Get more horsepower from your Volkswagen by paying a monthly fee

[grasscutter]

That's if you own the electric ID.3 model. Pay $22 per month and go from 201 horsepower to 228 horsepower.

What does that remind you of? Reminds me of my internet service provider.

Volkswagen is taking a page out of the internet service provider business model.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volks...gen-locks-horsepower-behind-paid-subscription

 

[Zee09]

I wouldn't go for that myself.

 

[ctechbob]

Not so much different than offering a factory tune for an ICE car I suppose. I wouldn't pay monthly, but for a one-time charge I can see it being a thing. Maybe not for 28 hp, but maybe for something in the future.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Monthly fees are all the rage. Repeat revenue means management doesn't need to work as hard to keep making new sales.

All the car companies have been doing / trying this for years. If you want the Toyota remote start you need to pay their monthly app fee, etc etc. No different.

We customers are just cows to be milked - according to them.

 

[Lubener]

I wouldn't go for that myself.

Knowing that , I would not buy such a vehicle in the first place.

 

[shortyb]

Not so much different than offering a factory tune for an ICE car I suppose. I wouldn't pay monthly, but for a one-time charge I can see it being a thing. Maybe not for 28 hp, but maybe for something in the future.

Works out to about $845US for that extra, which you know the dealer will discount if haggled with. Not too bad really when you consider that it is approved by the manufacturer and covered under warranty. APR has this kind of quasi-agreement with their "+" range of tunes for performance ICE cars. I'm sure it wouldn't be long before someone can "jailbreak" it and get the power potential without VW's knowledge.

 

[John105]

The interesting thing is, way before everything was software, VW was one of the first cos. to make it difficult for people to DIY their own cars. They also denied a legit clutch claim for a friend on his GLI. So for VW to do that, is not surprising. As soon as the Golf R got a prop rod, I wrote them off. Always wanted a GTI. Since age 17.

 

[RDY4WAR]

That just makes me not want to buy a VW.

 

[Mainia]

Original factory 200hp with all that weight, $22 for 330hp would be more like it. 28 hp is laughable, and all they are telling you, is they want TO EXTORT money from you, and we think you are STUPID. VW you know where to put that offering. 330 hp says if your loaded you have an option here with some sort of viable offering.

 

[shortyb]

That just makes me not want to buy a VW.

That's the ONLY thing??

 

[Mainia]

The interesting thing is, way before everything was software, VW was one of the first cos. to make it difficult for people to DIY their own cars. They also denied a legit clutch claim for a friend on his GLI. So for VW to do that, is not surprising. As soon as the Golf R got a prop rod, I wrote them off. Always wanted a GTI. Since age 17.

What's a "prop rod"?

 

[rstcso]

Not including the subscription to SiriusXM, the Audi's annual subscription for all the offerings in its infotainment system cost me $499/yearr.

 

[John105]

What's a "prop rod"?

it's a rod to hold the hood open. A car as costly as the Golf R, should have gas struts (on the left side of the pic)

 

[rijndael]

In the Golf R, I'd worry about the lack of a dipstick first. But I agree, it should have both.

 

[John105]

Not including the subscription to SiriusXM, the Audi's annual subscription for all the offerings in its infotainment system cost me $499/yearr.

I'm gonna try....I had gotten XM, $99 for 3 years. The car it's on is a total loss. But I never canceled because I use the app. I'll txf it to the new car in November when the trial expires, and this will expire 12/31 or so (might be 3 days into Jan). I'll ask for the $99 again or cancel it. I should have taken 5 years at this rate, but I just felt it was too long. I recall it was $127 after taxes and fees, for 36 months.

 

[rstcso]

A car as costly as the Golf R, should have gas struts (on the left side of the pic)

Which most likely will need to be replaced within 10 years, while a prop rod should last longer than most other parts of the car. There may be an insignificant weight difference, also.

 

[MrHorspwer]

As soon as the Golf R got a prop rod, I wrote them off.

You're not going to buy a Golf R because it uses a prop rod to hold up the hood?

That's like saying, "I'd never date Sydney Sweeny because she has pointy elbows."

 

[John105]

You're not going to buy a Golf R because it uses a prop rod to hold up the hood?

That's like saying, "I'd never date Sydney Sweeny because she has pointy elbows."

Yes, copy that.

We are likely of different generations because I have never heard of Sydney Sweeney. I really wouldn’t care what his elbows looked like. Just that he should be driving a car whose hood is held up by gas charged struts.

 

[Trav]

I wouldn't date Sydney Sweeney either if she was a bloke.

 

[RDY4WAR]

That's the ONLY thing??

It's yet another reason.

More so, it's making me even less inclined to buy a new car. Our newest vehicle is a 2012. I sometimes consider a newer vehicle, but when I read things like this, it turns me decidedly away. The lack of a dipstick really ticks me off. I'm still mad that the 2012 Mustang didn't come with a transmission dipstick even years after adding one myself. Every time I go to check or change the trans fluid, I imagine the guy in upper management who decided saving that $3 per vehicle was a good idea and me giving him a swirly worthy of the Guiness world record book.