NEW CARS WILL NICKEL-AND-DIME YOU – IT’S AUTOMOTIVE AS A SERVICE (airbag requires monthly payment..and maybe good social credit?)

Hackaday ^ | December 30, 2021 | Lewin Day

[DoodleBob]

I posted an article about Toyota making its key fobs dependent upon monthly payments. This is a broader article on auto firms making you pay monthly for 'features.'

Will all this enable a hacker who hates your FB posts, to hold you hostage at 90mph unless you pay them a few cryptos?

[Jonty30]

I’d not be buying a car from anybody who did this scheme.

[larrytown]

Where there is a market, there are ‘service providers’ - grey-hat hackers.

[Dr. Sivana]

I have a 2018 Toyota Avalon. It did NOT come with remote connect, which would have been a deal breaker. I dislike these key fobs as they are, because they can cost $200 and is one more mechanical element making cars more electronic and less mechanical, which I am not crazy about. (Except electronic fuel injection. I like that one.)

[Jonty30]

I don’t need much of the extras that car has.
I have a portable speaker, if they tried to make me pay a monthly fee for a radio

[Viking2002]

The further the Internet of Things roots deeper into our everyday lives, the deeper I dig in my heels and try to backpedal to an analog world again.

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[Karliner]

I just refurbished my old 2003 Nisan Sentra. No gimmicks and chips and computers and few sensor. I’ll drive it until I die. No reason to change.

[Secret Agent Man]

They are going to push people toward forever buying used cars.

I know thars my strategy from now on. Ford went full vaxhole on its workers mandating the jab, and that was the last of many things for me.

[setter]

Talking aboutkey FOB’s. My car has the push in button to start it that uses a key fob.

I drove to a local businesse last week and guess what? Trying to start the car and the battery in the key fob went out and the car would not start.

The owner had an employee drive me down to the gas station to buy a new battery.

I figure the battery in the FOB was down and with the 15 degree weather it killed it.

[Dr. Sivana]

They are going to push people toward forever buying used cars.

Yes. In 2026, CAFE average jumps to 50 mpg, forcing the auto manufacturers to go electric and hybrid, and [retending to like it.

In our decision to move to Phoenix, the used car opportunities were a factor. Cars don't rust much here.

[P.O.E.]

I swear my cars would break down as soon as my last payment cleared.

[sauropod]

We just got a new car for the wife. The key fob replacement cost is $500.

[Dr. Sivana]

The key fob replacement cost is $500.

For no good reason. In the old days, they would just over-charge for coordinated floor mats and adding FM Stereo to your radio.

[Dalberg-Acton]

“Trying to start the car and the battery in the key fob went out and the car would not start.”

I just bought an Autel AP200 code reader. No engine light or anything, just wanted to have one. I scanned my car and there is one diagnostic code, for a low battery in my key fob.

Reading up on it, the fob reports its battery condition every time it’s used. Replaced the CR2032 battery and cleared the code. That code reader saved me from going thru what you went thru.

[BipolarBob]

I had to disable the alarm feature on mine. Every time I would bend over or move, the thing would go off honking the horn. I like the convenience of keyless ignition but it’s just something else to go wrong at an inopportune time.

[sauropod]

The experience in the car dealer’s facility is everything you would expect.

Lead sales guy with the spray-on tan tried to lowball our trade-in.

Fortunately, I was sent a doc by my brother that stated what they would take for the car “sight unseen”. I reminded lead sales guy of that.

We ended up with almost all of the promised “sight unseen” price. (the car needed a bunch of work)

[BipolarBob]

https://www.keylessentryremotefob.com/?gclid=CjwKCAiAxJSPBhAoEiwAeO_fP6hgYkaDIToKugx5qC9R3x0QM3A0YsGg6CjQpWUvNKyYPOWTRCeYHxoCWPMQAvD_BwE

[sauropod]

thx! I was unaware of that.

Checked the key fob for my vehicle (that I bought in December). Looks similar.

[BobL]

I’ll happily pay to NOT have my airbags active. Seat belt, fine, I definitely want them. But I’m just not too hot having explosives right in front of me.