Trim Levels: A Hypothetical Question

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee) 02/03/2014 at 00:13 • Filed to: conversation of the day

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Let's say you have an imaginary sum of money. Not a whole lot, but enough that you have plenty of new cars to choose from. If they're available for the same price*, do you get a specced out "cheap" car, or a base model "nice" one? Explain your choice.

*I've shopped around and this is actually possible from a number of manufacturers. Chevy will let you build a Cruze up to $27,615, yet the Impala starts at just $26,860. You can do the same thing with the Corolla/Camry, the Civic/Accord, and the Focus/Taurus.

PushToStart > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/03/2014 at 00:24

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To be honest, in my opinion it would fully depend on the equipment that's already in the base model nice car (because more and more stuff is becoming standard now it seems) and what the price difference is. I know personally when I'm online building a car, I normally don't get a whole lot of options because I don't really need or want a ton of gadgets in the car that I might use once.

TL;DR it depends but probably base model "nicer" car

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/03/2014 at 00:26

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Option up a cheap one - the performance version of a cheaper car is typically more fun than the base/lower version of the more expensive car. Case in point - Fiesta ST = 22k base price. Fusion base trim = 22k base price. If you didn't have a family, which would you rather have - the lightweight chuckable hatchback that gets better mileage and is acres more fun to drive, or the humdrum 2.5L I-4 rental fleet special fusion?

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/03/2014 at 00:33

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Max out the cheaper one. I was in the same situation in 2009. Base model CTS, or pretty loaded Camaro SS. I went with the Camaro. There's some peace of mind knowing you got all the options you wanted, rather than saying to yourself a few months later "Damn, an extra few hundred coulda got me such and such. I wish I had the nicer whatever..."

twinturbobmw > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/03/2014 at 00:38

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It really depends. If they offer a lot of standerd features, I would opt for a base and add some options. Otherwise I would go for mid range (assuming the trims are similarly priced)

Desu-San-Desu > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 02/03/2014 at 00:40

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Pretty much hit the nail on the head there, mate. I'm with you.

Desu-San-Desu > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/03/2014 at 00:43

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Check all the options boxes on a cheaper base model. I've never been much into the luxury vehicles- the lightweight, cheap, tossable types are more my speed. For similar money I'd rather have more of the fun with less of the bloat than more of the bloat with less of the fun.

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/03/2014 at 00:49

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depends on the wants/needs of a person
Want a cheap, reliable car to move some friends in, or to do your 15mile commute in? Get the Cruze.
Want a big, boaty sedan that you can shove 5 dead bodies in to, and then drive 1200 miles from seattle to texas to bury the bodies?
Get the (P)impala

Jay Lauer > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/03/2014 at 01:01

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You buy a specced out nice car with a few miles on it. Everything under 60k miles is basically brand new, and you get a better car without the immediate depreciation.

In my opinion, you should do some looking around at the Mazda3/6. I've owned a 3, and it's miles ahead of the Focus it's based on. Japanese reliability makes it run like a goddamn train.

Win win. BOOM.

D > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/03/2014 at 03:13

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Will you take base model cheap one as an answer?

Ryan1981 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent 02/03/2014 at 06:27

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I'd buy the nicer one. Fully optioned out. On the used market. Ha.

BeholdTheCamaro > PushToStart 02/08/2014 at 18:48

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Agreed. I don't need a bunch of bells and whistles in my car. I actually prefer a simpler interior most of the time. I do like leather wrapped steering wheels though, for some reason.

I'm thinking I'd go for the base model, higher performance car most of the time.