@MFillingham, Totally, Likewise I do the same looking at specs and stuff as Adaptive cruise control is very important for me, as well as the other non negotiable items you need in a car for daily life.
What we can do or not do without is also a personal choice and differ’s for us all. Take the heated seats for instance or keyless entry, having had both are they really that necessary? My mrs h8’s heated seats and I didn’t mind them but is it a deal breaker not to have them, not for me.
Same with keyless entry/start imo, still gotta press a button and open the door, then press a button to start or turn the key without it. Auto tailgates can be good but also can go wrong.
I’d rather have a more comfortable seat and driving aids, maybe a better range on a ev / or mpg on a ice car. Than better tech ie a digital dash for example and the mrs h8’s leather seats also.
Although she didn’t like white cars till i got my current one in white. So yeah pretty much any test drive is with the family and often I look in the rear mirror and the faces tell me yes or no instantly.
We don’t need as big a car as we did before when we was a family of 5 but sadly now we only a family of 4 and that’s taught me a few things regarding time and memories, how they the most important thing we have and other stuff we think is important just isn’t.
For me that’s creating and spending more time with the one’s I love and going away with them as much as we can and is why probably i wouldn’t spend as much on an ap as we could maybe go on one huge hol or many little ones.
This is only my objective opinion and only you know what’s best for you but if i was spending so much and could afford to buy then I’d maybe do that, it’s almost like buying a house or renting one and their’s pro’s and cons to everything. Only you can make the decision and I’m sure by what you said it will be with all the information.
The only other thing is hopefully they remain on the scheme, so you can order when the time comes and maybe that would make me order once I have done the test drives, as for me there’s always been clear winner every time.