Volkswagen "sporty" experience subscription - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2025, 04:37:55 pm
content: https://thenextweb.com/news/subscriptions-are-creeping-into-cars-vw-id3QuoteHow about the experience of buying a car with a set of features and they just LEAVE YOU ALONE and not interfere with it or dangle carrots right in front of your face.Buzzword Bullshit:"optional power upgrade", "sportier, experience", flexibility, ongoing updates. I'd imagine those words came from Volkswagen and the manufacturers like. Not having a go at the author here but seems to put it clear.Subscription model not very flexible is it if you don't pay your subscription when due and the feature or "experience" is prevented from working.QuoteSounds to me like they are trying to normalize the word "subscription" to make it sound like "perpetual" to not make it sound not as bad.*With the amount of cars being sold and being told of how they use each others parts or are owned by other car manufactutrers I'd imagine they'd have ongoing cash flow or is this just a never ending illusion they have for whatever competition they face.**A CAR is not the same as a movie it is printed on things and you could go to the cinema and pay to see it.What do you think?

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2025, 06:41:14 pm
content: Quotewhen did people loose the ability to read a bank or credit card statementQuotedo they cancel themselves once they've canceled everything else?

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2025, 06:47:10 pm
content: genius company makers a good product. years later dumb people take over and basically ruin the company. To me it means they hired a bunch of incorrect people that are doing what they know how to do (not what the company needs).

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2025, 07:03:40 pm
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on August 16, 2025, 06:47:10 pmActually...genius company makers a good product. years laterdumbevil, greedypeople take over andbasically ruin the company.monetize and enshittifythe product.FFS look at Meta.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2025, 07:09:03 pm
content: I always wondered how it works. Its like the hiring is compromised. Like it has to come in through HR some how. I think it just means that people think they can use the mass of a company to make others think some scam is normal. Some kind of fundamental exploitation of the perception of trust people have with large entities.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2025, 07:46:03 pm
content: Sigh; another wall o'text from "MrMobodies" (what the hell does that handle even mean, anyhow? "Mobodies"?).MrM strikes me as the kind of person who gets personally outraged and dashes off a 5-page, single-spaced typewritten letter to his internet service provider when they change the colors of their home page.My man, this is the way of the world, more and more "monetization" and financialization accompanied by increased enshittification. Truly a race to the bottom.Get used to it.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2025, 09:57:55 pm
content: Quote from: Analog Kid on August 16, 2025, 07:46:03 pmIt was a random name I though off.QuoteOf course I do at things like that too and I'd imagine Louis Rossman would too in fact I am anticipating to see his response soon what he has to say about this. Last time was about heated seats I think.QuoteNo, but I did get my way with the VOIP stuff in 2022 when my provider and many others wanted to give me a subscription Yealink phone (they are all going that way nonsense) what was it £10 a month per handset and I don't even own it.After explaining my needs they set this thing up and trialed the use an analogue bridge to VOIP converter, a Cisco SPA122 via BT's Centrix which has worked reliable too today, unlike the man who had problems with his Yealink down the road now and again. I paid for it and it belongs to me and continues to function. Two lines (well one now) and many handsets I need for around the house for the same price as that a month.The colors on a page don't bother me as much, it is more the fixed headers and things that are in the way, distract me and won't go away where I have to rely one extensions to hide them as I scroll down.QuoteIt's nice to generate awareness, so in hope they don't stick words in people mouths permanently after putting it down them.QuoteNo way.Sometimes creating awareness does help. Ebay has now changed to an auto hiding header. Scroll down it hides scoll up it appears so the user has a choice if it distracts them. Amazon seems to have now follow suite after explaining how these when not implemented in a way when needed by the user can affect and frustrate them and put them off.Macrium Reflect.They wanted to transfer my perpetual licenses to a subscription one:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/macrium-reflect-subscription-attempt/I have now been transferred or as they said "grandfathered" to the LTSC (a perpetual) version after arguing with them which will be based on Macrium 8.1 for another 5 years. A few days ago they have now finished with it, invoice sent and I paid for it and will be released sometime October.So sometimes it is good to let people know so if they can and are willing to do so can show some flexibility.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2025, 10:12:19 pm
content: Well, good luck in your tilting at windmills, Don Quixote.

author: jh15
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 12:56:17 am
content: Louis Rossmann, a German name, 2 s's 2n's in case someone wants to look him up.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2025, 04:43:43 am
content: Mr. MoBodies; Hello, I've got some 'interesting' but crap-related observations to share...just so you don't feel singled out.I'm noticing, after some (petty) dust-up w. Analog Kid, I'm seriously wondering about the 'Trolling Question',...I mean, I was getting similar responses, of him criticising my own posts, very fast or very soon after, plus the feeling that, yet again, (he) is going to break into some trivia, or even confused bullshit, on top of my own posts.Fine, but now I've started to notice similar bullying (i.e. 'WE' are waiting on you, to fix whatever last post"). Insisting that you've been 'incorrect', etc That shit seems different, when you realize he does this to others (several, since he stated he is done bothering myself.What's the PAYOFF, on that kind of waste, I wonder ?Be aware, share your thoughts, as this guy operates whatever the hell that is, he does here....harvesting data ? Annoying readers for fun ?That shit wastes his own time, apparently acceptable ?

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2025, 05:13:29 am
content: Look, Rick, why don't you just buzz off to wherever you go to replenish your word salad, 'k?Your weird attempt to start some kind of campaign against me here isn't needed or wanted.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2025, 05:53:46 am
content: No, you don't have a clue. I'm, right now, witnessing you doing the same thing, same cheap bully crap. I recognize your mode of interaction; with Timfox (another member here) as you spout the unrelated criticisms, or off the wall complaint about 'written syntax' violations. (See for yourself, the expressed annoyance).Ditto, just here, with the MrMobodies posts...; people wondering what you want ? Trolling ? (I'd have to go look up the definition).You've followed me around, bothering me and interfering with a regular question -answer session. Yes, ok, you've seized upon a flaw, with my own posting style, so, now use that, as you will, and soon, (with your rapid snark come-backs.Yeah yeah yeah, Rick; go back to your 'confused Hawaiian state'...whatever INSULT you thought that was...stupid

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2025, 08:43:23 am
content: As it is now, I don't have a problem with it. 200 hp is enough to drive a car normally.It's also not as moronic like what BMW did with the seat heating.The issues start, when they use this as a slippery slope. I can see a hundred different ways on how this can go bad. For example, you pay for the extra power, and when you sell your car they tell you that your "perpetual license" is not transferable with the car.Car companies need to have a way to make money. They used the past 20 years, to make shitty cars where the Turbo would blow up at 50001 km. And replace the oil every 5 seconds and charge you for it. I would much rather have them charge for unnsessary features. Charge money for the blinkenligts, the extra power or being able to set extra bass on the stereo.

author: kite31
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2025, 09:12:24 am
content: All manufacturers should charge a large monthly fee for any beeps.See how many people want them.

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2025, 10:37:44 am
content: Quote from: tszaboo on August 18, 2025, 08:43:23 amBut i pay a tax on the engine power output. Is the car registered for the max power output, and then limited? or the other way around? First one is a giant fuck you to the customer, the other is tax fraud, possibly committed by the customer. Another giant fuck you. This - to me - is the whole point.(cars limited in software are nothing new. VW used to do it for a long time, because there are markets such as ours with significant taxes on vehichle power, so they used to offer two versions of the exact same car, one just limited in software, with enough HP but not enough to go to the luxury tax bracket. The difference from now is that you couldn't unlock the extra power without remapping)

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2025, 01:17:29 pm
content: Quote from: JPortici on August 18, 2025, 10:37:44 amSounds like a specific issue for Italy. NL here we pay based on weight, in Germany it's based on engine displacement. That's why you have 1998ccm engines, not 2 liter.BTW none of these are good systems for electric cars, they should be taxed on something else. And please not on battery capacity.

author: 5U4GB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2025, 01:46:20 pm
content: Quote from: themadhippy on August 16, 2025, 06:41:14 pmThey didn't, they can see the charges on their statement, they just can't cancel the subscription (this is in the US, where it seems to be perfectly legal to sign people up for things they can't get out of later).

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2025, 07:10:26 pm
content: Quote from: 5U4GB on August 18, 2025, 01:46:20 pmI never knew that but it sounds really bad.So I could find on a phone bill a subscription free for something I didn't sign up to with a text, "YOU! have just subscribed to this service" and they'd be nothing I can do about it.Good I don't live there.

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2025, 07:30:49 pm
content: Quote from: tszaboo on August 18, 2025, 01:17:29 pmhere the yearly tax is based on the rated fuel consumption, for electrics there's a conversion factor from kW/km to l/km, but EVs would almost be in the lowest bracket anywaysworse is the high tax on the purchase price to get a car registered for use on the road for the first time, ~40% for EV, ~85-150% for ICE, (+ 25% VAT)I'm sure the tax authorities would not look favorable on you being able to buy a "cheap" car and then later enable features that makes it an expensive car without paying the high tax

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2025, 08:29:52 pm
content: Quote from: langwadt on August 18, 2025, 07:30:49 pmI heard about this, someone had a 15 minute youtube docu about it.And as a result, most of the country is forced to drive old shitboxes.So as much as I'd like to save the environment and everything, I'm very upset when governments are making laws that literally will make everyone's life worse. And it's contra productive, new cars use less fuel. Taxes here are also in the upsetting levels, Germany or Belgium will have the same cars often 20-30% cheaper.So I don't know how you put up with it.

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2025, 08:54:28 pm
content: Quote from: tszaboo on August 18, 2025, 08:29:52 pmafaict the average age for a Danish car is 8.5 years, a year less than Germany and 2 years less the the Nederlands ....So while the extreme taxes might mean different cars, they are not old compared to rest of Europethe high car tax is a historic thing, designed to protect the balance of payments because Denmark doesn't make cars they were/are all imported, Now it is just too much income for the state to easily change, and a lot of people would also be very unhappy if the cars they own or owe money on were suddenly worth half

author: 5U4GB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 01:19:24 am
content: Quote from: MrMobodies on August 18, 2025, 07:10:26 pmIt's not quite like that, but close. There are two types of impossible-to-unsubscribe services, ones you sign up for but can't get out of (streaming content services are a good example), and the others where you didn't know you'd signed up until you start seeing the charges appear on your credit card statement, set up via dark patterns on web pages where, as you're clicking through the 20 pages of upsell, you miss clearing one of the booby-traps set up for you and end up subscribed to something you never knew about and now can't get out of any more.

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 07:13:06 am
content: Quote from: tszaboo on August 18, 2025, 01:17:29 pmIt is an italy specific issue, of course! the idea is that more power is, or was, correlated with more luxury cars hence richer people. However, with eletrctic cars it's all different: first of all, electric cars taxes are suspended for 3 or 5 years to increase adoption, and even then it's not based on rated power output (like all other cars) but on a fraction of it, so a tesla with dual motors and several hundred HP will pay less taxes than a 100hp diesel, even though the tesla is also a luxury car. completely retarded IMHO, but it is what it is, yours and germany's system is surely retarded, too, but in different ways

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 09:19:49 am
content: Quote from: JPortici on August 19, 2025, 07:13:06 amThey needed a way that was objectively measurable to tax cars.There is some reasoning to all 3 of these options. That reasoning is probably outdated.An electric car can practically be as many HP as you want it. HP is a bad measure.The weight of the car... NL has a study that shows that heavy cars damage roads more. So they tax heavy cars more. It's stupid, an 18 wheeler will damage the road probably 100 times more than a 1 ton car, and a 1.1 ton car is not going to make a bee's dick difference. It's especially bad, as LFP battery cars are safer, cheaper, but also heavier.The German rule of engine displacement doesn't even make sense for electric.So new ways of taxation would be needed. TBH I think we should stop treating cars as a cash cow and luxury item, and start treating is as a necessity to modern life. So maybe tax the second car, but not the first one, like, at all.

author: dave j
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 10:50:18 am
content: Quote from: tszaboo on August 19, 2025, 09:19:49 amIt's way more than that. Highway engineers calculate expected wear to roads by vehicles using thefourth power law.If you compare a 100 Kg cyclist+bike, a 1,000 Kg car and a 40,000 Kg 18 wheeler you get relative damages of 1, 10,000 and 1,638,400,000 times.

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 11:06:39 am
content: Quote from: dave j on August 19, 2025, 10:50:18 am.1000kg car? most EVs are more like twice that and like most cars they are only carrying a single person most of the timewhile most of the weight of a 40,000 Kg 18 wheeler is the load

author: dave j
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 11:23:16 am
content: Quote from: langwadt on August 19, 2025, 11:06:39 amWeights should of course include loads whether human or otherwise.100Kg is rather heavy for most cyclist+bike combos too. I chose the first two weights to make the maths easier and the lorry one because that's a typical maximum in European countries. It's perhaps worth noting that a 2,000 Kg car causes 16 times as much wear as a 1,000 Kg one.

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 01:36:31 pm
content: Quote from: tszaboo on August 19, 2025, 09:19:49 amAbsolutely, one hundred percent, agreed. I'm glad we don't pay taxes on the first home, which means we can actually own one instead of most other european countries where rent is almost mandatory, first car should also be exempt. We don't live in a big city (not that we intend to) and at least one car is an absolute necessity.

author: RJSV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 04:34:20 pm
content: Reading this, especially the use of fourth power relating vehicle weight weight and causing road wear.With all the straining to come up with driver TAXes they could also consider an EMPLOYER TAX, based on the profile(s) of worker-distance in each commuter car. If an 'INTEL' (or Apple Computer) is pulling various engineers, from as far away as Sacramento, at 70 miles, then there would be fees. BTW, that's only slightly said in sarcasm, as I tried to convey the absolute knots government types will twist themselves, to regulate things, in odd ways.Myself, and many other folks having vision shortcomings and ADD difficulties (driving safely) need a better solution, getting to work, without resembling the intro congested driving scene, in OFFICE SPACE movie.