Video Is your new car actually spying on you? (The unpalatable truth.)

[Knack]

Physics is not my bag but I spent a lot of money and time in B school. Logic does not apply to consumer marketing and it defies the laws of physics . Nothing is going to stop the EV momentum. Trying to make logical sense of it is futile.

Now I pound nails for a living. An EV doesn't work for me because my vehicle is a work truck and the distances I sometimes have to drive, locations I work in and charging options in that situation just will not work for me. Not to mention the cost of the vehicle and all the home charging setup and installation. I looked into the F150E but when I broke down what it was going to cost me and consider the other factors - it just will not work for me. I also believe that GM and Ford and their network of shylock dealers is a weakness.

If I were a suburban soccer Mom or retired and not doing a lot of hauling or driving I'd be all over an EV. I'd buy a Tesla Model Y. No hesitation. Like I mentioned previously, I know actual owners - not armchair quarterbacks - who all tell me it is the best car they ever owned.

It's funny how much cars are like guns in the court of public opinion. I try to keep an open mind.

 

[Racer88]

Nothing is going to stop the EV momentum.

Check recent news about EVs. There has been a sudden epiphany (DUH!) about the reality of EVs (and related problems).

The Big Three are "scaling back" production admittedly by 50%, for now. My bet is their going to scale back even more. Some Big Three independent dealers are turning down the "opportunity" to sell EVs. Ford is having major problems with the Mach-E, which are piling up unsold on dealer lots. And they won't even take their own EV in on trade.

Ford is losing $36k per EV sold!

 

[Bobster]

I went from a Galaxy S to an S7 and this summer when from the S7 to the S23.

A year or so ago (and maybe still now?) ATT was offering a "free" Galaxy S23 if you turn in your "old" Galaxy. Unfortunately, we had a couple that fit the bill since they did away with the old network they ran on (S3 & S5). They DID give us a couple generic Android "lite" phones that worked but were real pieces of shit regarding apps and such. The camera and screen quality are atrocious. The S3s still run perfect and I charge them every other month or so, just can't use them as a "cell phone". The on-off switch just shit the bed on the S5 that was my "walking" phone--used it for the Samsung "health" app to measure my distance with GPS.

Regarding the switch to a new S23, it was not "free" but required monthly payments that they would reimburse you for. I think the term was 3 years or something. Problem I had/have with them is that all the buttons are on the right side and I suppose that is what most Android phones are nowadays but I just don't like it. I would consider a switch to an Iphone as they still use left side buttons and everyone in the household other than me has one.

 

[Knack]

Check recent news about EVs. There has been a sudden epiphany (DUH!) about the reality of EVs (and related problems).

The Big Three are "scaling back" production admittedly by 50%, for now. My bet is their going to scale back even more. Some Big Three independent dealers are turning down the "opportunity" to sell EVs. Ford is having major problems with the Mach-E, which are piling up unsold on dealer lots. And they won't even take their own EV in on trade.

Ford is losing $36k per EV sold!

I dont doubt any of that. The Big 3 in my opinion are dead meat. Their end is nigh. All companies reach that point eventually. They had a good run.

EVs are a roller skate chassis and motor and batteries with a body bolted on top of it and computers running it all. Cars as we know them today are like dinosaurs who weren't in the blast radius of the Chicxulub impactor 60 million years ago. They looked up and said to each other, did you hear that? Then went back to eating plants. Then the plants died. The meat eaters ate the starving plant eaters. Then the meat eaters ate each other. Then there were none. The tiny critters survived and inherited the Earth. It will be the same with car companies. The Big 3 are too big, too slow, and too invested in their legacy to change. Thus is the way of the world.

My grandad often opined that his '49 Packard was a heck of a good car. The Greek word for "return" is nostos. Algos means "suffering." Nostalgia is the suffering caused by a yearning to return to the past.

 

[Racer88]

The Big 3 in my opinion are dead meat. Their end is nigh. All companies reach that point eventually. They had a good run.

The Big 3 are too big, too slow, and too invested in their legacy to change. Thus is the way of the world.

LOL! Much like Paul McCartney and Mark Twain... predictions of the demise of the big car companies are greatly exaggerated. Even the US domestic companies. And as a car guy, I'm not a fan of the domestic brands. They're going to be around for a LONG time.

Toyota, the #1 car brand in the world has officially announced they are NOT pursuing EVs to replace their ICE cars. Bear in mind that Toyota is well-known for their long-range planning... rumored to have 100-year and even 500-year plans.

 

[Knack]

Wishful thinking. Here's what Toyota is really doing.

Toyota's Next-Gen EVs: Everything You Need to Know | Gear Patrol

Toyota plans to come back at Tesla with seriously improved battery tech. And it may come sooner than you think.

www.gearpatrol.com

MSN

Toyota Prius Prime: Green Car Reports Best Car To Buy 2024 finalist

The Toyota Prius Prime gets the most out of a small battery pack, in a better-looking car that's more fun to drive than its predecessor.

www.greencarreports.com

Look Out ,Tesla. Toyota Is Building an Electric Pickup Truck

Toyota announced plans for hybrid and electric versions of its pickup truck lineup that currently includes the Tundra and Tacoma.

www.gearpatrol.com

https://mybroadband.co.za/news/motoring/518511-toyota-unveils-two-new-electric-car-concepts.html

Toyota did play it smart by investing more heavily in hybrids vs. stupidly rushing into EVs before the public was ready and the power infrastructure could handle it. The Prius sold like hotcakes.

You know the story about the rabbit and the tortoise? Slow and steady wins. Make no mistake Toyota is going electric. The Korean cars are also going to be a major threat to US car companies in the EV space and already are in the hybrid arena. That Kia hybrid/plug in is a very good car. A neighbor has one. He told me he spent about $20 on gasoline last month. I spent close to $200 and it wasn't a busy month. Toss in an $80 oil change.

 

[Racer88]

Make no mistake Toyota is going electric.

Not all electric. CEO says otherwise. Yes, they are building SOME EVs. But they do not plan to go all-EV like many other companies are CLAIMING they will.

And with EV sales slowing in 2023, demand shrinking, and interest rates potentially growing, other automakers are starting to understand what Toyota has been saying for years.

Akio Toyoda Says Slowing EV Demand Proves He Was Right All Along

"People are finally seeing reality," the former Toyota CEO said in response to a question about weakening EV demand in the U.S.

www.thedrive.com

Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda talks about why he isn't all-in on EVs — and what made him do a 'happy dance'

Akio Toyoda said last week he would like his legacy to be "I love cars." But how he will be remembered for all-electric vehicles is still being determined.

www.cnbc.com

 

[Knack]

Hybrids are electric. Although there are some that the engine can drive the wheels (parallel), the trend is that the gas engine runs a generator (series). Plug in hybrids are also catching on. People plug them in at night and for around town dont burn a drop of gasoline. The ICE becomes more or less a backup.

Mr. Toyoda is right about the challenges in the battery supply chain. But read what he says. It's exactly what I said. Nobody, not even Toyota, says ICE cars are here to stay. The question is what's the timeline for the last one to roll off the assembly line. I'll repeat..in 20 years the ICE automobile and the brotosaurus will only be seen in museums. Maybe in a 4th of July parade with old guys driving them.

 

[Racer88]

Hybrids are electric.

Oy. They are hybrids, not EVs. And with that...

The MARKET will dictate the real outcome. But when the gov't is MANDATING it, any and all Patriots (and even non-patriots) should automatically question it. The mandates will be walked back when the market refuses to play along.

 

[Knack]

It’s going to be interesting for sure. Like seat belts, energy absorbing bumpers, catalytic converters and unleaded gasoline.

Have a happy new year and don’t forget .. if you venture out … click it or ticket!

 

[Racer88]

It’s going to be interesting for sure. Like seat belts, energy absorbing bumpers, catalytic converters and unleaded gasoline.

Have a happy new year and don’t forget .. if you venture out … click it or ticket!

I'm staying home... well... except I have to take my son to the airport at 2:45am! The airport is an hour away and his flight leaves at 5:15am. Ugh! He's headed back to Intelligence School for the USMC.

 

[NavyVet83]

The terms "new car" and "reliable" should NEVER be used in the same sentence. I'm a Automotive Technician by trade. mFg certified in Hyundai, Kia, CDJR, GM, Honda/Acura.. not just online classes either. Actually traveling the country going to school for said mfg's... new cars are garbage. Due to the recalls alone the entire vehicles are failure points. On a daily basis I work on everything from 2020 and up. The majority of my work is warranty crap. I rarely see a car more than 5 years old outside of doing preventative maintenance...

I use a high school diploma and common sense to fix what a college engineering degree couldn't get right the first time.

 

[Racer88]

The terms "new car" and "reliable" should NEVER be used in the same sentence. I'm a Automotive Technician by trade. mFg certified in Hyundai, Kia, CDJR, GM, Honda/Acura.. not just online classes either. Actually traveling the country going to school for said mfg's... new cars are garbage. Due to the recalls alone the entire vehicles are failure points. On a daily basis I work on everything from 2020 and up. The majority of my work is warranty crap. I rarely see a car more than 5 years old outside of doing preventative maintenance...

I use a high school diploma and common sense to fix what a college engineering degree couldn't get right the first time.

I agree, and I'm afraid I've been spoiled by my 2011 Toyota Camry. But at 212k miles, it's getting closer to the point of possibly leaving me stranded by the side of the road. And, it's just OLD and getting rough.

Unfortunately, there's no escaping the "advances" in automotive technology. There's no getting around it unless you want to make a vintage car your daily driver. Not very practical.

So, I'm going to try to "embrace" all the new car tech and enjoy the benefits for what they are... by getting a '24 model, hopefully this month. The plan is a 2024 Subaru Outback. The form factor of the Outback is perfect for my current needs / preferences. They've had their problems in recent years, too. But what's better? They all suck in some way. Some just suck less.

 

[Warhammer]

I have Google devices all over my house. I enjoy the benefits and features of the tech. Privacy has been a myth in this country for decades. You can't turn off the features on your smart phone that allows listening, much less data mining, by the ruling class. All of your online activity, from forum posts to Amazon purchases can be tracked. Cameras and microphones are everywhere outside our homes. Red light cameras, speed cameras, cameras at all the toll lanes... We already had no privacy in our cars.

 

[Racer88]

Privacy has been a myth in this country for decades.

It's a spectrum, not binary. But the argument that, "if you give up SOME of your privacy, you might as well give up ALL of it," is folly, IMO. It's a very weak argument. Of course, it's a choice. But to argue that total surrender is inevitable is simply fallacious.

You can't turn off the features on your smart phone that allows listening

Yes you can. And it works. But you give up all those "voice" conveniences. I have never gotten ads that were based on my conversations. But yeah, it happens regularly to those who have those features turned on.

Most laptops now come with a mechanical shutter that can be closed over the built-in webcam. But if it doesn't, a piece of opaque tape will do.

All of your online activity, from forum posts to Amazon purchases can be tracked. Cameras and microphones are everywhere outside our homes. Red light cameras, speed cameras, cameras at all the toll lanes... We already had no privacy in our cars.

Of course. So what? That means you should plant a bug in your house on purpose? Of your own volition? Again, it's your choice but not mine.

I do not agree that because our privacy is compromised nearly everywhere we go that we "might as well" just throw our hands up and intentionally surrender it all, including inside our own homes. If you CHOOSE to, that's fine for you. But some of us choose not to and don't buy the argument that it's an exercise in futility. It's definitely not.

 

[Knack]

Safeway and Kroger think my name is Mr. Potatohead. Sometimes when handing me the receipt the cashiers say, Thank you for shopping with Safeway - Mr. uh... Potatohead?

 

[Caleb]

I’d be happy with one of these….. one day, one day.

 

[no4mk1t]

You could use one of these, as long as you don't expect to get many time sensitive calls/texts...

GoDark® Faraday Bags for Phones

Stop phone tracking & shield your phone from 5G, GPS, EMF, and EMP (MIL-STD-188-125-2) with our military-grade Faraday bags. Lab-tested & durable. Shop now.

godarkbags.com

 

[Racer88]

You could use one of these, as long as you don't expect to get many time sensitive calls/texts...

GoDark® Faraday Bags for Phones

Stop phone tracking & shield your phone from 5G, GPS, EMF, and EMP (MIL-STD-188-125-2) with our military-grade Faraday bags. Lab-tested & durable. Shop now.

godarkbags.com

Do they make body-suits?

You know... so I won't hear the voices?

 

[Racer88]

Yikes! Tesla spying on customers!

https://www.reuters.com/technology/tesla-workers-shared-sensitive-images-recorded-by-customer-cars-2023-04-06/