Stupid 'option' items on new cars

[Ozzie Osmond]

When Lotus were building the Lotus Carlton they used to take delivery of complete cars from the GM factory in Belgium, dismantle them thoroughly to fit all the Lotus gubbins, and then pack the left-overs into a crate to send back to Belgium.

[Nohedes]

Sheepshanks said:

Nohedes said:

Al U said:

A friend recently got a 335d estate on lease. He originally wanted a saloon 320d with folding seats but after adding the option, the monthly cost increase meant that he could spend a small amount more and get a 335d estate, which comes with the folding seats as standard.

Not sure if serious?!?

They've been putting out some whacky pricing on 335d's - my neighbour got one through some lease scheme where he works and it was cheaper than 320d.

Assuming both cars are auto and x-drive, the list price difference is c£5k so there must be some big finance incentives and/or slightly edgy GMFV numbers on the 335d for that to be the case.

[Ari]

Dave_ST220 said:

TA14 said:

Porsche take that one step further on some models and charge you extra not to install equipment!

Didn't Audi and/or BMW CHARGE to NOT have badges on the car?

Oft repeated 'pub fact'. Not true.

[Ari]

ChasW said:

One feature that I think is a no brainer but some manufacturers don't even offer it as an option is a heated front screen. I have it on my Mini and it's a godsend. I think you can spec it on Fords. Must be something to with replacement windscreen costs that puts them off. It's far more effective on a frosty morning than using the blower from the heater.

Hateful things. Like having a permanently slightly dirty windscreen. Awful at night.

[SidJames]

ChasW said:

One feature that I think is a no brainer but some manufacturers don't even offer it as an option is a heated front screen. I have it on my Mini and it's a godsend. I think you can spec it on Fords. Must be something to with replacement windscreen costs that puts them off. It's far more effective on a frosty morning than using the blower from the heater.

Thinks it's owned technology by Ford/JLR.

[alecescolme]

Ari said:

Hateful things. Like having a permanently slightly dirty windscreen. Awful at night.

I find them great, had them in Transit vans and both of my Jags, no visibility issues.

Back on topic, my car has the rear entertainment packages including two headrest screens, DVD player and armrest controls- cost £3,000!

Edited by alecescolme on Saturday 28th November 22:36

[Slow]

Ari said:

ChasW said:

One feature that I think is a no brainer but some manufacturers don't even offer it as an option is a heated front screen. I have it on my Mini and it's a godsend. I think you can spec it on Fords. Must be something to with replacement windscreen costs that puts them off. It's far more effective on a frosty morning than using the blower from the heater.

Hateful things. Like having a permanently slightly dirty windscreen. Awful at night.

I love it, works wonders during the winter in scotland.

[colin_p]

SidewaysSi said:

Totally agree unfortunately. But even something like a Fiesta ST with absolutely nothing in it would be appealing to me. Knock £5K and 50Kg off and charge for everything from central locking upwards. Would be impossible given manufacturing processes etc. but I wonder how many people would actually pay for the luxuries they inevitably take for granted these days.

I am happy if I have a roof and a radio

Same.

And I'd want an option of fitting smaller wheels as well.

[SidJames]

alistairolsen said:

Most manufacturers pre-wire their cars for additional features. Some require extra hardware, like heated seats, 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?

I think JLR are changing to bespoke main looms, each loom made to fit an exact customer car.

[craigjm]

DavidJG said:

From the Bentley Bentayga driven piece a few weeks ago:

extended paint option £4,285

Seriously, WTAF is that about??

In Bentley language that means a paint colour from the extended range of colour palette, simple as that

[Slow]

colin_p said:

SidewaysSi said:

Totally agree unfortunately. But even something like a Fiesta ST with absolutely nothing in it would be appealing to me. Knock £5K and 50Kg off and charge for everything from central locking upwards. Would be impossible given manufacturing processes etc. but I wonder how many people would actually pay for the luxuries they inevitably take for granted these days.

I am happy if I have a roof and a radio

Same.

And I'd want an option of fitting smaller wheels as well.

What about buy one, rip the stuff off and sell to people who broke theirs.
Would be cheaper and lighter.

[craigjm]

SidJames said:

I think JLR are changing to bespoke main looms, each loom made to fit an exact customer car.

They have been doing this for ages and sometimes they get it wrong. The heated wheel in my XF didnt work because they hadn't fitted the option into the loom even though they had fitted the wheel and screen software

[Ari]

SidJames said:

ChasW said:

One feature that I think is a no brainer but some manufacturers don't even offer it as an option is a heated front screen. I have it on my Mini and it's a godsend. I think you can spec it on Fords. Must be something to with replacement windscreen costs that puts them off. It's far more effective on a frosty morning than using the blower from the heater.

Thinks it's owned technology by Ford/JLR.

Nope. VW (for one) have offered it.

[corozin]

I must admit I am rather bemused when companies like Lamborghini & Ferrari bring our lighter weight "SV" type models with stuff that cost £50k-£100k more with stuff like Carbon seats to save weight, when a pair of outside bought Corbeau racing seats would take a lot fo the weight out and cost you a grand.

[hairyben]

craigjm said:

SidJames said:

I think JLR are changing to bespoke main looms, each loom made to fit an exact customer car.

They have been doing this for ages and sometimes they get it wrong. The heated wheel in my XF didnt work because they hadn't fitted the option into the loom even though they had fitted the wheel and screen software

Isn't that a bit retrograde? I thought it was all about power & canbus with everything working through canbus interfaces these days.

[robemcdonald]

Porsche factory collection: £3500 for a factory tour (should be free) and saving them money on shipping.

[swisstoni]

Garage door opener. Spent an extra £200!
Supposed to work with electric gates too. But not, I discovered, with ones with rolling codes. My gate system is 7 years old and it was nothing fancy even back then.

[PorkInsider]

As others have mentioned: value is subjective.

It may only cost pennies for the manufacturer to add cruise control to every trim level in a model range, but once you've done that for all the no/low-cost extras all you've really achieved is devaluing the top spec car and missing out on the revenue from the options.

It's the same for any manufacturing business.

[Axionknight]

Flibble said:

Dapster said:

On a similar note, a supplier of mine supplies components to a well known manufacturer of washing machines. They do a 1,000 rpm, 1,200 rpm and 1,500 rpm spin model, each a bit more expensive than the one below. Only it's a lot cheaper to manufacture all models to run at at least 1,500 rpm and just badge them up differently!

Computer CPUs are much the same. They build them all to run at the highest speed, then just laser cut a track to set the actual speed.

fond memories of building a gaming PC with an AMD processor years ago and following the instructions in an online video of how to get more bang for my buck, as it were!

Expensive coloured seatbelts - I looked at a nee Cayman and it I recall correctly it was over £300 to have them in red/yellow/awt but black..... I'm no expert on manufacturing costs of such things but still, they can ps off.

[mph1977]

alecescolme said:

I find them great, had them in Transit vans and both of my Jags, no visibility issues.

Back on topic, my car has the rear entertainment packages including two headrest screens, DVD player and armrest controls- cost £3,000!

Edited by alecescolme on Saturday 28th November 22:36

the only 'problem' i've ever had with quikclear screens is the enhanced 'faraday cage' effect with regard to phones or sat navs sat on the dash ...