this post was submitted on 28 Nov 2024
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[–] [email protected] 366 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (10 children)

Fuck Elon. Fuck Tesla.

I was their target demographic and Elon made sure that I never even consider their trash. I went BMW instead.

[–] [email protected] 142 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

This is why Elonia is asking trump to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Other car manufacturers started biting into Tesla market share this year.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 3 weeks ago

Poor Queen Elonia.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

He want to add tarrifs and he is also asking Trump to remove government subsidies on new EV purchases, raising the barrier to entry in the US for EVs

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

There's no way he's asking for that. If you can find a source for that claim I'd love to see it. But it's about the dumbest thing musk could do.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Wow... Well I maintain that is about the dumbest thing he could do, but I apologize for doubting you.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

It's a good way to make money by shorting his competitors' stocks.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

BMW lobbies against non-car based infrastructure and car industry regulation here in Germany. Biggest shareholder is the Quandt family, who are descendant from literal Nazis, and now use part of their billions to fund the conservatives (at least they aren't giving it to the far-right. Yet.)

So yeah, fuck Elon, but fuck BMW too.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah fine me a car company that's not like that. Living in the US it's a necessity to have a car so just gonna nix that argument. I bought a Toyota to get ultimate reliability (yes Honda is basically equal) but I'm sure they both have done equally terrible shit. And when I'm not in grad school I want to go back to a BMW because they are great cars to drive. There is no ethical consumption under capitalism so just try to enjoy your life where you can.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

On the one hand, sure. On the other hand, if you're saying you bought from brand A, not B, specifically because the big boss of B is a shithead, I feel like it's valid to point out the ways the big boss of A is shit too.

Since everyone is shit, I dunno, buy used, I guess.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 weeks ago

It's good information and something I will take into account for next time.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

never owned a BMW, or a Tesla for that matter, but I've heard they're just as bad when it comes to being money hungry

[–] [email protected] 43 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

There is no such thing as a benevolent corporation. Don't feed the fascists. Don't give your money to Elon.

EDIT: Autocorrect derp

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

I mean, fuck Elon and Tesla but if you're spending money on a car you're giving it to a bastard one way or another. The CEOs of Ford, BMW, et. al. might not be making asses of themselves on the global stage, but I'm sure they're still horrible. Even used cars run on gas 99% of the time.

[–] [email protected] 46 points 3 weeks ago

There are levels of bad. Don't let perfect be the enemy of good (or in this case, only slightly better).

[–] [email protected] 30 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

A friend bought a new BMW. Everything is controlled with an app. There's also an interface in the car itself, obviously, but the app has more functions.

Things like seat heating, air conditioner, enhanced cruise control and all the fancy things are only available if you subscribe to one of the three offerings.

I just glanced over the app, so i don't remember the names, but it went like the usual: basic, premium, platinum.

Prices were in the range of 200, 400, 700 euros a fucking month.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah choosing BMW is a strange choice against something like Tesla when they are doing the same sort of thing. I won’t criticize the “I’m rich so I bought an expensive car” thing, that can happen elsewhere, but the idea that BMW is the lesser of the evils isn’t really accurate.

I wish we were in a world where we could more easily avenge our terrible upbringing in this system moment after moment like Geralt, where if we’re to choose between the lesser of two evils, we’d rather not choose at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0i88t0Kacs

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Are you saying that you can't use the A/C without subscribing to their app?

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I think they are very mistaken about the options requiring a subscription and their price. Most of the options you could get a subscription for also are available as a one time purchase… the same way they were in the past. Heating and air conditioning aren’t among those options, they come standard in every car.

BMW did drop the subscription for heated seats after backlash. That one was stupid. The other options I’m a little torn on. There are costs associated with developing the software used for most of the options like driving assistance. I have no problem paying for that development, and the subscription lets me try it for a month to see if it’s worth it. As long as there is the ability to outright buy the option instead of locking into a perpetual subscription I’m chill with it. I also hope that once unlocked, the option is still available when resold. This part I’m not so sure about, but mine seemed to maintain the options purchased by the original owner.

It’s not a super recent article, but a list of options and pricing is available at the bottom of this page: https://www.kbb.com/car-news/bmw-quietly-launches-in-car-subscriptions-in-u-s/

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

I only had the chance to peek and after reading your comment, it sounds very plausible that general heating is a basic function. I'm sure i saw the seat-heating, in the lowest price subscription though. It must have been before they dropped the subscription for it. The paid air conditioning included air purifing with hepa and carbon filters and some iirc Plasmacluster Ion technology.

I should have been a little more specific ...

Even by not subscribing to the paid subscriptions he said he had to subscribe to the basic subscription, which enables the app.

It looked like they will also drop a random paid feature into the basic for a limited time, every few weeks another feature, so people get to test it. That's what the ad in the app suggested.

I didn't think about the one time purchase to be honest. I assume it to be featured in a submenu, to make it less prominent than the subscription, in order to get a bigger number of subscribers.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago

That is correct, but at least BMW knows how to make decent cars that won't trap you in in an emergency.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

That BMW iDrive looks good but if it's all app and touchscreen based... Imma skip.

TBH though, all the damn nice EVs are touch screens or bubble crossovers.

Why the fuck do I want to drive a bubble. I want to drive an electric car. Take the Ford Mustang, put the electric parts in it, and don't turn it into a crossover. Take the Toyota 86, put electric parts in it. Do not turn it into a cross over.

Idk take any fucking car that looks like a fun car and goddamn it, put electric parts in it, don't add touchscreens, and don't stick your lips on the wand of soap and blow into the frame making it a goddamn bubble crossover.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Because it's not that easy. Batteries are big, people want 250+ miles on a charge and battery tech isn't there for standard sedans and smaller.

I just went through this and ended up with the mach-e (which I'm very happy with) but it still weighs about as much as my minivan (almost 5000lbs).

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

All EVs are nearly 5000lbs. The xDrive i4 I mentioned is 5063lbs

But the interior DOES have buttons so it's back on my like list.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

There was something about the i4 I just didn't like. I think it was how it felt kind of like an m3 to me. In the sense that if all you care about is going fast, then it's a great car, but it's not the luxury of the 5 or 7 series, which is what I think of when I think of BMW.

I'm too old for a car like that, and don't drive enough to justify the i5 price, so I went economical (in comparison at least) with the mach-e. It's fun to drive, has enough gitty-up-and-go for me, and it's comfortable.

Though I got reeeeeeally close to saying fuck it and getting the i5.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I’m waiting for the price on used i5s to drop a bit before I trade my car in for one. Since they’re only a year old, they’re still super pricy. i4 is a bit small for me if I have people in the back.

The 530e is pretty perfect for me in the meantime. Only 20 mile range on full electric, but that works pretty perfectly for me since I can charge at home and at work. On longer trips I can still burn dinosaurs, but I only fill the tank up a few times per year. I think I’ve put gas in it 6 times this year, and that includes a couple ~3 hour trips.

I’ve thought about Tesla, but there’s so much I don’t like about them.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

I've got a RAV4 that will last quite a while if I need space. In 6-12 months, hopefully after I buy I home, I'm going to need a car that says "single software engineer dad with midlife crisis money" and my boy loves the interior of the i4 coupe.

I'll look at the i5 though

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago
[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

I went Audi but to be completely honest Hyundai and Kia make the best EVs.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I just got the Ford Mach-e last weekend and I'm super happy with it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah, I like the Mach-e a lot too. I think it maxes out at 150 kW of charging speed, which is the same as my Audi. But the Hyundai does 240 kW and that's super speedy!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago

I needed a single payment lease and BMW does those with zero hassle.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

BMW does have shady monetization tactics with their newer car, but Subaru shred almost every other car brands to dust

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Are Subaru cars still loud AF? I had a 2002 Impreza, and a 2012 and both had lots of road noise with everything in the car popping or cracking with every bump.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

Of course, and that's part of the charm. They bag out like a pair of leather slippers. I read something recently about them using a shit ton more adhesive in the new Forester so maybe it's improving? My 2015 isn't that bad, but I hate driving in general so basic appliance standards is fine by me.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

Okay that's not just me, thank god. I thought something was just wrong with the sound deadening on my Forester, especially because my 30 year old Mazda 323 is at least 50% quieter. Nope, its what makes a Subaru, a Subaru.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

Did u have to unlearn how to use an indicator?

Isnt that a mandatory class before they let u buy one?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

You know I haven't been to a dealership yet to find out.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

How is it driving without turn signals? Granted, given they put them as buttons on the friggin steering wheel in the new Teslas, maybe not much different?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I am sad to say that the old joke is becoming obsolete. These new cars are smart. If you try to change lanes without a turn signal, the car beeps loudly to tell you that you have drifted. Our company also has a Sprinter van that will actually pull you back into your lane. Sad times.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Turn signals aren't for you, they're for other drivers. I can't hear the other car yelling at their driver, I just see them decide to cut into my lane with no warning or signal.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

I thought BMW wanted a subscription for heated seats. You know, the seats already in your car but software locked with a paywall.