5 ms·

I can see why a car manufacturer would not want to make two versions of each car, one with heated seats and one without. Instead, build it into all of them, and

by jms703 4y ago

I can see why a car manufacturer would not want to make two versions of each car, one with heated seats and one without. Instead, build it into all of them, and only activate and charge those that actually need it. Also, the subscription is an option. You can also pay the full price for the feature. Where I live, I could see using this once or two months a year. Whereas some would need it more and they might just buy the option outright.

themodelplumber 4y ago
Plus you could buy or make other economical heating solutions for your seats...BMW driver notwithstanding
athorax 4y ago
It is mind blowing that this is something people are willing to accept. The feature is there, the ecological damage is done already by including those extra resources, and you've paid for the vehicle but don't actually own its capabilities.
- winReInstall 4y ago
  + Seat heaters are heavy. You drive them around all year long, they will show up on your fuel bill one way or another.
  - Mo3 4y ago
    Really? I assumed it’s just some wires in a seat..
  - wiseleo 4y ago
    They are small light-weight pads.
    - winReInstall 4y ago
      0.25 kg without the wiring per seat, adds up to 5 seats * 0.25kg + tons of coper wiring.
      - winReInstall 4y ago
        Not mentioned here: Cooling option + actuators - we are only talking about the basic setup, although that is dishonest, as in the subscription car all options are included.
- joenathanone 4y ago
  Exactly, also you have already paid for them, since there is no way they are selling at a loss.
tekkk 4y ago
Well just include it in the price for everyone, duhh. It's just executives trying to squeeze every penny out of their customers. Next thing they'll try is making things subscriptions that ought to be always included. I understand the logic, once you sell one subscription it's easier to upsell more but it's heinous and I hope they'll be ridiculed for this years to come.
- lamontcg 4y ago
  Good way to make BMW drivers who aren't entirely filthy rich to start seeing the issues with capitalism. Heated seats are unimportant in the scale of things, but this is also how capitalism approaches something you literally have no option to do without like health care. Also since this is _Hacker_ news, it should probably be mentioned that a MIG welder could probably be used to put whatever seats you like into an old used BMW. Buy the body and powertrain that you want, cheaply, do your own maintenance, then fit the aftermarket bells and whistles yourself to make it comfortable.
devrand 4y ago
> I can see why a car manufacturer would not want to make two versions of each car, one with heated seats and one without. In the past this is just how "luxury" options trickled down into standard options. If it's more economical to just produce all cars with the option then it should just be an optimization passed on to the consumer. I find this pretty surprising in the luxury car market. A lot of features that are standard on base model non-luxury cars are options on luxury cars. Anyway, this subscription model raises other questions. For example, if I'm paying for the subscription and the seat heater breaks, who is responsible for the repair? Am I paying for a subscription (i.e. lease) of the hardware, or is it just a software subscription?
- yegle 4y ago
  This reminds me of the blue sweater scene in the Devil Wears Prada: https://youtu.be/us52N76XA28 https://youtu.be/us52N76XA28
- jasomill 4y ago
  Customers buying expensive cars are typically less price-sensitive than customers buying less expensive cars; high-end hotels charge for Wi-Fi service that's free at lower-end hotels in the same chain for the same reason.
asteroidbelt 4y ago
Heating is an accessory like floor mat, it can be easily added or removed in 2 minutes. No, I don’t believe they try to save on production, but try to take last penny from a consumer: when you know you already have heater installed, you are probably more likely to pay for it, or pay for it half time (at least this is how they think about it).
bushbaba 4y ago
Build it in the car and offer a purchase option in the center console. Heck do A/B Testing where you offer a lifetime purchase (Upfront or monthly) and a monthly subscription. Then see which sells better.

by jms703 4y ago

themodelplumber 4y ago

Plus you could buy or make other economical heating solutions for your seats...BMW driver notwithstanding

athorax 4y ago

It is mind blowing that this is something people are willing to accept. The feature is there, the ecological damage is done already by including those extra resources, and you've paid for the vehicle but don't actually own its capabilities.

winReInstall 4y ago
+ Seat heaters are heavy. You drive them around all year long, they will show up on your fuel bill one way or another.
- Mo3 4y ago
  Really? I assumed it’s just some wires in a seat..
- wiseleo 4y ago
  They are small light-weight pads.
  - winReInstall 4y ago
    0.25 kg without the wiring per seat, adds up to 5 seats * 0.25kg + tons of coper wiring.
    - winReInstall 4y ago
      Not mentioned here: Cooling option + actuators - we are only talking about the basic setup, although that is dishonest, as in the subscription car all options are included.
joenathanone 4y ago
Exactly, also you have already paid for them, since there is no way they are selling at a loss.

tekkk 4y ago

Well just include it in the price for everyone, duhh. It's just executives trying to squeeze every penny out of their customers. Next thing they'll try is making things subscriptions that ought to be always included. I understand the logic, once you sell one subscription it's easier to upsell more but it's heinous and I hope they'll be ridiculed for this years to come.

lamontcg 4y ago
Good way to make BMW drivers who aren't entirely filthy rich to start seeing the issues with capitalism. Heated seats are unimportant in the scale of things, but this is also how capitalism approaches something you literally have no option to do without like health care. Also since this is _Hacker_ news, it should probably be mentioned that a MIG welder could probably be used to put whatever seats you like into an old used BMW. Buy the body and powertrain that you want, cheaply, do your own maintenance, then fit the aftermarket bells and whistles yourself to make it comfortable.

devrand 4y ago

> I can see why a car manufacturer would not want to make two versions of each car, one with heated seats and one without. In the past this is just how "luxury" options trickled down into standard options. If it's more economical to just produce all cars with the option then it should just be an optimization passed on to the consumer. I find this pretty surprising in the luxury car market. A lot of features that are standard on base model non-luxury cars are options on luxury cars. Anyway, this subscription model raises other questions. For example, if I'm paying for the subscription and the seat heater breaks, who is responsible for the repair? Am I paying for a subscription (i.e. lease) of the hardware, or is it just a software subscription?

yegle 4y ago
This reminds me of the blue sweater scene in the Devil Wears Prada: https://youtu.be/us52N76XA28 https://youtu.be/us52N76XA28
jasomill 4y ago
Customers buying expensive cars are typically less price-sensitive than customers buying less expensive cars; high-end hotels charge for Wi-Fi service that's free at lower-end hotels in the same chain for the same reason.

asteroidbelt 4y ago

Heating is an accessory like floor mat, it can be easily added or removed in 2 minutes. No, I don’t believe they try to save on production, but try to take last penny from a consumer: when you know you already have heater installed, you are probably more likely to pay for it, or pay for it half time (at least this is how they think about it).

bushbaba 4y ago

Build it in the car and offer a purchase option in the center console. Heck do A/B Testing where you offer a lifetime purchase (Upfront or monthly) and a monthly subscription. Then see which sells better.