20 Things you Shouldn’t Spend Money On When Buying A Car

You walk in to buy a car, hoping to drive out in your dream vehicle; instead, you end up being taken for a ride. A fool and his money are easily parted, as every glib-talking salesman worth his salt knows, a fact that he tries to take advantage of each time he pitches his products.

And when the said product is a car, there’s bound to be some extra amount of glee involved simply because there are tons of accessories, gadgets and gizmos that “your car is just not complete without.” It pays, both literally and figuratively, to contemplate carefully what you need in a car, and to buy just that. And to help you do that, we’ve compiled a list of 20 things you shouldn’t spend money on when buying a car.

1. Four-wheel drives: The four-wheel drive (4×4) or All-Wheel Drive (AWD) comes at an extra cost, one that is not justified unless you are a rally racer or drive frequently in very slippery and wet conditions. It’s a drain on your resources all around – the initial cost is steep, and recurrent costs will make a significant dent in your bank account. The engine feeds power to all four wheels, which means your gasoline usage is also on the high side.
2. Automatic transmissions: Before you raise objections to driving a stick shift, consider the fact that automatic transmissions cost more, they are less powerful and fuel efficient than their manual counterparts.
3. Big, powerful engines: No doubt those extra CCs add to the lean mean factor of your car, but remember, a higher cubic capacity translates into more money, more fuel consumption, and more environmental pollution and degradation.
4. Alloy wheels: Cast-light alloy wheels, commonly known as alloy wheels, do add the zing factor to your car, they make it look good, but then, they’re costly, and they damage (bend, scratch or curb) easily. 
5. Seat covers: Splurging on expensive (or cheap) covers for your car seats? Think again. All these do is add to your initial cost, besides reducing your leg room and maneuvering space inside the car.
6. Expensive stereo/video systems: Most cars come equipped with an inbuilt stereo system, and unless you have an extremely bulging bank balance, and spend most of your time in your car listening to music (or parked and watching DVDs on the tiny screen), there’s no need to shop around for the latest, state-of-the-art car stereo.
7. Subwoofers: Yes, they do increase the bass effect of your audio, but consider the added cost, the space they take up in your boot, and you’ll decide you are better off without these accessories.
8. GPS: Global Positioning Systems do help you when you’re lost, but then they come at considerable cost. The inexpensive ones are not very user-friendly, so you might as well do without them. The ones that do provide both verbal and visual instructions come with a dashboard that you have to install on your dashboard or on a pedestal that extends out from the dash. These tend to block air vents and make the trip uncomfortable for the person on the front passenger seat.
9. Bluetooth mirrors: Fix this gadget to your car mirror and your mobile calls are routed to your car audio speakers – well, you could do this if you want to broadcast your conversation. Sure this is a fancy gizmo that you can show off to your friends, but you would get more bang for your buck with a good old Bluetooth headphone.
10. Sun roofs: Definitely not worth the added expense – they may add to your car’s looks, but they age faster than your car, a price you don’t want to pay in the long run.
11. The latest model: It’s hot off the assembly line, and you just have to be the first to get your hands on that new car! Think again – tried and tested is a better option than treading unknown waters. Instead of paying premium price for new models that have a huge demand, go in for older ones that come with similar features, but at a much smaller cost.
12. More interest/down payments on loans: If you’re planning to finance your car, shop around for the best deals before you settle on one deal. Consider both the down payment and the monthly interest you will need to pay – some dealers may entice you with a very low interest rate but ask you to put down a large down payment for particular models. Contact lenders directly and compare the rates offered by dealers before you make your decision.
13. Unnecessary service contracts: While a service contract is a must for a new car, you would be wise to check what you are getting out of the contract before you sign up for one. Find out if your contract overlaps coverage aspects included in your warranty – a warranty does not cost you extra while a service contract does. So make sure you are not paying for something that’s already yours.
14. Chromium trims: Wire wheels, wheel trims, hubcaps, bumpers, grills, window trims, head lamp surrounds, door handles – they’re all just expensive junk jewelry for your car. They are difficult to maintain in their original pristine look, and age faster than your car.
15. Teflon coating on the paint: Granted it does give your car an extra sheen of glossiness, but it’s an expense you can live without.
16. Under chassis protective coating: Promises to prevent rust from accumulating on the underside of your car, but wouldn’t steering clear of water most of the time accomplish the same, at no extra cost?
17. Spoilers: Front, back or side – they spoil just one thing – your bank balance! And yeah, if they don’t come with the car, they spoil the vehicle’s aerodynamics too.
18. Film coating on the windows: Especially those that cost more claiming to protect you from the harmful UV rays of the sun. Some coats offer only a dark covering, with absolutely zero guard against ultra violet rays. If you have to coat your windows, shop around for the sheets that offer the highest percentage of protection.
19. Exterior cameras: Double checking that there’s no person or object behind you as you back out of a parking spot is definitely the cheaper than spending money on a rear camera and a screen that shows you its associated images.
20. Accessories at the dealers’: Floor mats, seat covers, or any other extras that are on sale at the dealers’ outlets are much more costly than similar stuff on the open market. So no matter how persuasive your dealer is, do not succumb to the temptation to accessorize your car at once.

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One Response to “20 Things you Shouldn’t Spend Money On When Buying A Car”

1. what are the benefits of Hybrid Cars says:

   December 10, 2011 at 9:25 am

   You’ve got great insights about getting mor out of your car, keep up the good work!