Comment by encom
7 hours ago
Please find me a new car that isn't Internet-connected, genius. You're assuming consumers have a meaningful alternative.
7 hours ago
Please find me a new car that isn't Internet-connected, genius. You're assuming consumers have a meaningful alternative.
Russian car mechanics know how to "unlock" Chinese cars that operate only within China and require a Chinese SIM card (they are sold locally at lower prices, so some people find it cheaper to buy a car in China and unlock it). Finding and disabling modems is definitely an easier task and can be done.
Turns out it's mandated by law in the EU too
Do they check modem presence regularly or you can rip the modem and show a middle finger to surveillance state?
This came up on HN somewhere, and the answer was that insurance will decline claims if the modem wasn't in at the time of a crash, so it's risky not to have it. That and you fail inspection, but that's of course easier to work around.
Wait till they'll mandate other things done to you via your car via the internet. ALl in the name of protecting you and the kids of course.
They will. First step, the government creates the mechanism, second step, adjusts the rules.
Easy, go to the used lot and get one of the remaining actual cars before they become collectible antiques.
Buying a car is the easy part.
In my experience, new cars have new car problems, but old cars have old car problems.
There’s no clear winner in every metric, just trade offs.
The lesson is, always expect to be paying to maintain your vehicle.
Slate says “any minute now!”