RE: PH Blog: Why modern cars are too confusing
Discussion
Is this not what we all live for? As car enthusiasts more detail and more things to learn is how we define our knowledge!
Also, looking through the forums - a significant number are related to options and varieties.
If you want things simple, by Japanese, check out the new civic configurator...
Also, looking through the forums - a significant number are related to options and varieties.
If you want things simple, by Japanese, check out the new civic configurator...
I'm thinking of ordering a the US version of the Toyota 86 (a Scion FRS) in the most basic form possible. It should be cheaper lighter and faster. I hope it works out that way....
As an earlier contributor wrote, all he needed was 6 cylinders aircon etc, no need for heated electrically adjustable seats, moonroof, blah blah blah
As an earlier contributor wrote, all he needed was 6 cylinders aircon etc, no need for heated electrically adjustable seats, moonroof, blah blah blah
Garlick said:
V8mate said:
Garlick said:
...it just annoys me that as a car spotter more often that not I have no idea what trim level a car has these days.
Really?
ETA: Though I still don't know what a Chilli pack is either. In spite of having owned a car blessed with its wares.
Wetsuit said:
Will insurers know what they are?....
This is another issue, how many people declare all options on their car to their insurers - most insurers consider any change from standard spec (even parking sensors, metallic paint, autobox etc) to be a declarable modification, even if factory fitted, but how many people drive a car with zero options whatsoever? If buying a secondhand car how do you know exactly what was standard spec and what was an option from new?Garlick said:
V8mate said:
Garlick said:
...it just annoys me that as a car spotter more often that not I have no idea what trim level a car has these days.
Really?Let's face it, the only incentive for buying brand new these days is getting exactly what you want. Take that away and your new car becomes even more of a very expensive white good...
Garlick said:
V8mate said:
Garlick said:
...it just annoys me that as a car spotter more often that not I have no idea what trim level a car has these days.
Really?In a way, it rather defeats the badge snobs too.
In the old days, you knew darn well that Mr Smith at the end house with his Granada Ghia X had a better car than Mr Jones with his Escort 1.3L.
Now you can buy a very basic spec big car which will still look better and more imposing than an A1 with £15k's worth of options on it.
In the old days, you knew darn well that Mr Smith at the end house with his Granada Ghia X had a better car than Mr Jones with his Escort 1.3L.
Now you can buy a very basic spec big car which will still look better and more imposing than an A1 with £15k's worth of options on it.
[whilst ordering new car]
"This engine doesn't come in the base level spec, it's in Zetec and above."
"Ok, I'll have a Zetec then."
"Any options?"
[looks at list] "Cruise control."
"And?"
"Nothing."
"Colour?"
"Whatever it comes in at no extra charge." (a nice bright red in case you're wondering)
"Ok!"
Ford are still putting windy windows in the back of new Focus Zetec unless you spec the option. Happily I'll never be sitting in the back so I care not!
Surely it's now cheaper to put electric windows in than still have somewhere making manual window winders and door trims with the holes for the handles for the tight arses amongst us who refuse to spec every possible extra?
They did throw in a free "Privacy pack" which includes blacked out rear and rear-side windows and 17" alloys (privacy for the rear brake calipers?). Suppose it'll keep it cooler in the winter than rear elec windows would.
Standard things include bluetooth audio connection to your phone so it happily streams music from my iPhone (which streams it from iCloud), and wipers that don't fully park themselves when they know they're going to move again.
"This engine doesn't come in the base level spec, it's in Zetec and above."
"Ok, I'll have a Zetec then."
"Any options?"
[looks at list] "Cruise control."
"And?"
"Nothing."
"Colour?"
"Whatever it comes in at no extra charge." (a nice bright red in case you're wondering)
"Ok!"
Ford are still putting windy windows in the back of new Focus Zetec unless you spec the option. Happily I'll never be sitting in the back so I care not!
Surely it's now cheaper to put electric windows in than still have somewhere making manual window winders and door trims with the holes for the handles for the tight arses amongst us who refuse to spec every possible extra?They did throw in a free "Privacy pack" which includes blacked out rear and rear-side windows and 17" alloys (privacy for the rear brake calipers?). Suppose it'll keep it cooler in the winter than rear elec windows would.
Standard things include bluetooth audio connection to your phone so it happily streams music from my iPhone (which streams it from iCloud), and wipers that don't fully park themselves when they know they're going to move again.
Limpet said:
When I used to sell Fords in the early 90's, it wasn't unheard of for Escorts in particular to turn up as a weird hybrid. Our best was an Escort, badged as a 1.6i 16v, but with a 1.8TD under the bonnet, LX seats and Ghia doorcards.
And it had a factory quality control sticker on it.
I defy even the most ardent car geek to work out the spec of that when they saw it in the street
Gotta love mis-builds. And it had a factory quality control sticker on it.
I defy even the most ardent car geek to work out the spec of that when they saw it in the street
I actually know of a few recent Audis that slipped through.
yellowbentines said:
Wetsuit said:
Will insurers know what they are?....
This is another issue, how many people declare all options on their car to their insurers - most insurers consider any change from standard spec (even parking sensors, metallic paint, autobox etc) to be a declarable modification, even if factory fitted, but how many people drive a car with zero options whatsoever? If buying a secondhand car how do you know exactly what was standard spec and what was an option from new?my blog said:
October 2008
Moved from Admiral after a farcial discussion lasting 65 minutes, over whether factory fitted optional extras (in this case xenon headlights) were modifications or not.
I said they were factory spec, and therefore original equipment. Admiral disagreed and said unless they were declared as a "modification" in the event of an accident they would replace them with ordinary headlights.
I changed insurers.Moved from Admiral after a farcial discussion lasting 65 minutes, over whether factory fitted optional extras (in this case xenon headlights) were modifications or not.
I said they were factory spec, and therefore original equipment. Admiral disagreed and said unless they were declared as a "modification" in the event of an accident they would replace them with ordinary headlights.
Edited by Podie on Friday 13th July 09:46
It really irritates me when I see windy windows in the back of cars and refuse to spec electric just to buy something that should be standard. The Mondeo Edge I bought new for £12k had cruise control and heated front screen as standard so why the hell they fitted windy windows, i don't know.
The Zetec only offered those plus useless extra chrome and useless foglights and a Sony CD Player which the saleswoman assured me was really no better than the Ford one (though it does look nicer).
The Zetec only offered those plus useless extra chrome and useless foglights and a Sony CD Player which the saleswoman assured me was really no better than the Ford one (though it does look nicer).
In 1985 my dad bought a 'new shape' Granada 2.8i GL. They must have only sold around three of these sparsely specced walruses.
At the time I couldn't understand his logic, why not get the 2.0i Ghia? The Granny in GL trim was like a turkish 3 star hotel. If it was in the UK it would be a hostel.
I totally get it now. All he was interested in was the engine and the handling.
If I was gonna go 'new' car shopping, which I have no intention of doing, I would be choosing the model and the engine. The trim would be bottom of the list.
At the time I couldn't understand his logic, why not get the 2.0i Ghia? The Granny in GL trim was like a turkish 3 star hotel. If it was in the UK it would be a hostel.
I totally get it now. All he was interested in was the engine and the handling.
If I was gonna go 'new' car shopping, which I have no intention of doing, I would be choosing the model and the engine. The trim would be bottom of the list.
I think Garlick has revealed that his inner car geek needs a lot of training.
Not being able to spot the differences between two seemingly similar looking cars at a distance, is surprising and disappointing. This should have been picked up in basic training.
Telling the difference between an Audi S4 and a A4 sport line spec is easy. This is the basics, man ! You should be able to tell the difference instantly !
Call yourself a car man? And even getting paid for it ! Takes this content down from the site immediately before the boss realises you are a charlatan and you get moved on another Haymarket title like Horticulture Week.
Come on , get a grip man
Not being able to spot the differences between two seemingly similar looking cars at a distance, is surprising and disappointing. This should have been picked up in basic training.
Telling the difference between an Audi S4 and a A4 sport line spec is easy. This is the basics, man ! You should be able to tell the difference instantly !
Call yourself a car man? And even getting paid for it ! Takes this content down from the site immediately before the boss realises you are a charlatan and you get moved on another Haymarket title like Horticulture Week.
Come on , get a grip man
I *hate* new cars and personally don't see the point in any of the gadgets. Who needs built in sat nav or climate control? Buy a map (or a tomtom) and put your bloody (wind up) window down instead. It's a car, not the gadget store on wheels. No wonder my cars all weigh under 1000kg and moderns struggle to get under 1500kg. 
My old Triumph has a beautiful interior design and yet was no doubt designed 'on the back of a fag packet'. Modern cars have a fortune spent on development and even the £50K ones look cheap inside with a load of plastic.
In conclusion, modern cars are s
t. End of.
My old Triumph has a beautiful interior design and yet was no doubt designed 'on the back of a fag packet'. Modern cars have a fortune spent on development and even the £50K ones look cheap inside with a load of plastic.
In conclusion, modern cars are s
t. End of. I definitely agree with this, although from a business point of view manufacturers are just trying to gain maximum potential market share by offering consumers the widest possible choice. However this expansion of choice has also introduced many many pointless cars....I give you the Golf Plus, BMW X1, Mercedes B class...the list goes on and on...
I don't personally see why people buy any MPV which doesn't have 7 seats...what was wrong with a nice estate?
I don't personally see why people buy any MPV which doesn't have 7 seats...what was wrong with a nice estate?
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