I often wonder if the addition of stuff outside real need is not just to raise the purchase price but also to bludgeon you with parts costs as it ages and drive earlier destruction due to cost of operation in a shorter time. Driving more purchasing. Cynical, me, really?
I think you're right on that!
The more technology, the more there is to go wrong. With that said, it is interesting how easy we get used to certain features. For instance, standard cruise control now seems pretty poor to me and adaptive cruise one of those features that I look for in a daily driver. However, if we ignore the basic items: central locking, decent headlights, climate control and some form of stereo/screen with phone connectivity, much of the rest is personal preference or generally unnecessary, even my beloved adaptive cruise!
As an interesting side note, I recently watched a review where it was said that Ferrari are stopping putting Sat Nav into their cars, instead relying on phone interface and the owner using their preferred app via the phone (Google Maps, WAZE, etc). This, to me, seems like an intelligent decision... although I doubt it will translate to a cheaper car!
