Re: Dash cams

VanguardLH <[email protected]> Sun, 14 Feb 2021 06:43:32 -0600
Newsgroups alt.autos.subaru
Organization Usenet Elder
Message-ID <[email protected]>
Cameo <[email protected]> wrote:

> Does any car model offer factory equipped dash cam. I only know of Tesla 
> doing it.

A dash cam only affords proof of an accident occuring at the front.  It
doesn't cover both sides and rear of the car.  If you get rear ended, a
side collision, or a theft (thieves aren't going through the
windshield), the dash won't show any of those.

I know a guy that uses his old smartphones as dashcams.  However, I have
to wonder if all those phones in his windows don't make for candy to
thieves walking up with a spring-loaded punch to get through the side
windows ... and everyone now is wearing a mask due to Covid.  That apps
can record audio, too.  Didn't see if the Tesla setup includes audio.

The 2019 Tesla model 3 has 8 proprietary cameras: 3 in front, 2 each
side, and 1 rear; see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAm93urmais.
There's also a interior camera above the windshield rear-view mirror to
record what goes on inside that, for now, you have to opt into; see
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zUEU18jReU.  At their price (cameras
aren't available until you get to the Long Term model at $47K), they can
offer the option because those buying a Tesla already have deep pockets.
I saw nothing about their system uploading the videos or pics to an
online storage service via 5G.  The videos or pics can be transferred to
a USB drive, but it has to be used at a different computer to view them.
So, if the car gets stolen, so does all the footage, and you have
nothing to show who might've take the car or where it might be.  If the
car burns up, the USB drive could get incinerated.  Even the smartphone
dashcam apps allow uploading to online storage.

Tesla is designing toward an autonomous vehicle.  Other car makers are
less inclined.  The C7 Corvette ($44K) has a dealer-installed dashcam
option: 3 cameras - frontward at bottom of rearview mirror, 2 curb
camera in front fenders near the front grill.

No point in looking up any others since you don't mention what is YOUR
budget for a new car.