Seat removes optional extras from it's entire range

Seat removes optional extras from it's entire range

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Discussion

xjay1337

15,966 posts

117 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Must be the only one that thinks options are a good idea

Means you can customise your car to your tastes.

And I can bet that the spec levels will either be tartan or fully loaded.

Maybe you want heated leather but don't need sat nav?
Why not allow the user the choice

vsonix

3,858 posts

162 months

Monday 20th August 2018
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Shiv_P said:
aeropilot said:
vsonix said:
I know traditionally BMW have been seen as the manufacturer stingiest with any kind of extras
While that may have been the case back then, I wouldn't say it is nowadays, although their base audio systems are still pants on even the £60k+ cars.
Probably still is true. You still don't get cruise control on a 1 series and lumbar support on a 3 series
My 1998 740i is missing things that were standard on my 1998 E36 SE - self-dimming rear view mirror, for example. Then again it does stuff that is standard issue that E46 had as an 'optional extra' - although to be fair on an E46 most of them can be 'activated' with a copy of INPA and a laptop.

Ninja59

3,691 posts

111 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Shiv_P said:
Probably still is true. You still don't get cruise control on a 1 series and lumbar support on a 3 series
To be fair it was optional even higher up the range.

Saying that I do think some of it is genuinely stingy when I looked at the spec of the M2 competition some of the options just make you think why would that ever be an option considering list prices are similar on some of these cars to models higher in the range as it were.

vsonix

3,858 posts

162 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Ninja59 said:
Shiv_P said:
Probably still is true. You still don't get cruise control on a 1 series and lumbar support on a 3 series
To be fair it was optional even higher up the range.
Whereas on a mid-range Mondeo or Insignia it'd probably be standard.
I love my BMWs but I can't say they're beyond reproach when it comes to giving buyers less for more.

Zippee

13,445 posts

233 months

Monday 20th August 2018
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richs2891 said:
Hopefully other manufacturers will follow this trend, Audi, BMW and Porsche are incredibly bad for this in my eyes, an utterly bewildering list of options that only work with other options / packages
JLR are just the same and we had lots of 'fun' when trying to spec my wife's evoque to get what we wanted.
My jeep grand Cherokee on the other have, 3 models all with differing equipment levels as you went up. Only actual option was the adaptive cruise.

Tomo1971

1,127 posts

156 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Not sure how this will work long term when or if other manufacturers do it - historically when i was looking at Ford Escort brochures, you had the choices of

Escort Basic (popular, even had a sticker as its name not a badge)
L
GL
GLS
Ghia

Each one had a better spec and combined the lower models spec - This is fine.

However, what if there are two features that a buyer wants but are not available on the same spec car - they go elsewhere.

If done right, its probably a good thing - if done wrong, they will pay by losing custom.

It looks like on the Arona each higher level is 'in addition too' on the features so no swapping of features between levels, although having to pay for the top of the range, just to get front parking sensors seems a tad mean.

Another good thing it may lead to is, car designers building cars with aftermarket options / retrofits more easily done - more a plug & play affair as I assume, once registered, dealer or self fit options wont affect the emissions testing

Ilovejapcrap

3,274 posts

111 months

Monday 20th August 2018
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thatjagbloke said:
As per title, Seat are calling this Easy Move and are offering 3 trim levels starting at SE, then Excellence, then FR.
They are claiming this makes the buying experience easier and less confusing but a cynic might think it's to lessen the cost of the new WLTP requirements.
Will other manufacturers follow ?
Discuss.
suzuki already do this

Butter Face

30,192 posts

159 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Ilovejapcrap said:
thatjagbloke said:
As per title, Seat are calling this Easy Move and are offering 3 trim levels starting at SE, then Excellence, then FR.
They are claiming this makes the buying experience easier and less confusing but a cynic might think it's to lessen the cost of the new WLTP requirements.
Will other manufacturers follow ?
Discuss.
suzuki already do this
As do Renault (Easylife range rationalisation started with WLTP introduction) so mostly 3 specs in each range with a very minimal amount of options and engine combinations.


WJNB

2,637 posts

160 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
[quote=downsman]If this is correct...........

It would indicate that the vast majority of Seat buyers are canny and don't waste money on options. They are already smart enough to figure out they are buying a car mechanically almost exactly the same as a more expensive Volkswagen. If you are doing that to save money and aren't worried by badge snobbery, why would you blow the saved money on options?
quote]
b

Seat buyers are indeed canny & buy on price & possibly have little perception or appreciation for quality. That's fine & good for them. They probably shop at Lidl, buy the Sun newspaper & holiday at Butlins. Which is perfectly fine if that is the extent of ones ambition & taste. Many people are uncomfortable in luxurious surroundings & in the company of the better dressed & educated. Nice clothes, nice shops & hotels undermine their confidence & highlight their low esteem.
Of course such buyer are inevitably frequently vocal about the wisdom of buying a Seat or any other budget car (they protesteth too much & convince nobody). Funny then that buyers of premium brands just buy & drive having no need to justify anything to anybody.

MrBrown

231 posts

152 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
WJNB]ownsman said:
If this is correct...........

It would indicate that the vast majority of Seat buyers are canny and don't waste money on options. They are already smart enough to figure out they are buying a car mechanically almost exactly the same as a more expensive Volkswagen. If you are doing that to save money and aren't worried by badge snobbery, why would you blow the saved money on options?
quote]
b

Seat buyers are indeed canny & buy on price & possibly have little perception or appreciation for quality. That's fine & good for them. They probably shop at Lidl, buy the Sun newspaper & holiday at Butlins. Which is perfectly fine if that is the extent of ones ambition & taste. Many people are uncomfortable in luxurious surroundings & in the company of the better dressed & educated. Nice clothes, nice shops & hotels undermine their confidence & highlight their low esteem.
Of course such buyer are inevitably frequently vocal about the wisdom of buying a Seat or any other budget car (they protesteth too much & convince nobody). Funny then that buyers of premium brands just buy & drive having no need to justify anything to anybody.
You come across as very insecure, I'm interested to hear about the premium brand vehicle you own and your luxurious clothes and education.

Flumpo

3,685 posts

72 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
WJNB said:
downsman said:
If this is correct...........

It would indicate that the vast majority of Seat buyers are canny and don't waste money on options. They are already smart enough to figure out they are buying a car mechanically almost exactly the same as a more expensive Volkswagen. If you are doing that to save money and aren't worried by badge snobbery, why would you blow the saved money on options?
quote]
b

Seat buyers are indeed canny & buy on price & possibly have little perception or appreciation for quality. That's fine & good for them. They probably shop at Lidl, buy the Sun newspaper & holiday at Butlins. Which is perfectly fine if that is the extent of ones ambition & taste. Many people are uncomfortable in luxurious surroundings & in the company of the better dressed & educated. Nice clothes, nice shops & hotels undermine their confidence & highlight their low esteem.
Of course such buyer are inevitably frequently vocal about the wisdom of buying a Seat or any other budget car (they protesteth too much & convince nobody). Funny then that buyers of premium brands just buy & drive having no need to justify anything to anybody.
If you’re going to claim a better level of education, it might be worth actually checking the quote before trying to remember what was said on the simpsons.

I think you probably meant ‘doth protest too much.” Not protesteth too much, it’s Shakespeare init bruv.

JimbobVFR

2,680 posts

143 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
Jesus, either this post is comedy genius or you've gone so far up your own arse you're in danger of turning inside out.

WJNB]ownsman said:
If this is correct...........

It would indicate that the vast majority of Seat buyers are canny and don't waste money on options. They are already smart enough to figure out they are buying a car mechanically almost exactly the same as a more expensive Volkswagen. If you are doing that to save money and aren't worried by badge snobbery, why would you blow the saved money on options?
quote]
b

Seat buyers are indeed canny & buy on price & possibly have little perception or appreciation for quality. That's fine & good for them. They probably shop at Lidl, buy the Sun newspaper & holiday at Butlins. Which is perfectly fine if that is the extent of ones ambition & taste. Many people are uncomfortable in luxurious surroundings & in the company of the better dressed & educated. Nice clothes, nice shops & hotels undermine their confidence & highlight their low esteem.
Of course such buyer are inevitably frequently vocal about the wisdom of buying a Seat or any other budget car (they protesteth too much & convince nobody). Funny then that buyers of premium brands just buy & drive having no need to justify anything to anybody.

48k

12,986 posts

147 months

Monday 20th August 2018
quotequote all
tejr said:
This was pretty much the norm until BMW/Mercedes/Audi made the options list mainstream. But they basically used it to make OTR 'from' prices artificially low.
That's simply not true. Not wishing to be rude but your comment makes you sound quite young? The likes of Ford, Vauxhall etc. were doing the "low base price and loads of options" back in the 70s and 80s. Want to add a radio? Or even a radio-cassette player? Want 60/40 split folding rear seats? All on the options list. Common options would be grouped together in to a trim level but you could still specify more.

smithyithy

7,192 posts

117 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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That post above can't be serious laugh

Toaster Pilot

14,615 posts

157 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
vikingaero said:
The Japanese had been doing this for donkeys. Want the special widget option only available on the XXX model and above? Then buy a XXX model or above. Us Brits end up buying a disproportionate number of top spec models because we're all flash 'arrys.
Pretty much what Dacia do too - want air con on a Duster? No basic model for you

timmymagic73

374 posts

111 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
Arrgh! Damn you SEAT, I had the perfect Ateca spec saved in the configurator and you've messed me around again - I'm still annoyed about the whole VW group 1.4 TSI engine debacle....

On the plus side it looks like the Ateca is finally getting the new 1.5 TSI in all trim levels though, so that's a positive... but this isn't live yet on the configurator.

PBCD

715 posts

137 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
xjay1337 said:
And I can bet that the spec levels will either be tartan or fully loaded.
That's always been the case with the Golf GTi

mholt1995

567 posts

80 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
Had a look through Seat's offerings.

Aside from on the highest spec Arona I can't find any trim level on any Seat model which contains a decent sound system (i.e a couple hundred watts with a subwoofer and DSP). It's usually the only option I deem "essential" beyond the trim level and Seat Sound was quite a cheap option from what I remember. Bit of a concern if only the base 6/8 speaker system is being offered, even on the top tech/luxury specs frown

WJNB

2,637 posts

160 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
MrBrown said:
You come across as very insecure, I'm interested to hear about the premium brand vehicle you own and your luxurious clothes and education.
Aha you've sussed me out.........
Vauxhall Vectra.
Charity shops
Approved


cheesesliceking

1,571 posts

239 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
quotequote all
WJNB said:
MrBrown said:
You come across as very insecure, I'm interested to hear about the premium brand vehicle you own and your luxurious clothes and education.
Aha you've sussed me out.........
Vauxhall Vectra.
Charity shops
Approved
At least now you’ve learned how to click the quote button correctly.