DaveinOlyWA said:
purchasing a car is a major decision but i have found that people's ability to prioritize is nearly non existent
You are so right. I remember a few years ago when I was buying a 2008 Prius. Since it was used, I wanted to take it for a test drive. The salesman spent all of his time trying to tell me about how many cup holders it had, how nice the sun visors were, the backup camera, and how cool the air conditioning was. At one point during the test drive I actually asked him if he even realized the car was a hybrid and got nearly 50 miles per gallon. I mean, you'd think anyone test driving a Prius would be interested in that sort of thing. Of course, it wasn't our first Prius and I already knew at minimum 1,000 times more information about the car both under the hood and inside the cabin than this guy did. I didn't need him along at all. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't anything wrong with the vehicle. But listening to him gave me great insight on what the typical buyer does and doesn't care about.
Truth be told.. I didn't care at all about any of the things he was talking about. I practically never use the A/C on any car I've owned, despite living in Texas. My commute to work is so short that by the time the A/C starts to cool the car down, I'm already at my destination. So it is easier just to roll the windows down and keep them cracked while at work so the car doesn't get so hot to begin with. I NEVER bring drinks in my car. It is like a crime in my car. Passengers aren't allowed to eat or drink in my car either. On rare occasion I'll allow bottled water. So you can imagine cup holders are not important.