The difference is that going from engine A to engine B is a hardware upgrade. In this instance the additional power is already delivered and paid for, VW is simply offering a different setting in the installed software.
My truck has ‘sport mode’ and it makes a noticeable difference on acceleration, how long gears are held, steering response, etc. I just press a button. Same with a towing mode, the software tells components how to perform. No subscription needed.
It seems a greedy move by VW and I hope other auto manufacturers see this as a competitive differentiation (why pay for something you already have?).
“It seems a greedy move by VW and I hope other auto manufacturers see this as a competitive differentiation (why pay for something you already have?).”
It seems like a REALLY stupid move..
This opens up a whole cottage industry of hacking cars.
Or, selling “Black Boxes” to unlock your car’s options/ potential.
What about my point of trying the upgrade for the cheap monthly fee before paying the lifetime fee for the upgrade? Whether it’s a hardware upgrade or software configuration, I tend to like any try-before-you-buy scenario of expensive options.