Become a digitalPLUS subscriber. $13 for 13 weeks.
Classified Autos

Ten things your automaker isn't telling you


Well, there are things automakers necessarily aren't telling you, including doing away with a spare tire. But it's not necessarily a case of deception. It's just the quickly changing auto industry.

Here are some other facts that automakers may not be so transparent about:


The federal government requires that all automakers equip new cars with tire-pressure monitors. But there are two types. One uses a sensor at each wheel to measure the precise pressure. It's more expensive than the other one, which signals the driver if one wheel is turning at a slower speed than the others. This version, which is more common, doesn't tell you which tire is low. In most cases, the low-tire pressure light can only be reset by the dealer.

•"Our new option is the same as our competitors."

The global recession has thinned the number of automotive suppliers. This means that some options, such as voice activation, transmissions or a night-vision camera, are supplied to every automaker by the same suppliers.

•"Smoking will cost you extra."

All cars and many trucks were once fitted with ashtrays and lighters. Space once used for ashtrays is taken up by a cupholder or mobile phone slot. If you want one, it's usually optional — if it's offered at all.

•"You'll need that optional rear-view camera."

The trend in design has seen vehicles with small windows and high trunk lids. This makes it difficult to see out of the back window while reversing. Rear-view cameras, which come on when the car is in reverse, are becoming a mandatory option for those concerned with safety.

•"You can't fix your car anymore."

According to an engineer at General Motors, the average new car or truck has 23 CPUs in it. Some hybrids have more lines of computer code than it took to launch the first rocket to the moon. Aside from an oil and filter change, most maintenance can no longer be handled by shade-tree mechanics.

•"The $500 option you want will cost you $2,000."


•"We can't afford to build a compact pickup."


•"We love it when you buy crossover SUVs."

While crossover SUVs such as the Toyota Highlander or Honda Pilot look like trucks, they are based on platforms used for midsize cars, such as the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. But automakers can charge significantly more for a crossover, even though the cost of manufacturing isn't significantly higher than that of a family sedan.

•"Your perception of us is out of date."

Most car buyers only enter the market every five to seven years, so it's likely that their perception of automakers dates back that far, or further. While many buyers perceive American cars to be not as well-built as foreign ones, many domestic manufacturers offer models built or designed overseas. The Ford Focus was designed in Germany; the Buick Regal is built there. Meanwhile, the reliability of some domestic models is superior to that of their foreign competition, according to Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates, among others.

Copyright © 2014, Chicago Tribune