Topic: Optional Stuff for Toyota Camry.

[agivant]

I've visited Toyota dealership yesterday and they told me about some optional stuff. Just want to know your opinion about those additions:

1) Protector Plus Program, cost $249, for 5 years, returns up to $4,000 additional to insurance pay out if vehicle stolen and not recovered in number of days.

2) Hood reflector - $99. Guy on dealship recommend it a lot, saying it's "must have" item, specially for highway travelling.

3) Rust-proofing, coming from Toyota, make no change in rust-proof warranty - $500.

4) All-season mats - $120. Make specially for Camry, so fit great inside.

Thanks in advance for any opinion.

If you know good car insurer, please, let me know, I'm looking for one. Thanks.

[tenpenny]

Just my personal opinion, and therefore not worth much:  

1) Protector Plus Program, cost $249, for 5 years, returns up to $4,000 additional to insurance pay out if vehicle stolen and not recovered in number of days.  

?You're going to insure your car, right?  Then why buy another $250 plan?

2) Hood reflector - $99. Guy on dealship recommend it a lot, saying it's "must have" item, specially for highway travelling.  
?Must have?  then it should be free.  I assume you mean hood "deflector", not reflector.  

3) Rust-proofing, coming from Toyota, make no change in rust-proof warranty - $500.  
Rust proofing, yes, but investigate your options.

4) All-season mats - $120. Make specially for Camry, so fit great inside.  

Depending on where you live, yes, but dicker over the price.  If you live anywhere but Victoria, then yes.  You should try to have them thrown in for free.

[froggy]

When I bought the RAV4, they gave me the 1).
I did not even know about it before I picked up the car!!

[agivant]

Tenpenny: Of course, "deflector", my bad. About suff:
(1), they put some stickers on doors and etched windows, I know that I'll have insurance, it's seems to me like extra-insurance which I probably don't need.  
(2) "must have" was recommendation from guy on dealership, I'll drive mostly by streets, so can ommit this option.  
(3) According to the same guy, I can do it cheaper in other place, but it won't be the same quality, which I can believe (other places will use cheaper stuff to put inside the vehicle, it make it heavier and doesn't protect so much.  
(4) I'm living in Toronto, saw 2 mats in Costco for 39.99 or so, but I believe that Toyota's mats are done specially for the car, so should close all the surface. I don't know about quality.

Froggy: did you pay for it, they call it in some place "doc fee" or "admin fee".

[froggy]

No, Actually they did not have all those "fees", at least not that I remember
I took the rust-proofing, but I am not sure I'll do it again as I read really good things about the Krown process...
Get him to throw the mats for free, it costs them (almost) nothing!

[sirAQUAMAN64]

4) I think custom and colour-keyed mats are worth it. Can haggle over price if you wish.

2) I think these look distasteful, except for some applications. Much prefer the 3M clear application.

[kelefe]

Hood deflectors don't always work. Had 2 deflectors in our old Rav4 and my dad's Angry Green Gas Monster (Cherokee) and both windshields got knicked with rocks. Mum has one on her CRV, and so far so good...  

I'd get the 3M stuff on your hood instead. That's probably what I'll go for when I get ma new car.

[agivant]

Kelefe: What is this 3M stuff, what the price and where you can buy it? Thanks.

[kelefe]

Basically a clear coating you put on the hood of your car that you can extend down to the bumpers. It protects your car from knicks, scratches, etc.  

Other people will provide input because I am not the most technically savvy car guy out there

[Sterling]

Had 2 deflectors in our old Rav4 and my dad's Angry Green Gas Monster (Cherokee) and both windshields got knicked with rocks.

The purpose of those deflectors is to protect the hood paint. They have no effect on the windshield.

[Mdxtasy]

I've mentioned this numerous times, I've got the 3M stuff on the MDX.  It's a clear plastic film that they apply on the front of vehicles.  It's designed to take the impact of rocks and other small debris.  I have it on the hood, bumper, front fenders, and side mirrors.  I got it as part of my deal for the MDX but I'd say under $300 for it.  

If you want, do a search on the board for more discussion about it.

[safristi]

Geez how many time do ya have ta wrap yer's in Plastic and brag on it Md....isn't that 1981 Saran WRAP  box the original  ya purchased in Junior HIGH!!?

[kelefe]

The purpose of those deflectors is to protect the hood paint. They have no effect on the windshield

Sterling you are indeed wise... Ignorant sales guy once told parents and ignorant parents relayed it to ignorant me when I was younger... Now I am more learned... but still ignorant.

[saltedegg]

3M Scotchguard Car Paint Protector
http://www.speerauto.com/SA_3M_results.html

[johngenx]

Are cars STILL rusting in Ontario?  We've never rust-proofed any of our cars and haven't seen any rust at all before 10-12 years on any car we've owned.  The Europeans and Japanese makes now double-galvanize all panels, methinks.  Alberta uses lots of salt now, but our winter humidity is lower.

If you can really get better-than-factory rustproofing for a couple hundred bucks, why don't  they do it at the factory now?  They put so much time and effort into rustproofing with double galvanizing and other measures, I would have thought that a simple additional "coating" would be done if it were truly effective.  I know that my Mercedes is undercoated thorougly from the factory, all panels have vapour barriers and drain/dry systems and so on.  Will it really be better off if I have some stuff sprayed on?