If not purchasing a new fresh car, with individually handpicked options, online car configurators may come in handy just to waste those office hours and make the correct pick.
In regards to car purchases we have to understand base price, which is usually shown in advertisements, but not with all those goodies you want - that is absolutely different price. This is the part where especially 'ze germans' put all their energy so you - as a consumer, opt for the most, since there are many ways to do so.
And we do not want to involve Porsche, which allows to pick which exact color you want your tacho needle, seat belt and if leather wrapped air vents are with the correct tone of leather.
I did mention Germans with a reason, because they still are the kings of extra equipment and usually like to ask money for technology which seems like to be self explanationary, but it isn't the case according to the big multinational Aktiengeschellschaft business plans.
FOR THE SAKE OF GOD WHO ASKS 210 EUROS for ELEKTRISCH FRONT UND HINTEN FENSTER???? Oh why, oh why.
I do understand they have to undercut margins and possibly make the cars as competitive as they can, so the good example is Japanese - which tend to show at least a bit better approach.
Japanese carmakers tend to offer pre-set packs with a lot in handy: usually pack of options bundled together in a level of upgrade, like - Standart, Luxury and Sport for instance. And that is none of that bullshit MB and BMW sells you - so called lines or whatever they call it now with a chrome badge, this pack of options tailor exactly what they represent. This trend is definitely getting worse because Japanese are learning the 'best' business practice from Germans and it was not the time when Toyota, Mitsu, Lexus was that Japcrap. Lexus back in the days were trying to achieve part of market share, so generousity in standart equipment was big advantage, sometimes all similar class Germans could not get even for money.
There are options which deliberately are made to look the car crap, for example we look at the brief example of BMW F30 with base HID headlights vs. LED.
Source: www.autowp.ru (HID headlights)
Source: www.autowp.ru (LED headlights)
The option avoided renders a problem with resale value, because, usual buyers typically like to opt for more spec car than those simple one's as the price % difference is not that steep anymore. Take for example cloth seats on W221 S-Class, it will take ages to sell it and seriously, it does not make sense to have those hard-to-clean, subjectively less comfortable seats in executive class sedan.
Source: www.mobile.de (W221 cloth seats)
How about three round dials for selecting your cabin temperature in your X5, just like your grandpa did in his E30? Not a problem at all, mechanical, instead of digital climate unit for the win here.
Source: www.autoscout24.de (E53 manual climatecontrol)
I suppose we should not go into color and material combinations, but just focusing on the extras which are necessary and makes your life better, as well as keep up with good resale value.
Don't forget - that extras cost as much as even 20% of the initial value. Here is a great exhibit of base-base Audi prefacelift A1 with nothing added and topspec most expensive/powerful engine and extra added. That is 249% difference for money if compared with the base model that, back in the days, allowed you to have even quite OK Audi A6!
Tier 1 - THE MANDATORY STUFF
Xenon or LED has many advantages over basic HID unit, justified with its long term durability. For example, Audi C7 has three options - base halogen, which is just optically cheap, Xenon with DRL or quite the expensive LED lights. Full-LED is the nicest, however, not really financially justified option at this generation if we are carefully getting options value/money. Xenon here is more than fine.
Subjective approach to music options - since cars now have option to select various "levels" of systems. Believe me, the most expension audio option may not always be the best one and I've tried it. Be ready to count every penny here: ~3000 EUR Bowers&Wilkins in Volvo IS absolute the best and price/performance wise adorable pick over base option. ~4000 EUR Mark Levinson in Lexus is ABSOLUTELY GREAT, however, base with its less than 200w at hand is still very, very solid made and competitive sound wise. ~6000 EUR Bang&Olufsen in Audi is good, but it does not sound few thousands over quite acceptable Level 2 choice - Bose. So here we go, you have to check and study each vehicle individually. Most base options are crap and max level is just too expensive - see individually.
Heated seats - no question needed, esp. for winter climate.
Navigation - nowadays most navi systems from major automakers are fine. There are usually several options available for car, however still remember the E90 who even had a different dash layout with iDrive or not, making it appear different by first glance.
Source: www.autowp.ru (E90 without Navi)
Source: www.autowp.ru (E90 with iDrive)
I strongly oppose those who say 'a phone will do', but sorry - I don't like all that clutter at the dashboard, freaking discusting phone holder, cord here, this/that, blah mess.
USB/iPod or at least AUX-In standart. Come on - it is 2018 it has to be in there.
Parking sensors, PDC or whatever - no questions asked - standart pick for anything with four wheels.
Always try to purchase OEM wheels for winter set, whatever the size it is, not relevant. They are better coated and will preserve summer wheels, it is really quite nice to at least have a summer season with fresh wheels. Non-OEM wheels from third party cheap manufacturers are usually worth scrap if someone after wants to sell those separately.
Tier 2 - A GOOD CHOICE
- I strongly suggest going after at least 4 zone setting and the advanced one because of re-sale value.
Here are the two options side-by-side.
Rear view camera - good to have, but not mandatory. A sensor is OK already.
Adaptive cruise. A true car safety pick, definitely. Could not appreciate less.
In terms of navifation, if the car is at least mid-size (Audi A4, BMW 3-series) level, I suggest choosing the 'high' or 'professional' option just for the sake of it. These are the first things what irritate when chosen second hand. Have a look at F10 with the base small screen navi and the bigger Professional navi. These are the first things that turn next buyers down and it is just a wonderful experience to have. Again, BMW did well to point out that someone has base version instead of better one.
Webasto - if winter is there and your car is a diesel, option must have.
Automatic/adaptive lights - put your stalk in position "A" and it automatically does high and low beams as well as illuminate the sides when turning, smart.
Ventilated seats - in the summer.
Electric movement of seats, incl. memory.
Tier 3 - ELITIST
Head up display - fun to have, eyes not attraced to speedo and all major info straight forward.
Night vision - good to have in the night, but its purpose is paid for quite much amount.
Side assist - usually not cheap option, introduced I believe with Volvo as BLIS (Blind Spot Monitoring System) can help you avoid bad moments.
Acoustic glass - I would put this one tier below Extremist/Toy section, because actually what does this option is tones down most exterior noises. IF you are ready to pay, why not to drive with more comfort.
Tier 4 - EXTREMIST/TOYS
360 camera - just Bullshit.
So-called "F1" style push stalks for up/down gearing. Why? It is just another toy not really needed for regular cars and tell me - who ever uses it instead of playing around, paired with their already smooth regular automatic gearboxes?
Massage function - another toy to show friends and brag about. Great seat does all the magic instead of massaging. Shitty seat form with massage is still shit.
Leather laid interior, 'wood' ashtrays/handles/covers - anything that enhances your interior, but only you and enthusiasts will know it is there.
Ambient light - just a LED strip alongside panels. Nice and that's it.
Air/smell diffuzor - Are you kidding me? And with manufacturer specific cartridges - yeah, that is another reason to purchase stuff ex-dealer.
Soft close - closes doors softly with dedicated mechanism with no apparent usage other than closing doors softly.
Tier 0 - SUSPICIOUS ITEMS
Things you need to think twice to have, because they reveal dark side of the moon when maintained.
Rain sensor - just one annoying extra that never works exactly the way the rain drops. Come on, this has to make no sense and now still somehow this is nowadays base option.
Air suspension - usually expensive, and not that comfortable as compared to regular springs, at least I cannot vouch for it being superb. Expensive to maintain, jerky in winter/salted roads climate and just eh.. nothing special with only good thing, it allows to rise car to get over various obstacles.
Keyless Entry - well I would put this into a suspicious part, especially in the Eastern Europe. Believe me, it is extremely useful and nice, having this on my Lexus in the past, but the vulnerability of the system is khe-khe point well asked. So many cars are in fact stolen because of this system, is just fantastic amounts.
Lane assist - hold on, before you start shitting 'but it's a-safety must' style ideas. Usually, lanes change, they merge back and forth and there are cases when the lane assist wants to even correct your steering. But system cannot dissect whether it is actually ice on that side and maybe it is not that good idea to yank the wheel on the left/right.
Sunroof/panoramic sunroff - nice looking, however.. I have seen dozens of sad cases of the panoramic sunroof leaking and causing issues after some moment of usage. No real harm for regular sunroof, but no real usage, except for smokers.
Remember - base price is bigger trickery than you'd expect when sat down at the dealer.
So these are my thoughts about the optional extras, hope you enjoy, so feel free to comment and follow more of my automotive toughts.