Nope, because I drive an 03 Jetta lol
Edit: I’m also quite selective about the stuff I install on my phone, and nothing has “always on” location data.
And what happens when you inevitably have to change it?
If you mean my car: I am the warranty, at this point. I will be driving that fucker into the ground. And then I will find another used, fun, manual transmission car, because I absolutely hate automatic transmissions on my daily driver. Manual is way more fun and engaging. No, I do not mind using it in traffic at all, and I’ve lived in LA with a manual transmission.
If you mean my phone: I don’t understand how you’ve phrased question.
I meant, eventually you’ll run out of options and, even if buying used, you may be stuck with models that have all the tracking crap
pulls fuse for 4/5G car modem out
Oh dear! Looks like it broke!
Your move, car companies.
Edit: side note: not sure why it seems that you’re negging me for trying to wring as much life as possible out of a car? This is a very reasonable and feasible approach to take if you’re somewhat mechanically inclined, as I am.
not sure why it seems that you’re negging me for trying to wring as much life as possible out of a car? This is a very reasonable and feasible approach to take if you’re somewhat mechanically inclined, as I am.
Absolutely not. Sorry if I came across that way, I am actually on your “team” and plan to do the same with my current 7 year old car. I am not super mechanically inclined but I have learned enough for the basic maintenance: brakes, oil changes, general diagnostics.
The reason I was kind of grilling you is because I am looking ahead and thinking I will find myself in your spot. Eventually I will have to replace the car and I have no clue what to get that does not imply: 1) being spied on by the car and 2) paying for hardware that is useless unless I also pay a subscription.
Now back to the original point. Sure today you can pull a fuse and maybe disable the spying; specially since the car would be out of warranty or you don’t care to risk losing it. However, if the trends continue, this could be something that renders your car uninsurable and would mean not legal to drive.
On my last insurance renewal, Belair argued heatedly with me because I refused to add their app on my phone to track my “driver behaviour”. They insisted it would lead to a discount but I refused anyway. If they make it a mandatory requirement of insurance, we are fucked.
Fair enough. And no worries - tone sometimes gets lost or misinterpreted when commenting on the intertubes :)
Honestly, by the time we get to that point, I hope that mass transit has improved enough such that a car is no longer critical to have in most urban/semi-urban areas of America. But that also depends heavily on how politics pan out in the coming years.
For what it’s worth, I absolutely agree that the pervasive data-gathering bullshit they are trying to push on everyone is messed up.