https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:50:56 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90764 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:33:16 +0000 heffalump 90764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just bought a mini van and didn't get the luxeries. So far so good! It just wasn't worth the 3,000 for us. I think it just depends on your priorities and what you want in a van. We wanted space, which we get without all the extra things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90716 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:42:23 +0000 Mrs. Sunglasses 90716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you purchase an model 2 years older with all the features? Cars lose their value considerably come 4 years down the road the car has lost more than 40% of it's value and yet you have more to pay then what it's actually worth. </p> <p>Maybe i'm not a good person to ask. I've had my tercel for 11 years now and will still have it with 2 kids in the back! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90714 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:41:30 +0000 LuLu Mom 90714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love my bluetooth and for sure want heated leather and an entertainment center for the next round for kids. Leather is easier to clean &amp; DVD to keep them entertained on trips! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90707 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:38:02 +0000 ecogirl 90707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have two words: heated seats! Haha :) I would pay extra for just that feature if I had to pick one! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90706 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:36:37 +0000 twinmama 90706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you so much for all the opinions!!!! This is really helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90700 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:31:07 +0000 MsMini 90700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would never again own a car without leather seats. They are so much easier to clean, and end up looking newer much longer, also the new car smell stays in cars with leather so much longer! I also LOVE my sunroof and have the sunroof open all the time in the spring/summer, I avoid using AC as much as possible, by using the sunroof. I wouldn't pay extra for nav, but it it came with the leather/sunroof I would be fine with having it. I also wouldn't pay extra for DVD. I added my remote start aftermarket, and I think it is a must have (but I live in a climate with really cold winters, and I have to park my car outside at work). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90691 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:18:54 +0000 BSB 90691@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have heated leather seats and I don't like using the heated seats. Maybe because my lower back is sensitive to that heat and makes me uncomfortable. What I would trade my heated seats for would be cooled seats. I hate getting into a hot car where the leather seats practically burn my legs. I think only luxury cars like Lexus has cooled seats. I guess I'll be fine with remote start, so I could at least put the AC on to cool down the car. </p> <p>As for DVD player, I think it might be cheaper to add that in as an aftermarket item instead of paying extra to get that in and financing it. </p> <p>I do like the in-dash navigation because we live in an area where mirror mounted GPS units are stolen. So my GPS is always in my glove box and I only pull it out when I go on long trips. An in-dash system would be nice to have when I'm in traffic and need to take a detour because of an accident. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90642 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:46:45 +0000 yoursilverlining 90642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Heated seats are worth every extra penny. The rest of the stuff I don't care so much about (like having a moon roof or leather seats), but heated seats are one of the greatest inventions ever! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90589 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:11:23 +0000 Rescuemom10 90589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love having the extras. I just downsized cars and my new car I bought with as much as it could come in, but was not as much as what my old car had. My old car had leather seats and I found it pretty easy to clean that with both our dog messes and DD messes. My new car did not have leather as an option so I made sure to get the stain treatment stuff on the cloth seats. If I could have had leather in my new car I WOULD have paid for it. Instead I paid to have the interior stain treated.</p> <p>edit---ohh back up camera. I MISS THAT. That so did come in handy!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90576 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:04:06 +0000 kml636 90576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say it's 100% worth it. I never felt this way until my latest car which I ended up getting with every option possible by accident - it was the right car at the right price. If you sell the car, you can get more for it, too. </p> <p>The in dash GPS is SOOO much better than a handheld. I'll never go back! And, the top of the line models have a lot more safety features like the back up camera. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90573 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:03:43 +0000 lemondrop 90573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@skibobrown: I love my Forester too! So happy with that car :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90566 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 13:01:21 +0000 lemondrop 90566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, go for it! You will be spending time in the car, you may as well make it as enjoyable as possible!</p> <p>I went from my ancient Nissan Sentra that I have had since high school to a brand new Subaru Forester- we were going to get the base model, but ended up splurging on the mid-range. We really didn't want the leather seats, turbo, or DVD players in the highest range. </p> <p>This is one of our best decisions- I love the heated seats and the sunroof, and the better radio/ipod player. I spend a lot of time in the car running errands, and will only spend more as our son grows and we have more kids, every time I drive it I have fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90559 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:58:43 +0000 mrs. wagon 90559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>totally, totally, totally!! I don't think I will ever purchase a car not fully loaded. The one time we went with a lower trim level to save money we totally regretted it the entire time. Plus, for us, having an in-dash GPS is just so necessary. We had several standalone GPS devices and they don't measure up at all to the in-dash GPS that Honda makes. Plus now that we have leather seats I can never go back to fabric. It STILL smells like new car in there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90551 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:55:38 +0000 Chillybear 90551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>for the most part the extra options will help your car retain its value should in the future you go to sell or trade in your car. i'm all for getting a slightly older car with the bells and whistles than a new (er) car that doesnt have them </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90530 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:40:32 +0000 Shutterbug 90530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One thing my husband pointed out about the DVD option while we were looking at cars... how long are DVDs going to be the video medium of choice? As long as you want to keep your car? His argument was that everything's going digital files (like music is now) and having a DVD player in your car will be like having a car phone used to be (haha). </p> <p>Also, the DVD option may cost you an extra, say, $1,000, and you could buy two iPads for that $$ which your LO(s) could also take out of the car, and onto say, the plane, etc. Or two Kindle Fires and save even more $$. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90523 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:37:00 +0000 skibobrown 90523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never sprung for the high-end model. I usually go for the mid-range options. My current car (Subaru Forrester) has mid-range options plus has an "all-weather" package, which I love. The package includes heated seats and windshield wiper defrosters. The car also came with bluetooth, sunroof, and some other nice amenities. I couldn't justify the extra $3k though for the high-end model leather seats, a punchier engine, and some other fancy options. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90522 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:36:34 +0000 banana 90522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the main luxuries I would add on to my car are navigation, bluetooth, leather seats, dvd player, and back up camera, :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90519 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:35:01 +0000 mediagirl 90519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the only thing I would spring for these days would be bluetooth since the laws in different states don't allow you to talk on your phone in the car. My husbands sunroof never gets used, heated seats seem like a nice luxury but just that - a luxury. Leather isn't necessary and the dvd system? Well, I can't comment on that - no kids yet. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90518 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:33:57 +0000 calsmom 90518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have GPS in my car, and I don't like it. I always use the google nav on my phone. I love that thing. We also have leather seats. I could care less about it. We have a sunroof. It's nice to have, but if we don't get it in the next car I won't miss it. I would rather save that money! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90514 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:28:02 +0000 BSB 90514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm curious about leather seats. Is it really better to have than cloth seats? Especially when you have kids?</p> <p>I have leather seats and it is somewhat easier to clean and my seats don't look dirty because it doesn't stain.</p> <p>My next car will definitely have bluetooth and remote start for those cold days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90508 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:25:12 +0000 Andrea 90508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, I think must haves are GPS and bluetooth since I use those all the time. </p> <p>Leathers seats and heated seats are nice to have but I guess I could live without those. I could live without my sunroof too.</p> <p>I want my next car to have these things plus DVD player since the LO will be old enough to watch TV during long car trips. Oh, and a back up camera. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90506 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:24:54 +0000 Mrsbells 90506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My previous car had lots of extras and realized I never use them. I never used the sunroof, and didnt like the leather seats, so it didnt make a difference to me. I would rather save the money </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90501 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:22:04 +0000 ecogirl 90501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do actually use the luxury additions I think. If you think having those things would be worth $3000 - $4000 more stretched out over the length of time you'll own it I would do it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90496 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:20:18 +0000 sulli301 90496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MerryC: I always spring for the "XLT" or "Limited" models because I love the extra options! I use my navigator, heated seats, bluetooth, etc ALL the time! The sunroof I love to have but rarely use, I don't have a DVD player but I'm sure in a few years I will want one (LOL) &amp; I love leather interior (easier to clean!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/worth-paying-for-luxuries-on-your-car#post-90489 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:17:27 +0000 twinmama 90489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've decided to buy a used minivan for when the twins arrive, but we're stuck on how much more we're willing to pay for extra options. The top of the line models with sunroof, leather seats, heated seats, and dvd (the extras I care about) are about $3-4k more than the middle trim models, with comparable miles.</p> <p>We can definitely afford either, but the lower cost of the mid-level van would be a bonus since I'll be a SAHM soon. </p> <p>So do you think having your favorite luxury items in your primary kid car is worth the extra money? </p>