Acadia SLE lacking free flowing options

[tollytime]

The Acadia SLE does not offer the power liftgate or a leather wrapped steering wheel as a free flowing option. To get these options, you are forced to buy the SLT1 option package for about three thousand dollars. I could always get the leather wrapped steering wheel on my past SLE Envoy's, why the change? I'm not too excited about the plastic steering wheel in the SLE Acadia, especially when I'm spending over 30 grand!! The SLT1 package comes standard with leather and other goodies, but I prefer a cloth interior. It doesn't have to be leather, it could be pleather for all I care. I just don't like the cheap cold plastic wheel on a 15 degree day in December. I've noticed a lot of GM cars have this same shortcomming on the lower trim levels.
My other gripe is the power liftgate, guys please, this isn't just a luxury item we're talking about. Elderly people and the handicapped need the power liftgate option available to them on all trim levels. This type of power assistance isn't just for vanity and bragging rights. If GM really cares about "Mobility", this is where it's needed. I'm sure the Marketing Department is full of young hardy men and women who aren't concerned with such dribble, but some us really need that liftgate at our fingertips.

[69Firebird400]

I can understand the points you're making, but they probably package the options together for a couple of reasons. One, it's easier to build just a handful of variations rather than 150 different ones. Two, most people buying an Acadia SLE probably would not want to pay extra for the power liftgate, so any sitting on the lots would probably have an option that the dealer has to charge for, but most customers might not be willing to pay for.

I agree with you about non-wrepped steering wheels. They're SO generic when they are just spongy plastic, and probably don't cost GM that much extra money to include the leather/pleather wrapped ones. But their argument would probably go more toward simplicity in ordering and manufacturing.

[tollytime]

Originally Posted by 69Firebird400

I can understand the points you're making, but they probably package the options together for a couple of reasons. One, it's easier to build just a handful of variations rather than 150 different ones. Two, most people buying an Acadia SLE probably would not want to pay extra for the power liftgate, so any sitting on the lots would probably have an option that the dealer has to charge for, but most customers might not be willing to pay for.

I agree with you about non-wrepped steering wheels. They're SO generic when they are just spongy plastic, and probably don't cost GM that much extra money to include the leather/pleather wrapped ones. But their argument would probably go more toward simplicity in ordering and manufacturing.

I would be happy with spongy plastic, but there is no sponge at all. It's hard cold plastic, very hard. It's a toy like steering wheel. The MOMO steering wheel for you Sony Playstation has higher quality than your stock GM wheel. The power gate and all other power assist features should always be a free-flowing option. What if you couldn't get a power drivers seat unless you took a moonroof and a DVD player? How would you like that package?

[DuSpinnst]

The Leather Wrapper Wheel should be standard. Any car over $25k should have one standard. This isn't hard to figure out.

Power Liftgate should be an option an all trims, it is a pretty seperate module from everything else.