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    Mazda’s $10 Subscription For Remote Start Sparks Backlash After Killing Open Source Option

    Bytes Europe

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    25 Comments

    1. Special_Meaning8006 on

      They want us to buy new, so they make them worse ? I don’t get it. I stand by my decision to not buy a car that’s newer than 2017.

    2. rnilf on

      Scumbag Mazda took away remote start from the key fob so they could funnel more people towards their connected services subscription.

      Jamming a product full of unnecessary tech to squeeze more money out of consumers, a tale as old as…well, the past couple decades or so.

      What a terrible time it’s been.

    3. LeekTerrible on

      This is something I would like to see legislation against. It should be illegal to purchase something that expensive and then have hardware features gated behind subscription. I would be ok with software services within the infotainment system or various reporting features etc but anything like this can fuck right off.

    4. itsjustaride24 on

      Sounds awful anyway and given a growing trend of thieves intercepting remote signals to steal cars I wouldn’t want any remote features on a new car anyway until they figure this out.

    5. loululu_tangelo on

      Louis Rossmann does an exceptional job exposing shady business practices. I’m glad he addressed this issue. Mazda is putting out quality vehicles at reasonable prices, but it’s disappointing to see them tarnish that reputation by turning standard features into subscription services. Shame on Mazda and any company that forces unnecessary subscriptions onto consumers.

    6. loululu_tangelo on

      Exactly why I plan on buying a remote start kit soon anyways. Love the car, but I’d much rather buy a one time plug and play unit than a dumb subscription

    7. oakleez on

      At least they have an option… I’m here with my Audi and my only option is to spend about $800 if I want remote start. Bleh.

    8. nadmaximus on

      I’m not going to subscribe to any features, and I’m not going to subsidize their subscription model by paying for disabled hardware. I wouldn’t pay for remote start in the first place.

    9. iMogal on

      This situation is only going to get worse. Not better. Be prepared to get screwed over with a subscription on everything the corps think they can get away with.

      I’m keeping my DUMB car as long as I possibly can.

    10. Past-Raccoon8224 on

      Car companies that make subscription anything for the car deserve to be hacked into oblivion. If its installed in the car im using it. Dont hide shit with subscription crap. We hack the system

    13. Andrige3 on

      As somebody who was considering a Mazda for their next car, this really pushes me away from the brand. I hope I’m not alone. I want companies to start learning how maintain lifelong customers not increase profits for the next quarter.

    14. MahaloMerky on

      I bought a Mazda recently, the worst part is they gave me 3 free years of the app, and then went back on it.

    15. TapTheMic on

      The worst part is the government has zero incentive to change this.

      They want fewer people driving. They would prefer you get annoyed at cars and choose to use public transit over buying another vehicle. So they’d never go after car companies for making cars unappealing.

    16. BannedByRWNJs on

      This is the thing people still aren’t understanding about the move to EVs — there’s too much control from the manufacturers. Imagine if all of the complaints about iPhones getting slow and glitchy when the new model comes out, but it was cars…

    18. rrhunt28 on

      I bought a Mazda years go and I had an issue. Turns out lots of people had the same issue. The clutch in the first Gen Mazda 6s did not seem strong enough for the power it made. People all over the country had clutches failing way before they should. There was also premature rusting in certain places on the car. Mazda really didn’t care. They claimed the rust was a “stain” and release a service built-in. I had a spot under the hood where the negative battery terminal connected. I had to make a new ground spot and the car only had like 80k miles when this happened. And I don’t live in the north.

    19. Impossible-Set9809 on

      That sucks. Hate to see mazda go for that bullshit. My 2010 mazda had zero nonsense in it. Everything worked simply the way you would expect it to. It didn’t even have an oil change reminder light to bother you. Just drove great. Had it for 12 years and only put batteries, gas, oil and spark plugs in it.

    20. Large_Mud4438 on

      Thank you Toyota and BMW, but let’s not forget the scum company that started it was most likely Acti-f-vision.

    22. james_phan on

      Seems like a lot of the car companies are still trying to pursue this subscription bs. Didn’t they see what happened when Mercedes tried it?

      What’s gonna be next on their list? Subscription package for the brake and seatbelts?

    23. roguewotah on

      How long before these are behind paywall

      5th gear and above

      Rear view auto dimming

      Screen wiper usage

      Throttle above 50%

      Heated side mirrors

      Parallel parkings per month

      ABS engaged per month

      ESC engaged per month

      Sunroof usage

      Rear doors usage

      Trunk usage

      More I could think of but dont want to give these companies more ideas

    24. AnotherUsername901 on

      How the hell is any of this legal.

      Never thought I would have to jail break a vehicle or find crack’s for one but here we are.