Do they still do poverty spec ?

[ovimor]

Nov 7, 2019 20:37:17 GMT retrolegends said:

Can you still get the boggo Dacia Sandero with the black bumpers?

.... in 80's 'spec' = wires for the radio hanging under the dash, just like ya dad's :/

Sadly only ever 'Clio 1.2i' power....

They'd have had my money if 3pot trrbo in it!


OVIMOR

[Shortcut]

There's something very Zen like about looking at a poverty spec dash complete with a dozen blanking plates where other more luxurious versions have actual switches.

[MkX]

Nov 9, 2019 9:14:36 GMT Shortcut said:

There's something very Zen like about looking at a poverty spec dash complete with a dozen blanking plates where other more luxurious versions have actual switches.

. . . or empty spaces where lamps & instruments would be if you'd spent more;

[sonus]

Aren’t people mixing poverty spec with cheap cars in this thread? If you bought a BMW 3-Series with no upgrades it’d be poverty spec, but not cheap.

[ovimor]

Nov 9, 2019 13:31:23 GMT sonus said:

Aren’t people mixing poverty spec with cheap cars in this thread? If you bought a BMW 3-Series with no upgrades it’d be poverty spec, but not cheap.

Ha Ha... Good point, m8

Similarly [Dacia, above] if you "upspec" your new Dacia to £15k aren't you just getting a Dacia?

OVIMOR

[strikey]

Nov 9, 2019 13:31:23 GMT sonus said:

Aren’t people mixing poverty spec with cheap cars in this thread? If you bought a BMW 3-Series with no upgrades it’d be poverty spec, but not cheap.

fairly certain bmw don't build cars cars with turn the key locking , mantronic windows , no info-tw@t-stereo-nav-units or multi zone climate control etc etc these days. base model and genuine full on pov spec are a few trim levels apart.

base spec these days is probably on par with mid to top spec from 10-15 years ago?

[igor]

Nov 9, 2019 20:30:53 GMT strikey said:

"base spec these days is probably on par with mid to top spec from 10-15 years ago?"

Not wrong there mate. Too much fancy stuff that no-one needs.

[igor]

Nov 9, 2019 9:14:36 GMT Shortcut said:

There's something very Zen like about looking at a poverty spec dash complete with a dozen blanking plates where other more luxurious versions have actual switches.

My Falcon S had a blanking plate where the clock should have been. The base GL had a clock while the more expensive S had multi-point injection instead of the throttle body injection of the GL and allegedly other go faster tweaks but no clock although the wires and plug for it were there behind the plate.

[MkX]

Nov 9, 2019 22:56:35 GMT igor said:

Nov 9, 2019 9:14:36 GMT Shortcut said:

There's something very Zen like about looking at a poverty spec dash complete with a dozen blanking plates where other more luxurious versions have actual switches.

My Falcon S had a blanking plate where the clock should have been. The base GL had a clock while the more expensive S had multi-point injection instead of the throttle body injection of the GL and allegedly other go faster tweaks but no clock although the wires and plug for it were there behind the plate.

Yeah, I don't suppose it would have made economic sense to produce different wiring looms for a range of models with minor spec differences, (although I'm sure some manufacturers would have).

[space goat]

I'm pretty sure pezz spec is alive and well.
there been a couple of times i get into the same car but in a different country (normally a developing county) and notice the seats have less padding, missing central locking and power assisted anything less sound insulation and sometimes less power.
Clearly the UK is more asperatinal ...

[madmog]

Nov 9, 2019 9:48:17 GMT MkX said:

Nov 9, 2019 9:14:36 GMT Shortcut said:

There's something very Zen like about looking at a poverty spec dash complete with a dozen blanking plates where other more luxurious versions have actual switches.

. . . or empty spaces where lamps & instruments would be if you'd spent more;

Does that big nothing gauge on the right light up with the other instruments? It's probably unobtainable now. You'd probably find whatever went in the blank gauges and someone paid hundreds extra for cheaper on Ebay than the nothing gauge


I think 'poverty spec' is not a static thing. I'm sure in the '60s quite a few cars still had heater, any kind of rustproofing and passenger side mirror only as extras. Go back further and the starter motor was an extra over the starting handle.

It's also relative. I recently got a Merc SLK as a daily. The R172 was my budget but the latest model the R173 seems to have a 'poverty spec' version in the form of the 250 turbo diesel. I haven't seen one of these come up on Autotrader with the things you didn't know you needed like heated steering wheel and air scarves. Best I saw was with leather seats over vinyl. Still has air con and electric mirrors but they make the centre screen do less - not connect to your phone or do sat nav. I think it's some sort of spec to stay under a tax band but I'm not really sure.

[MkX]

Nov 11, 2019 21:24:57 GMT madmog said:

Nov 9, 2019 9:48:17 GMT MkX said:

. . . or empty spaces where lamps & instruments would be if you'd spent more;

Does that big nothing gauge on the right light up with the other instruments? It's probably unobtainable now. You'd probably find whatever went in the blank gauges and someone paid hundreds extra for cheaper on Ebay than the nothing gauge


I think 'poverty spec' is not a static thing. I'm sure in the '60s quite a few cars still had heater, any kind of rustproofing and passenger side mirror only as extras. Go back further and the starter motor was an extra over the starting handle.

It's also relative. I recently got a Merc SLK as a daily. The R172 was my budget but the latest model the R173 seems to have a 'poverty spec' version in the form of the 250 turbo diesel. I haven't seen one of these come up on Autotrader with the things you didn't know you needed like heated steering wheel and air scarves. Best I saw was with leather seats over vinyl. Still has air con and electric mirrors but they make the centre screen do less - not connect to your phone or do sat nav. I think it's some sort of spec to stay under a tax band but I'm not really sure.

I've pulled this pic off the internet but did own an Allegro with this dashboard configuration. The 'sonar' dial would have been a revs counter on the sportier models, I honestly don't recall if it lit up. There were lots of blanked off lamps & switches just to remind the original owner he'd bought cheap!

[MkX]

I think this is one of the all time iconic 'no frills' specs.

[glenanderson]

I’ve always quite liked base spec vehicles. I daily a 1959 Land-Rover, so excess frills aren’t exactly the starting point. Conversely though, I do like accessories. I think the biggest issue I have with base spec stuff is that they always seem to come with the most woeful engine option. I’m always sort of torn between having the power train I’d like, but loads of additional unnecessary fripperies, or a vehicle that is definitely going to need an engine swap.

[MkX]

Nov 11, 2019 23:49:18 GMT glenanderson said:

I’ve always quite liked base spec vehicles. I daily a 1959 Land-Rover, so excess frills aren’t exactly the starting point. Conversely though, I do like accessories. I think the biggest issue I have with base spec stuff is that they always seem to come with the most woeful engine option. I’m always sort of torn between having the power train I’d like, but loads of additional unnecessary fripperies, or a vehicle that is definitely going to need an engine swap.

My favourite bit of those old Landy's was the weird little heaters they put in as ornaments. 

[igor]

Nov 11, 2019 23:49:18 GMT glenanderson said:

I’ve always quite liked base spec vehicles. I daily a 1959 Land-Rover, so excess frills aren’t exactly the starting point. Conversely though, I do like accessories. I think the biggest issue I have with base spec stuff is that they always seem to come with the most woeful engine option. I’m always sort of torn between having the power train I’d like, but loads of additional unnecessary fripperies, or a vehicle that is definitely going to need an engine swap.

Some manufacturers addressed this problem with a proper options list meaning it was possible to choose the powertrain as well as the trim level or individual accessories. Was another good idea that we are unlikely to see again.

[comfortablynumb]

IIRC, Merc used to be the ultimate in no frills, ANYTHING extra you wanted was an ‘option’, basic spec didn’t include a radio etc so the customer could ‘spec to requirement’, read increase thd bill to stop looking like a cheapskate 😀

[ovimor]

Nov 12, 2019 1:56:27 GMT igor said:

Nov 11, 2019 23:49:18 GMT glenanderson said:

I’ve always quite liked base spec vehicles. I daily a 1959 Land-Rover, so excess frills aren’t exactly the starting point. Conversely though, I do like accessories. I think the biggest issue I have with base spec stuff is that they always seem to come with the most woeful engine option. I’m always sort of torn between having the power train I’d like, but loads of additional unnecessary fripperies, or a vehicle that is definitely going to need an engine swap.

Some manufacturers addressed this problem with a proper options list meaning it was possible to choose the powertrain as well as the trim level or individual accessories. Was another good idea that we are unlikely to see again.

Would it be right to say U.S. makers gave the customer 'Menu Pricing'..... and way back?

Seem to see 'barn finds' described as "Gee, this guy ordered every option but no power brakes - strange?".

The build sheets [listing every option/ticked-unticked] make fascinating reading!


OVIMOR

[Jez]

Nov 12, 2019 7:13:13 GMT comfortablynumb said:

IIRC, Merc used to be the ultimate in no frills, ANYTHING extra you wanted was an ‘option’, basic spec didn’t include a radio etc so the customer could ‘spec to requirement’, read increase thd bill to stop looking like a cheapskate 😀

That's right, I was going to say this. I had a couple of W124s and the build sheets listed everything as an 'option', including the radio and aerial! For example, I'm pretty sure the roof bars and the roof protection strips were two separate options. Mine had both but I've seen them with just the bars and no strips. So you could order a 3 litre straight six engine and not have to bother with poncy electric gadgets if you didn't want them. I'm sure this appeals to a lot of us on here!

[Jez]

Thinking about it, I think it was the norm for most manufacturers in Germany. My Golf was ordered with BBS RMs but manual locking and windows!