So what do you drive ?

[joeb]

I like the topper, and good lord, look at all that green grass!

[JHamilton]

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[Adam43]

[joeb]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

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I'll pack my mower for Petit.

[Ezzy]

Originally Posted by joeb

Just picked up a 2024 Ford Maverick for work. I don't get to drive it, but it seemed pretty nice on my trip back from the dealership with it!

Initially we wanted to get the hybrid version, but then found out you cannot get all-wheel drive with that. So it was a deal-breaker. Went with the regular gas powered model with all-wheel drive and a towing package. This has to be one of the most inexpensive vehicles for sale right now, sticker price was $23,000 before the added options. I know we got the base trim level, but it is interesting to see what things are included and what things aren't. For instance, nice touch screen and connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, but no power mirrors and no blind spot monitoring seems a little odd.

That’s sharp. That’s cactus grey right?

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Ezzy

That’s sharp. That’s cactus grey right?

Correct, and it seems to work so far. I haven't towed anything with it yet, but hauled a lot of stuff in the back and it is all good.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by joeb

I know we got the base trim level, but it is interesting to see what things are included and what things aren't. For instance, nice touch screen and connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, but no power mirrors and no blind spot monitoring seems a little odd.

This is almost the business model that Toyota and, as it was then, Datsun which is now Nissan, followed back in the 70s, or maybe even earlier.

Their car ranges came out of the factories with all the latest bits and pieces that most people would love to have but which only came as options on European and UK cars. This was why I purchased my first Toyota Crown, because there was only one spec in the range, and that was one with everything that I could possibly want or need. I had gone to Fords hoping to purchase a Granada estate (station wagon), but after over an hour in the showroom I was not finished listing all the things that I wanted; simple things like what seat covering, or what type of seat belt, what radio and what type of ariel to go with it. It was almost like ordering a kit car which had hundreds of components that could be supplied. Oh, and it wouldn't be available for at least 4 months because they had to build the car for me.

That same evening, I went into a Toyota dealership, saw the brand new car that I liked in the showroom, was given a test drive in it, and I collected it the following evening. And that's the way to be a successful business. And when I purchased my third one, about 8 years later, it was in another dealer's showroom up north, and my dealer arranged to take it off their hands and had it brought down on a transporter the next day. It all builds brand loyalty, which is something that is hard to achieve.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

This is almost the business model that Toyota and, as it was then, Datsun which is now Nissan, followed back in the 70s, or maybe even earlier.

Their car ranges came out of the factories with all the latest bits and pieces that most people would love to have but which only came as options on European and UK cars. This was why I purchased my first Toyota Crown, because there was only one spec in the range, and that was one with everything that I could possibly want or need. I had gone to Fords hoping to purchase a Granada estate (station wagon), but after over an hour in the showroom I was not finished listing all the things that I wanted; simple things like what seat covering, or what type of seat belt, what radio and what type of ariel to go with it. It was almost like ordering a kit car which had hundreds of components that could be supplied. Oh, and it wouldn't be available for at least 4 months because they had to build the car for me.

That same evening, I went into a Toyota dealership, saw the brand new car that I liked in the showroom, was given a test drive in it, and I collected it the following evening. And that's the way to be a successful business. And when I purchased my third one, about 8 years later, it was in another dealer's showroom up north, and my dealer arranged to take it off their hands and had it brought down on a transporter the next day. It all builds brand loyalty, which is something that is hard to achieve.

On one hand, I can see how a car company would think letting people customize every detail about their vehicle would be attractive to consumers, but like you say, it can be too much and take forever to finally build your vehicle.

That Maverick actually took 7 months to arrive once I ordered it. But that was more to do with high demand for the product, low parts supplies, and a strike at one point.

While we are talking options, my in-laws purchased a GM vehicle a couple of years ago with heated seats. Except they couldn't turn them on because GM didn't have the physical button/switch available to operate the heaters! So they drove this thing for almost 2 years before they finally got the part in at the dealership and installed it for them.

[JHamilton]

This may just be a truck thing but I hate how options are grouped in large packages. For example, I wanted adaptive cruise control (which is standard on a $40k Kia crossover) but it came as part of a safety package with lane keep assist and an LED rear view mirror for $2800. No thanks. Or I could have opted with the Level 2 equipment package for $4700 that included ACC but also a digital gauge cluster and ventilated reclining rear seats. No thanks. I'm looking at adding it as truck has everything it needs except a different ABS module, the buttons themselves, and the software to reflash which will cost around $1200 total.

Also, it is now cheaper for manufacturers to install screens that it is for hard buttons and gauges. That means that hard buttons, switches, and gauges are now the luxury items but I don't know if the public will ever realize it.

One more thing, GM is getting rid of Android Auto and Apple Carplay under the guise that they are unsafe. In reality, they are working on their own system that you will have to subscribe to and they can collect and sell your data instead of Apple/Google. What they don't realize is that I wont rent, much less buy, a new vehicle without Android Auto.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by joeb

While we are talking options, my in-laws purchased a GM vehicle a couple of years ago with heated seats. Except they couldn't turn them on because GM didn't have the physical button/switch available to operate the heaters! So they drove this thing for almost 2 years before they finally got the part in at the dealership and installed it for them.

I wouldn't buy a vehicle from 21/22 because they are guaranteed to be missing some odd stuff. There are a bunch of loaded up $70k+ Silverados from those years without cruise control or USB charging points.