You are not alone.  My guess would be "corporate market analysts".  They
are simply tring to maximize the profit model for the corporation, which
is what they are paid to do.  The crime is that fairness to the customer
base is not part of their equation.

The last time I bought a new car, quite a while ago, I bought the
economy package, then paid the dealer a few hundred extra for indiviual
upgrades.  BTW, that dealer was one of the good guys and I would go back
if I needed to.

It seems to me that radio and fog lights are both in the category of
easy upgrades.  Don't play the package game if it doesn't sit right with
you.  If the dealer balks, then just get the basic package, then take
your business to a different dealer for upgrades.  If that doesn't work,
consider independent shops who will install these as aftermarket
accessories.

--Dave

You need to look at another car.  I've never heard of the radio or a
sunroof being tied into purchase of an automatic transmission.  On
most cars the auto trans is standard but the manual gearbox is extra.

The car manufacturer - who else?????

Most of the packages I've seen on the cars I'm interested in make
sense.  And the features are usually available separately but the
combined price is usually a lot more than the package.

Possibly not, but I don't see it as a problem.  If commonly requested
options can be packaged at a good price then I'm for it.  And this is
the case with thw cars I look at.

Yes, it's silly.  I'm not sure why they do it - I think the Japanese
started this back in the 70's.  I think it's ease of mfr/sales because
the number of possible option combos gets totally nuts otherwise.

If it's any consolation, when I bought my Trans Am, this is what I faced:

Firebird Formula.  6 speed std.  4 speed auto +$600.
Firebird Trans Am.  4 speed auto std.  6 speed manual +$600.

To me, that was a real WTF moment.  of course, I wanted the TA with a
stick, so I paid the $600.

You _may_ be able to split the option packages apart.  For example, on
Camaros (when they still sold them) there was actually a way to get AC
delete if you wanted it, but it wasn't listed anywhere.  For Firebirds,
the Firehawk package was listed... nowhere, you needed to know how to
order one.  (WU6 was the magic word...)

Ray

Ray

The manufacturer has sat down and figured out what options people want
most, and bundled them up with things that people don't want much, in
order to optimize their total profits.  

From the standpoint of someone wanting to buy a car, it sucks.  From the
standpoint of the manufacturer's shareholders, it's great.

Buy the car stripped down, with no features at all.  You'll find that
even without the fog lights, the fog light wiring will be in place since
they're using a standard harness.  Get the fog lights and the switch from
a junkyard and install them.  Voila, a nonstandard configuration!

Don't ever spend the money for the upgraded radio... most of the manufacturer
supplied sound systems aren't particularly good and they are all very expensive.
Remember, the wiring harnessed for the upgraded radio are in place already.
Take the radio out and put an aftermarket in.

It's your car.  There's no reason to put up with what the dealer wants to
sell you.  Buy the car stripped down and add whatever you want.
--scott