Why is it...

[Snave01]

Why is it with most car makers, you have to buy the bigger body styles to even have the option of some features? For example, on the X3 there is no option for massage seats, air suspension, B&W sound system, etc. in any trim. You have to go up to the X5. People who have no need for a larger SUV don’t want those features? Conversely, many of the larger vehicles also have more features standard as if people who need the extra room also want more than just the basics in features.

I get you can’t offer every feature in every model for cost and efficiency as well as vehicle/feature design considerations, but many things are relatively easy to scale.

Just a first-world gripe I have. Don't get me started on clothes

Anyone else have other similar "why is it..." automotive questions?

[Alfisti]

TBH no, new cars already have so much useless shit baked in, why do you need more. Massage seats, fucking spare me.

[Snave01]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

TBH no, new cars already have so much useless shit baked in, why do you need more. Massage seats, fucking spare me.

It was just an example...tell us how you really feel

[Alfisti]

Cars are too expensive and feature bloated then people complain about price. Most of it is shite anyway, fancy speakers in a car... like really.

[unluky]

This is 100% what drove me to an X5 when I wanted a X3. Finding one with the options I wanted was WAY easier on the X5 because many came standard. It is irritating that you don't need to larger vehicle, but have to if you want certain things. Probably way I DD a SQ5 now and the X5 sits more. LOL X3 would have been perfect sized. I do feel like X3's are getting better options now - maybe due to the X3 getting more popular or something?

[freakystyly]

If you could get the luxuries of a 7 series in an entry level car, why would anyone buy a 7 series? It's not a size constraint, it's a marketing constraint.

[gblansten]

Cars are already on average costing more than they were adjusted for wages over the past few years. Bloating them out with costly options is not going to help new car sales.

[Snave01]

Originally Posted by freakystyly

If you could get the luxuries of a 7 series in an entry level car, why would anyone buy a 7 series? It's not a size constraint, it's a marketing constraint.

Because of the size and overall luxury (materials, etc outside of the options)? Also, I'm not saying every option should be available across all models.

Originally Posted by gblansten

Cars are already on average costing more than they were adjusted for wages over the past few years. Bloating them out with costly options is not going to help new car sales.

Right but options are just that. No one is forced into them if they want a more modest build. My point is, I would like the option to add certain features on smaller chassis vehicles.

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by Snave01

Because of the size and overall luxury (materials, etc outside of the options)? Also, I'm not saying every option should be available across all models.



Right but options are just that. No one is forced into them if they want a more modest build. My point is, I would like the option to add certain features on smaller chassis vehicles.

My guess is that BMW estimates the take rate will be low on costlier or outlier options and that offering them will not help with profits as there is cost in having numerous options versus fewer options.

It is why McDonalds does not offer Wagyu beef options for their hamburgers.

[Alfisti]

Yeah rants aside it s likely a cost to produce/tool issue vs take rate.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by freakystyly

If you could get the luxuries of a 7 series in an entry level car, why would anyone buy a 7 series? It's not a size constraint, it's a marketing constraint.

This. It's marketing. I worked in new model development for a major manufacturer long enough to know that they are always dangling the carrot to get you to buy up.

It's also true that the take rate would be extremely low for most of these options if presented in a "lower tier" model. There are cost caps on models, and the manufacturers know where that is, so it makes no sense for them to bother offering some options.

[BlkGS]

People buying the smaller vehicles are typically doing so for cost reasons, at least when you're talking about not particularly big vehicles.

That said, manufacturers are not incentivized to add those features because they make more margin on average on larger vehicles.

My bigger WHY!?! Is all these stupid screens. I don't need screens tondo things buttons can do easily.

Also, manual transmissions. Bring them back.

Big engines, bring those back too.

[Snave01]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

People buying the smaller vehicles are typically doing so for cost reasons, at least when you're talking about not particularly big vehicles.

See, I would think those with a lot of kids that need the space would potentially have less discretionary income vs single/married people with no kids. Kids are expensive

Originally Posted by BlkGS

Also, manual transmissions. Bring them back.

100%!

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by Snave01

See, I would think those with a lot of kids that need the space would potentially have less discretionary income vs single/married people with no kids. Kids are expensive

You got that right.

I would assume that most people with plenty of discretionary income but no need for space aren't buy compact SUVs or sedans, they're buying coupes and convertibles and trucks. At least that's what I did, lol.

[Snave01]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

You got that right.

I would assume that most people with plenty of discretionary income but no need for space aren't buy compact SUVs or sedans, they're buying coupes and convertibles and trucks. At least that's what I did, lol.

Yeah, I had an Z4M Coupe for a few years and while a hoot, it was just very impractical and I had to get a beater to drive in the snow. I don't have a large family but sometimes something with a little cargo space is a handy things. A hot hatch is a pretty good compromise.

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by Snave01

Yeah, I had an Z4M Coupe for a few years and while a hoot, it was just very impractical and I had to get a beater to drive in the snow. I don't have a large family but sometimes something with a little cargo space is a handy things. A hot hatch is a pretty good compromise.

I had it real bad for sport wagons for a while. Dodge Magnum SRT8, MB E55 Wagon, stuff like that. All the cargo space, all the car go road.

The RS6 Avant is cool, but hideously expensive, and you're really.paying for being different vs the super SUVs that exist. The rumored M5 Touring however, is hideous. Taycan wagon similarly is absurdly expensive and has the drawbacks of an EV. Newer AMG wagons just don't appeal to me.

Hot hatches are cool, but similarly have crept up in price to the point that they're kinda pointless. You look at like a GTI vs. Kona N, it's hard to see why you'd spend the extra money on the smaller and less powerful GTI. X1 M35i vs Golf R, it's a similar story.

As hot hatches get bigger, and compact crossovers get smaller and cheaper, they're basically becoming one in the same.

[dfox]

I haven't bought a new car in a little while, but I think this is mostly an American thing.

When I bought my Golf R, I spec'd it out, minus the DCT trans. There were quite a few upgrades that I did over the years of owning it by buying European parts and then coding them in. It seemed frustrating, but then I looked at the MSRP on the Golf R's equipped with those things in Europe and the cost was close to double what I paid. They had way more options, but they paid for 'em.

The american wings of those companies just cut out the fluff to keep the prices down to our expectations for price.

[imperfectluck]

Originally Posted by BlkGS

You got that right.

I would assume that most people with plenty of discretionary income but no need for space aren't buy compact SUVs or sedans, they're buying coupes and convertibles and trucks. At least that's what I did, lol.

Such a true statement as I daily my F87 since I work from home and its just my lady and I lol.

Granted I am floating the idea of an F95/96 (test drove the G06 X6 and it was nice, a bit sterile so M form would probably be more my thing). Its a definite nice to have as it would just be long hauler kind of thing as we eventually get into a family in the next few years.

It isn't just a size thing unfortunately as I'm noticing that only the harmon kardon's are making their way into the new X5 /5 series + vehicles which is a real bummer as it forces me a bit into looking into pre LCI models.

[BlkGS]

The pre LCI on X5/6 is way better anyways. The refreshed interior just looks cheap comparatively, with its lack of buttons, integrated screen, yuck.

That said, I think B&W is still available, but it seems to be rare.

[RM7]

The simple answer is that auto manufacturers want to make money.

It was a huge deal back when Mercedes came out with the W201 series cars, finally bringing the "luxury" of a bigger vehicle to the smaller chassis. But it's not enough, we want the smaller chassis to do everything. We want it to be a race car, a family hauler, a grocery getter, a commuter, etc., not just a luxury sedan.

This is always a bone for me, when people start comparing car interiors of something like a CT4-VBW, they seem to compare it to the midsize and larger German chassis, not to it's actual competitor, forgetting that the lower end German stuff isn't much different these days. I took a look inside an Audi A3 walking into a business two days ago and yeah, it's no A7. The more you spend, the nicer it gets.

[RalliartRsX]

Errrr....did my post get deleted?

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by RM7

The simple answer is that auto manufacturers want to make money.

It was a huge deal back when Mercedes came out with the W201 series cars, finally bringing the "luxury" of a bigger vehicle to the smaller chassis. But it's not enough, we want the smaller chassis to do everything. We want it to be a race car, a family hauler, a grocery getter, a commuter, etc., not just a luxury sedan.

This is always a bone for me, when people start comparing car interiors of something like a CT4-VBW, they seem to compare it to the midsize and larger German chassis, not to it's actual competitor, forgetting that the lower end German stuff isn't much different these days. I took a look inside an Audi A3 walking into a business two days ago and yeah, it's no A7. The more you spend, the nicer it gets.

The 330i loaners I've had have been no nicer than your average Ford. A little worse maybe even to be honest. Definitely not a luxury car interior, nothing on the level of my X5. The X3 loaner I had was very similar.

There's a HUGE jump from a 3 to 5 at BMW. I assume it's the same for A4 to A6 at Audi. I think all the Benzes squeak and rattle now so less so for them, lol.