Stupid 'option' items on new cars
Discussion
I'm sure we're all fans of those elusive factory options, either searching for a car with the right spec, or retrofitting must haves, but is it just me that gets annoyed by utterly moronic items which have become optional?
I mean years ago central locking was optional, then many cars had central locking and remote was optional, now there are pretty much no cars that dont have remote central locking, as it's a customer expectation and so cheap to implement.
Same with electric windows, even cooking spec models have them now, as I assume tooling up manual winders and introducing the change on the production line is more costly than any saving.
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.
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?
Years ago my nova had an intermittant contact switch for the fogs and the heated screen, which dropped out when you turned off the ignition, why then modern cars with plain old switches which leave the screen or fogs on for days on end?
Climatronic in VWs is another good example.....
I mean years ago central locking was optional, then many cars had central locking and remote was optional, now there are pretty much no cars that dont have remote central locking, as it's a customer expectation and so cheap to implement.
Same with electric windows, even cooking spec models have them now, as I assume tooling up manual winders and introducing the change on the production line is more costly than any saving.
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.
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?
Years ago my nova had an intermittant contact switch for the fogs and the heated screen, which dropped out when you turned off the ignition, why then modern cars with plain old switches which leave the screen or fogs on for days on end?
Climatronic in VWs is another good example.....
I dont mind paying extra for additional options such as larger wheels, or xenon lights (which are expensive to implement) or a sunroof (which clearly not everyone wants), but certain things IMHO are just basic features that one expects to have and certainly until recently I never considered the idea of a saloon coming with fixed rear seats simply because it was an option. BMW 3 series for example and if I went to collect a new car and found I had to wander around and individually unlock the doors I'd simply walk away.
It just means you find a used car you like which comes with the bits you want (for example msport spec with xenons, but then find its got fixed seats for the sake of about £3 cost, because a lease company is never going to tick the £300 option.
It just means you find a used car you like which comes with the bits you want (for example msport spec with xenons, but then find its got fixed seats for the sake of about £3 cost, because a lease company is never going to tick the £300 option.
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