about this current gen: trigger warnings all over the place - cigar warning in a Groucho Marx show, Churchill pic doctored to remove cigar, warning about bright and flashing lights at an RHS light show and those inane texts on food and drink cartons. Either for morons or an effort to keep litigious people at bay (“you didn’t warn me that coffee was hot….” Rant over.

 

[Oneball]

…. And I do wonder about this current gen: trigger warnings all over the place - cigar warning in a Groucho Marx show, Churchill pic doctored to remove cigar, warning about bright and flashing lights at an RHS light show and those inane texts on food and drink cartons. Either for morons or an effort to keep litigious people at bay (“you didn’t warn me that coffee was hot….” Rant over.

I was watching something last night and it came up with “contains foul language and smoking”. When I was a kid and managed to get into a 15 at the cinema I at least expected a nipple or two.

 

[Devonboy]

Motorist = Cash Cow

no….consumer = cash cow….

 

[mowlas]

Imagine if they exploited this technology for late payments, disputed claims etc…

First warning, we disable your radio; second warning we disable your HVAC; third warning we disable your brakes; fourth warning…. there is no fourth warning!

 

[Ebenezer]

Software is following the same model - I'm hanging on to my ancient copies of word/excel/adobe lightroom, but eventually will have to bite the bullet when it no longer works on the kit I have.
Eb

 

[bigbob]

Of course all these schemes make the initial price of the car look cheaper whether it is a cash price or monthly payment. The additional stuff is billed as just that so has no APR attached to it. Greater way to enhance margins if you do not lose too many customers in the first place.

 

[CatmanV2]

I actually don't quite understand the rage this seems to have prompted. As long as you know what you're buying, what's the issue? And if you don't like what's being offered, don't buy it.

C

 

[Scaf]

I actually don't quite understand the rage this seems to have prompted. As long as you know what you\re buying, what's the issue? And if you don't like what's being offered, don't buy it.

C

Fair point, but the choice is quite narrow, but what’s on offer or buy nothing, so over time …….. that’s no choice at all.
I can’t buy a new Jaguar now, unless I buy hybrid or. Electric, the option so really want has been taken away from me……

 

[CatmanV2]

Fair point, but the choice is quite narrow, but what’s on offer or buy nothing, so over time …….. that’s no choice at all.
I can’t buy a new Jaguar now, unless I buy hybrid or. Electric, the option so really want has been taken away from me……

Well, yes, but if the 'market' decided it didn't want hybrids and the 'market' stopped buying them....

I had the same issue with Alfa. Which is why I ended up in a 4200.

C

 

[j s pollo]

I actually don't quite understand the rage this seems to have prompted. As long as you know what you\re buying, what's the issue? And if you don't like what's being offered, don't buy it.

C

I have to agree with the cat if the public just gave them that famous Winston churchill two fingered salute just walk away and buy an older motor i had a 31 year old *** 4X4 and i loved it never let me down the most reliable motor i have ever had i only let it go because the daughter wanted it for off roading

 

[bigbob]

I actually don't quite understand the rage this seems to have prompted. As long as you know what you\re buying, what's the issue? And if you don't like what's being offered, don't buy it.

C

Rage=Mild middleclass indifference. It’s the old thing in that marginal behaviour ends up becoming the norm if not checked. It’s been going on forever, IIRC the 4200 had the navigation module installed but it just needed to be ‘connected’ at the factory for X or later on for <X. Had a great drive in my GranTurismo today before winter sleepies which reminded me what great cars they are despite an informatics screen the size of a modern smart phone. Progress…