In a fog-choked alley behind a neon-lit car lot, Agent 001, the grizzled wheelman with a penchant for torque, faces off against Agent 00R, the city slicker whose smart shades double as a heads-up display. This Mad Magazine-style clash, hosted by AutoSpies.com, pits the spies in a high-octane debate: In 2025, is active cruise control (ACC) or Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) a deal-breaker for car, truck, and SUV buyers? What percentage would've bought a different ride if their chosen model lacked it? And how much less does a used vehicle fetch four years later without these features?

Agent 001 leans against a humming bluecruise equipped F-150 , his voice low and gritty. "ACC's the kingmaker in '25. Ninety-two percent of new vehicles pack it standard. Buyers -- 60 percent of 'em -- say it's non-negotiable. Without it, they'd ditch their pick for a rival with radar-guided swagger. EVs, trucks, SUVs -- 42 percent of shoppers factor ADAS into their final call. It's a game-breaker, 00R. No ACC, no sale."

00R scoffs, syncing his smartwatch to a Tesla Model Y's telemetry. "You're stuck in Silicon Valley's echo chamber, 001. Outside California, folks don't lose sleep over ACC. Only 27 percent call it moderately vital pre-purchase. FSD? Just 14 percent of buyers say it'd sway them into a Cybertruck. Fifty percent of Tesla shoppers skip FSD outright -- 35 percent spooked by its autonomy. Heartland drivers want raw horsepower, not nanny bots. Coastal elites might obsess, but middle America shrugs."

The spies circle a gleaming Range Rover, its ACC purring like a dormant panther. 001 fires back: "Gadget lust drives deals faster than any turbo". Over 60 percent of '23 trucks and SUVs shipped with ADAS -- buyers expect it now. Without it, 70 percent would jump to a competitor. Even in flyover country, safety tech's a silent closer." 00R counters: "Satisfaction's high -- 90 percent love ACC post-buy -- but it's not a deal-sealer. Outside Cali, only 28 percent rank it essential in surveys. It's a bonus, not a breaker."

The real sting comes at resale. 001 smirks: "Four years out, a ride without ACC or FSD takes a 15 percent hit on value.Buyers crave tech-equipped used cars -- missing it's like selling a phone without a screen." 00R nods reluctantly: "True, non-ADAS rigs depreciate faster. That 10-15 percent drop stings, even in Kansas."

As cop sirens wail -- rival spies closing in? -- the agents vanish into the shadows. The question lingers: In 2025, what percentage of buyers -- 20 percent? 50? -- would've bailed on their ride without ACC or FSD? Is it a deal-breaker everywhere, or just California's obsession? And that four-year resale hit: 15 percent less, or worse?

AutoSpies readers, you're the deciders. Hit the comments: Would you walk away from a dream car without active cruise? Does geography shift your gears? Vote before the next recall.