Why do all vehicle manufacturer websites suck?

Why don't vehicle manufacturer's provide a listing of models, submodels, specifications, and standard features on their website? I mean really, if I want to compare different models I'm concerned with stuff like wheelbase, length, seating capacity, cargo capacity, bed length, width between wheel wells long before I care which submodel comes with heated, leather, power jack-off(TM) seats. But no, Model X has an 8" integrated infotainment display, while Model X+ is integrated to work with ITunez...

/get off my lawn/

In reply to secretariata:

I agree they are terrible. The amount of information that you get from them could fill a thimble.

…so it’s not just me.

In my opinion, VW is the worst.

”Click here to learn about…”

Don’t do it – don’t do it – E 36 M3, he did it.

10 second down load to show a huge, high resolution image of something leaving no room for information.

Um, are you actually hoping we don’t realize you have nothing to say because we’re like, really picking up on that.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

An individual buyer is not the customer of a manufacturer. The dealer is.

(Okay, unless you're buying a Tesla.)

The average customer only cares about what's on the dealer lots in their town. They want a blue one with leather, cooled seats, and a power trunk closer.

The 6.3% of new-car buyers who care about the intricacies of which model and trim has what options don't amount to a hill of beans to the manufacturer. Because people like that aren't their customers in the first place. Dealers are.

And then there's the custom vehicle configure feature...

"Configure you truck exactly how you want it. Oh, you want a manual transmission in a 2wd truck? We're sorry, that's only an option in the base 4 cylinder...we don't put manuals in 2wd V6 any more, only 4wd V6 and then only in one specific cab configuration - because these configurations are what we've determined anyone would want."

Manufacture configurators suck...

So gone are the days of the 2wd crew cab long bed Dodge 1500 with the Nv3500 and 3.7 V6. (Apparently at least one of those has been proven to exist, a friend of mine tried to buy it, guy wouldn't sell)

In reply to secretariata:

For that kind of info I go straight to KBB or Edmunds. It's usually pretty easy to find. The option/package configuration is generally easier to use too, though not always 100% accurate.

Because you're an enthusiast and not a bottom feeder.

I only dislike the configutators on GM sites.

Or at least others are more clear about what combinations are permitted.

Configurators aren't horrible if you know which basic model to start with and they actually give you the model you want to start with. The problem is there is no easily found info on the manufacturer's website to tell you which model is the one to start with for specific features. My example (without naming the manufacturer in case it might provide an issue for the Magazine) is a truck. It appears to be available in 2wd or 4wd as a regular cab, extended cab, crew cab short bed, crew cab long bed with 4-6 different trims. When I pick any cab/bed configuration and hit "build" the only option is a crew cab short bed. I eventually considered it might be my "flash blocker" screwing up the configurator, so I turned off the flash blocker. No change in website behavior. Then I decided to suck it up and use Internet Exploder instead of Firefox and still got the same issues. Tried another manufacturer's website and again could not find info to determine one model from another except for which ones had cloth vs. leather seats, multi-zone HVAC vs. one zone, on board navigation, regular radio vs. touchscreen, touchscreen radio vs. Apple and Android integration in the infotainment, special paint schemes, etc. No engine or transmission options, no cab/bed configuration, etc. There was a side photo of each model with 4 or 5 "features" and that was the extent of the model differentiation. Unless I want the cheapest possible price or the maximum loaded out ride how do I reasonably use the manufacturer's crappy lack of info to sort this out? I don't want to just look at what is available at my local dealer because those bastages only order the Super XXLT Loaded Luxo Package with every available option...

/rant/

Sigh. Bane of my existence. You can imagine how much time I spend cursing those sites, while trying to fill in the specs portion of a review. If we're provided with a spec and pricing sheet when picking up the car – great, but that's only 60% of the time. Worst part is trying to unearth a decent list of standard features from under the steaming pile of koolaid.

I rather like the McLaren website. Not that it matters if I don't win a Powerball...

In reply to Lesley:

I never even thought about it from your perspective of needing that info to earn a living.

Edit to remove insensitive comment. Sorry folks, didn't think when I posted. Realized while I was out cutting the grass & stopped to fix this. Back to the mowing...