The infuriating obsession with "spec"
Discussion
A trend that has been getting on my nerves more and more lately. The complete obsession with car options. It's worst with German car owners, especially BMW.
It seems more important to many than the actual car in question to many -
"I have a 3 series M Sport with NASA computers, heated eyebrow warmers, 21" alloys, carbon wing mirrors and automatic fart extinguishers. It's "fully loaded" mate."
"Oh and what engine has it got?"
"Ermm a 18d engine I think"
Maybe I'm not "getting it" but IMO, adding £10k of options to a £25k/30k/whatever car that offers not a single increase in performance or usefulness except to boast at the pub is borderline retarded. I also think a lot of these options that require extra electric motors, maybe a zillion extra speakers, etc must weigh rather a lot - I do wonder how much a "fully loaded" (I HATE that expression!) car weighs over a standard one? I bet it's often per 50kg more.
Our van has most options largely because it was a pre-reg delivery mile bargain. Do I feel the need to tell owners of lesser spec vans that they may as well throw away their £50k van because it doesn't have heated wrist massagers? Not at all. To me the vehicle is important, what engine it has, maybe any performance mods but the total pursuit of often dullard cars full to the brim with often silly tech is just exasperating.
Pointless rant over.
It seems more important to many than the actual car in question to many -
"I have a 3 series M Sport with NASA computers, heated eyebrow warmers, 21" alloys, carbon wing mirrors and automatic fart extinguishers. It's "fully loaded" mate."
"Oh and what engine has it got?"
"Ermm a 18d engine I think"
Maybe I'm not "getting it" but IMO, adding £10k of options to a £25k/30k/whatever car that offers not a single increase in performance or usefulness except to boast at the pub is borderline retarded. I also think a lot of these options that require extra electric motors, maybe a zillion extra speakers, etc must weigh rather a lot - I do wonder how much a "fully loaded" (I HATE that expression!) car weighs over a standard one? I bet it's often per 50kg more.
Our van has most options largely because it was a pre-reg delivery mile bargain. Do I feel the need to tell owners of lesser spec vans that they may as well throw away their £50k van because it doesn't have heated wrist massagers? Not at all. To me the vehicle is important, what engine it has, maybe any performance mods but the total pursuit of often dullard cars full to the brim with often silly tech is just exasperating.
Pointless rant over.
Edited by Vladimir on Thursday 2nd January 18:33
I entirely agree. I always look for the top petrol engine in the range with cloth seats and as few electronics as possible but trying to find this second hand is next to impossible.
Is is something to do with company car schemes, maxing out the allowance whilst sticking to some stupid CO2 threshold?
Is is something to do with company car schemes, maxing out the allowance whilst sticking to some stupid CO2 threshold?
king stupid.That was a pointless rant.
For most people a car is a simple object to get from A to B.
Joe Bloggs wants to get from A to B with a bit of kit so that the journey itself is as painless as possible. If he can show off to his mates that he has a few new gadgets then he will.
There aren't that many that buy cars nowadays that actually care about their performance. Deal with it.
For most people a car is a simple object to get from A to B.
Joe Bloggs wants to get from A to B with a bit of kit so that the journey itself is as painless as possible. If he can show off to his mates that he has a few new gadgets then he will.
There aren't that many that buy cars nowadays that actually care about their performance. Deal with it.
HemiCommander said:
I entirely agree. I always look for the top petrol engine in the range with cloth seats and as few electronics as possible but trying to find this second hand is next to impossible.
Is is something to do with company car schemes, maxing out the allowance whilst sticking to some stupid CO2 threshold?
It must be. Finding a non i-drive (it was cack early on), non M Sport used 335d was incredibly difficult but I stuck to my guns. This car is about to go for a mid specced M135i but despite the car being loaded with standard tech (too much IMO), it seems that not ticking every single box is somehow the sign of a non enthusiast peasant. Sod that, I'm buying it for the engine, gearbox, chassis and smallish size not because I want rocket launchers and an ejector seat.Is is something to do with company car schemes, maxing out the allowance whilst sticking to some stupid CO2 threshold?
Some of the non bling options are already built in but just turned off. Cruise control (for example) is usually included on high end cars but at the lower end you can often just buy the switch/stalk and have it turned on. And the wiring looms are usually included for all options even if not fitted as it simplifies production so every car is already lugging a few kilos of spare wire around.
Vladimir said:
Maybe I'm not "getting it" but IMO, adding £10k of options to a £25k/30k/whatever car that offers not a single increase in performance or usefulness except to boast at the pub is borderline retarded.
Why? For 95% of the journeys done by 95% of drivers, automatic wipers or whatever will make a bigger difference to them than a more powerful engine would. 
57Ford said:
Sadly a load of people do offer the 'sell on value' as main the reason for must-have extras. Muppets. Buy a car for yourself, now, not to limit depreciation in 2/3 or 4 years time.
Especially since I'm not convinced there has ever been an optional extra which has actually improved residuals in absolute terms. A car with leather seats might be worth £1500 more than one without at three years old, but that's not very helpful if they cost £1700 quid.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff