Is Hacking Cars a Thing of the Past? 748
"Ever since electronic ignitions, and especially ones controlled by computers, it seems the "hackability" and user-maintainability of cars has been declining. Your neighborhood grease monkey can't do much to a modern car without a bunch of electronic gear interfacing to the car's computer. It's almost a little anti-competitive.
Carbeurators, and the other mechanical systems which were fairly standard and visible and self-evident, really seem to be the equivalent of "open source", while the new computer-based systems seem to be more closed and proprietary. I know in the early days of cars with computers, there were third party ROM upgrades for performance tweaking; I'm guessing that's falling by the wayside more and more, as these systems get more and more complex.
It almost seems like a Microsoft-like statement, to tell you they're doing all of this to reduce theft, while really they're doing it to ensure you are forced into coming back to their dealerships..."
People Still Use Car Alarms? (Score:4, Funny)
Does anyone even use those things anymore?
I mean, let's face it, when you hear a car alarm go off, do you even *LOOK* in that direction? I know I don't.
And even if I saw someone with a jimmy, the hood up, wires sticking out and a
All car alarms do now is annoy people.
Oh and give kids a something to throw snowballs at during winter
- Z
Yeah, i'm pretty pissed off too... (Score:4, Funny)
It's a shame, it really is.
Re:One hint (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Car security! (Score:3, Funny)
with a fancy key required to start it, and yet
you leave the thing running in your driveway,
while you get ready for work!
There's some irony here somewhere, I'm sure.
AC
Re:My Car Alarm Idea... (Score:5, Funny)
Phase 1: *sound of clearing throat then woman's soft voice* Can you sort of leave now before it gets worse for you?
Phase 2: *loud voice but not screaming* "OK, You were warned. Step away from the vehicle, NOW!"
Phase 3: *screaming in woman's voice* "Thief! Thief! Help! Thief!"
Phase 4: *screaming hysterically/shrieking* I'M BEING RAPED! I'M BEING RAPED! HEEEELLLPPP!! HE'S STICKING IT IN MY ASSSS!!! MY ASSSS!!!"
And so it goes.
Re:Car thieves have it all wrong.... (Score:5, Funny)
LOL, thats an interesting assesment. At a local car show I was near the security booth when one man came to report his 1969 camaro was stolen and he couldn't figure out how it was stolen since he had the rotor out of the distributor in his pocket. Literally within 5 minutes another man came in to report that someone stole the rotor out of the distributor on his chevy truck.
If theifs want it, they will take it. They are resourceful and will spend some time under the hood.
Re:other ignition technologies (Score:4, Funny)
10) Natural selection?
Re:Evolution (Score:2, Funny)
Reminded me of the rice boy page. [riceboypage.com]
Re:Car thieves have it all wrong.... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Audi Performance and Racing (Score:4, Funny)
I have far better torque and have beaten every vehicle (whether motorcycle, automobile, truck, or otherwise) off the line and out-paced it for the first 25 meters. Of course that's just in regular city traffic, but occassionally some punk in a fast car tries it. I also get infinite gas mileage. I drive a 1.15 horsepower Schwinn with a 24-speed manual transmission. I could turbocharge it, but I quit caffeine.
Cornering? Braking? 90 degree turn, 15 foot radius, 20 mph (on a daily basis using worn tires).
Re:other ignition technologies (Score:1, Funny)
Re:"Loss of freedom and control" (Score:2, Funny)
Good point. I forget, how many tire changes am I allowed before I have to call home and re-register?
Windows XP: it's basically like being on parole :)