In article >, Ashton Crusher wrote:

>>As for side impact beams, dual master cylinder brake systems, etc and so
>>forth, well times change, buyers wants change. Safety does sell now. All
>>the regulations could disappear and guess what? Those things would stay
>>in the cars because few people would buy them without.

> Just to properly reflect the real world, if the regulations
> disappeared there would be some people who still ordered all the
> safety stuff. But there is a huge number of low income people who
> would RIGHTLY judge the odds of getting in an accident against the
> cost of the safety stuff and opt to buy a NEW CHEAPER car that did not
> include several thousand in safety stuff. They would not get the
> airbags, ABS, traction control, stability control, door beams,
> reinforced roof, etc.

They would not be able to order the cars as such. Line item optioning
disappeared years ago. It would be like trying to order hand cranked
windows on most models today.

> It's a safe bet, pardon the pun, that without
> the regulations there would be many many people who perceive their
> need to be the CHEAPEST NEW car they can get their hands on that has
> "luxury" features, like AC, PS, PB, Stereo without all the extra
> expense.

Name the vehicles you can order without AC, PS, PB in model year 2007.
BTW, none of those are required features, yet one would be hard pressed
to find models that didn't come with them. If there are more than half
dozen vehicles that aren't of the commerical fleet type, I would be
surprised.

> Because we have had the safety features for a while now,
> even if the regulations disappeared there would be the threat of
> lawsuits if a manufacturer sold a "non safe" car so most likely you
> would only see them from some small out of country company that
> imported them. Like the $2500 car they are talking about making in
> India.

At the very most.