• Why do manufacturers insist on cramming as much useless shit into a car as possible?
    139 replies, posted
Recently I've been noticing, cars went from which one looks the best (they're all the bloody same looking now), or which ones perform the best, to 'how much useless gimmicky shit can we cram into the car?' I mean for fucks sake i just saw a commercial for a Kia or Hyundai or some bullshit and it had [I]power-folding mirrors.[/I] When the fuckity fuck am i going to use that? For fucks sake, I just want a stripped down, good looking car, that performs well, and drives like it's on rails. I don't give a rats hairy ass about heated seats or a TV screen or whatever the fuck.
I give a rats ass about heated seats. My friends GMC Jimmy has heated seats and we'll crank the A/C and turn them on. My ass is fucking toasty
agreed my car is basic as fuck. I don't need a bunch of shit that I'd never use anyway.
People want to drive houses. Woah, that sounds reaally bad as far as foreshadowing goes.
[QUOTE=teslacoil;31946334]People want to drive houses. Woah, that sounds reaally bad as far as foreshadowing goes.[/QUOTE] Thoughts of Jeremy Clarkson's house-car arise...
Consumers like technology, and if what you are saying are what I'm thinking of, they are kinda handy so no cunt hits your mirror when you're in the store or something.
They are actually really useful on trucks (especially large diesels), since the mirrors are pretty large. It makes getting in small areas like garages a bit more possible. Is there a lot of useless shit on cars? No doubt. But that's only if your buying a high end model of the vehicle. If you want a really basic car, buy a base model. You can still buy cars without power windows or power locks. Now obviously, if your looking at higher end cars, that stuff is going to be considered standard anyway.
Why the gadgets? They distract people with shiny toys from the fact that really, every modern sedan this year is [B]exactly [/B]the same as its competitors. There has been no innovation whatsoever for 50 years in anything but some tiny universal refinements in engine technology--they think marketing is more important than that. My truck doesn't even have power mirrors, locks, or windows, or remote start. For awhile, it didn't even have fucking AC.
Most features I couldn't give a shit about but I think keyless fobs with keyless start should be a standard. I used to find that a gimmick until I actually started using it and it really is handy.
if they wanna add new features to my car, I'm all up for a remote turret with a .50 in it. Other than that, I don't even think that an auto trans is really necessary.
If they added a hybrid car engine to my car it would get like 100mpgs because the only feature it has is AC. The only reason those cars don't get really good gas mileage is they put a bunch of useless shit in them. Only feature that is good is cruise control and AC. IMO.
Only feature that is good is a 12v alternator or generator, and water pump. :v
My Cobra is pretty standard. Power mirrors, power locks, normal 1 cd radio/cd player, and power seats. Nothing else, no heated seats, no power-folding mirrors, no GPS, no traction control, no stability control, nothing like that. I'm glad though, its made me much of a better driver. Its way to easy to drive with all this bullshit on cars. We have a 2012 Fusion Sport AWD, that I hate driving, because I literally fall asleep at the wheel, even with the car in manual mode and shifting by myself. Its just way to easy. The 97 Cobras also "had" cruise control, alot of the 96-98 Cobras rolled off the lot without working cruise control.
People nowadays expect a level of refinement previously unattainable. Look at something like the new Kia Rio, it has a backup camera, Bluetooth, USB/iPod connectivity, etc., which is more than what some luxury cars had 10, even 5 years ago. I think this is happening because of the price of fuel. Since people are want a more fuel efficient car, but not lose the features they had in their bigger cars, they need to cram "useless" (to you and me) features to make economy cars more attractive. It also has to do with profit margins - manufacturers can sell you a car loaded to the gills for much higher than a basic car with no power windows, locks, steering, etc. Economy cars actually have very low profit margins; so by upcharging on extra features they can recoup the money they would have lost. Remember, 50 years ago automatic transmissions were a rarity, and now look at them! As technology improves, it makes less and less sense to the average consumer to purchase a basic, no-frills set of wheels. If it costs relatively little to incorporate power folding mirrors or other electronic doodads, and increase refinement slightly, with little to no downsides, I don't see why we shouldn't.
I understand the fact that technology is getting more advanced and our vehicles are getting more advanced too. Now there is some features that are nice for the driver to have like AC and Cruise Control. But there are some other features that are also nice to have in like say cold weather, Heated Seat's Heated mirror's and Auto defrosting Windshield's. And down to the other random shit, A basic radio is fine but no fucking notsoserius radio, live traffic, gps, and movie playback. And now to the rely nice to have encase you live in a major city accessories, Powerfolding mirror's is nice to have incase a dicktit walks by your can and does not notice your mirror and brakes it. That's a easy 200-500$ mirror in newer car's And that could have been eliminated if it was folded away. Backup Camera's are also nice to have if your in like for saw walmart in your oversized house, so you can SEE a small child. But If you dont want these features just buy a base model or in some cases your buying a higer end vehicle JUST DONT FUCKING USE THE GOD DAMN SHIT.
[QUOTE=teslacoil;31946334]People want to drive houses. Woah, that sounds reaally bad as far as foreshadowing goes.[/QUOTE] This is the truth. As American society moves more towards privacy we will only see more of this trend. People treat their cars like their own private bubble; locked away from the outside world. People want complete privacy and comfort to go along with it. They drive vehicles that act as mobile reclining loveseats to take them every where. That's why sometimes people stare at me weird when I drive with my windows down listening to music. I get to enjoy the beautiful weather and sometimes have an unexpected conversation with a fellow same-minded driver.
New cars < old cars.
Power heated seats, A/C, navigation, and a decent sound system aren't that gimmicky or useless
[QUOTE=spacedooky;31948184]As technology improves, it makes less and less sense to the average consumer to purchase a basic, no-frills set of wheels. If it costs relatively little to incorporate power folding mirrors or other electronic doodads, and increase refinement slightly, with little to no downsides, I don't see why we shouldn't.[/QUOTE] The basic issue is that as a society, we buy shitty cars with stupid gizmos. I'd rather buy a car like a model T, with no frills, for a super-low cost, rather than some feature-loaded plastic crap that costs way more than it's worth. Model Ts sold, adjusted for real world inflation, for $4,000 new when production ended. I think we'd all take a new car for four grand.
[QUOTE=MightyMax;31946036]Now listen here sonny jim, back in our day we didnt have no fancy gizmotrons and fancy thingmagigs, was just 'bout the pure thrill of driving a basic as fuck truck. Nothin and I say nothin can beat the thrill of being hot as fuck 'cause we had no A/C back in our time ya hear? Aint about bein comfortable or entertained son, you need to be angry all the time.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Penis Colada;31950705]Power heated seats, A/C, navigation, and a decent sound system aren't that gimmicky or useless[/QUOTE] power heated seats I'd call useless. Ac is nice but not a must. Navigation you can get aftermarket for $80 with a tomtom. Sound system just has to not be crap.
Heated seats are useless. AC is a must, don't bother arguing otherwise. GPS can be purchased separately. Sound system needs to have a FUNCTIONAL head unit, not some ricer bullshit thing with a billion lights and settings that a rocket scientist would have a hard time figuring out. Power mirrors are nice, but not needed (at least on the drivers side, passenger side they're a little more important).
My Beetle didn't even have any speakers in it when i bought it but now it has :>
[QUOTE=bluereaper;31950747]power heated seats I'd call useless. Ac is nice but not a must. Navigation you can get aftermarket for $80 with a tomtom. Sound system just has to not be crap.[/QUOTE] A/C is needed unless you live in Alaska, unless you like arriving at your destination drenched in sweat.
[QUOTE=bluereaper;31950747]power heated seats I'd call useless. Ac is nice but not a must. [b]Navigation you can get aftermarket for $80 with a tomtom.[/b] Sound system just has to not be crap.[/QUOTE] Yeah, if driving off cliffs counts as navigation
touch screen gear stick [editline]26th August 2011[/editline] automatic dust cap [editline]26th August 2011[/editline] electronic muffler [editline]26th August 2011[/editline] nuclear sunroof
It's so businessmen can compare dick sizes in the golf course car park with whos' car has what.
I just wish they would put a SET CLOCK button on your damn radio. I appreciate power locks and windows because I don't have them as well as keyless entry. I would say if I bought a new car I would get a radio, power locks and windows, A/C, and cruise control. Long drives suck without cruise control and it actually helps save gas because your accelerator stays in the exact same spot. [editline]26th August 2011[/editline] and A/C is needed because a lot of us live in hot areas. Same with heating unless you want to drive in a snow suit.
I just want a sun roof on top of the standard features :(
I want to special order a car: no interior (except seats and a dash of course), no extra bullshit in the engine compartment, manual, final destination.
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