Option Wise

Most vehicle buyers walk onto a dealer's lot searching for the perfect pickup or SUV. Chances are good they'll find something close to what they want. While close is good enough for many, for a discerning few, close doesn't cut it. These people are looking for a pickup or SUV equipped to serve specific needs or applications and don't want to pay for unnecessary features.

Such buyers understand options, and, more often than not, end up "spec'ing out" their new vehicle instead of relying on someone at the dealership--who may not be of like mind--to make the choice for them.

For example, let's say you're an avid outdoorsman who lives in an area where the land is relatively flat, boating is more popular than four-wheeling, and the majority of trucks are two-wheel-drives.

Depending on how you plan to use your truck, there may be a towing, camping, or heavy duty option package that may make sense. Larger-capacity radiators and oil coolers, dual battery options, as well as stronger springs and bushings could help your work truck do more work for longer periods of time. Some of these option packages are a great value.

It's likely the person at the little dealership who handles the truck ordering has never been off-road. His personal ride is an SUV loaded with creature comforts, used a couple times a year to tow a 16-foot boat to a ramp located around the corner from home. The rest of the time is spent driving in town or on the freeway, usually with family and Fido in the passenger seats.

For this person, fuel economy, comfort, and convenience are more important than utility value, power, and performance. Pickups and SUVs ordered for that dealership could tend to be equipped accordingly.

That's why someone looking for a pickup or SUV more suited to heavy-duty work or play will likely be custom-ordering his new ride instead of picking from the choices at the lot.