Should Apple build a car?

[yRaz]

I have worked in the automobile industry for around 15 years (NOT for the last 6 years). I repeat.. don't like it? Don't buy it.

Note: If you were the owner of a company that made a complex product, you wouldn't want unauthorized people touching it either - NOT because of loss of income but rather they will **** something up and then the customer blames YOU for THEIR mistake. Too bad. Don't like it? Don't buy my product.

You aren't buying software here, you're buying a tangible, physical product. The car does not belong to The company after to rolls off the lot. That much HAS been established legally.

And as far as your work experience in the auto industry, I've met tons of people across many industries who know nothing about the field they are working in. You're going to have to do better than that.

 

[Rippleman]

You aren't buying software here, you're buying a tangible, physical product. The car does not belong to The company after to rolls off the lot. That much HAS been established legally.

And as far as your work experience in the auto industry, I've met tons of people across many industries who know nothing about the field they are working in. You're going to have to do better than that.

Like most kids on these tech sites, your thinking of the wrong concept. YES you own the car (and always will). YES you have choice where to take it (and always will). YES it is your decision (and always will). However, when it comes to repairs, NO Apple (nor any company) has the obligation to fix something that is broken because of your (or your mechanics) mistakes. You simply don't understand the concept of warranty. Repeating for the umpteenth time... don't like or agree the policy? Don't buy it. I don't buy things everyday from companies that I don't agree with their policies. With enough practice, I believe anyone (even you) can do it.

By the way, NO automobile company will honor warranty work on a piece of equipment that isn't theirs. If you think that, you require some much needed life experience.

 

[yRaz]

Like most kids on these tech sites, your thinking of the wrong concept. YES you own the car (and always will). YES you have choice where to take it (and always will). YES it is your decision (and always will). However, when it comes to repairs, NO Apple (nor any company) has the obligation to fix something that is broken because of your (or your mechanics) mistakes. You simply don't understand the concept of warranty. Repeating for the umpteenth time... don't like or agree the policy? Don't buy it. I don't buy things everyday from companies that I don't agree with their policies. With enough practice, I believe anyone (even you) can do it.

By the way, NO automobile company will honor warranty work on a piece of equipment that isn't theirs. If you think that, you require some much needed life experience.

I'm not asking them to, in fact I want the opposite. I want the right to repair my OWN vehicle and maintain it the way in see fit. The thing here is that companies integrate electronics into components that don't need in the name of "security". That means that companies have found ways to use intellectual property laws in order to FORCE you to get it done by dealerships because only THEY have the software to make new parts work. BMW did something similar to this decades ago by making specialized tools to work on everything but the technology revolution has created more ways to make things proprietary.

Either way, I want the right to repair and maintain my own vehicle and it is something that is disappearing quickly. BTW, your brake calipers don't need security chips in them, they worked fine for the previous ~70 years just fine without them.

 

[Rippleman]

I'm not asking them to, in fact I want the opposite. I want the right to repair my OWN vehicle and maintain it the way in see fit. The thing here is that companies integrate electronics into components that don't need in the name of "security". That means that companies have found ways to use intellectual property laws in order to FORCE you to get it done by dealerships because only THEY have the software to make new parts work. BMW did something similar to this decades ago by making specialized tools to work on everything but the technology revolution has created more ways to make things proprietary.

Either way, I want the right to repair and maintain my own vehicle and it is something that is disappearing quickly. BTW, your brake calipers don't need security chips in them, they worked fine for the previous ~70 years just fine without them.

I think we will have to agree to disagree. You will forever have the ability to work on your own car. If you choose NOT to use an authorized repair shop and/or parts, that will always be YOUR choice. If system integration is too heavy in one brand for you, I am still saying the same thing... just don't buy it. Apple car may not be for you, Apple car may not be for me, but I will never make that decision for someone else, nor should you. Buy what YOU like, don't buy what YOU don't like. Rule of life.

 

[commanderasus]

If your Apple car won't start: Turn your Apple car off by holding the door open while pressing down the power button for a few seconds. Close the door and then press the power button again. If you see the ghost of Steve Jobs appear in the rear view mirror this is an indicator that the car is in limp mode and you will have to push the car to the nearest dealer. Apple cars do not have any holes for a tow truck to hook up to so they must be pushed to the dealership. If you see a poison Apple appear in the mirror this means that the OS is in reboot mode. At no time attempt this while you are parked under a full moon. If you Apple car still refuses to start your only option is to recycle it at the nearest Apple recycle facility.

 

[ScubaRhys]

Some people really do seem to have a lot of irrational hatred for Apple.

I think they should make a car, Apple revolutionised the smartphone world when they decided to make a phone, you never know they might do the same for automobiles.

 

[Uncle Al]

Hmmmmmmmm .... I think it really depends upon who they hope to market it to. After all, if Apple builds it, the price point will most certainly be over $250,000 and after all those I-phones and other Apple "got to have it" gadgets, some of these poor folks might be a little short on cash!

 

[Rippleman]

Some people really do seem to have a lot of irrational hatred for Apple.

I think they should make a car, Apple revolutionised the smartphone world when they decided to make a phone, you never know they might do the same for automobiles.

I believe Tesla has beaten them too it, however, anything is possible with unlimited funds that are available to apple.

 

[Rippleman]

Hmmmmmmmm .... I think it really depends upon who they hope to market it to. After all, if Apple builds it, the price point will most certainly be over $250,000 and after all those I-phones and other Apple "got to have it" gadgets, some of these poor folks might be a little short on cash!

I think the $250k is completely wrong (but you could be right). If it happened I believe it will land between $40 to $60k. Anything more and they will not hit the masses.

 

[Misagt]

Yes, mostly due to a dark part of me wanting to see them fail and go out of business. Other then that meh, I wouldn't ever buy an apple car.

 

[ddferrari]

Will keep that in mind to avoid VW and Volvo models in the future.

They can sell the car with 1 million price tag, demand no longer a problem.

When it comes to cars there are two things I hold above everything else and they have to come together. It has to be reliable as all hell and cheap to repair IF anything does go wrong. That leaves me with Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus and Subaru for cars and for trucks I'm a big fan of both the newer Chevy and Fords. Toyota makes some really good trucks and SUV's too. I'd love to get my hands on either a Toyota 4runner or FJ cruiser, but that's a discussion for another thread.

Even if that ended up being the case, so what? You can still practice the new rule of "not buy" can you not? What forces you to buy it?

You're missing the point entirely, an Apple car could pave the way(no pun intended) for legislation that destroys right to repair laws. That would raise the ownership costs of ANY car owned by ANYONE. Dealers already want these laws on the books(in some states they are) and with someone like Apple getting into the game right to repair laws may finally be on their way out.

"You're missing the point entirely, an Apple car could pave the way(no pun intended) for legislation that destroys right to repair laws."

The tinfoil is in aisle seven.

 

[yRaz]

"You're missing the point entirely, an Apple car could pave the way(no pun intended) for legislation that destroys right to repair laws."

The tinfoil is in aisle seven.

Look up what apple is doing to doing private electronics repair shops that repair macbooks in New York, no tinfoil needed. Some lawyers would help though.

 

[tragicallyhip]

If Apple got into the car biz in a serious way, they would be litigated back out again. If any little thing went wrong or someone got injured or died in anything with 4 wheels and an Apple logo they would spend billions paying out claimants and lawyer's, There are folks right now daydreaming ways they can get a nice piece of the Apple pie if a car ever hit's the road. Apple stick with software man cuz getting into the car biz will destroy your brand and the company! You have no idea whats waiting for you if you do.

 

[JIgou]

Sure, why not? Some morons will buy anything they offer.
It would probably have some unique "features" that I'd find particularly irritating that would defiitely not appeal to me...but hey

 

[JIgou]

Some people really do seem to have a lot of irrational hatred for Apple.

I think they should make a car, Apple revolutionised the smartphone world when they decided to make a phone, you never know they might do the same for automobiles.

Its not irrational, some people just have good sense.

 

[JIgou]

It would probably only have one pedal.

You could get a second one, but then you'd have made an "unauthorized" modification that would void your warranty.

 

[ScubaRhys]

Its not irrational, some people just have good sense.

How does it make sense for someone to have an unhealthy amount of vitriol towards a company that doesn't force anyone to buy their products?

 

[JIgou]

How does it make sense for someone to have an unhealthy amount of vitriol towards a company that doesn't force anyone to buy their products?

REALLY? I had to buy an iPad for my daughter's school.
HAD to, not optional.
SHE would have preferred a Windows device, she has no further use for Apple computing devices once at home.
You're obviously ignoring educational, corporate, and institutional FORCED use.
For overpriced and often poorly designed Chinese built crap, that many would prefer not to have FORCED upon them.

 

[ScubaRhys]

REALLY? I had to buy an iPad for my daughter's school.
HAD to, not optional.
SHE would have preferred a Windows device, she has no further use for Apple computing devices once at home.
You're obviously ignoring educational, corporate, and institutional FORCED use.
For overpriced and often poorly designed Chinese built crap, that many would prefer not to have FORCED upon them.

I'm just ignoring irrational hate. You should take it up with the school if they are forcing you to buy any specific item rather than develop a hatred for the manufacturer of that item in question. Apple aren't forcing the school to make you buy it.

I happen to like some Apple products. I don't have much hatred or dislike for other products either.

I don't want to start a war, I can understand why people may not like Apple products. But I don't understand the hatred they receive, they seem to get more than other manufacturers. Surely shouldn't a lot of people who invested in the windows mobile project over the last few years have a bit more hated for MS? I mean their platform never really materialised! Or likethe fact that Samsung phones were sold to users at the risk of explosion, and then a botched recall didn't make them any safer and after all that they lost their devices? Surely there must be more blood for Samsung? I'm not saying we should hate anything, I just don't see apples overpricing of their products to be worthy of the hate they receive.

 

[JIgou]

I'm just ignoring irrational hate. You should take it up with the school if they are forcing you to buy any specific item rather than develop a hatred for the manufacturer of that item in question. Apple aren't forcing the school to make you buy it.

I happen to like some Apple products. I don't have much hatred or dislike for other products either.

I don't want to start a war, I can understand why people may not like Apple products. But I don't understand the hatred they receive, they seem to get more than other manufacturers. Surely shouldn't a lot of people who invested in the windows mobile project over the last few years have a bit more hated for MS? I mean their platform never really materialised! Or likethe fact that Samsung phones were sold to users at the risk of explosion, and then a botched recall didn't make them any safer and after all that they lost their devices? Surely there must be more blood for Samsung? I'm not saying we should hate anything, I just don't see apples overpricing of their products to be worthy of the hate they receive.

I didn't say I hated them exactly, although I do prefer slightly more open platforms. And I'm not fond of some of there decisions (like not better waterproofing the keyboards on their laptop, or designing them with adequate cooling).
and they seem to have lost their way without Jobs.
Outside of their continuing success with the iPhone, they've been making some really dumb design decisions (in particular, the "trashcan" MacPro). And why in the world would they let Windows gain on them with touchscreen laptops? I mean, I personally don't use that feature, BUT its a really big selling point for Win10 users, and I'm seeing Mac users defecting to Windows for it.
My problem is Apple DOES make mis-steps. They've done it since at least the Apple III and Jobs really dumb decisions to make the case of that solid aluminum rather than cool it properly (leading to thermal expansion and the chips unseating themselves). And there are a LOT of examples I could give that occurred after that.

SO, a big NO to the car. They should focus on competencies. MacOS is a great operating system (or it has been since NextStep morphed into OSX).
The move to commodity hardware (while painful) made sense. But, if they are going to base their hardware on standard components, then the distinct features they DO offer need to have utility (which the "trashcan" didn't really provide).
The iPhone continues to dominate (even if it did obsolete their own product the iPod).
So, no, no real hate. And definitely nothing like a war.
I do like lower cost hardware though.
BUT, if you want to pay for it....