AmericanVOR

Detroit: Please Bring Back the Stripped Car

In theory, I do agree with your points. We should be offering a value minded "go-kart" with fenders.
Some issues with that is overall part content between levels, scheduling, and piece price.

For example, when power windows were new, it was extra to have them included, so the price reflected the content.

Today, the wire harness that runs through the car contains all the connections anyway. It would actually be more expensive to order different harnesses for each option level.

Then there are safety requirements that need to be satisfied. An impact beam inside a door will be designed with all available options in place, then used across the model line. The money involved in design, testing, and materials are already designed into the vehicle.

At that point, with the engineering and part content in place, it becomes a minimal expense to toss in the power window assembly which is bought in large quantities.

A manual windw would be a different assembly and would require its own design and engineering. If it is a low volume option, it would actually cost more than one might think to purchase.

This is just one example where, pricewise, it may make more sense to equip a car with options that we feel it could be cheaper without. Truth is, they might not be able to make a less equipped car all that much cheaper.

And if I wanted to sell cars, I could take an equipped model of a in the class of a competitor's and price it just a little higher than thiers and say, "Look how much more you get here for just another $30 a month in your payment."

Just saying...

Detroit: Please Bring Back the Stripped Car

"...the Chevy Chevette sold for $4,995 in 1997."

Ummmm... 1997?

The last production year for the Chevette was 1987.