Date:         Fri, 21 Aug 2015 08:11:50 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Friday post: Why are new vehicles connected to the Net?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

  I surmise the main reason is to sell us all the new stuff, but can
someone  tell me what your car or truck being connected to the internet is
actually good for in a vehicle?  I am talking "good for the owner of the
connected vehicle" not the car manufacturers or the DOT or the insurance
industry or Homeland Security...   What is owning a 'connected' car
actually supposed to do for you?   Just curious, as I probably will never
be able to purchase another new vehicle in my life time, being a blue
collar worker...I have never even ridden in a vehicle that is connected to
the internet, so I am curious as to what's the point of it?

   I 'get it' that collecting data and using it is an excellent tool to
make money, for those who do that...but what's in it for US?...the car
owners?   ,

  I've posted before that in my own experience the Digital Age of
automotive development hasn't ever saved ME anything, money or
time-wise....quite the contrary, (and from the postings on every automotive
or moto-forum I read, I am certainly not the only one who has this happen)
I have wasted numerous hours trying to trace glitches indicated by my OBD
vehicles, glitches that didn't actually exist, or were really faulty
digital data being misinterpreted  by my systems when nothing was actually
wrong, or very wrong.....   What, we are supposed to believe that buying a
'connected' vehicle will lessen the possibility of these glitches
happening?  Layer on a bit more complexity in order to make your life
simpler?  Does it work like that?

  Also, paying extra to give someone else the ability to "harvest"
everything there is, everything about what we do with our vehicles...that
seems like we're giving up a lot...for what?

  I know it isn't a Vanagon subject.   Luckily our vehicles were mostly
done before all these "time savers" were invented....one of the reasons I
love my old 84 tin top...