Want to choose discrete options, not packages

When I special order a new car, I want to choose only the items I want and
pay only for those items I want.

Say, I want sports suspension. Why should I be forced to get those 21 inch
wheels with 1 inch greaser tires when all I want is heavy duty shocks and
springs? Suppose I want the racing stripes; why do I have to pay for the
super deluxe leather upolstery too? It makes no sense to force a customer
to buy thousand dollar options to get a heavy duty battery that would add
all of $20 to the car.

In the old days, customers could do just that: order every option
a-la-carte and just pay for those things only. My daddy did it and I
expect to get the same treatment from GM, Ford, and Chrysler (GM if they're
still around next year). Customers are revolting against ripoffs. We all
know the companies price they basic model cheap for advertising a bargain.
But, when you go to build a realistic car, every extra item you want is in
a different high cost package. I, for one, rebel against this unChristian,
unJewish, proMoslem attitude by the car makers.

Car makers govern the assembly of cars by computer. Its easier than ever
to build a car a-la-carte, so there's no excuse for them not doing it my
way. Its my way or the highway, bub.

 

Have a good trip.

Dave

 

You can order most everything in individual options. You must be
another Jap shill. Don't believe? Go to the GM web site and build
vehicles. You can do a lot of things individually that are also part
of a larger package. Not everything, but a lot.

 

Better yet rebuild an old car and make it just the way you want.

 

Better still, just buy and old junker and drive it. Then you'll say it's all
the wrong options, but I only paid $700 for it.

 

I think we have all shared that feeling from time to time. No matter what
make
or model you are considering, you may not be able to get exactly what you
want from the factory, at least not at a price that pleases.

I don't like, for example, some of the electronic gadgetry that many models
offer.
We have used Buicks for years, and in general they are pretty good, but
their
fascination with electrical geegaws can be troublesome.

 

I was disappointed that the only way I could have got HID headlights and
flashers in the outside mirrors (which I consider to be safety features)
on our '02 300M was to get the "Special" with a higher compression ratio
necessitating more expensive gasoline, even stiffer suspension, and
tires that work even worse on snow and ice than the standard ones.

Perce

 

Do that include the engine control microprocessor?

mike hunt

 

I guess that works, if you don't intend to drive too far.

mike hunt

 

Most street rods cost more than many new cars.


mike hunt

 

Nomen Nescio wrote another bunch of mostly crap...

BUT, my one gripe with Ford right now is that you can't get the 41G
package on the base Standard Crown Vic, it has to be a LX.

Rob

 

Mostly because they are pro built for yuppies with too much goddamned
money. Do your own work and look for inexpensive parts and you can do
OK. But we aren't talking street rods, but driver cars.

 

By my definition, it would not.
A geegaw is a bullshit item that is not essential to the operation of the
vehicle.

 

Like fuel injection or an automatic tranny?

mike

 

Like a model 'T?'


mike

 

I believe that's an issue with some, not all car companies. It must be less
expensive for them to do it this way.

I put together a GM Denali and there are many, not all, options that you can
order without getting all the Bells and Whistles.

 

Maybe on your cars, Mike.

I don't need or want a heated washer fluid system , a heated mirror, a time
delay interior and exterior lighting scheme, etc...

I dont need power seat belt retractors, nor an automated Tampax remover in
my
car.

Believe it or not, I am still strong enough to adjust my own seat manually,
and even
whip the occasional smartass in the parking lot. The latter just takes a
little longer
now than it used to do.

 

Of course it is less expensive to come out with standard models and a few
'packages'. No doubt about it.

I and remember when the options were radio, heater, and white wall tires.

Later, automatic trannies became availble.

And then air conditioners.

Who knows where it will all end?? ;>)

 

I do it all the time with the cars I buy. I no longer buy imports and all
of the domestic offer free standing options that can be added to packages.
The problem I have is with what is standard that can not be deleted. My
latest car has side air bags, something I would never order. DRLs are
another problem on some brands, it costs one extra money to disable them
Both of my current cars have anti-lock brakes that can not be disabled, as
can the traction assist. I have to spend money to install a disabler. Both
have auto up, and down, windows but only one has a single button to operate
them all. I spent extra money to install a one button operator on the
other.


mike hunt

 

I don't know the figures but I would suspect the vast majority of new cars
are bought off the lot, they are existing built cars, not ordered in
advance. Why, because those are the ones that go on sale and that you can
make the cheapest deals on. I also don't think the majority of new car
buyers know anything
about the mechanicals of the car they are buying. After all part of the
draw of buying new is that if it breaks you don't have to pay to fix it or
fix it yourself, you have this nice warranty that does that. So why would a
new car buyer care about ordering a prone-to-break item like an automatic
tampax remover when he's going to buy an extended warranty anyway, and sell
the vehicle
when that runs out? He isn't going to know what's in the vehicle and he is
going to care less.

True story - a couple weeks ago I called someone about buying a used van
they were selling. I asked them over the phone "does it have ABS brakes,
yes or no" the answer was no. I go look at this van that they had owned for
years, sure enough yes it has ABS brakes. Now someone explain to me how can
somebody own a car for years and not know if it has ABS brakes or not?
Don't you think the little warning light that lights up when you start the
car labeled ABS would give it away?

This is the typical level of knowledge of a typical car owner, and you think
they all want to special-order the options in the cars? Well maybe the
cupholders.

Ted