Thing I Hate: Option Packages. 

"Coty" (coty) 11/20/2016 at 18:00 • Filed to: Car Buying, vehicle manufacturing, option packages, ford, Hyundai, Lincoln

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This truck inspired this post, I found it on a Mopar Facebook group and it sort of set me off.

In my personal opinion, options packages (including mandatory car color options) are ruining a big part of the fun of cars. Pictured above is an unrestored 1971 Dodge W100 Adventurer. This truck was ordered in Plum Crazy Purple and was painted as such at the factory. Back then, you had a list of individual options, sometimes hundreds. I counted 106 in this 1967 Camaro sample order form.

You could even write in gear ratios. Wild.

Having this plethora of options made for some truly unique cars. Naturally not every car was a wildly colored, big displacement monster, but one of the fun things about it is running the option tags on these cars and seeing what options they left the factory with. For example, just from this tag we can tell that this is a 1972 Satellite, with a 230hp (net, haha) 318, light duty auto trans, and it’s Blue Streak with a basic blue bench interior. Nothing special, but again, it’s fun to run the codes, and it’s obvious whoever ordered it didn’t get anything they didn’t want.

This is the fender tag for a car I was looking at buying, but it sold before I got the scratch.

Today, and this varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, there is sometimes only one option for each trim level. Furthermore, you may only want one option in the package, like cruise control, for example, but are forced to pay for the entire package, which is sometimes hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Another example, if you want a sunroof in your new Hyundai Tuscon, your new $25,000 small crossover is now a $35,000 small luxury crossover, because you had to go from an SE to a Limited, and then add the $2,750 Ultimate Package.

Very nicely equipped Tuscon, unless all you wanted was the sunroof.

I’m just using this 2017 Tuscon as an example but I don’t know of any major manufacturer that doesn’t do this. Some manufacturers are worse about it than others. Some, like Hyundai, have no standalone options at all, on any car, and don’t allow you to order a car from the factory at all. Others, like Ford (I use Hyundai and Ford because that’s what I know best, not because I’m trying to rag on either) have mostly option packages, but do have some standalone options as well, and they allow you to place orders. On the Fiesta, for example, the sunroof, body graphics, and different wheels are all standalone options you can configure without having to add anything else you may not want, while other things like the Ecoboost Fuel Economy package change multiple things, like the engine, wheels, trunklid spoiler and badging, much the way the SS package on the Camaro order sheet above did (I just compared a ‘67 Camaro SS to a Fiesta with a fuel economy package, commence communal brain hemorrhage).

Fords often have a mix of options packages and standalone options, the best of both worlds.

I also dislike that manufacturers give us seven or eight color options, and two or three interior colors, but you can’t put silver with beige cloth you’re stuck with gray, but if you get the exterior beige, you can’t have anything but beige interior. God forbid you wanna turn the beige down just a hair. I did actually see a Chrysler 200S that was burgundy with a dark blue interior, so props to Chrysler for letting people do weird combinations. I also miss the days where you could special order cars in pretty much whichever color you wanted, even if the color was really intended for another model, like the Dodge at the beginning of the post. I can see keeping what I call “halo colors” like Ford’s Nitrous Blue, colors that sort of define cars like the Focus RS, but now that the ST twins are getting a little longer in the tooth, I wanna see some special order Tangerine Scream Explorers, and Molten Orange F250s. If I could order a Lincoln Tahitian Pearl F150 Platinum I would’ve gone to college and gotten a job where I could afford one. Hell, go nuts and let them put Recaros in a Transit Connect if they’re willing to pay for it.

I love Tahitian Pearl, sorry not sorry.

I suppose in the end this is really just another “they don’t make them like they used to” argument that makes us yearn for days gone by, but short of it being an easier way to make money for the manufacturer, and having lower overhead by not having a department to process the really crazy stuff, I really don’t see why this can’t still be the case. Obviously some things have to be packaged together, like automatic emergency braking needing adaptive cruise control’s sensors to be able to function, but why do I need leather, 19" wheels, and numerous safety and security features to make a sunroof open? I think most people would agree that having more options and more choice, especially when purchasing a product, isn’t a bad thing.

Tristan > Coty 11/20/2016 at 18:05

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“I also dislike that manufacturers give us seven or eight color options, and two or three interior colors...”

White, Light grey, dark gray, medium grey, reddish grey, black, beige, performance beige and the choice of 50 shades of beige, black of grey for interior. God new cars are boooooooooooooooring.

Coty > Tristan 11/20/2016 at 18:07

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UNTIL THEY PAINT THEM TAHITIAN PEARL AMIRITE

MM54 > Coty 11/20/2016 at 18:08

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100% agree. I’ve spent some time in manufacturing and can understand why they want to reduce the variation between units (believe me if they could make every single one exactly identical they would) but at some point the automotive industry seems to have stopped caring whatsoever about what people want and instead pander to regulators and investors.

Coty > MM54 11/20/2016 at 18:11

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I’ve never been in the manufacturing part of it but I can understand it even in my role as a salesperson. Like I said in my last paragraph it’s more of a “days gone by thing” and understand it’s never gonna go back to how it was, but at the same time, no one is gonna drop and extra $10k for a sunroof, they’re gonna buy a competitior’s car that has a $1,200 panoramic sunroof standalone option. Seen that one happen several times.

Tristan > Coty 11/20/2016 at 18:11

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Or use the words “adventure” and “fun” in the press material.

The new Nissan Adequatima! Now with adventurous CVT and available SPORT button for more FUN!

Coty > Tristan 11/20/2016 at 18:13

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The all new Daewoo Adventurefun now with optional seatbelts.

Tristan > Coty 11/20/2016 at 18:14

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*addition of seatbelts requires $12,995 convenience package.

Coty > Tristan 11/20/2016 at 18:17

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Of course the base car is only $8000.

Spoon II > Coty 11/20/2016 at 18:18

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I’m totally with you! I understand why they switched, due to ease of production and whatever, but that doesn’t stop it from sucking. Sometimes, you just want a base car with, lets say, the biggest engine they offer in it. Or, maybe you want the luxury leather without the entertainment console.

Tristan > Coty 11/20/2016 at 18:20

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Naturally. For a real sticker shock, check out the Chevy Colorado configurator and click “Duramax”, aka the “multiply the price of the truck x2" button. I actually thought I might purchase a new car for the first time in my life when I heard of the D-max ‘rado. After seeing the price jump, NO.

Coty > Spoon II 11/20/2016 at 18:22

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I always love finding the old sleepers. Base model, big engine, bench seat, manual trans. That shit is the coolest.

Coty > Tristan 11/20/2016 at 18:23

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I didn’t even know that existed. Has to be smaller than the Duramax in the Silverado, right?

Tristan > Coty 11/20/2016 at 18:24

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Also relevant- a few years back I parted out a ‘56 Studebaker President that was customer ordered with every option except the automatic transmission (it had a 3-on-the-tree) and power windows on the rear doors. It even had a body tag from production that said “POWER LIFT FRNT ONLY”. It was a neat car but had extensive accident damage.

Tristan > Coty 11/20/2016 at 18:26

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Yep. 4-cylinder turbodiesel. I think 2.8 litres... I stopped caring when I saw the MSRP.

Coty > Tristan 11/20/2016 at 18:28

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That’s a bummer. I dunno if Ford still does it but I took in a 2012 Focus S (base model) once, got in, went to put the window up and was met with two power switches for this 4 door car. The rear two were crank, very similar to what you just described. In 2012!

Oh and that window didn’t go up, haha.

dogisbadob > Coty 11/20/2016 at 18:28

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The Corvette has an option to override their pre-planned color combos (for example, if you want a blue car with a red interior), for about $500 or so. This is a good idea that should be adopted more widely.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Coty 11/20/2016 at 18:30

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Probably to not overwhelm customers with too many boxes to click.

Coty > Tristan 11/20/2016 at 18:31

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You weren’t even exaggerating. It LITERALLY doubles the price.

Wonder if Jalopnik has reviewed a Duramax Colorado yet.

Tristan > Coty 11/20/2016 at 18:31

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I guess it’s a way to make a cheap car cheaper. I know the SRT-4 Neons came with power fronts only as well because weight savings.

Coty > dogisbadob 11/20/2016 at 18:33

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Definitely. I wonder how much of premium the burgundy and dark blue on that 200S was. It was a trade in so I never saw the sticker or anything.

Coty > Tristan 11/20/2016 at 18:34

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Oh I’m certain it’s a cost thing in the case of the Focus S.

Tristan > Coty 11/20/2016 at 18:35

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Right?! It’s pretty hard to convince me that a mass produced 4-cylinder diesel engine costs $25f*ckingthousand to manufacture and install in a mass produced truck. I think there’s a heavy dieselbro tax on that.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > Coty 11/20/2016 at 18:35

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I actually have a case of this in my family! my grandpa had a 1977 or 1978 mustang 2 with a “5.0L” and a 4 speed for awhile. he had a friend in Canada drive to the states, buy it for cash, and then ship it to my grandpa in europe. the car was light blue with a light blue interior. what’s interesting about it is that the only way to get a 5L with a 4speed was a king cobra, and this was not a king cobra. it was a run of the mill mustang II ordered with all the “performance” upgrades of the King Cobra, but none of the looks. sadly, it was rear ended and totaled in 1982, and my grandpa went and ordered a Merc SL

Tristan > Coty 11/20/2016 at 18:37

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Most definitely. At least it was a newer Focus. I briefly owned a 2009 Focus SES Coupe until I couldn’t stand it any more. Every single nut, screw and bolt on that car screamed “CHEAP!!!!!”

Coty > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 11/20/2016 at 18:38

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It’s possible, but I’d sooner think it was just a case of making it easier for, and reducing the overhead of the automakers. Things like pickup trucks, especially heavy duty ones, inherently have a lot of standalone options because people use them for very different things and the salespeople are trained to translate the needs of the customer to the options that will enable them to use the vehicle the way they wish, and I think salespeople of regular vehicles would certainly be able to do that as well.

Busslayer > Coty 11/20/2016 at 18:38

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I’m not really very particular about colors and interior options, so if it costs me less than I’m ok with limiting choices.

That said, it does piss me off that manufacturers now require you to buy all the bells and whistles to get the performance options. I miss the days of Mustang LXs with the best engine but with crank windows and no a/c if you wanted. Light and cheap.

Coty > Busslayer 11/20/2016 at 18:42

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I’m okay with limiting exterior colors to 7ish options and interior to two or three, but give them the option to pay extra and get something else from another model. I’m not saying let them have pink if no other cars have pink, but if one of your cars has a nice gray and the car their looking at doesn’t have it, give them a price and allow them to pay it if they wish.

And definitely agree on the performance options requiring stuff not even tangentially related to performance. You don’t need a fancy radio with a performance package, you’ve got an exhaust system to listen to.

Thanks for your comment. 

Coty > Tristan 11/20/2016 at 18:46

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I have a 2014 Focus ST that, coincidentally, I ordered to my specs in the summer of 2014, and it showed up in the fall. The parts that are ST-specific are very nice, but there’s a lot of stuff that it shares with the standard car that are sort of cheap feeling.

I should of put it in my article but I ordered it for the sole reason that almost all of them have a sunroof and nav, but I didn’t think I’d use either much so I ordered it and waited around 6 weeks to save like $1,000. I got the ST2 package because I wanted the Recaro seats and the touchscreen audio. The touchscreen audio system also came with a subwoofer I couldn’t care less about.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Coty 11/20/2016 at 18:56

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Why does the rear  wheel look so far in from the fender

Coty > OPPOsaurus WRX 11/20/2016 at 19:00

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All the one’s I’ve seen have been like that unless they have wider wheels or tires. These tires are a little bigger than stock I think but they’re still pretty far in there.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Coty 11/20/2016 at 19:02

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One that I especially hate is that on the new ridgeline you can only get green on a more loaded trim(ex-l) I think.and with that green you can only get Grey leather seats, or maybe it was black or grey, either way you couldn’t get a tan or brown interior on the green, and I’ve always thought tan interior kinda went hand in hand with green exterior. But what do I care I’m just a millennial who won’t be able to buy a brand new pick up for anothe 20 years.

Coty > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/20/2016 at 19:08

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I don’t mean to imply a bias one way or another on the green/ tan debate but I may have spent $200 on a saddle leather interior for a green car I bought for $500.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Coty 11/20/2016 at 19:11

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Imagine if you could order a base model Charger with a SRT 392. Or a Firsta S with roll up rear windows and a 1.6l ecoboost.

Or an F-150 with a manual transmission

Coty > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/20/2016 at 19:15

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I’d like a single cab shortbed F250 with a 6.7 and a manual.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Tristan 11/20/2016 at 19:18

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Well the engine option it’s self is only 3400, but you have to have a crew cab, 4x4, and at least an LT trim, to get the Deisel.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Tristan 11/20/2016 at 19:19

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Can we also talk about how you can’t even get a regular cab Colorado?

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Coty 11/20/2016 at 19:20

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Ram does still offer a manual, but only on the deisel and only on the few basic trims.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Coty 11/20/2016 at 19:21

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Was it an SN 95 mustang? Also Worth it.

ranwhenparked > Coty 11/20/2016 at 19:23

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The Japanese started this, initially out of necessity. Kind of hard to custom order a car a la carte when it has to be shipped across an ocean (and possibly a continent after that). So, Toyota, Honda, and Datsun just took to offering packages of the options most commonly ordered together, which made it a lot easier for dealers to stock the kinds of cars their customers would be happy with.

Later, everyone figured out it had other advantages. Better quality control, since you eliminated a lot of variability in the assembly process, better parts inventory control, lower production costs, and better inventory management at the dealer end. Plus, you could raise profit margins by bundling unrelated options together and charging whatever you wanted.

It is infuriating though. The Accord Coupe only has one interior color and four exterior colors, the Mustang can’t come with leather in a six-cylinder, the base Nissan Frontier only has 4 colors (3 of which are non-colors - white/black/silver).

Coty > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/20/2016 at 19:23

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Not a Mustang, but it was a Fastback.

A 1973 Volkswagen Fastback.

Coty > ranwhenparked 11/20/2016 at 19:25

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I was kind of thinking the shipping-across-the-ocean deal had something to do with it, glad someone could confirm that for me.

And I feel you on the colors, I went to look at Toyotas for something I never put in the article and they literally had white and silver on the site.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Coty 11/20/2016 at 19:25

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Type 3 Fastbacks are possibly my favorite VW and look great in green

Coty > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/20/2016 at 19:27

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I sold Dodges for a little while and knew that that was the case but never saw one in person. Someone tried to trade a current gen Cummins manual with a sort of dump/ stake body on the back at the Ford dealer I work for though.

Coty > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/20/2016 at 19:28

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Mine had a lot of patina and out and out rot. Ended up getting parted out, sadly.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Coty 11/20/2016 at 19:30

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You brought up the MKC and I actually quite like them, so I decided to configure one. And found a stupid non option. In order to get the brushed aluminum trim, you have to get the Ebony leather instead of Cappuccino or Esspesso. As much as I love that they offer three “colors” for the interior, why not offer the aluminum trim on all of the colors? Also why no navy or Burgundy leather?  

Coty > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/20/2016 at 19:34

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Do a Continental next. 

Frenchlicker > Coty 11/20/2016 at 19:46

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I wanted a blue XV with a black interior and a sunroof. That’s a no go. That is the most ridiculous thing. If you can manufacture the same car in different colors why in the world limit something that is just a different interior?

Coty > Frenchlicker 11/20/2016 at 19:50

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Wow, never heard of that one before. You mean XV like the Crosstrek?

Frenchlicker > Coty 11/20/2016 at 19:51

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Yes At one point I really wanted to get one but dark exteriors cannot be had with dark interiors as well as the opposite.

Coty > Frenchlicker 11/20/2016 at 19:56

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Well then.

Dogapult > Frenchlicker 11/20/2016 at 20:20

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If you find the right dealership, and you basically say “I want this. I’ll pay for it however you’d like me to.” they might swap interiors with one on the lot, if it doesn’t make for an unsellable combination.

Tristan > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/20/2016 at 20:22

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Kinda like how the old Colorado was available with a 5.3, but only in crew cab LT form.

Tristan > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/20/2016 at 20:22

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No. you shall not speak of it.

Dogapult > Coty 11/20/2016 at 20:23

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I’m not sure I agree with allowing colors from another model. Cars are dipped these days, and the line may only be configured to hold the chassis of the car that that particular color is from.

Under_Score > Coty 11/20/2016 at 20:32

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Honda doesn’t have option packages. What the trims give is what you get, and no mods from there.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Tristan 11/20/2016 at 20:41

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Exactly

Frenchlicker > Dogapult 11/20/2016 at 20:43

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I think a blue with black and a beige with beige would make for a more desirable combo to be honest.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Coty 11/20/2016 at 20:45

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Yeah I never saw one either. I sold Dodge and Ford in 2013, I always looked though the dealer inventory for them, bu they were very rare. Onedealership about 200 miles away in Minnesota had a be or two though. I did have one customer that wanted to order one, but we gave him a waaaay better deal on one on the lot and he took it.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Coty 11/20/2016 at 20:46

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Are the options better or worse. For the price point should be able to get whatever you want.

Dogapult > Frenchlicker 11/20/2016 at 20:54

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Fantastic. convince the selling dealership of that.

19JRC99 > Coty 11/20/2016 at 20:56

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THIS THIS THIS. I was looking at color options for a new F-150 for my Dad, and I quite liked the green, but couldn’t use it on the Sport 4x4. Why the hell not? Let me choose what I want for my vehicle!

Hooker > Coty 11/20/2016 at 21:02

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Sadly, it all comes down to cost. For the manufacturer. And let’s be honest, they don’t care about you, the consumer and what you want. It’s far more cost effective for them to package stuff together. Also, in their eyes, it will help sell more because there are less confusing options to choose from. I don’t like it either but it’s the way it is. And it is only getting worse.

Frenchlicker > Dogapult 11/20/2016 at 21:08

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I’ve moved past wanting a new Subaru. Plans have changed.

Coty > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/20/2016 at 21:13

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I don’t remember exactly but in the Black Label cars, which are the top of the model line, the trim level changes the interior and exterior color as well.

Coty > 19JRC99 11/20/2016 at 21:15

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Didn’t look sporty enough obviously.

But yeah I agree, that’s pretty asinine.

That's BRZ fast > Coty 11/20/2016 at 22:11

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Honda alwayd gives you tan interior with a red or white exterior, unless the interior is specific to the package.

I never quite understood colors though. Why can’t they have a plethora to choose from, that can be appied to any model. Obvious you can charge more for special or low production runs, but come on I want more than white, silver, dark grey and black. 

Eggplant > Coty 11/21/2016 at 00:31

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You know the worst part? Guess how many colours the Vitz/Yaris was available in two years ago in Japan. Go ahead - I’ll wait.

Currently, there are eight available for the US. Sounds like a lot, right? Except that half of those are monochromatic. If you ignore the the two tone, you have red and blue left.

Back to the original question. You ready? There were 18. EIGHT FEAKING TEEN. Sure you had the 4 monochrome colours. But you also had 14 other options to choose from. The worst part is probably about 90 percent of the cars here are in white, silver, grey, or black. Such a waste of potential.

cberg > Coty 11/21/2016 at 04:11

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Okay I’ll bite: I want a Transit Connect with full FoST mechanicals (RS bits would overwhelm its’ delicate wagovan sensibilities and I know wagovans make torque steer fun), half-panel SWB bodystyle, steelies and NO SPORT TOPLINES - no, I want Recaro comfort-somethingrathers with Aspire-style teal inserts and while your oompa loompas are at it, raze all that crunchy fauxluminum from the dash and find me some ‘93 Camry LE style plasticized veneer apliques. If it truly must be a DCT or some even more dreary mechanism then it damn well better have the Econoline’s column shifter.  Furthermore, OEM RallyArmor offerings are a must.

Also pretty much every other new Ford owner loathes Sync & I know one of their Microsoft developers anyway so this mofo better ship with the in-dash PC from yesteryear’s F450 King Ranch or I’m not buying.

kincai28 > Coty 11/21/2016 at 11:55

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What is your use for this truck? Genuinely curious.

Short wheelbase makes it a poor tow vehicle, so the need for the big 6.7 is minimized.

Coty > kincai28 11/21/2016 at 12:35

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More power less weight, I just think it would be fun. 2WD too.