bagwell

Had the A5 in for service over the weekend and got a loaner car Saturday~Monday - I noticed something plugged in the OBD port and examined it later - TMobile wifi acces port - I left it unplugged and asked about it when I returned the car this morning - it's used to track their cars.

thoughts?

Johnhav430

One would think it could more secured than that. I had thought that rental car cos. have all that data, max mph, location, etc.....I don't care unless they are somehow live streaming to the web where I am, my face, etc. I mean in this day an age, any driver of a big rig is being watched down to what music he is playing how fast he is taking a curve, if he touched his cell phone non hands-free, etc., even though I don't like it, I would assume a rental car could do the same....

edit p.s. check it out
https://explore.t-mobile.com/t-mobile-sync-up-drive
p.p.s--$2/mo? What a no-brainer......

bagwell

yep that's it....it's not small - I almost kicked it getting in/out of the car.

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

The car is their property so I don't mind that they can track the car. As Johnhav430 mentioned, i would have an issue if it records you through video though.

For cars that have integrated telecommunications like Lexus Enform for example. If the car is RDR'd or has the sticker from finance in the windshield, you can track the car via SOS Safety Connect. It's a stolen vehicle locator, however a police report must be filed before Lexus will track the car for you.

Aron9000

I have a "friend" who's family owns the good old scumbag "buy here/pay here" used car lot. I don't mean to stereotype, but his whole family is a bunch of Gypsies. Anyways, they've been using this type of technology, lo-jack, GPS tracking, for the past 20 years. Every car the finance(remember they, the dealer finances deadbeats with horrible credit) has a tracker in it. Oh you're a day late on your payment, that's too bad, we have extra keys for your car, we figure out where it is and take our property back. He told me they'd sell, then repossess, then resell the same car 3 or 4 times in the course of a couple of years.

Fizzboy7

It's a good idea. But does it only track where a car goes or how it's been driven? A huge amount of abuse is aimed at rentals and loaners. But the question is, what would the dealer say to the customer as he/she returns a car that has been driven in an unsatisfactory way? Or in other words, what is the consequence?

GiantsFan

iTrader: (9)

Wow $2 a month? I might get it for my own car

Johnhav430

"Mr. Jones, as explained, the reason for the charges of $1,659 is you exceeded 3500 rpm on 9 occasions, and the vehicle was taken up to 83 mph. That, and the pet hairs."

Actually, putting pets in loaners/rentals imho is some serious abuse and that should be tracked. Nothing like getting out of a rental/loaner and pet hair is all over your clothes. I love pets, just not the hair of strangers' pets!

pbm317

I know it's a T-Mobile dongle, but it might also be tied with their insurance, covering a fleet of vehicles with tons of random drivers is ridiculously expensive.

Johnhav430

Just thought of something, anyone notice that with Enterprise (and they are the largest from what I understand), they still have the antiquated way of listing out where the vehicle is allowed to be driven. Usually, the assumption is in the rental state, then maybe 2 neighboring states if it's a metro area. Something like this would allow them to say, you were allowed to operate this vehicle in NY, NJ, and PA. You decided to go to CT, and MA, and had an accident. Therefore, you violated the contract and are liable for the full value of the vehicle. Now, your insurance co. pulls the contract, and concurs that you were in violation, and have no responsibility to you. The device clearly benefits the renting location, and possibly the renter if they are abducted, but that's about it...

bagwell

https://explore.t-mobile.com/t-mobil...k&aam=aam_uuid

Fizzboy7

Eating, drinking, little children/babies, pets, and smoking seem to be the things that cause interior damage. The muscle car rentals get abuse late at night at intersections and red lights.