Automakers charging subscriptions for horsepower, features

I'm planning on a vehicle in the next year and a half 2 years and I've started poking around seeing whats out there and I think i saw this with Ford yesterday.

It wasn't exactly the same but you could pay I think it was $2000 up front for a one time purchase of the hands free driving feature, or you could pay less and have it for limited time.
 
Haven't they been that for a long time to keep GPS current and stuff like GMs OnStar service working etc.
 
Yeah, this is where it has gone these days. It's just like anything else - they'll nickel and dime you any way they can. The VW thing is billed as an optional upgrade. To each their own, but if it was me, VW could keep their overtake button, and I'd keep my $22.50/month, $225/year, or $878/lifetime.

A similar type of subscription program came with my new Corolla. I believe it gives you access to Toyota's built-in navigation system, the ability to remote start your car with your phone through their app, and a few other little bells and whistles that I didn't need. The car, a base model, already has more features than I will ever use. I just connect to the screen using the free Android Auto app on my phone, which works well.

The subscription came with a free trial period, and I don't think it would have cost much to keep it, but I canceled it a couple months after I bought the car, purely on principle.
 
Back
Top Bottom