i have always wondered this, why do car companies limit options on cars?

for example, im looking at the 2015 mustang, and i think i may prefer the V6 over the I4, but theres no leather or Navi on the V6. why do companies do this?

im still paying for all the options. for example what difference does it make to them that i get the V6, and tack on $1500 for the leather seats? or another $800 for the navi?

 

The more combinations they offer, the more it costs for them to make. That's why everything is in packages now a days.

 

And also why they're contented pretty well even at base, with power windows, locks, A/C, and cruise. It used to be all those were either not available, or options. The less you have to add, the better, and since pretty much all that gets optioned in by the majority, easier to just let it be part of the base.

Now, that's 'goodie' options. The other option of interior and exterior color choices, is also by design. The bumpers are typically NOT painted with the cars themselves. So they sit and await the car to come to them, then get installed. Which is why even a brand new car bumpers won't *necessarily* have the same exact shade sometimes.

The interior is simple. Less, and blander, choices mean easier decision making processes for buyers. Black, Gray, and Tan... Cloth or not. That's it. Choose.

And the reason for the colors is this: Dealerships will be the most likely ones buying the cars, NOT the customers. The customers typically buy off the lots these days, special orders (which can take 2-3 months before you see it... and/or may get lost due to dealership allocation movements, depending) notwithstanding.

The dealerships *actually buy the cars* from the manufacturers. Seriously. You would think that might not be the case, but nosir, the dealership either has the cash outright to buy the car, or they have a loan for the cars overall (called a 'floorplan' at my work.)

So the dealership orders what they *think* might sell. Or is forced to buy the V6 or Ecoboost due to allocation limits. This is where 30% might be 5.0s, 20% might be Ecoboosts (for '15), and the remainder, 50%, must be V6 only. Ditto for transmissions, and even, yes, the colors sometimes. Can't have a run of all Oxford Whites, y'know.

The idea is to *get the cars gone.* For two reasons. The dealership doesn't want to pay interest on the loan for too long. And the manufacturer doesn't want there to be nowhere for the next shipment to go. The manufacturer (Ford) can't just stop making Mustangs. It's not very cheap to start a plant, much less stop and start it, due to there being nowhere for the cars to go.

So the colors, and options, are all done up in a way to force certain things to get purchased, and also attempt to force the sale by making it less likely someone goes "Oh, I'd buy one, but you'll have to come up with an Emberglo and Tan Cloth one otherwise JUST LIKE THAT ONE I just drove." Since there's no Emberglo, can't ask for it, and the nationwide search for THAT car, or the 2-3 month wait for it to be built, doesn't happen, and so I 'settle' for the Oxford White and charcoal cloth 6 speed 5.0 and the sale is made *today* instead of whenever that particular build shows up.

All to keep 'em movin'.