I just looked at the Chrysler website and reviewed the 300c Standard Features. Here are the list of Standard Features that have zero value to me and probably add a few thousand dollars extra cost.
Several of these standard features, such as Sirius, Power Adjustable Pedals, and Tire Pressure Monitoring, were options when I bought my car in 2004.
1-Year SIRIUS Radio Service
Automatic Headlamps
Cabin Air Filtering System
Exterior Mirrors with Auto Adjustment In Reverse
Rain-Sensitive Windshield Wipers
Power Adjustable Pedals with Memory
Rain-Sensitive Windshield Wipers
SmartBeam(TM) Headlamps
Tire Pressure Monitoring Display
Automatically-Dimming Rear View Mirror
Exterior Mirrors with Memory Feature
I just looked at the Chrysler website and reviewed the 300c Standard Features...
If you look at the end of post #1 there is a 4-page PDF file attached that lists all of the 2010 Standard features. I hear what you are saying, but if the list of standard features were to be really short then you would have alot of complaints from buyers who felt "cheated" or gouged for having to pay for some of those features.
Starting a couple model years ago, Chrysler has been simplifying the complex array of feature and option configurations. This has resulted in dramatic savings and has allowed Chrysler to offer more standard features at a lower cost. The largest portion of vehicle price increases is not for covering the addition of more standard features, it's due to the price of labor, steel and other rising business expenses. For some of the features you listed that you have no need for, you'd be surprised at how low the cost is once production volumes are reached.
If you look at the end of post #1 there is a 4-page PDF file attached that lists all of the 2010 Standard features. I hear what you are saying, but if the list of standard features were to be really short then you would have alot of complaints from buyers who felt "cheated" or gouged for having to pay for some of those features.
Starting a couple model years ago, Chrysler has been simplifying the complex array of feature and option configurations. This has resulted in dramatic savings and has allowed Chrysler to offer more standard features at a lower cost. The largest portion of vehicle price increases is not for covering the addition of more standard features, it's due to the price of labor, steel and other rising business expenses. For some of the features you listed that you have no need for, you'd be surprised at how low the cost is once production volumes are reached.
Yeh, you make a good point about the relatively low cost of options compared to the other costs to manufacturer cars. Options are also supposed to generate very high margins for the dealer/manufacturers. But forcing options and higher prices on the consumer seems counterintuitive.
Maybe the car manufacturers could learn from the computer manufacturers. I just bought a laptop for about $1,300. 5 years ago I bought a similar type computer for around $2,000. 10 years ago it cost me around $2300.
8 years ago, I bought a 22" LCD for $2500. Today, I can get a 22" monitor for $100. The difference? My $2500 monitor might have had less contrast, more lag, and wasn't that bright, but I could stare at it for hours with no eye strain whatsoever.
The $100 22" has a washed out screen with too much of a backlight, a cheap poorly made case, and the glossy coating on it has more orange peel than a kia.
That, and it's still hard to find a 1920x1200 LCD that is actually S-IPS. If you want one, you can't get a 23" anymore, you have to get the 24" that costs about $600. Dell still makes a 30" S-IPS model, and Apple still makes them in 24"/30" form as well, but they definitely aren't cheap.
Tech gets cheaper over time, but they also make the bottom line lower. Then again, sometimes it doesn't. I've noticed lately some "Free netbook!" promotions where you get a $250 computer free if you sign a 2 year contract for $40+/month wireless internet...
Back in the 90s, you could get a $400 desktop for free if you signed up for 2 years of AOL, and that was only $20 a month!
Did you guys hear that the Fiat folks weren't too impressed with the 2011 300 design, so they are changing it. They like the 2011 Charger, but not the 300.
Speaking of tech prices... in 1985 I bought a new hard drive for our main computer at work. It was a whopping 350 MB and the price was $5,000.00. I still have it - although I don't use it and it's worthless, I just can't bring myself to toss it in the garbage!
Did you guys hear that the Fiat folks weren't too impressed with the 2011 300 design, so they are changing it. They like the 2011 Charger, but not the 300.
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