It’s only a subscription if you don’t order or buy the package on a new car. It’s actually not as bad as people make it out to be. BMW even offers lifetime packages, pay $20 a month, $350 for 2 years, or $1,000 for the lime time package. So far the numbers I’ve seen are close to the new car package price. Someone who leases could make out better subscribing to services for a 3 year lease.

I’ve passed on many cars because they didn’t have a heat or cooled seats and other tech options. The car makers said it’s cheaper to make all the cars similar than to remove heated seat components.

The end game is EVs where it’s chock full of subscriptions a dealer can enable.