What is the meaning of "silver-lined ashtrays"? [closed]

This is a sarcastic reference to a worthless bauble which adds quite a bit to the cost. The writers go on, after your quote,

Car dealers — perhaps the most devious group of amateur psychologists this side of mattress salesmen — know that when we're spending $25,000, additional purchases, like a $200 CD changer, seem cheap, even inconsequential, in comparison. Would we ever buy a $200 CD changer? Does anyone even listen to CDs anymore? No and no. But at just 0.8 percent of the total purchase price, we hardly shrug. Those hardly-shrugs can add up quickly.

In the West, the push-button "cigar lighter" has been renamed "12V accessory socket" as smoking has become less popular. Although cars do still come with ashtrays, what good would a silver-lined one be? The silver would tarnish. The extra cost doesn't do you any good, but increases the salesman's commission nicely.

The phrase is an example of something which doesn't really add value. Don't spend out on such things.

Here is what an ashtray means -

ashtray

^{/ˈaʃtreɪ/>/sup>}

noun

a small receptacle for tobacco ash and cigarette ends.

Silver-lined means that this ashtray has a coating of silver on the lining (or on the edges) of the ashtray.