There are some cars and trucks still available as stripped units, but they are becoming more and more rare, and often (but not always) need to be located far away or ordered from OEM that way.
CAUTION - I'm ramping up on a rant here, so ignore if you choose.
I don't mind technology, but I do abhor the onset of total tech invasion into my life ...
Good things:
- fuel injection
- ABS (I like it, but I have no problems if it's absent, and actually have two vehicles that do not have it).
- A/C (one of the luxury items I'll not do without)
- power locks and windows (nice to have, but I do have two trucks with manual locks and windows right now and I'm OK with that).
Bad and/or over-priced, trouble prone, infuriating things:
- TPMS (how lazy have we become as a driving society that we cannot check air pressure once a month?)
- touch-screen eveything-run-by radio/climate/etc (Ford Sync, for example)
- RSC
- Back-up cameras
- automatic climate controls (Ford EATC, for example)
- dual zone systems (side to side)
- redundant climate systems (front to rear)
- Lane control / Lane departure tech
At some point, these gadgets are going to fail or be broken. And then they are expensive and a PITB to repair, especially for the DIY guys and gals. It may not happen to every vehicle, or every person, but the propensity of these things to break is much greater than simple devices.
My two MGMs have EATC, and I hate it. I tolerate the system because that is what came in the cars, and we bought well-cared-for used vehicles. If I had preference, I would ditch the EATC and just get a good ol' manual system.
I have had to replace door lock solenoides in vehicles before; never had to replace a manaul door lock. I have replaced power window motors before as well as door switches; but never had to replace a manual window "regulator".
My friend had a new F-150 with back-up camera in the tailgate. Worked great until he forgot about it and yanked the cord out when taking the 'gate off ... Sure, it was his fault, but it still was still expensive and something he really didn't "need" (not any more than the leather seats ... but I digress).
Another friend spent almost a $grand$ replacing an LCD screen in her vehicle, because it was the touch-screen control for the entire radio and HVAC package. It developed a crack in it for no apparent reason. Being an older unit, it was difficult to source and expensive to replace.
I rode in a car recently that scared to poo out of the driver and I because the warning system blared an imminent collision! Turns out the heavy rain and road mist fooled the sensors and it though we were going off road when it simply was the dense water vapor being sensed. After finally figuring out why this was intermittently happening over a duration of 12 miles or so, we were amused and irritated at the same time. Tech gone amok.
Heck, lots of cars don't even have knobs for control features any longer. They have "buttons" (typically push button or touch sensitive features). I hate that. I like a tactile device that I can reach for with little or no thought and physically turn (volume, tuning, temp, blower speed, etc). DID I MENTION I HATE TOUCH SENSITIVE BUTTONS! The only buttons I tolerate are the cruise-control ones on the wheel, because a knob makes no sense there.
If I am not mistaken, I believe BUCs (back up cameras) are going to be mandated by federal law, or already have been? More wiring, another device, and another display screen on every vehicle sold from here on out. Not unlike TPMS; more costs because lazy people make for unsafe drivers ... In fact, careless and lazy people are the reason for many of these "conveniences" due to safety concerns. TPMS, RSC, ABS, BUCs are all answers to folks that cannot seem to control their vehicles and need electro-mechanical intervention.
It is a free market and therefore many convenience items do sell well. Almost, IMO, too well. So well that OEMs and dealers have found that packaging groups make for great profit drivers! Want feature "X"? It only comes in package "Y" as a $1900 upgrade. Buy or live without. This is a benefit to the OEM in two ways:
1) reduces per-unit complexity of build at the assembly process
2) forces many into "upgrading" (more profit margin)
I have no problem that some folks want super fancy stuff; great for them. But it's become such a prominent issue that there are very few inexpensive vehicles due to all the luxury and safety features.
Sorry - rant over.
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