He bought a 2012 focus, his first new car in 15 years.
He was so proud it had an auto(tragic) transmission- AND NOTHING FUCKING ELSE.
Seriously it was a focus S, with the auto option.... We are talking power front with roll up rears.
I am OLD, but he is OLDER!!!! now so much so!
Maybe this is now a thing. My branch head, who must be in his early 60s, recently bragged about exactly this. He has a base model Focus. He also has a mint, low mile 1979 Olds Cutlass....with the Olds 260, in the spirit of the base model.
I'm the opposite. I want options. And I'll happily buy used to get them.
Buying a base model seems like a big bag of disappointment down the road. And by base model I don't mean a "base BMW 528i." A new, base model car has two characteristics: it's new and it's a car. As it ages, it loses one of those characteristics. With options, at least you still can enjoy those features many years into the ownership.
And people that don't get power windows because that's "more things to break," well, I don't know what to say except that opinion is about 4 decades over ripe.
I have a base model 3, but AC was added at the dealer before I bought it. My only complaint is that it isn't faster. The only options I might have added are moon roof and automatic locks. Otherwise it has everything I want. I can't see hating a car based on not having those 2 options. I could have opted for the 2.3 over the 2.0 but it was an 8 HP difference. for the amount of HP I would be looking for, this is literally nothing.
Basically, the car was 15,500. Adding power locks added a 4K package. I wasn't willing to pay 30% more for power locks. I don't think there is a better car option for $15,500. That is why the 3 is in the 10Best for multiple years. (yes I know the price has creeped a little, but the car is really great for a daily driver)
I definitely see buying used for options since they depreciate quickly. What I don't see is needing a million options in a car. I don't need or want to pay for heated seats. I actually hate them. It is added weight and cost for something I will never use. I just see options as things to break, and make me dislike a car that might actually run fine. Having to replace power window motors is obnoxious especially since it probably wouldn't happen immediately and I will have to open my door to do things for a while. I am not above rolling a window down. My window ALWAYS works. Power locks are nice if you regularly have multiple people in the car, but not having power locks in a 2 door car I would say is not a deal breaker. When I am in a car, I am in it to drive. I don't need a million other distractions, and as long as the car can maintain a fairly reasonable temperature, I am good.
And...
for your over ripe comment, Ask Angelini about his 2002 Trans Am Firehawk with the broken Drivers Side window motor. That car isn't 40 years old.
I don't think GM ever got the power window motors right on those. The ones on my 95 were incredibly slow until my dad couldn't take it anymore and had one replaced while he had the car.
But I've never actually replaced a power window motor in anything. However, it is only fair to mention that Rockauto sells several power window motors for a 2002 Camaro and they range from $22-$35 and an AC Delco Professional brand is $30. While I wouldn't claim it to be a fun job, I would personally find it ridiculous to insist on a manual window F-body, even if they have a reputation for the motors slowing down over their life (actually a grease issue and a thermal switch that trips too quickly - some folks have regreased and bypassed that switch and ended up with quick windows, on the original motor).
I don't mind this stuff. There was literally nothing faster for the money from 93-2002 than a V8 F-body, so I find it forgivable that there are some GM nickel and dime things that may be required.
Now back to the discussion, I COULD see a situation where I wanted to specifically avoid an older GM car with the MR shocks because due to age and mileage, I would probably plan on replacing a shock and they are still expensive. 2004-2009 SRX F55 shocks, for example are over $400 each for AC Delco replacements on Rockauto. Fortunately Jamie's SRX has FE1 and no MR shocks. Still, the rear ones are $300/ea because they are Sachs Nivomat (self leveling). But I digress.
I've never had a problem with really any power features or options. No sunroof issues, no auto climate control issues, no power/heated mirror issues (my Caprice's are original at 294k and work fine). No power seat issues. I've never even had to replace an A/C compressor.