Wish I Had a V8

Back to that car buying discussion...

I got to thinking about the differences between purchasing a car and purchasing a bike. It's misleading, unfair, and a rip off!

Take a car. Most sites let you "build your_________" And like Timbuk2 you get to 'put together' the car of your dreams. Actually it's just like Timbuk2. You pick your colors and fabric and presto you have a bag....er, uh car?

Let's take a Honda Civic. You've got your DX, LX, EX, and EX-L. Those are your options, you get to pick the letter that comes between Civic and X. Oh, there's plenty involved in that. AC, USBs, MP3 jacks, Bluetooth, Moonroof... I'm not sure what any of that has to do with the car's performance but whatever....

You can pick leather and grey, but that's about it. The rest comes with the letterX you choose. In full disclosure, the Civic EX comes with rear disc brakes and alloy wheels. Okay, that's something. But you ain't getting a manny tranny with that.

But I'm used to a bike. And they don't actually let you build a bike (even though you easily could, without dismantling the frame and ripping out the interior). But they do come in models, like a Civic. So I decided to compare a Trek.

And here's me with egg on my face. I picked a road racer Trek. And well, the better model came with better wheels and brakes. That's about it. Sounds like a Civic. Must be a Trek EX.

So I checked Orbea and Fuji. Yeah, okay, so here's the deal... Again you don't build your bike (although again I point out you could), but there are models to choose from. And the biggest differences are your components, the drive train, the chain, the brakes, wheels...the things that make a bike a bike. Shimano 2300, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, Dura Ace. Besides your engine, these are the things that make the bike GO.

From base to ace you're looking at a $6,000 difference. What you get is performance. Less weight, better roll, more compatible meshy parts. With a Civic you're also looking at a $6,000 difference. What you get is speakers, an arm rest, phone controls...essentially what I would call accessories.

Accessories are add ons that cost money. Like a kickstand, water cage, bag, odometer. You don't need them and shouldn't be forced to buy them. Okay, you got me, the autogiants throw in a 'free' odometer (something about the law).

Bumping up a model should get you a better car. Bigger engine, better pistons, HD rearview mirror, Vtech Performance Oil, Titanium spark plugs... I don't know, something that creates a better car. Not a radio and a cup holder.

In fairness, the Toyota build does offer notable accessories, but I again question the semantics of this word. You can choose a performance clutch, front strut brace, torque biasing differential, and an oil cap for an added cost. Oil cap? It's fancy.