I just don't see the point any more. You can get a Honda Civic, with manual locks, no power steering, 5-speed, crank-windows, not even a f*cking rear defroster.
Come on! How much do those factory options cost?
Or hubcaps? It wouldn't cost m uch more if every car came with nicer wheels, and it would be a lot nicer to look at.
I laugh when I see a 3-series BMW or a C-class Mercedes with hubcaps on 'em!


But seriously, how much does A/C, ABS, rear disc brakes, power steering, etc. cost just to make them standard? I know about the whole concept of "upselling" but I don't even think these base models should be around anymore since it's maybe a couple grand at most difference.
Thoughts? Opinions?

 

No, but in reality, they all but are. Two reasons:

1.) Even though it's a bare bones car, it lowers the entry point. Just becauses a guy's BMW has hubcaps doesn't prevent him from impressing the girl at the bar that he drives a BMW...of course he leaves out the hubcaps part. For the person struggling to get by, a bare bones but brand new car offers a great sense of pride, even if it's a $10K Aveo. If you make all that stuff standard I think you'll find MSRPs go up $3-4K across the board.

2.) Both my Camaro's have been bare bones cars, mostly by luvk as I'm the second owner of both. From a performance perspective (I autocross regularly) the weight savings from not having all those accessories is a big benefit.

 

The car that I'm driving currently has manual locks, no power steering, manual windows, mirrors, no a/c. When I got the car, I wanted to save every dollar possible. I am glad they offer cars like this, because I don't want to pay more for any of the fancier stuff, to me, it's money down the toilet. My next car is very likely to be the cheapest base model pontiac pursuit available. It will have manual locks, windows, mirrors, no a/c.

PS when the new camaro comes out, I really hope I will be able to buy the V8 version stripped down without any of the crap.

 

are there acutaly any cars made for the US with power steering and AC optional these days?

I don't think I would personally buy a bare bones cars.. I'd buy a base model, but I would want at least ABS, AC, power steering, power windows, locks, and mirrors.

might start costing more to have bare bones cars, since less and less people would actually buy a bare bones cars.

 

A/C is still an option, yes. So is ABS, and a lot of cars still have rear drums.

 

My friend just bought an 03 Galant with NO ABS.............................How the HELL can you get away with not having ABS on brand new cars? I thought every car since the early 90's had ABS standard....here I am in '05 getting proven wrong.

Like Jimbo...I really don't see the point in manual locks and windows anymore...it's gotta be almost as cheap just to go with power locks and windows all across the board.

 

I thought GM stopped making ABS standard on some of their lower end models a few years ago? I remember it because some people made a deal out of it because GM was hyping standard ABS across the board.

 

ABS, cruise, tilt, pw, pl, a/c, CD should be standard.

 

I'd rather cars have LESS content than more.

Lowers the entry point, offers more options for customization, keeps things simple--there's really no downside.

Consider this: in 1966, the base price of a Corvette in today's dollars was about $24,500. Yes, it had hubcaps. Yes, it had only the base 300HP engine. Yes, it had vinyl seats and manual steering and brakes. But it WAS a Corvette. Want a new Corvette today for $24,500? Sorry, that's not an option. Not anymore.

I'm seriously considering getting a Solstice/Sky turbo with only air conditioning as an option. Yes, manual crank windows and no ABS. Air is required where I live for a commuter thrasher, other than that I'd want it simple and cheap.

 

It depends on if you want a cheap car or a performance car.

Performance wise, Mopar used to go to the extremes to have a lightweight car. 426 hemi with dog dish hubcaps, aluminum seat brackets that were drilled in the center, bench seat instead of buckets, no passenger seatbelt, no sunvisor, no radio, no a/c, power windows (because they were lighter than crank windows), even lightweight windows were used. No high beams in the race cars. Obviously no fog lights.

I remember when the hardtop corvette came back the year before the Z06 took over the option. They were supposed to be "stripper" Corvettes. You could only get the 6 speed, a few other options weren't available. Price? 60K. A coupe was 66K at the time. Well no wonder the hardtops never sold all that well.

As for me, I prefer a simple climate control system over an electronic automatic one. No air conditioning is fine in a sunroof, floor vent, heavy tinted car. With gas prices the way they are, who wants to use air conditioning? A 2 door car doesn't need power locks. Just one more thing to go wrong and break. Look how many people deal with window motors in 4th gen F-bodies. I bet many would prefer a simple window crank instead.

ABS probably does add to the price considerably. Many could live without it. Drum brakes should be gone though. Discs work better, are easier to change, and don't seize up like every set of drums I've ever had.

If you want to talk pricing. Consider that one of the 1969 ZL1 Corvettes came with every option available. It was $10,700 brand new. A bone stock 69 vette was around $4800-5000 or so.

 

power windows on a 4 door is handy. Same with power locks. A/C depends on your climate. The rest are not really needed. Why should I pay $300 for the factory CD option when I can get a better performing aftermarket CD player for cheaper? I never use tilt or cruise.

 

I have a basic Z28. No power seats/windows, 6-speed and cloth. I like the idea of not having extra electric motors to eventually replace. Pretty hard to roll down the pass. side window while driving, though...

Had a basic civic like the one mentioned above. had no a/c, abs, or power steering. Loved that car-put a LOT of miles on it.

Personally, I'd hate to see the demise of the basic car, I feel more at home in them. A matter of taste, I suppose.

 

I wish we had even more bare bone cars, ie: no headliner, no carpet, no trunk mat, no radio or speakers, flat black steel wheels, no clear coat... just seats, a steering wheel, heater, clutch brake and gas pedals. Just a car that's super cheap ($5,000-6,000) and does what cars do: drive you around.

 

Strippers have their place. Our first (and only) new car purchase was a 93 2WD Cherokee. No options other than full sized spare and tow package. It was what we needed and could afford at the time. Great car for the price, 145K later we still have it and like it. If it had only been available at a higher price because it was only available, we might not have gotten it and settled for something less like a Taurus wagon (shudder).

 

I don't mean jacking up the price, I just mean some things shouldn't be optional, they should be standard reguardless if it was a base model or not. A/C should be on EVERY car. Same with ABS, and airbags.