Subscribe to Your Vehicle? 

As long as vehicles worth owning are being built (and sold), I prefer ownership. Subscribe to the boat, man... priorities!

The little guy will never benefit from this. You have a great channel!

Not interested , freedom of ownership is my choice. Freedom to choose is my answer.

I guess it's a very viable option for a lot of people... Just not we gearheads... I like taking stuff apart, fixing it. A subscription model is not for me

I'm not interested in "renting" or borrowing/subscribing to a car. I like owning my cars because I have pride of ownership. I have two cars and both are over 20 years old and both have over a quarter million miles on them (Toyotas). They may outlast me. If they don't, I WILL NOT buy a new car. They're crap that is overcomplicated and have increased probability of failure. Instead, I will try to keep them in good condition and should they cost too much to repair, I'll replace them with a used car. Ideally, that would be "grandpa's car" that I often see at a local college weekend lot sale with 80K miles on it for about 7 or 8K. Likely a Lexus or a Toyota. No thanks to new cars. Too much cost, too much unnecessary crap.

The ability to choose is all I care about

The tax, based on milage, is already in effect. In PA it's called the "Motor Fuel Tax".

I see how this is a good idea. I also feel like we should have a choice in whether we want to own. And I feel exactly the same as you on current vehicles. I’m someone that has an emotional connection to my vehicle (if that makes sense.) Every vehicle I own currently have been something that was in good solid condition, but needed a little TLC or repair to make them “right.” And getting something like that, fixing it myself, and driving it daily, is a satisfaction I feel every time I drive that I wouldn’t feel if I went and bought a brand new perfect vehicle. And literally has saved me thousands of dollars.

I can see that if Im old but for now I really like owning my own. Its mine,I fix it, if I cant I find a mechanic but its mine.But i get it as for budget. Unexpected repairs are a huge drag

People should have a choice whether want to have a subscription to a service for whatever vehicle they want temporarily at the time. If people want to own their own vehicle whether is gas, diesel, hybrid, hydrogen or electric vehicle is their choice.

You need to go talk to the long line of people trying to get out of their time share vacation rentals to see how that worked out! And that's just for their vacations - not primary transportation to get to work, take the kids to school, grocery shop, medical appointments and on & on. Yeah always sounds great (they're still selling time shares on vacation properties) but the reality isn't always so rosy. Gotta love the "social engineers" don't ya?

You barely own a lot of things you buy these days. You can buy movies, music, video games, etc, through digital media services (Amazon Prime, XBox Live, etc), and then can usually only use those things within those confines. If one day those services no longer exist, that's too bad. Similarly, a lot of the expensive software suites like Microsoft Office or Photoshop are via yearly subscriptions. The concept of ownership has become very gray over the last couple of decades. I can totally see cars becoming the same way considering how software-oriented they're becoming. They will make up some excuse of how it's better for the customer, they always do, when in reality it's all about growing the bottom line.

As long as it's only an option for some people instead of a law for all people. I could agree

Maybe fuel, registration, tolls, maintenance would be baked into the monthly fee. Or maybe the companies that provide the service will simply find a way to push these expenses back on the licensee in addition to the monthly costs in the way of "other fees".

This idea is no different than renting a house or apartment. You are alleviated from responsibility in many ways but end up spending more and ending up with nothing.

"You will own nothing, and you will be happy." Sound familiar?

Timeshare for vehicles? Not for me but I could see it happening

I can understand some benefits of the vehicle subscription services because say you want a car to get around town you can have one. If you are moving house of whatever you can get a van or pickup to move stuff. Say maybe you want a weekend ride, get a motorcycle for the weekend. That sounds like fun. One downside of that is that you have no control of who else uses those vehicles, so wear and tear, other people's general grossness. Having your own vehicle that you own you have full control over it and you know it inside out because you are the only one that uses it.

The future you describe sounds like a living hell.

What you're describing, Eric, resembles a lease. And, no, for most car owners, it's not a good deal.

For a good majority of people (especially in urban environments that you mention) this really does make a lot of sense. Here's another dimension to look at. I used to drive for Uber. During that time I drove another Uber driver around and we got to talking. He stated that he ran a fleet of cars in the Atlanta area. He scooped up some older Civics and Corollas and "hired" drivers for them. Each driver paid $500 a month to use the car for both their Uber duties, as well as personal use. In return, he took care of all the insurance and maintenance/repairs (the drivers were of course on the hook for gas). The drivers ended up loving it, as they didn't have to do anything other than footing the gas and usage bills. The owner did well, as he was guaranteed $2500 a month (he had a fleet of 5). Maintenance/repairs and insurance was more than covered by what he made a month. It was a win-win for all parties.

Software as a Service is already the prevalent model. Hardware as a Service is going to come, but I can still hate it. If subscription cars exist, the model works for sporadic use as needed for uninspiring transportation. If you need a car on a regular basis, the investment makes sense. At least for me, my car turned 19 this year.

Basically that is what a leased vehicle is.

If the cost of the subscription is less than ownership (purchase, registration, repair, registration, etc...), I'm all for it.

One thing I've learned during my long life is that any time any company makes a change you can usually bet that it's not for your benefit, it's because they've figured out another way to squeeze another nickle out of you. Oh, they'll tell you it's to help you but in reality they won't make a change if it costs THEM money, just you. Taking a positive step forward does not equal having to pay for 2 in other "fees". Watch out for the smoke and mirrors.

I think its a great idea for some. I still would like the option to own. As a mechanic myself, I love working on my own vehicles. Thanks Eric! Your channel always makes my day.

People should do whatever works best for them. I can definitely see the appeal of a subscription service in an urban environment. But those of us who grew up owning and fixing our own vehicles may have a hard time with this major change... but it can be done! :D Thanks Eric for another good video.

Isn't leasing a kind of subscription?

I am fine with this as long as it is not mandated or forced onto people. But I am also not a fan of subscriptions. If everything is a subscription, you at the whim of others.

I guess the main problem I have with the idea is what I have learnt through my life. That is in my experience when someone else owns the product, whatever that may be, it is they who dictate its worth. Usually in my opinion they never value it fairly or indeed in my favour. Why is that? because they want to make money and a profit for themselves or shareholders. If I own it I have choices. In the example of car maintenance or ownership I can pay what I can afford. That might be for new, budget or second hand for example. I might even decide to sell and make a profit that would be mine?

I much rather own an old Chevy truck that I've put heart and soul into maintaining and pay the unexpected auto repairs (or do the work myself) and be late to the office than be in favor swapping out for another subscription vehicle that someone else may or may not have taking the same level of care as I would. For people who just need a A-to-B transport, yeah, sure, whatever. That's not my life style. A _personal_ vehicle is a mechanized familiar to me and is an extention of the body and soul. If something happens to a subscription vehicle where a part needs replacing, well maybe I do want it to be my problem because I know I can do A+ work. There's too many cheap machanics who ignore details or just choose to be oblivious. I'd never want any vehicle that's been in my possision be subjugated to mistreatment from someone else. I'm harping a lot on sentimental value here, but that's just how I see things that become a physical or mental extension of my senses.

A friend already has this business except for boats. It is basically a timeshare of boat ownership. In the case of boats it makes a lot of sense because enjoying a boat is fun but actually owning one (and taking care of it) is a PITA and not cheap. As for the same approach with cars, I am not as sure of the advantages. Because people just won’t be as careful with something they don’t own. Shoot, people don’t even take proper care of cars they actually own anyway.

Today I can drive a luxury car I own outright, that’s been paid off for more than ten years. A subscription would be more costly than what I have today as it’d almost certainly only have late model vehicles. I don’t need the newest of the new to be happy and don’t really care for having an ongoing car payment. That said, I agree there’s a market for it. There are plenty of people out there that only see vehicles as transportation and also always need the newest.

if it's more affordable than leasing, then ok, otherwise it makes no sense. Unless you need different types of vehicles depending on what your needs are.

For a lot of people, things like self-driving cars and vehicle subscriptions will be perfectly viable. _(and IMO some people need self-driving cars, because they suck at driving)_ But I also believe that driving your own car needs to be an option.

Hello Eric. I don't really watch much for repair videos anymore. But, I do really like this ETCG1 format. It has become quite a pleasant way to spend my lunch time!

This type of subscription sounds kinda like a rental car type thing. Like Hertz or Enterprise, but more long-term

I would argue that in a lot ways we are already to that point. Most people do not own their cars and never fully will. The banks own them and once the consumer is tired of the car they trade it in on a new car payment.

In the UK we're moving towards this type of car usage already. Personal leasing is now very popular. Where people get a brand new car, drive to for a few years then swap for a new one. They never own the car, just pay to use it and the lease company holds the title. It's something I may consider doing then I'm finally forced to scarp my 2003 diesel. There will come a point when new cars can't be DIY fixed and will need very expensive repairs in authorized shops.

Wow I knew this one was going to be a great topic! I'm confronted by all sides. Not really on the subscription part but the mileage tax most are talking about. I drive a prius to work at 48 mpgs. My work truck is a 95 chevy 1500 at 15 mpgs. At the same distance cost me $17 dollars for the week in the car compared to $45 on the truck at $2.45. Now it is $3.18 So thinking a little about that the tax should go more to the hybrid and EV group since they actually do NOT actually pay there full in the gas tax. There is still a lot to figure out and I'm sure it will never matter or be right. Just now I had to replace the hybrid battery and the abs accumulator which total around $2,500. The car will save that in about a year and a half.

Yeah, I agree with you. It certainly is a very possible and likely direction the automotive industry will take. However, even if it does go that way, I think buying cars will still be an option. Primarily used cars. After all, if cars do become a service, the companies will likely sell off the older cars with high mileage and are past their "service life". Of course, this will likely cause the price of buying a car flat out to go up in cost drastically.

Lets remember, 99% of people who own cars are not "car people", they just like there car because it transports them. To have the use of a car but not the worry of owning one, this is perfect for them.

I see it as an option in the future, especially for people that don't care for learning to maintain a vehicle. But it won't kill off vehicle ownership.

It’s exactly like renting a home/apartment. You pay rent and don’t have to worry about extra expensive of a home.

This opens the door to other issues if you can subscribe to a vehicle why not a house that will deny a freedom and then you’ll pay for something that you’ll never own.

I just bought a 2021 Honda Accord LX and I love this car. The idea of a subscription is a smart idea.

To me the biggest problem with vehicle ownership is that we build our neighborhoods to be vehicle reliant. Residential and business is rarely mixed outside of major cities. Highways are built through the middle of town, with no separate bike and pedestrian path. We need people friendly infrastructure.

I don’t think it will work out. A subscription service for cars. The company would loose so much money. Cars depreciate in value, repair costs are astronomical, and registration is too. It will either not work because they loose money or become so expensive it’s not worth it. Reminds me of movie pass, they went under because they lost money.

How I see it is owning my vehicles make them mine. However, given that I am mechanically inclined, I own all my vehicles, maintain them myself, and enjoy having the freedom of using my vehicles at my leisure. For those who may not want to deal with maintenance and repairs, this may be the way to go with subscription services. I love theses conversations that you bring up, however! Great discussions going on with you and the comments! It’s like the old saying goes - to each their own.

Vehicle subscription - Colleges and universities kinda do this already. Meaning, the students usually rent cars to get around in a similar fashion, at least that’s how my daughter did it before purchasing her own vehicle. There are pros and cons to both sides. Pros: as Eric stated, you don’t have to worry about car repairs or maintenance, etc. Based on your cost, you could potentially have access to vehicles you otherwise don’t have now. No concerns about registration, inspection, etc. Cons: You’re always paying a fee. Will the availability always be available? Can something such as a pandemic affect availability? COVID!!! I rent waaaaay less than I used too, largely because I don’t want to risk potential infection due to an unsanitized vehicle; which this suggested market would really require! Finally, this new means of travel could potentially eliminate the DIY hobbiest. I actually look forward to wrenching on my old vehicle(s) post retirement. I’d hate to have to pay a fee for that, especially on a then fixed income! Just my humble opinions. 😉👍🏽

No more tax....

Unfortunately, that monthly subscription would be costly so there will be no incentive to go that route

It's a great idea for many people. Imagine in the world of autonomous driving that the vehicle type you request (truck, sporty, highway cruiser) shows up at your door when needed. After you are done with it, it drives off for someone else's use, rather than sitting in a garage or lot for 90% of it's life. Also, consider travel. There is no reason for the insane expense of rental cars any more. Your same subscription should be able to provide a car at the airport for your use, just as at your home. None of this needs to replace ownership, if you want. You should still be able to buy that '67 427 corvette, while using the subscription for the grocery getter or commute car (unless the corvette is your grocery getter, which makes things a little confused:-)

I used to clean cars that belonged to the "service" you speak of. The service is great for cities, yes, but there are some major downsides too. The service has "dead zones", and if you shut the car off in these zones, you won't be able to start it again and leave. There is also the possibility that there won't be a car nearby to check into, so you can't always count on them being there when you need them. Yeah, it's a lot less cost, and for some that may work out fine, but it would drive me insane to not have something around to rely on and start whenever or wherever. Pick your poisons I guess.

Choice is key. I am car poor right now, and in another year when a family member moves back home there'll be two more cars to deal with. Right now I have a grocery getter and a pick up for the occasional hauling of "you name it." I also have my "toy" I hope to have on the road soon. If I could keep the toy, get rid of the other two vehicles and have the flexibility to have a grocery getter one day and a pick up truck for projects on the weekend, that may not be all bad. It'll free up space in the driveway and "may" reduce my over all cost of vehicle ownership. Plus, I'm getting weary of maintenance issues on cars/trucks all the time. Having something always reliable to drive may not be all bad. I guess time will tell.

Even though I do see the auto industry moving towards a subscription service, it's already a thing, I personally don't want it! Everyone that leases a vehicle is pretty much doing the same thing but I can't leave anything stock. So for us that like to modify this isn't OK, for those that use vehicles for nothing more then transportation, I can see it working well.

You have vision. It is obvious you have been thinking about this and I agree that many people would agree with you. People lease because they like a new car every three years and the maintenance is often included. Things are changing so fast that you get the most current technology and safety features. Yes, you pay for it. The future electric or hybrid cars are old news in 3 or 4 years like computers or cell phones. Many people with a little mechanical skill will choose to tinker and get great satisfaction and you will be right there helping with your videos. Thanks.

I completely agree. I think as soon as cars become actually self driving there will be a boom in cars as a service. And I think for the average person it will be a better option than purchasing a vehicle.

As much as us car junkies like our own vehicle to fix/mod/drive as we please. I agree that this is a possibility for the future. We already see it in the software side of things. A lot of programs (office, premier, etc) are already a subscription service vs being able to own a lifetime license to said version you bought, and I hate that. I'd rather purchase the software and have it for life. But the software business model changed and people bought into the idea and now pretty much all new software is subscription base. Lots of other things are moving that way also no matter how much a group/majority may complain. So I definitely see something like this in the future.

Thanks Eric ... it IS my birthday :) My niece worked for Toyota and MANY years ago they had a seminar about Toyota looking into this very thing - autonomous cars that you hire on a trip by trip basis. In Europe Citroen AMI is this very thing !

I've only had one vehicle that paid payments on. Paid a brand new truck off in 2 years. I did every single Auto Repair until the age of 35. I don't like paying payments for things every month.

As i have heard on Timcast IRL many times the big companies want a future of "you will own nothing and be happy"

Vehicle subscription is already a thing here in Switzerland, for all the reasons you mention in this video. Carvolution for example. Give people choice. If it works it's because it fills a need in the market.

In my current situation (retired with a fixed income of approximately $975 per month), I doubt that I would ever be able to afford a vehicle subscription. In the same way, I will never be able to purchase a new vehicle (which I would never do anyway) or for that matter, even a used one. I'm just praying that my car (1996 Dodge Intrepid 3.5L, 307,000 miles) doesn't die until after I do. Otherwise, my only option will likely be public transportation.

I agree that for urban settings, the monthly service idea could be a viable option. I live and work in a semi-rural area and that wouldn't be practical here. My concern as vehicles get more complicated to repair, I don't know how the automotive industry will manage this on a dealership level. Watching South Main Auto, Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics, Scanner Danner, and you, the parts cannons will be working overtime and vehicles still not getting repaired. There needs to be a shift in thinking in the repair industry to actually troubleshoot problems (i.e. learning to use diagnostic tools properly) instead of just using a code reader to figure out a problem. Until then, this will be a difficult reality to achieve. Just my 2 cents. Keep up the great work Eric!

Thank you for talking sense on this topic. There’s a lot of bloviating about this whole notion of subscription, but it’s simply the direction *many* industries are going to - companies realize they can be more financially stable with more or less guaranteed steady monthly income, instead of worrying about attracting a ton of one-time sales each month. Back when most folks in the US bought a new car every few years, sales were more frequently recurring… but with people keeping cars longer and longer, that business model just gets less viable as time goes on. It’s simply market forces at work. It’s what the music industry has shifted to, and that took almost no time: who buys albums or even individual songs anymore? Very few compared to, say, a decade ago. No, many people subscribe to a streaming service. Now, will car sharing supplant having a dedicated vehicle per person or household? I really doubt it, certainly not anytime soon in this country. Until full self driving cars become a thing where the vehicle can move itself around (which is a looong way off), people outside cities aren’t gonna want to give up the convenience of having a car in their driveway when they want to use it. But I do think individual vehicle subscriptions are gonna become more popular. Volvo already has this with the XC40, and it even comes with insurance! Pretty sure it also covers registration and taxes as well, along with maintenance. All you need is a license and be willing (and credit approved) to pay the monthly fee. It’s just basically a lease with extras, and I expect there are a lot of people out there who would prefer the convenience of a subscription rather than having to deal with titling, registering, taxing, insuring, inspecting, and maintaining a vehicle themselves. I could even see myself eventually signing up, for a daily driver, if it made financial sense… and somebody built a vehicle I was interested in driving (which isn’t exactly the case right now). But vehicle ownership isn’t going away either, so I really don’t see the point of getting hysterical about this. Even if all new cars become subscription only (which itself is really doubtful, at least in the near future), companies will still need to unload “pre-subscribed” (or used) cars. They won’t want to be liable for maintenance on something that’s past a certain age or mileage, so they’ll sell it, just like a rental company. And if you do want to take on that liability, you’ll be free to buy it. Just like how it works now.

I really appreciate your thoughts on this. I'm okay with most of what the future holds when it comes to this topic as long as consumers are given viable options, rather than forced into a very specific path. If people can own and repair their own vehicles as well as have the option of a subscription or lease, I think that's great. Auto shops will still get business from those subscription vehicles needing maintenance and people can choose what their investment is.

The internal combustion engine is already taxed by mileage/usage. It's called the gas tax, you pay it up front at the pump. Then the government takes the tax on vehicles using the roads and spends it to subsidize the money losing public transportation.

Totally agree with you. In my opinion most cars now are not designed to last more than 5 maybe 10 years

Market competition is all good. But do not doubt for a second that the gov’t will start putting in legislation defining what vehicle options will be available. Also, with smart vehicle tech, things like driving range, location tracking, driving habits, speed, etc can be easily controlled. Social Credit kind of stuff. Vehicles have always captivated me because they are a form of freedom.

We have a carbon tax on gasoline here in Ontario Canada and I do NOT understand why it exists ……besides feeding the Govn money. Where does this carbon tax go and what does it do ? …… I bet ya it does nothing for the environment !

If car manufacturers want to make their vehicles unrepairable and unmaintainable by most normal people, it would make sense that they should end up also taking ownership of the problems they cause. Going for a "vehicle-on-demand" type business model once self-driving is sufficiently mature seems like the most logical next step 10-15 years from now. (Yes, I do think we're still at least that far off from FSD graduating from student license.)

You do pay a tax for internal combustion engines when you buy fuel. The issue is finding a way to tax EVs, here in OH you pay a $200 fee on top of your registration for electric vehicles.

I think it's a great idea- it would make one monthly payment instead of several payments plus the unexpected breakdowns that need money. I love my older vehicles but this would also be an option I'd on board for- I've rented cars and don't really care what kind of car I have as long as it runs in that case.

i have a 2003 accord it has a ruff idle and engine is shaking and it wot rev over 5k rpm like its on limp mode

"Back in the day" many of us learned early in life to turn a wrench and become interested in things mechanical, and really looked forward to owning and driving a car. That attutude has fallen off just like many high school vocational classes. I have leased cars and rented housing, always looking forward to ownership, and the end of paying on said properties. For instance, one advantage of ownership is that you have more control of what you own - like Eric having his own garage and not having to yield to the whims of landlords. The same with cars - while leasing a nice vehicle, I was constantly aware that I had to limit my mileage and be concerned that the car would be in tip top condition at the end of lease. Car makers would rather lend you their car than sell it because it is more profitable FOR THEM. Eric is not a "commie" for seeing that a high percentage of today's yout and others may just want to subscribe to possessing a fully covered car. Also known as leasing isnt it?

In Kentucky, vehicle tax is a usage tax. You also pay mileage tax through fuel taxes.

Kits a good idea. Leasing is a similar idea. Would be cool to rent an apartment and it came with a fleet of vehicles.

Problem with that is people in rural areas will be charge more due to longer commute eg more wear and tear on the cars

None of us are going to have to worry about it if the computer chip shortage continues much longer. Pretty soon, we're all going to be hoofing it. Hummm, wait a minute, am I going to have to get a subscription for those tennis shoes?

To me it kinda sounds like the same concept of renting vs buying a home; which as you said, makes more sense in densely populated urban areas and not so much in rural parts of the country. People that rent don’t have to deal with repairing most things in the home, most of the insurance that come with home ownership, all the taxes… etc. etc. the list goes on. Renters just pay their monthly “subscription fee” and they get to live there. When they move out (i.e. hand over the keys), they just gotta take their stuff and leave it in a reasonable condition for the next person. You might argue that’s the same as leasing a car, but this “subscription” concept does have a market, IMO… Let’s say you have a 30+ min commute 5 days a week, you would want an economy car for that, have a big date on the weekend? Well, swap it out for nice luxury sedan for 2 days. Got a big diy project coming up or you’re moving? Swap it out for a van or truck. There’s definitely possibilities for it’s application.

This is a good topic, albeit quite debatable from an emotional spectrum. I think you nailed it with urban vs suburban vs rural incentives. Personal choice is probably the key to making most folks happy, but it will likely come down to cost and a person's willingness to pay based on their area's population density. An urban location like New York City is crazy cost-prohibitive so shared vehicles incentivizes folks to do it. The tax method may be too overhanded IMO.

You lost you on taxing people on millage. That hurts everyone.

I live in a rural area where this might not work but I go to Boston a lot and I can see where this could be a good option

I am a car guy and I'm a professional mechanic and I love my job, that being said I can't wait for this! I live in the suburbs and work in a city and I would love if a self-driving electric vehicle could just pick me up in the morning and then go to somebody else and then get me from work and bring me home!! I would pay for a subscription to do that in a heartbeat I wouldn't even think about it! That being said I also need a truck for doing home repairs and towing my boat but I would gladly pay for a subscription to use a truck when I need it and then let somebody else use it when I didn't because honestly I don't need a truck to get from home to work and back. Also as a mechanic I hate working on my own shit and it would be amazing if it could be somebody else's problem!!

"You will own nothing and be happy" -Klaus Schwab.

The subscription model and improved long distance mass transit could also go a long way to realistically transition to an electric only future because it solves the battery range problem. If you need to travel more than 200 miles, then take a train, or a plane and when you get to your destination then your sub service has a car there waiting for you. There is no range anxiety if you don't drive for the 2-3 times a year you need to travel long distances. The biggest holdbacks are building enough high speed mass transit to make it economically feasible and breaking the North American's obsessive need to drive long distances. Imagine living in Chicago and you want to visit Grandma in Florida. You hop in your sub car, drive to the train station, turn the car into your Sub service's depot, hop a high speed direct train to Tampa, get there in half the time of driving, then pick up a sub car at the Tampa depot and drive the rest of the way to Grandma's house. No range anxiety, no need for the car to have a 1000 miles of range.

I'm fine with the idea of a subscription based model or really any even more "radical" changes to our transportation industry, especially the urban side of things like you mentioned. There is one 'but' to that and I think you already mentioned it, which is that I want to be sure gearheads or really any degree of enthusiasts like us can still enjoy our cars and our hobbies, that we can still work on our cars that we choose to own and modify them to our liking. Again, I think a huge majority of people who are on the road know very little about their car and don't get nearly as picky about all of the things that we enthusiasts paid attention to. If it has 2 pedals, a steering wheel, and some degree of amenities/entertainment, and it doesn't break down or have problems (regular maintenance applied, that is) than that's all that they need.

The people screaming Communism probably aren't the crowd that are going to buy the "protecting the environment reasoning" lol. But you're spot on. We already see how car manufactures have slimmed down costs on building cars to keep them affordable... but they've sacrificed quality. They could build $80-100k quality vehicles for subscriptions that'll last longer and be safer without expecting one person to pay for it. The step after this is going to be the self driving aspect when you order a car and it shows up to take you to your destination!

I’m good with this model - for everybody else. Not worried about EVs, not stressed about the communists, but I am concerned about having the vehicle I need available to me when I need it. “I’m sorry, there are no pickup trucks available until after the first of the month,” doesn’t work for me.

The biggest problem I would have is that anything manufactured after the 90s is not produced to last more than 10 years so they cost for a year per person would have to cover the cost of a new car another problem is that you wouldn’t be able to customize it to meet everyone’s personality

I didn’t like it when software went to a subscription model (thanks, Adobe) and I don’t like it for vehicle “ownership”, either. Sometimes, that model makes sense (phones, cable TV), but not always. If you don’t own the vehicle, that’s more legalese they can jam into the “sales” contract; of course, you won’t be able to read it or understand it all. Next thing you know, you find out you’re not using “your” vehicle in a “legal” manner and you’re in some kind of hot water. No, thank you. Also, if the vehicle is theirs, you can bet there’ll be more tracking devices on it than currently, so they can (not saying they will, but they can) see where you go, how fast you’re driving, etc. Again, no thanks. Just take my money, give me my vehicle, and go away until I need you again.

You are smart man, I am with you.

A few companies offer a car subscription where I live, and from what I've heard it's quite convenient for the customers. Sure, you pay more per month than if you bought the car, but you don't have to worry about maintenance and repairs (unless you crash of course), and you can return it whenever you want. We also have several car sharing apps, with both private owned cars (like Airbnb) and from dealerships, and this is super convenient. No need to contact the expensive car rental companies if you just need a van for a few hours. And if the tank was almost empty when you got the car, and you fill it up, you're reimbursed at a higher price than pump price for the inconvenience (that way they don't have to pay a person to fill it up).

Personally would not want things to go that way. Main concern for me is the availability, is there a car available when I need it. Now, I know at any time of the day I grab my keys and get in my car as I wish. Other thing is the idea of shared vehicle would have been taboo last year during the height of the pandemic and quarantine, nobody would have wanted to share a vehicle with countless strangers.

This should be compared to housing. You get two choices: buy or rent. Nobody rents because they "want" to. And it's always no matter what a worse deal than if you owned the place. I'm a landlord, and I charge way too much for rent, and there isn't anything anybody can do about it, due to market conditions in my area there is little competition. There are other landlords, but we're more like friends than competition, we keep our prices similar. There is more than enough for everybody. Same thing for cars. Not owning it is always always always going to be a better deal for the company who does own it, than it is for the customer. My tenants pay roughly twice the cost per month in rent that they would have to pay in mortgage if they owned the property. These companies did not start because it's a good thing for the consumer, they started because it's a good thing for them. I can assure you anything you think you don't have to pay for, is simply included in the price. (registration, insurance, etc) Don't like expensive surprises? Put $50/month in a savings account instead of wasting it on a worthless service. With that said, I drive a 20 year old pickup, I could afford a fancy new one with a warranty and a payment, but I'd rather pay $0. My tenants usually have nicer cars than I do, and a payment, what does that say about them? The system you describe here is simply bad money management, no other way to look at it.

Almost got a bday wish from etcg1. Missed it by a few days but im taking it. Lol. 38 on 22nd. Been using your vids for years

ETCG1 i 10000%agree you shouldnt have to worry about transportation expenses i would do it because i see this solving a lot of problems like not affording certain things in life and this should absolutely become a thing at first i was like meh now that you went deeper into this subject it sounds fantastic

You are probably right, in that services like this probably will be a thing in one way or another. On the other hand, there are already several examples of ride sharing services that fall apart due to the absolute crap the cars are put through. When nobody owns them, nobody cares. A notable quite recent example was a ride sharing service in Paris, France. OK, it was partly a public service, in that Paris funded a part of it. Also, the cars were all small EVs (which of course makes sense in central Paris). But, in no time at all the cars became filthy, full of garbage, full of cigarette butts etc. Of course, usage dwindled, and it was cancelled. (Pictures of the decommissioned cars have been circulating mostly on forums wanting to bad mouth EVs, but alas, that was not the case with them). In my home town (also in a European country), there was a private ride sharing company with a fleet of BMWs and VWs. As far as I know, they didn't encounter the same issues, but the DID go out of business in about 2 years. So yes, I think these kind of models will exist in some form. But I don't see them taking over in a majority way. Ownership is a strong thing, and most people want to have the feeling of knowing they OWN their car.

Finally! 18th Oct was my birthday, thanks Eric!!