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It depends. Hypotheticals really can't be evaluate here. I've had bare bones cars in the past...like 4-speed manual transmission without a tachometer, no power steering, no power brakes, no air conditioning, no passenger side mirror, no stereo, etc...there was an AWD turbo variant but cost twice as much.
Now if I'm buying used, I'd probably go for the loaded version because I'd expect to pay roughly the same.
Although there are options that I neither need nor want, such as a navigation system, there is no way I am going to drive around in a bare bones vehicle.
Therefore, given only two choices, I choose the highly upgraded car that costs more.
Perhaps I need to re-iterate here.
When I started this thread, I was speaking of one model of vehicle.
Let's take am American Ford Explorer as an example.
Hypothetically, Ford makes two models of this suv,one bare bones, and one equipped with all options available.
Nothing in between, you either buy the optioned one, or basic one.
Which would you choose, and why?
The same could apply to any vehicles being produced, one optioned to the hilt, and one bare bones.
The reason I asked this question is, for years I think the automotive industry has been building vehicles they "want" us to have, without input from the public.
Many times we are forced to buy what they make, not what we want.
Who was it in the industry that decided I need cruise control, heated seats, navigation, a vehicle 3 feet off the ground with 24" wheels, with headlights that blind opposing drivers?
Auto makers use these gadgets to sell vehicles.
There isn't a vehicle in the world that truly needs these gadgets.
We buyers of vehicles have been duped big time by the auto makers, to the point there is no turning back.
If the auto manufacturer's were to make two vehicles, one with every option available, and one bare bones, which one would you choose?
The fully optioned vehicle would of course cost thousands over the bare bones model.
The bare bones model would only have the basics, that being auto trans, air, and am/fm radio with usb port, and that's it.
No power seats, windows, mirrors, no cruise control, navigation, just bare bones necessities.
Would any of you choose the bare bones model?
Bob.
For my daily driver, I want every option the manufacturer put on that model. But, for years, I was a manufacturers rep, and put on about 100,000 miles a year. I bought Toyota Corollas, only options were a stereo and AC, and I dumped them after two years and got another one just like it.
It would be nice if automobile manufacturers would let me "build my own" starting from scratch. If the was the case I would buy a tall AWD van without interior trim (interior/exterior), no insulation, just two seats in front, no column between the seats (just floor), and so on. I would turn such into a compact RV, and take my time to complete it.
If the auto manufacturer's were to make two vehicles, one with every option available, and one bare bones, which one would you choose?
The fully optioned vehicle would of course cost thousands over the bare bones model.
The bare bones model would only have the basics, that being auto trans, air, and am/fm radio with usb port, and that's it.
No power seats, windows, mirrors, no cruise control, navigation, just bare bones necessities.
Would any of you choose the bare bones model?
Bob.
Barebones is fine for me. The rest is fluff that manufacturers have brainwashed the public into "needing".
Bare bones, but without the automatic. Can I trade that for an upgraded stereo?
All that power stuff - windows, doors, mirrors - is great, until it doesn't work and you are stuck with the window up or down until you can get the car repaired. I love heated seats, but if they don't work, it's nothing worse than an inconvenience. A window you can't close or a door that will not unlock is a more serious problem.
Perhaps I need to re-iterate here.
When I started this thread, I was speaking of one model of vehicle.
Let's take am American Ford Explorer as an example.
Hypothetically, Ford makes two models of this suv,one bare bones, and one equipped with all options available.
Nothing in between, you either buy the optioned one, or basic one.
Which would you choose, and why?
The same could apply to any vehicles being produced, one optioned to the hilt, and one bare bones.
The reason I asked this question is, for years I think the automotive industry has been building vehicles they "want" us to have, without input from the public. Many times we are forced to buy what they make, not what we want.
Who was it in the industry that decided I need cruise control, heated seats, navigation, a vehicle 3 feet off the ground with 24" wheels, with headlights that blind opposing drivers?
Auto makers use these gadgets to sell vehicles.
There isn't a vehicle in the world that truly needs these gadgets.
We buyers of vehicles have been duped big time by the auto makers, to the point there is no turning back.
Bob.
I disagree with this statement because no one is forcing anyone to buy anything. For instance, I would love a new car but I don't like the new technology, styling, and cost associated with new cars these days, therefore I wont buy one, ill stick with used. If more people did that, maybe the car manufacturers would realize that in order to keep their sales up they need to listen to what people want. Unfortunately, we don't live in a car culture anymore and the majority of the people just want no frill, safe, basic, reliable transportation and will buy whatever the car manufacturers are selling.
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