On this page:
Chrysler's PT Cruiser
I was quite keen to try out these customization pages. The PT Cruiser is certainly an interesting car. As with the new Mini, we have a car that manages to appear both modern and retro at the same time.
Below are some pictures of the dashboard and stereo controls, featured in the convertible model of the PT Cruiser.
Volkswagen
VW was the second company I looked at after the Mini. This was because I wanted to look at the company that produces one of the nearest rivals to the Mini -- at least in terms of a car that people perceive as characterful -- the VW Beetle. Not quite as much fun to use as www.miniUSA.com, VW's website ( http://www.vw.com ) suffers from having fewer options to choose from. Not only do we have a smaller list of technical bells and whistles (see screen grab, below) but there are no items such as transfers, extra lights etc.
I wonder what iconic images VW could have drawn on to make their car more "modifiable"?
I won't list the customization stages, in this instance, as they should be evident from the screen capture.
Audi
Customization Stages
- Powertrain
- Exterior
- Interior
- Options
General Motors
Things begin to get complicated, here. GM own several major (and formerly independent) brands of car: Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, Cadillac, GMC, Oldsmobile, Saturn, Hummer, Saab. However, on this website there appears to be no online ability to customize your car -- or it's so well-hidden that I couldn't find it.
You are able to browse by marque and model, and there are several packages for each available.
I'll do a little more poking around, later, to see whether initial impressions are borne out.
Ford Motors
Another owner of several formerly independent marques (Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, and -- of course -- Ford). Ford seems keen to maintain the identity of the marques through different webpage design.
Land Rover
Again, a rather limited set of online options.
Rather unhelpfully, the pages tell us to ask our dealers about various options.
