SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Car & Driver and other outlets report on the latest customization available (for a price) when you order a Porsche, https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a31082234/porsche-911-fingerprint-paint-customized/
Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur will print the design on the hood after the 911's production is completed. The hood is removed, the biometric data [from your fingerprint] is processed so that it can't be used illegally, and then a robot paints on the design. Finally, a clear coat is applied, and the hood is polished with a high-gloss finish.
The photos show the fingerprint enlarged to cover roughly half the area of the front hood.
The Autoextremist (where I saw this first) has his own personal take on just how ridiculous this is, http://www.autoextremist.com/current/2020/2/25/another-egregious-exercise-in-egomaniacal-stupidity-brought.html
Porsche is so proud of this development, that the press release goes on and on and on about it, with this gem from Alexander Fabig, Vice President, Individualization and Classic: “Individuality is very important for Porsche customers. And no design can be more personal than your own fingerprint.”
Somehow this reminds me of the old Johnny Carson bit when he said, “I did not know that.”
[...] I feel a nightmare coming on.
I suppose for the now unfortunately stereotypical buyer of a Porsche – you know, the ones who think they should drive a Porsche but can’t for the life of them really tell you why – this new level of self-aggrandizement will be embraced with a fervor akin to getting the best table at the latest “hot” restaurant of the moment. But for the rest of us it’s just another example of Porsche underpinning its very existence by catering to everything but its heritage.
I pity the first fool – I mean the first Porsche buyer sucked in by this unmitigated bullshit – because by actually appearing in public with their fingerprint on the front of their 911, he or she will instantly shout to the world that they’re The Biggest Tool in the Shed, hands-down.
Other designs will be available using the same custom printing process. Your AC submitter is waiting for the first Porsche sporting the Firebird hood decal*... Vinyl reproductions are readily available on the web (under USD$100) but if you want it painted on at Porsche, note that the fingerprint costs about $8000.
* For a couple of hood pics of actual Pontiac Firebird hood graphics, try http://transamcountry.com/community/index.php?topic=48824.0 (page down)
(Score: 3, Informative) by vux984 on Wednesday February 26 2020, @04:57AM (4 children)
Per the article they "process" it so it can't be used for biometrics.
I can't see a lot of people doing this. A few narcissists will do it, but on most cars it'll just lower the resale value when they upgrade. Maybe a movie star or rapper will actually see a positive return, but nobody wants to buy a car with some my or some other rando's fingerprint painted on it.
(Score: 2) by mhajicek on Wednesday February 26 2020, @05:32AM (1 child)
To any observer it's not "your fingerprint", it's "a fingerprint". No one will be able to tell them apart by looking. That makes your "unique" car just like the other ones with "a fingerprint" on the hood. Join the bandwagon.
The spacelike surfaces of time foliations can have a cusp at the surface of discontinuity. - P. Hajicek
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 26 2020, @09:07AM
Let me introduce you to my mechanic.
He will gladly leave his fingerprints in your car.
No extra charge either!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday February 26 2020, @07:40PM (1 child)
Perhaps that's the point? To lower the resale value so they can encourage people to buy a new car instead buying a second hand market one? But I suppose that discourages people from upgrading as well since they can't sell their old one for as much.
(Score: 2) by vux984 on Wednesday February 26 2020, @08:29PM
I really doubt the people who would pay to have their fingerprint painted on the car are thinking about resale value.
If the dealers find that (most) fingerprints do in fact just make the car harder to sell, they'll just lower their trade-in offers on them. That'll give them room to negotiate including "fixxing" it without affecting their margins; or offering them for a bit less / whatever.
I'd personally consider it a defect that makes the car worth less to me, and would likely negotiate they fix (or lower the price enough that i can get fixed elsewhere*) it as part of the sale; same as I'd do for a scratch, dent, or bumper sticker.