Penny Pinching in Features

Owner of a 2001 Accord LX Standard here.

I recently happened to rent a Chevy Cobalt coupe. That was such a
basic car; it didn't have power windows or power mirrors etc. Yet it
had very good instrument panel, with a nice trip computer that had
mpg, thermometer, fuel range, oil life, and it even had a Radio
Broadcast Data System. Same with a cheaper Corolla. It always had a
decent thermometer.

My carpool partner(we do that in NJ ) has a 2006 Accord EX (4
cyl). He paid a good money for that car. None of the features I
mentioned above were included in his car, with the exception of
Maintenance Minder.

How much would it cost extra for Honda to have nice trip information
system a very basic one that's comparable with that Chevy? Why do they
cut corners like this? In my book, what they win in terms of
reliability and fuel efficiency, they lose when it comes to features.

I'm in the market now for my next car, but I can't afford the top end
Accord that may or may not have it. Does Accord's navigation system
include Trip computer or is it just navigation? Trip computer and
compass are important for me for business reasons. So if I have to
rule out Accord, what other make/models have a decent Trip computer /
compass?

Thanks all.

 

Your story reminds me of treadmills:

you can buy a $400 treadmill with all the bells and whistles, and it's
junk. They sell it by the eye candy factor: more eye candy naturally
attracts more people.

But if you want a treadmill to do the job of a treadmill, do it
elegantly and well, and do it forever, you change to a whole different
system. Next thing you know, you're spending $3000 on a treadmill--and
it has nothing but speed and incline controls. Period. Nothing else.
But it will run quietly, and forever. It will do what you want a
treadmill to do.

Some people would say, "Yeah, but where's the computer with all the
programs? Where's the heart monitor? Where's the plugin for the TV?"
etc, etc. They think it's all about the gadgets and the gewgaws.

It's not. It's about the product doing what the product is supposed to
do, elegantly and well.

You can buy one of those solid, reliable models with bells and whistles,
but suddenly you're up to $5000.

And you may buy an Accord full of bells and whistles. You'll get a
solid car PLUS the gadgets and gewgaws. It's called an Acura TL.

You may feel free to trade in your Accord for a Chevy with bells and
whistles, and thumb your nose at Honda for daring to choose to build a
solid, reliable car instead of a piece of shit that's full of bells and
whistles.

Why don't we say this another way: "How much would it cost extra for
Chevy to have a nice solid engine/suspension that lasts forever that's
comparable to the Honda? Why do they cut corners the way they do?"

I would never have navigation built into the car. Give me a nice Garmin
unit that sits on the dash of ANY car *I* happen to be driving at the
time. Built into the car? No thanks.

And portable navigation units have been around for long enough now that
if it were truly "important for (you) for business reasons," you'd have
gotten one by now. They're only a few hundred bucks. Honda charges
anywhere from $1200 (Civic) to $2000 (everything else) for built-in
navigation.

If you let that rule your purchase, plus the other stuff above, good
luck to you. You'll need it.