this post was submitted on 08 Aug 2025
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I don't live in the US but the last time I rented a car there the UI was festooned with functionality for Sirius XM that couldn't be removed or hidden. Not small icons, but big fucking chunks of the screen. I find this kind of thing intolerable. It's one thing to plug a service but if people don't want it, then hide it away and don't nag them about it ever again.
I've driven many makes of vehicles and never seen this. Sure the buttons are there but just like the AM)FM. Or you don't want them their at all it's just an audio source and purchase a vehicle without satellite radio they still exist.
This was a Toyota RAV 4 IIRC and despite the vehicle having no subscription to this thing, it occupied the right hand side of the infotainment system and was prominent in the menus too. I had the car for nearly a month and I played around in the settings but saw no way of getting rid of it.
I think the issues is that you can't pick and choose exactly what you want in your new vehicle. You can't say, get just a simple AM/FM radio and get bluetooth. You buy a package of accessories.
So if you want just that simple radio, not only don't you get the bluetooth, but you have to give up the power seats and windows too. It's an all or nothing choice.
There was a time you would order your new car with individual accessories and then a couple of months to get it. I'm pulling for Slate to be successful and bring that freedom of choice back.