The New Audi A3 Is Amess With In-Car Subscriptions
The New Audi A3 Is Amess With In-Car Subscriptions
The 2025 Audi A3 looks sharper and comes with more tech, but you will have to pay a subscription for some basic in-car features.
![The New Audi A3 Is Amess With In-Car Subscriptions [Update]](https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/13084157-4d41-422c-b491-5395ee33a333.jpeg?format=webp&thumbnail=256)
So far there's subscriptions for cruise control, adaptive beams, various navigation options, apple/google integration and my favorite, dual-zone climate.
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This shit should be illegal. When you buy a device, you own all the hardware and have every right to use it to the full extent of its physical capabilities. Audi has no right to hold your property hostage!
How else am I, a humble car artisan (cartisan, if you're feeling naughty), supposed to continue to generate obscene levels of wealth for my shareholders if I can't continue to milk customers?
That's the neat part: you're not!
On the other hand, my car has a cell connection that allows me to find its position, remotely start, un/lock doors, call for emergency, and detect an accident. That’s not free. It ends up being around $160/y—which I think it a little spendy.
I don’t pay for it, because the only thing I really wanted was the gps position, and I just got an Apple tag for that haha.
Things that legitimately rely on an outside service are different. You understand how those are different, right?
Cruise control doesn't require Audi to maintain a fucking server for you.
I have a different look on this, but it's just the way i see it: if a manufacturer puts a function in your car that requires them to run a server then that server is on them, they put the function in there not me.
I buy the car, it's mine in all it's functionality. If they don't want that, then don't put it in.
I am ok with a charge for things that require the manufacturer to run a server. But only if that charge is related to the actual cost , and that cost is unavoidable. Regarding that last point: my Garmin satnav lets me use my own mobile data to get live traffic information. Car makers don’t give you that option.
Car makers don’t give you that option.
Except they do if you have Android Auto. Literally none of that has any bearing whatsoever on subscriptions for cruise control though.
According to the article, apple car play and android auto also require a subscription. So no, they don’t give you the choice.
Subscription to a cell carrier maybe? I've used Android Auto in particular a bunch. It connects to my phone and uses Google maps, which is non subscription. Admittedly it's been a bit, I suppose Google could have crippled it since I last used it, but I have my doubts. My mother uses it regularly and I guarantee she'd be throwing a fit if she needed to pay to do so.
Nope. Read the first line of the article. Apple CarPlay won’t work unless you pay Audi a subscription fee. I’m not surprised, I had an A3 a few years ago and that already had subscriptions built in. But they came with a 3 year license and Audi UK would extend that for a year at a time, free of charge as they had not worked out how to charge for it. They have worked it out now.
My car has a 4g cell connection that allow me to find its position, check the battery level, lock it, unlock it, call for emergency, play online music, check for update, set up the interior temperature or seat heating and use it as a WiFi hotpsot in the car.
I'm would have prefered no connection but I'm not paying a dime for it.
Nope.
If you are leasing subscriptions it makes sense. Or for certain features.
I couldn't care less as long as the option to buy remains. I'd almost certainly end up subbing though on my next lease.
Why do you hate property rights?
Mans dad is the regional manager at Audi of Greater Akron
Assistant to the regional manager.
Yeah, that's what he said. Assistant regional manager.