The German car-maker says its "optional power upgrade" is designed to give customers more choice.
    • Joeffect@lemmy.worldEnglish
      78·
      28 days ago

      Even more so when you understand the car already has it… so they take it away just to make you pay for it

      • Death_Equity@lemmy.worldEnglish
        18·
        28 days ago

        Every car has more HP than you get. Cars are tuned to be as reliable as possible in every condition with a variety of fuel qualities. That is why you see test vehicles on the road, they are gathering data to refine the engine tuning.

        That is why you can tune as car and get more HP or even to make them more efficient without changing a single part.

        • Joeffect@lemmy.worldEnglish
          6·
          27 days ago

          Yes, but in this instance are they just changing the tuning of the car or did they litterally just make your car worse to charge you for it? And call it an upgrade?

          Edit: this sounds like they want to charge you for sport mode… which is basically on all newer cars… either way its pretty trashy move

      • CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        2·
        27 days ago

        What’s more egregious about this to me is that you’re required to maintain the subscription for what amounts to a one time firmware change.

        ECU tuning isn’t something that’s going to need constant improvements and updates like your typical software product where companies can somewhat justify continued development costs. The engine and transmission are what they are from the factory and unless VW is going to send you a bigger turbo or other performance part, your tune shouldn’t need to change past the initial improvement from stock.

  • RejZoR@lemmy.mlEnglish
    39·
    28 days ago

    Own nothing, pay everything. This bs subscription models for everything need to die. And people who thought about them along with them.

  • Flax@feddit.ukEnglish
    23·
    27 days ago

    If buying isn’t owning then stealing a car isn’t actually stealing

  • alterforlett @lemmy.worldEnglish
    22·
    28 days ago

    When I bought my car one of the first brands I decided against was Mercedes due to their subscription model for their electric car.

    VW going for subscription is a surefire way to give Chinese car manufacturers an even bigger part of the market. So, so short sighted

    • Psycoder@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      7 days ago

      I already decided I’m going to buy BYD as my next car. It’s the best electric car out there.

  • who@feddit.orgEnglish
    211·
    28 days ago

    I would say that excludes them from my future purchases, but honestly, I’m hoping never to buy a car again. Public transit and bicycling are far cheaper, less polluting, and more sustainable (especially in population centers). Maybe I’ll spend a little of the money I save on an occasional day rental if needed.

  • Curious Canid@lemmy.caEnglish
    19·
    28 days ago

    I hope companies eventually figure out people just aren’t that stupid. Also, I really hope that people aren’t that stupid.

    On a positive note, this could be the push that America needs to get serious about mass transit.

  • kautau@lemmy.worldEnglish
    15·
    28 days ago

    “Historically many petrol and diesel vehicles have been offered with engines of the same size, but with the possibility of choosing one with more potency,” they said.

    Lol yeah, with ECU tuning from a third party, you assholes just had a board meeting and realized you could turn it into a subscription and then all came on the table and licked it up

  • bigbabybilly@lemmy.worldEnglish
    12·
    28 days ago

    Sold my Golf R a while back. Wasn’t planning on buying another VW, but this is the nail in that coffin.

  • teamevil@lemmy.worldEnglish
    11·
    27 days ago

    Y’all know you can buy VAGCOM software and interface and bypass everything VW throttles in a VW right?

    It’s amazing for VWs you actually own too