Stupid 'option' items on new cars
Discussion
IanCress said:
He didn't say base spec Fiesta though. A mid-spec Fiesta will come with heated windscreen, Bluetooth, voice activation, apps for social media and Spotify. There are plenty of cars at 3 or 4 times the price that can't match the equipment list without paying for additional options.
This is exactly what I meant, you don't need to go too far up the spec tree to get all the toys, you even get some stuff that hasn't made it to most premium cars yet like Spotify and auto-park for example, not sure how you can justify bring able to have this stuff on a £15k Fiesta Zetec S and not on a £60k "premium" M3.surely it's because the Fiesta and an M3 are in no way a comparable car, it's a daft comparison.
You also get more in some Fiestas thatn you do in a £100k Porsche, the one thing you're not getting in the Fiesta is a Porsche, that being the biggest difference. It's all about target markets and making money, the more money you have to spend on a car the more chance you can afford to pay extra for 'extras'. I sometimes think people on here forget that car companies exist to make money.
I once got a free coffee with my breakfast at a wetherspoons, couldn't believe I had to pay for one at a Michelin starred restaurant!
Whilst on Porsche I would say it's a good thing that they offer a total base spec car with not many toys, it actually makes the relatively affordable.
You also get more in some Fiestas thatn you do in a £100k Porsche, the one thing you're not getting in the Fiesta is a Porsche, that being the biggest difference. It's all about target markets and making money, the more money you have to spend on a car the more chance you can afford to pay extra for 'extras'. I sometimes think people on here forget that car companies exist to make money.
I once got a free coffee with my breakfast at a wetherspoons, couldn't believe I had to pay for one at a Michelin starred restaurant!
Whilst on Porsche I would say it's a good thing that they offer a total base spec car with not many toys, it actually makes the relatively affordable.
Edited by chrispmartha on Friday 27th November 15:32
Merely stating that if they can give you a lot of this stuff on a relatively cheap Fiesta and still make the numbers work then I don't see why they can't do it for top of the range expensive stuff. I've bought optioned up German cars before but unfortunately I'm not flush enough to mean I have to like it or not feel like I am being taken for a mug at times.
Guvernator said:
Merely stating that if they can give you a lot of this stuff on a relatively cheap Fiesta and still make the numbers work then I don't see why they can't do it for top of the range expensive stuff. I've bought optioned up German cars before but unfortunately I'm not flush enough to mean I have to like it or not feel like I am being taken for a mug at times.
Of course they could put all the toys in a base spec M3 and still make a profit, but then they couldn't upset you them could they, as I say, its a business.Want a car thats got all the toys for a decent price?, buy a Fiesta.
Krikkit said:
Thankyou4calling said:
Triumph Man said:
I wouldn't normally pass comment on something like this, but if somebody wouldn't buy a Ferrari because it doesn't have a particular badge then I'm afraid they are a complete poser and frankly do not deserve a car like that.
Fair enough. That's your opinion and I'm not here to try and change that.What i will say though is that the number of Ferraris for sale of any given model is very limited.
When you reach the point of deciding to buy one you will likely have a very specific specification in mind.
I bought a 360 spider and it had to have an upgraded exhaust, sports seats, manual and not in red. It also had to have wing badges or I wouldn't have bought it, i can tell you that is the case with many prospective buyers.
Am I a complete poser?
No!! I'm just a poser! that's one of the main reasons I have a Ferrari.. if i were a complete poser i'd have a Lamborghini in green.
sticks090460 said:
I am still surprised to find that auto-dimming rear view mirrors are extras on a lot of top-end cars. Who wouldn't spec one, and why?
Me. If I set my mirror up perfectly for me all my wife has to do is flick it to the dim position and it's perfect for her without having to adjust anything else on the car. Hated it when my X-Type had an auto dimming mirror and was so thankful that my XF had a more conventional one.Triumph Man said:
I wouldn't normally pass comment on something like this, but if somebody wouldn't buy a Ferrari because it doesn't have a particular badge then I'm afraid they are a complete poser and frankly do not deserve a car like that.
I'm not sure that you understand the definition of the word 'deserve' as I can't see how being a 'poser' could affect what a person deserves. It really is as simple as desiring the car and being able to afford it (or not).alistairolsen said:
... but why is cruise control ever an option now? Why specifically tool an additional indicator stalk and then not fit it to some models for the sake of a couple of momentary contact switches?
Couldn't believe that cruise was an option on the VW Tiguan we just bought, although (after about 8 yrs of production) they did just include it a few weeks ago.Snag with things like this is either people don't want to pay the extra or they don't realise it isn't standard. We wanted a car from stock and hardly any had cruise added.
The way European cars are sold in America is much better - the spec is better to start with and then options are grouped into a few packs. They're much better value and you can generally get the car and spec you want from stock. They think we're insane being prepared to wait factory led-times.
I would love it if manufacturers gave us completely basic cars and had an enormous option list to satisfy those who like that sort of thing. For instance an M3 with a basic radio, little wheels, manual windows and no toys whatsoever. Maybe priced at £40K ish. Cars would be much more interesting. And probably a lot cheaper too.
alistairolsen said:
So why then to we have new saloon cars with 'optional' folding rear seats? Saloons are useless at the best of times, but fixed rear seats destroys any sense of practicality.
It's not stupid, it has to do with luxury.Without rear folding seats, you can have a proper bulkhead at the rear, making the ride quieter. You'll find the more upmarket the car, the less likely it will have rear folding seats: a BMW 3 series has it as standard, on the 5 it's optional and on the 7 you can't have it.
SidewaysSi said:
I would love it if manufacturers gave us completely basic cars and had an enormous option list to satisfy those who like that sort of thing. For instance an M3 with a basic radio, little wheels, manual windows and no toys whatsoever. Maybe priced at £40K ish. Cars would be much more interesting. And probably a lot cheaper too.
It took ages to find a manual M3, it's not that they weren't offering it, people preferred DCT. It's only now that manuals are being phased out that anyone is bothered. Mass market rules unfortunately. Triumph Man said:
My 5 series would be a lot more useful if it had folding seats, my old Passat did and it was brilliant for long items. I've also never understood why folding seats are standard on the BMW 3 series coupe but not on the saloon!
From my experience, nearly every time I've had to use the folding seats on my coupe it's been to transport something that would have fitted in the back of a saloon on the seats. It won't fit in the back seats of the coupe because of the tilt and slide front seat arrangement restricting access.From my point of view; on the saloon it's a bonus feature most can probably live without, on the coupe it's something quite a lot probably couldn't live without so risks being a deal breaker.
Edited by emicen on Friday 27th November 19:21
yonex said:
SidewaysSi said:
I would love it if manufacturers gave us completely basic cars and had an enormous option list to satisfy those who like that sort of thing. For instance an M3 with a basic radio, little wheels, manual windows and no toys whatsoever. Maybe priced at £40K ish. Cars would be much more interesting. And probably a lot cheaper too.
It took ages to find a manual M3, it's not that they weren't offering it, people preferred DCT. It's only now that manuals are being phased out that anyone is bothered. Mass market rules unfortunately. I am happy if I have a roof and a radio
I have a copy of Autocar from 10 December 1986 in front of me and Ford want £8050 for leather seats, electric windows and "a radio of your choice" on your road reg RS200. I'd want an orchestra on the back seat for that amount - trouser troubling now let alone 1986 when that sort of money bought you a small northern town
Johnny 89 said:
Truckosaurus said:
Isn't the poorest value option the 'Scuderia Shield' on Ferraris? Several hundred pounds for an additional badge on the wing.
I'm not sure.. Didn't that stripe on the 360 CS cost a few Ks?
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