The 10 Most Overpriced Car Options

9. Remote Car Starter: $750 – $1,000

A remote car starter can be nice in winter when people want to start their vehicle early and let it warm up before climbing into it. But most of the year, a remote car starter serves no practical purpose. Yet it is an option that people can get for their vehicle, and plenty of people opt for the convenience of starting their car by pushing a button on the key fob. However, most car dealerships charge as much as $750 for a remote car starter. Some dealers charge as much as $1,000. This is pretty darn expensive. Especially when you consider that you can get a remote car starter at Walmart for as little as $40. A high-end remote car starter that includes an alarm system can be bought at Walmart for less than $150. That’s a big price discrepancy for a remote car starter that has no impact on the operation of a vehicle.

http://www.njautos.com/winter-package-special.htm Source: Njautos.com

8. Rustproofing: $1,000 – $1,200

Every vehicle made today has excellent rustproofing, and most are undercoated when they leave the factory where they were assembled. This fact hasn’t stopped many car dealerships from trying to sell their customers on rustproofing as an “option” that people can pay for to keep their new vehicle from turning into an unsightly rust bucket in a few years. And, they are happy to charge upwards of $1,200 for this completely fabricated and unnecessary service. Do yourself a favor and just say “no” to this option. Plus, keep in mind that if you want to get your car rustproofed or undercoated later on, it typically costs $200 at a garage. The mark-up on this option is outrageous and wasteful for motorists.

http://palmscarshop.com/should-you-undercoat-or-rust-proof-your-vehicle/ Source: Palmscarshop.com

7. Bluetooth: $1,200 – $1,500

If there is one place where hands-free Bluetooth is valuable it is when driving a car. The ability to make phone calls and issue commands to your vehicle with your voice, and without having to use your hands, is helpful when driving and can be a true safety feature. However, this luxury may not be worth it when you consider that most car dealerships charge as much as $1,500 for the Bluetooth option they sell. And, a high-end Bluetooth system for a vehicle can be bought at most electronics stores for less than $200. When it comes to this option, best to tell the car salesman “No, thanks. I’ll use my hands to change the radio station.” Besides, most driving experts don’t recommend people talk on the phone while driving, even if it is hands-free.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGTPj_bDNTI Source: YouTube

6. Cruise Control: $1,500 – $2,000

Often sold in tandem with Bluetooth, cruise control is an option that can serve a purpose but usually only on long drives and exclusively when driving on highways. But for $1,500 to $2,000, cruise control is an option that most of us can live without. In fact, studies show that about half of motorists distrust cruise control and do not feel comfortable taking their foot off the gas when driving. The loss of control is apparently unsettling to many people. Studies also show that people are more likely to succumb to driver fatigue and fall asleep when using the cruise control option. With so much at stake, it would be better for people to save some money and skip the cruise control option altogether.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeT1T22t0Bk Source: YouTube

5. DVD Player: $1,200 – $2,000

A DVD player is great for distracting kids on long road trips. But would you shell out $2,000 for one? That’s how much many car dealerships charge to have a DVD player installed in one of their vehicles. The average price charged for a DVD player hovers around $1,200. That is still a big chunk of change—especially considering that a portable DVD player that comes with two screens costs less than $100 at most retail stores. We won’t even get into the fact that DVDs have become increasingly obsolete due to Blu-Ray discs and on-demand streaming. Plus, what parent isn’t sick of listening to the same movie play in their car over and over again. Sure, the kids can’t get enough of the movie Frozen, but you sure can. And if you don’t take long road trips in your car, is a DVD player something you’ll even use that often?

http://automobiles.honda.com/odyssey/features.aspx Source: Automobiles.honda.com

4. Navigation System: $2,500 – $2,750

In the cosmic scheme of things, it was not that long ago that mankind was navigating his way from one destination to another by using the stars overhead. My, how far we’ve come. Today, it is hard to imagine a time before we all used GPS to guide us where we need to go. And car manufacturers know that GPS has become ubiquitous and essential for most car buyers. Which is why they offer the option of a GPS navigation system built into the vehicle’s infotainment system. For the princely sum of $2,500, people can have the convenience of listening to their car bark out directions to them. But that’s a pretty penny to pay for convenience. Especially when one considers that most cell phones today come equipped with free GPS, and that you can buy a current and reliable GPS device that you mount on the dash of your car from Best Buy for about $250—or 10 percent of the cost to have the car manufacturer install the GPS into the vehicle’s onboard touch screen infotainment system. Personally, we prefer the free cell phone GPS option.

https://carniversal.wordpress.com/category/cars/ Source: Carniversal.wordpress.com

3. Extended Warranties: $1,500 – $4,000

Seldom worth the paper they’re written on, extended warranties are an option that every person is presented with when buying a vehicle—new or used. And the price for an extended warranty can range from $1,500 to as much as $4,000 depending on the length of the warranty and the items covered by it. If you’re buying a new or nearly new vehicle, then it will already be covered by a decent warranty for three to five years. If you’re buying used, chances are the cost of an extended warranty will be more than any repair bills you encounter. And, extended warranties are often not honored by car dealers. They always find a way to wriggle out of doing the needed repairs. Also, most extended warranties require you to service a vehicle at the place where the warranty was purchased. Miss a scheduled maintenance date, or get the oil changed somewhere else, and that extended warranty you opted for will be null and void.

http://www.edmunds.com/auto-warranty/five-questions-to-ask-before-you-say-yes-to-an-extended-warranty.html Source: Edmunds.com

2. Heated Seats: $2,500 – $3,000

Granted you cannot buy heated seats for a car anywhere but from a car manufacturer. But heated seats are a true luxury, having zero impact on a vehicle’s functionality and are completely not needed when you consider that you only use heated seats in the winter months. Also, your car has a heater that will blow hot air into the car once the vehicle warms up and keep all the occupants toasty in the process. Factor all those considerations in and then look at the price tag of up to $3,000 for heated seats, and you can file them squarely into the category of an overpriced option. We won’t mention that heated seats are only an option for the front seats and that the back seats aren’t covered, or that faulty heated seats have been known to burn people while driving. Wait! We just did mention those things. Oops.

http://www.mobilecarpro.com/heated-seats-2/ Source: Mobilecarpro.com

1. Leather Interior: $3,000 – $4,000

Truth be told, a lot of people don’t like leather seats in their vehicle. They find leather seats are too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer. A lot of people do opt for a leather interior in their car. But when you consider that you’re being charged $3,000 to $4,000 for this upgrade, chances are you’ll agree with us that cloth seats will do just fine. Really, auto manufacturers and dealers charge as much money for leather car seats as it would cost to buy a leather couch set to furnish a household living room. Consider the way your car will likely smell six months after you buy it and you can see how shelling out big bucks for a leather interior is not worth it. Better to put that money towards paying off the car loan.

http://pinehurstmobiledetailing.com/additional-services/leather-cleaner-conditioner/ Source: Pinehurstmobiledetailing.com