back to the basic car vs luxury electronics debate...
I loved my protege for being basic. Sure, it had power locks and windows, but the stereo was easy to replace (nice 2 din stock stereo... no silly big dash kit necessary), the throttle was not electronic (had better feel) and there was less to go wrong.
It really was the best basic interior i know. Clean and simple.
Now, I love my Mazda6 for some of the things it has.... trip computer and blue tooth. I don't need a navigation system. A dvd player would be nice, but obviously i would just go aftermarket.
Power seats are nice, but not a necessity. I am actually annoyed by my wifes automatic climate control. Always has the a/c on. Automatic wipers? lol, no thanks. Push button start? Nope, i like to have my keys out of my pocket (i have too many).
So, I like it simple. Plus, a basic car will not have nice things that you will replace. The stock wheels can be winter wheels and the cheap radio is going to go right away anyways.