Dan 

Question of the day...

Polestar is having a sale. I can download 70 extra horsepower (400 -> 470) for $1,000.

I have no interest in this. Maybe if it were like $250 I would do it just for fun.

How much would you pay for 70 more horsepower?

Mar 16 at 11:44pmWeb
Show threadDen of EarthMar 16
@dan
I think it really depends on how much you already have. If you were starting from 110 for example, an extra 70 would make quite the difference, and perhaps well worth it. But when you already have 400, well... That's more than most muscle cars ever had in the seventies.
Show threadDan Mar 16
@DenOfEarth Oh absolutely, if I could instantly make the Volvo 240 go from 114HP to 184 I might pay a grand. Its still a little steep.
Show threadDen of EarthMar 16
@dan
Arguably the same cost and less complex than bolting on a blower?
Show threadDan Mar 17
@DenOfEarth yeah thats probably about right, and I have't strapped a blower to it yet.
Show threadNathan Avots-SmithMar 16
@dan oof. I invested a buttload of my time and more money than I care to calculate giving my wagon a ~36 HP boost via engine swap, but there was a cooked transmission involved, too, so that's gotta count for something to mitigate my apparent insanity...
Show threadJason LefkowitzMar 16
@dan I couldn't resist
Show threadJames CMar 16

@dan I know that's a thing now, but I'm offended by the idea of paying to unlock capabilities the car already has. Especially if it already has 400hp.

If it was 200 -> 300, maybe. 18% improvement? Nah.

Show threadDan Mar 16

@mack505 Another weird twist is that I have a 2022 model year with the "performance pack" the 2023 performance pack cars already have this software installed.

So they nerfed the car so they could give a model year update..

Show threadJames CMar 17
@dan Companies have done that with ICE too, but somehow I'm more offended when software is involved. If I had to take it to a dealer to have them 'upgrade' it, I might like the idea better. The fact that they can turn it on remotely means they are restricting it remotely.
Show threadDan Mar 17
@mack505 you could argue that most modern turbo charged engines could probably be reprogrammed to give little power. I wonder how many could push the update remotely?
Show threadScott VE3QBZMar 16
@dan $1000 to change a variable in a piece of software seems steep.
Show threadDanMar 17

@dan i can't imagine you'd get that money back on resale and 400 to 470 might not be very noticeable depending on what the power delivery curve is like.

i'm with you, low three figures is the most i'd consider. especially since it's just an OTA upgrade. feels like paying to defeat DRM.

Show threadDan Mar 17
@dank It does make the acceleration curve more aggressive which is what people with the update claim is the main advantage. It also unlocks launch control if you're into that kinda thing.
Show threadThatKomputerKat Mar 17
@dan on a car with 400hp already? Nothing.
Show threadFaraiweMar 17

@dan recap.

You buy a car. You paid for it. It's yours, in your driveway/garage.

And you need to pay more to unlock features. That are already there. In the car. That you bought, paid for.

Show threadDan Mar 17

@faraiwe I basically agree with this, let me play devil's advocate.

Basically every modern car, especially those with a turbo charger could be programmed to provide more power. (and sometimes manufacturers offer this service) The trade off would be more gas burned, more emissions and potentially less reliability. With an EV there are fewer tradeoffs. Are manufactures really obligated to give you the highest horsepower version of your car possible?

Show threadFaraiweMar 17

@dan devil don't need advocate.

Wrong is wrong.

Show threadkeithMar 17

@dan another way of asking is "how much would you pay for 17.5% more horsepower?"

for me, nothing. none of my cars could take advantage of it. it'd also require upgrades to (at least) the suspension and braking which in this hypothetical i don't think are included.

Show threadJohnMar 17
@dan in my youth I paid for a GTI mod that might have only given me 15. Starting from 85 iirc.
Show threadMake Subaru Gay AgainMar 17
@dan i would pirate it or wait until someone cracks it. paying for it only encourages shitty behavior and farther enshitifaction
Show threadDan Mar 17
@makesubarugayagain but then you wouldn't get the little grill badge that tells everyone you paid $1,000 for a software update.
Show threadMake Subaru Gay AgainMar 17
@dan buy the badge off ebay
Show threadBasmithartsMar 17
@makesubarugayagain @dan I remember waiting for 12hrs for 70hp to download off Napster in 2001.
Show threadMake Subaru Gay AgainMar 17
@Basmitharts @dan could have waited a few more years and got emule and downloaded the entire horsepower discography in 1 click
Show threadDelta SierraMar 17

@dan I spent about $2300 once to add a turbocharger to a NA car (including tuning). That got me about 110HP. Spent $650 to add about 30HP to a different car (tuning only).

I would *never* spend money for a manufacturer to effectively flip a toggle from "off" to "on". $10 would be too much, IMO. The idea that a manufacturer can take a 470HP EV drivetrain, nerf it to 400HP, then sell the upgrade a year or three later feels really slimy. Not behavior I'd like to encourage.

But then, I like the hands-on aspect of working on vehicles!

Show threadYuggyMar 17
@dan
Would there be any range increase due to an increase in efficiency? If the range increase was, say, +10% then that would have more value.
Show threadZarkyMar 17
@dan in that case, you already own the horsepower, and they have locked it behind a paywall. The only answer here is "hack it"
Show threadDan Mar 17

@zarky Idk if you can hack the performance software, but you can fairly easily “hack” some other features. Most notably the pixel headlights. A feature turned off because of some dumb US regulations.

When the car is out of warranty I plan on turning that on.

Show threadZarkyMar 17
@dan im fairly sure the "performance" mode is also something you can enable, but i dont own one. I heard that from some other owners
Show threadMoseMar 17
@dan a P2 remains on my short list for $next_car if I ever do the work to get the Birkin sold and moved on. I've always considered the Performance Software Upgrade an assumed part of owning the car, but that's partially because I'm hurting for parking spaces to fit a practical daily and something silly. I'd want the P2 to autocross, tow, haul bikes, drive on a lake, pick up relatives from the airport and road trip.
Show threadDan Mar 17
@mose I’m biased but the P2 is about the best bargain out there for a performance sedan. Obviously you’re aware of the range limitations and the software is far from flawless. But overall I’ve been really happy with it.
Show threadJason LefkowitzMar 17
@dan Is the upgrade transferable to the next owner if/when you sell the car on? Or is it tied to you personally? I could see a better case for the upgrade if it bumps up the resale value
Show threadDan Mar 17
@jalefkowit Yes the upgrade is attached to the VIN and stays with the car.
Show threadRootWyrm 🇺🇦Mar 17
@dan I already fucking paid for it. Everyone at every manufacturer involved in shit like this should be drawn and quartered.
Show threadZepMar 17
@dan depends on context, if I made stupid money where I could build a Forza/Gran Turismo car IRL without feeling any burn then of course I would do that, however I have a poor man's mentality so if I have a perfectly reliable working car I don't see the appeal of burning money to make said car into a permanent fiddly project that wastes track/race time in the paddock