Lost technology?

[JaMo]

OK, so I hate to ask, but has anyone else noticed a curious change (or lack thereof) in features on cars? Normally, once something is invented it gets cheaper by increasing volume. 5 years ago a HiFi VHS VCR would have cost about $400, now they're about $100 (if you can find one!) CD burners have gone from $4000 to $40.

My mom's 1986 Coupe DeVille had a nifty feature where you just push the trunk down a bit and latch the mechanism that automatically pulls the trunk closed. You can still get that...by choking up $40k+ for a DeVille! I'd have thought that would be standard on the cheapest Ford Focus by now.

Likewise I hadn't seen any car where the front part of the seat pulls forward to support your thighs since my dad's '86 TBird. Until I rode in my friend's 328.

Do the power seats with memory have some expensive sensor the regular power seats lack? Is there some reason why the lesser 300s have to get by without the automatic climate control? It can't possibly cost that much more. I'm getting pretty sick of the automotive caste system.

[AndyK]

Pay to play. If Visteon or Lear or wtfe can shave $20 per seat in cost on a 50k unit a year model; they (or Big3) just saved $1 million. For most people auto bolsters, trunk close, etc. are not 'must haves' and wouldn't lead to enough sales to bring in $1M of revenue.

Look how long fuel injection, cruise control, seatbelts, etc. to to become mainstream.

Even the C has some bits on the interior where the beancounters got to it. (passenger seat recline)

Unfortunately, the computer / consumer electronics feature pricing model doesn't really work for cars.

[300CinLV]

[quote=JaMo]
My mom's 1986 Coupe DeVille had a nifty feature where you just push the trunk down a bit and latch the mechanism that automatically pulls the trunk closed. You can still get that...by choking up $40k+ for a DeVille! I'd have thought that would be standard on the cheapest Ford Focus by now.

Likewise I hadn't seen any car where the front part of the seat pulls forward to support your thighs since my dad's '86 TBird. Until I rode in my friend's 328.

Both of these features, plus the doors will close automatically if not closed all of the way, are on the 2004 BMW 745Li for a mere $82,000.

I think sometimes car makers rethink features depending on how much it costs them in the end to maintain during the warranty period.

It seems like DC omitted some good, and probably inexpensive options to make the 300C more of a luxury model. Go figure.

[pd171]

Those seats in the BMW 3-series are an option (sport package). My boss just got a 04 325Xi and it has those seats and they are nice. My wifes boss has a 04 BMW 745 and it does have the auto trunk close feature and would have been a nice addition to the 300C. The seat bolsters would have been nice also. I for one was streaching my budget to get a 300C at the current price and living without every option every luxury car has is something I can live with. It would have been nice to see those as an option though.

[Blue]

Those options are intended to SEPERATE the luxury line from the economy line. Period. The trunk closer probably only costs $40.00 but if you like it and you cant get it on anything but the DeVille you need to get the DeVille. The feature is worth more than the part. GM is good at seperating its line up from Caddy to Buick to Chevy. This keeps resale value higher. Ford and Chrysler have not done this well in recent years. A used Taurus is a Tauris is aTauris regardless for the most part if it is a plane jane or an SHO model. The 300C has many ingenious features but one problem in keeping the 300C value high is that these features...most of them...are available on the "lesser" 300 models. Years ago Chrysler would have allowed for mechanical crossover ie engines and transmissions between lines but not creature comforts. You could get a New Yorker fully loaded but a Newport had vinyl seats and crank windows. That way they protected the value of the various lines. Today just the opposite. You can get a 300 Touring with nearly identical creature comforts (as well as body style) but need to upgrade the engine and tranny. I love the car. But...I know it wont hold its value as well as other high end models. I believe the 300 should be at the top of the Chrysler food chain with two versions. 1 The C ...Hemi..and with EVERY OPTION standard and 2 the Touring (or Limited) with a 6 cyl base and piecmeal option choices offering many but not all options. That gives a truly world class offering and keeps values up. Im happy with the car and the price point was needed to generate interest and sales. But in the future this needs to be marketed as a Premier Car. I would hope the very base model goes away as this is just out there to put a low price on a TV ad. Again that leads to price / value degridation since it is viewed and marketed as a low priced car. People who bought the C and the Touring / Limited got a whole lot of car for the money. But others saw the add ... "Chrysler 300 starting at $23,400" and just equate the 300 series as another low end Chrysler. Even at 38K for the C compared to other cars out there with 340HP and great styling there is no competition with respect to price. Chrysler has traditionaly been good at selling style and innovation (Mini Van...PT Cruiser...) but terrible at selling the quality (actual and percieved) of their product. We all bought this car and we still are complaining about service issues. Ive heard people tell me "awsome car but arnt you afraid of it being a Chrysler?" DC and the dealers should be hounding us with their "Premier" service making sure each of us is overjoyed in every way so we can tell others about that company. Thats what Honda and Acura and Lexus have going for them and that is the one thing Chrysler needs most. Long epistle. Sorry but I was on a roll.

[indyCoder]

Funny story:

My father had the auto pull down trunk on his ’82 Eldo. He sent my brother out to put a large jack in the trunk so he could return it to the shop. My brother the genius placed the jack in the trunk a gently closed the trunk. When dad went to his car to go to work he noticed this bulge in the trunk lid. Turns out Einstein put the jack in the trunk standing up and you can figure the rest.

[james jefferson]

Originally Posted by indyCoder

Funny story:

My father had the auto pull down trunk on his ’82 Eldo. He sent my brother out to put a large jack in the trunk so he could return it to the shop. My brother the genius placed the jack in the trunk a gently closed the trunk. When dad went to his car to go to work he noticed this bulge in the trunk lid. Turns out Einstein put the jack in the trunk standing up and you can figure the rest.

ROFLOL...................

[300CinLV]

Originally Posted by indyCoder

Funny story:

My father had the auto pull down trunk on his ’82 Eldo. He sent my brother out to put a large jack in the trunk so he could return it to the shop. My brother the genius placed the jack in the trunk a gently closed the trunk. When dad went to his car to go to work he noticed this bulge in the trunk lid. Turns out Einstein put the jack in the trunk standing up and you can figure the rest.

Very funny story. I guess I really don't want that feature after all.

["C"for me]

my friend has a Caddy with that trunk closer. He has had to replace the latches, or whatever the weak link is, several times. The baggers at the supermarket always slam his trunk closed and it has fractured the (insert name of part). He now tries to stop them before they perform that last bit of service!

[kcrnmale]

I had Lincolns too and I always had to remind people NOT to slam my trunk lid.