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> It seems that car manufacturers have trapped themselves into being feature whores. That's because customers are feature whores. If there are two cars and on
by GVIrish 10y ago
> It seems that car manufacturers have trapped themselves into being feature whores.
That's because customers are feature whores. If there are two cars and one has a backup camera, internet connection, and an automatic transmission, people are going to buy that over a car with just a radio and a stick shift.
For the vast majority of drivers, a car is an appliance and any appliance that is easier and more comfortable to operate is better to them. So when a car can park itself, call the ambulance if you crash, keep your coffee hot in heated cupholders, and tap into your cloud music account, all the better for them.
- tantalor 10y ago> customers are feature whores Yeah... or maybe because those features are now required by law: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/u-s-requiring-back-up-cameras-in-cars-by-2018/ https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/u-s-requiring-back-up-cam...
- GVIrish 10y agoThat's a law going into the effect over a year from now. Backup cameras have been popular long before the Feds decided to mandate it. The point is that plenty of people pay extra of their own volition to have stuff like backup cameras, blindspot warnings, automatic headlights, etc.
- alistairSH 10y agoAFAIK, only back-up cameras (in 2017) and airbags are required in the US. Traction control might be on the list to become required. ABS, brake-assist/auto-braking, blind-spot detection, lane-keeping, etc are all optional. And, FWIW, my latest car has most of these features not because I'm a feature whore, but because safety is good. And inexpensive (relative to a life-altering collision).