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Post by Capital on May 16, 2023 18:14:42 GMT
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Post by win1177 on May 16, 2023 19:03:26 GMT
Been hearing a lot about this, and I will NOT subscribe to most of these services. Maybe A/C, but very few other “subscriptions”. A/C is pretty much required in South Carolina, I can remember when I was poor college student at the University. Of Georgia, my A/C went out in the springtime, had to drive around with the windows down, sweating like a dog in the middle of summer. Not fun! This will also lead me to NOT purchase one of these vehicles. I want a vehicle with reasonable options, if you want “extra options”, just list it as an upgrade. Win |
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Post by Capital on May 16, 2023 19:41:03 GMT
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Post by steelpony10 on May 16, 2023 20:04:18 GMT
You won’t have much choice like now. Time for small town living and the simple life.
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Post by Capital on May 16, 2023 20:07:16 GMT
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Post by steelpony10 on May 17, 2023 0:56:49 GMT
Capital , I understand it’s not my future. Maybe they’ll want them to round the price up to the next 1k as a donation or ask them if they belong to the rewards program.
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Post by FD1000 on May 17, 2023 4:10:05 GMT
Just came back from 2 weeks in Netherlands. Bicycles are kings. They have lanes almost as wide as cars, on both sides. In small towns, you have 2 bicycle lanes, and only one car lane. See below. Attachments:
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Post by flipperxxx on May 17, 2023 11:47:39 GMT
Just came back from 2 weeks in Netherlands. Bicycles are kings. They have lanes almost as wide as cars, on both sides. In small towns, you have 2 bicycle lanes, and only one car lane. See below.
geeze, sounds like san diego. freakin' awful.
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Post by mnfish on May 17, 2023 12:22:24 GMT
"Bicycles are kings. They have lanes almost as wide as cars, on both sides. In small towns, you have 2 bicycle lanes, and only one car lane."
In the small town (2,500 pop) where I live a state highway doubles as main street, so a lot truck traffic due to 2 state highways that junction at the only stoplight. In 2018 the state came up with plan to re-do the highway and told the city they would pay a large part of the cost if the city accepted their plan of cutting out 2 lanes, adding a turn lane and making a wide bike lane on both sides of the road. The city accepted the plan much to the chagrin of many folks in town. Now when you park on the street it is so narrow that you don't dare open your drivers door if there's traffic next to you. After almost 5 years I can literally count on one hand the number of bicyclists I have seen using one of the lanes much less both and the bike lanes only run about 5 blocks and then end.
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Post by FD1000 on May 17, 2023 12:48:00 GMT
"Bicycles are kings. They have lanes almost as wide as cars, on both sides. In small towns, you have 2 bicycle lanes, and only one car lane." In the small town (2,500 pop) where I live a state highway doubles as main street, so a lot truck traffic due to 2 state highways that junction at the only stoplight. In 2018 the state came up with plan to re-do the highway and told the city they would pay a large part of the cost if the city accepted their plan of cutting out 2 lanes, adding a turn lane and making a wide bike lane on both sides of the road. The city accepted the plan much to the chagrin of many folks in town. Now when you park on the street it is so narrow that you don't dare open your drivers door if there's traffic next to you. After almost 5 years I can literally count on one hand the number of bicyclists I have seen using one of the lanes much less both and the bike lanes only run about 5 blocks and then end. In Netherlands there are millions of cyclists which are the main problem for vehicle drivers. The cyclists always have the right of way, and sometimes don't obey the rules. After driving a couple of hours, you get used to it. |
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Post by Fearchar on May 17, 2023 13:02:58 GMT
Electric bikes make a lot of sense too especially in a city. I have also seen electric scooters all over.
My daughter explained that there is an app to rent electric scooters. Apparently, somebody goes around and charges them too. Sometimes they get left in odd places, but other times they are all together in a group. Again, makes a lot of sense compared to an auto carrying just 1 person.
Electric bikes have more room for carrying stuff and can go faster, easily 20mph without peddling!
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Post by Chahta on May 17, 2023 14:52:57 GMT
It’s not my future. But then again I’ve had Sirius/XM radio for 17 years. ☺️
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Post by Capital on May 17, 2023 14:58:44 GMT
It’s not my future. But then again I’ve had Sirius/XM radio for 17 years. ☺️ , I have had Sirius/XM too since 2014. It comes with a radio that also does AM/FM without a charge. I do feel that I get an additional value for my money paying the subscription fee; however, even if I did not pay the subscription fee I could still use the radio for AM/FM stations. |
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Post by archer on May 17, 2023 17:05:09 GMT
I visited Santa Monica CA a few years ago and rented the scooters. They are a lot of fun, and both the streets and sidewalks are nice and wide. You're really not supposed to use the sidewalks but in some areas I felt the streets were too busy and the sidewalks were pretty empty.
Bikes are a good idea but they really are a nuisance. Transportation should abide by either vehicular laws or pedestrian laws. Bikes have the privileges of both. I drive a lot along the coast on HWY1, two lanes and not very wide. Bikes often take up too much room to pass. I've even seen bikes with a 3' flag out on the left side so that they essentially take up as much room as a car but are moving 5MPH up the hills. By law, cars, if they have 5 cars behind them, are supposed to pull over. Bikes don't have such a rule as far as I know. They really need their own infrastructure and better separated from both walkers and MVs.
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Post by Mustang on May 17, 2023 17:05:21 GMT
Leasing a car is one thing but when people buy a car they own it. I'm certain as soon as the warranty is off there will be innovative people modifying the car so that subscriptions are not necessary. I'll drive my current cars forever before I buy a car and then make monthly payments to the manufacturer to use it.
In Cuba they found ways to make old cars run forever. We can do the same.
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Post by Fearchar on May 17, 2023 17:42:10 GMT
Car subscriptions is something I had to look up.
From my brief search, it seems like an alternative to leasing.
Investopedia says "Hertz My Car" is the best. $250 Enrollment fee. Exchange twice a month nationwide.
Next is enterprise; $250, But in only 3 states.
Porsche Drive is $595 in 10 states. You can drive a new Porsche every day with unlimited exchanges.
Sixth is the budget brand. $199 in 10 states. New car.
NOTE: Additional fees depending on model and mileage. Best for people who can not decide if they want to buy or sign up for an extended lease of a particular model or two.
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Post by Capital on May 17, 2023 18:00:09 GMT
Leasing a car is one thing but when people buy a car they own it. I'm certain as soon as the warranty is off there will be innovative people modifying the car so that subscriptions are not necessary. I'll drive my current cars forever before I buy a car and then make monthly payments to the manufacturer to use it. In Cuba they found ways to make old cars run forever. We can do the same. , I have always bought a 2-3 year old used car with around 30k miles on it and ran it until it was 15years old. That way I don't get the 20% value deduction new cars get when you drive them off the lot. I've also found that cars over 15 years as tend to have more problems that I wish to deal with. I'm rethinking both my buying and ownership strategies with electric battery vehicles due to the battery cost and lives. Leasing a car might not be so bad. Of course that all depends upon the battery technology in the future. |
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Post by Capital on May 17, 2023 18:05:00 GMT
Car subscriptions is something I had to look up. From my brief search, it seems like an alternative to leasing. Investopedia says "Hertz My Car" is the best. $250 Enrollment fee. Exchange twice a month nationwide. Next is enterprise; $250, But in only 3 states. Porsche Drive is $595 in 10 states. You can drive a new Porsche every day with unlimited exchanges. Sixth is the budget brand. $199 in 10 states. New car. NOTE: Additional fees depending on model and mileage. Best for people who can not decide if they want to buy or sign up for an extended lease of a particular model or two. , auto companies want to charge monthly subscription fees to turn on certain features installed in their cars. One example would be heated seats. The seat heating system would be built into all cars of a certain model; however, if you want the feature turned on to use you would need to pay the manufacturer a monthly subscription to do so. |
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Post by archer on May 17, 2023 18:51:38 GMT
Perhaps the auto manufacturers idea is that they can simplify their line up by making all the cars "deluxe" models. While the car itself is currently more expensive to build than the basic version, the manufacturers overall production becomes more efficient and they save money. If I am correct, then they can sell the deluxe trim level cheaper than they do now and make the same profit, plus make money on subscriptions.
Say now the base model cost $30K and the deluxe cost $45K. In the future, if you want the base model you'll be out of luck. So you buy the deluxe for a reduced $40K. Now you have a base model for $40K instead of $30. The manufacturer still makes the same on the car due to a more efficient factory operation. The buyer pays another $5K over the next few years for subscriptions and ends up paying $45K anyway. The manufacturer makes additional from subscription services. Everyone wins! The factory workers have more work adding options to ALL the cars, the company makes more profit so all the share holders benefit, and the CEOs will make another few million each per year. Oh, I forgot about the people buying the cars. I guess someone has to lose.
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Post by Chahta on May 17, 2023 19:57:02 GMT
Leasing a car is one thing but when people buy a car they own it. I'm certain as soon as the warranty is off there will be innovative people modifying the car so that subscriptions are not necessary. I'll drive my current cars forever before I buy a car and then make monthly payments to the manufacturer to use it. In Cuba they found ways to make old cars run forever. We can do the same. I tend to agree with this. Computer modules and fuse/relay panels are rebuilt and sold aftermarket. |
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Post by Fearchar on May 17, 2023 20:16:16 GMT
Ok, so now I am reading an article on yahoo from 3 days ago.....
Mercedes is offering an additional 60 hp for $60/mo. That is so awesome!
Toyota is offering remote door unlocking function for only $8/mo. If you buy a Lexus, they will give you that feature for free the first 3 years.
Some guy bought a used car and had to pay a fee to unlock Apple Car play.
So, I am wondering will thiefs now need a credit card to steal a car? I like that!
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sgra
Lieutenant
Posts: 57
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Post by sgra on May 17, 2023 23:57:00 GMT
This turns the "rent to own" model into "own to rent." I'll pass.
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Post by FD1000 on May 18, 2023 2:55:00 GMT
The IT companies started this annoying thing of monthly-yealy subscription. The key was start with low fees and then increase gradually. It worked.
But, not with me, no matter how small is the fee I don't do it. I would buy stuff if it's cheap, never subscription.
Wait, I do pay for subscriptions, only for TV stuff, nothing else. It reduced my cable bill by over 50%.
Never in my life I paid for subscription for music, vehicles or software.
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Post by Chahta on May 18, 2023 13:13:08 GMT
“Toyota is offering remote door unlocking function for only $8/mo.”
When we bought the RAV4 the sales guy loaded the app and set it up. It not only unlocks doors but tracks the car, monitors windows etc. The free part is to hook you. After all it’s only $8. 😉
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Post by Capital on May 18, 2023 13:33:31 GMT
“Toyota is offering remote door unlocking function for only $8/mo.” When we bought the RAV4 the sales guy loaded the app and set it up. It not only unlocks doors but tracks the car, monitors windows etc. The free part is to hook you. After all it’s only $8. 😉 For most of my life I used a device called a "key" to unlock my car door. For $8 a month that seems like a very good alternative.  |
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Post by Chahta on May 18, 2023 14:02:31 GMT
“Toyota is offering remote door unlocking function for only $8/mo.” When we bought the RAV4 the sales guy loaded the app and set it up. It not only unlocks doors but tracks the car, monitors windows etc. The free part is to hook you. After all it’s only $8. 😉 For most of my life I used a device called a "key" to unlock my car door. For $8 a month that seems like a very good alternative. Haha. To clarify this is a remote service. It can be unlocked/locked miles away from the car. |
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Post by Capital on May 18, 2023 14:38:35 GMT
For most of my life I used a device called a "key" to unlock my car door. For $8 a month that seems like a very good alternative. Haha. To clarify this is a remote service. It can be unlocked/locked miles away from the car. Hahaha - I don't need to pay $8 each and every month to have someone drive me from my home to Cookeville or Knoxville so that I can unlock my car I left in my garage.  |
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Post by FD1000 on May 19, 2023 0:00:53 GMT
“Toyota is offering remote door unlocking function for only $8/mo.” When we bought the RAV4 the sales guy loaded the app and set it up. It not only unlocks doors but tracks the car, monitors windows etc. The free part is to hook you. After all it’s only $8. 😉 I wouldn't do it for $1. It's called having principals. |
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Post by Chahta on May 19, 2023 12:43:10 GMT
Come on guys….I just passed on the info. I buy Sirius/XM but don’t buy door locking apps. 😊
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Post by archer on May 19, 2023 14:09:38 GMT
I can see it now. You buy the car, spend the obligatory time with the paperwork guy saying no to all the things he is trying to add on, and then when your ready to drive off the lot you find the doors are locked. Key fob doesn't work. THen a patient electronic sounding voice comes from the car instructing you to use the app.
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