I’ve been thinking about upgrading my car. I don’t mean the mechanics or body. I mean the in-car electronic systems.
Let me explain. The year my car was released the manufacturer saw fit to install an SD card reader with an upper storage limit that was only a few MB above the current version of the TomTom navigation and head unit software. So the original owner was unable to upgrade the software without replacing the SD card reader. So the in-dash navigation unit keeps referring to turns and roundabouts that are no longer there.
Looking into the upgrade options, I could replace the SD card reader at considerable cost, then pay for the latest TomTom software for my head unit, which is now considered old tech. Or I could replace the entire head unit with a third-party Android unit avoiding the need to pay TomTom anything.
In addition to the head unit, the security system is also considered out-dated and even hackable. Like a Samsung mobile the manufacturer of my car abandoned support after several years and after realising there was a serious security flaw that could not be fixed cheaply. So they just fixed it in the next model.
And don’t get me started on the sound system, AC, and in-car illumination.
Upgrading modern cars feels more like upgrading your PC, only way more expensive and complex. And I’m not even talking about electric cars!