These are not "shady" deals, but I think that all 3 favor the dealership, and not the auto owner. 1. Extend the warranty from 5 to 7 years for $1480 and get the money back if no claims. This is a free loan of $1480 to the dealer for 7 years and it probably does not cover much, maybe just the drive train. These parts are already warranteed for 5 years. What happens if the dealership changes hand, goes out of business, or re-incorporates before the 7 years is up? These days, auto dealerships are very fluid and a long term, fixed business arrangement for 7 years is more rare than new dealerships. Do you thnik you will own this vehicle for 7 years? What happens to your money if you replace this vehicle within 5 years? 2. Rust proofig for $848 or more option at $1248. The time to add rust proofing to a vehicle is when it is new and the surfaces are clean. This one is a maybe. Some sources say it is wasted money. It all depends on what is done. If it merely duplicates the coatings already placed by the manufacturer, it is not very helpful. It may offer some protection if you live on a gravel road where the undercarraige gets pelted with stones on a regular basis. If they add coatings to the interior of the doors, be careful here. Too much in the wrong place can gum up the workings of electric door locks; It can plug door drains. If you live in the "rust belt" where road salts are used extensively, it may some added value. This one is a judgement call. 3. Accident and health insurance. This is assurance (to the dealer) that you'll have cash to pay off the loan in case of debilitating accident or sickness to you. Very likely, it will be written to the effect that in case of accident or illiness, the car loan is the first item to be satisfied. If you are employed, have adequate health and life insurance, this is not needed. For a long trerm loan, say 5 years, the dealer (and loan agency) is very anxious to make sure that the loan covered.

We always buy our cars as well. I understand the draw to leasing, low payments and yes a new vehicle more often, but like others have said unless you're leasing to use it as a business write off, the benefits for the general consumer are much more beneficial to the auto dealer than the consumer, that's why they promote them so much. If I were to consider leasing, my concern would be the what if's. What if I needed to get out of the contract early? What if I didn't want to lease at a later date or buy the car I'd been leasing at the EOC? What if financially I can't afford the large payments required at the end of the lease period? What if the automakers change the leasing guidelines again? Last time they did that so many people got screwed by having to buy the vehicle(s) they were leasing. In our area the majority of the ex-auto workers got great deals and leased ALL their vehicles. Also, the part that scares me too is I've heard a lot of complaints about dealers dinging the lessee with excessive costs for damages, some they say didn't even exist. Our car situation is very similar to yours, my 2006 Jeep will be paid off in 2 months, (Yeah) and my husbands Nissan Truck has been paid off for 3-4 years. Right now it's in the shop getting adjustments on a new tranny we invested in. That's the first time it's really ever needed anything major. I personally can't wait until we have 2 cars with no payments. There are so many things I'd rather do with that money. We've bought new several times but my Jeep was a demo model with enough miles on it that they had to sell it as used. We saved on depreciation that way and the car still had the new car smell. A winning option in my opinion. I will willingly admit I'm biased. I worked in finance for many years as did my Mother (I did mortgages, she did auto loans). Our perspectives are conservative but we've always believed that unless the expense to rent can be written off, it's always better to own. Here's an article though that sort of gives the pro's and con's from a more unbiased perspective. I hope it helps! Here is a link that might be useful: Leaseguide.com

I love when I have driven the CRV that a parent drives, its a wonderful vehicle, its old though from 1995 and so don't know what the up to date ones are like to drive and insides of it. My brother got a toyota rav4; love riding in it in the back seat, so comfortable and fancy everything they go in it, the new keyless, the dual heat/air conditioning which again is so awesome so driver and passenger the temepratures they want on them. My brother splurged since he drove through the mountains and one area he couldn't hear the radio and so got the satellite radio put in and wow, you can hear really great stations on it. Its way too small I feel for them right now as they go skiing themselves and sons and their bikes they have too as they bring them out to where they have a condo. And too fancy I felt for what they have used their huge vehicle they had before. I have sat in the back of the cvr and found it find but the only complaint for me is all vehicles the seat belts in the back seats strangle me and tighten and you can't loosen it up in the back seats. I hope those that are talking vehicles do try them all out. I did when I went looking for vehicle in 2010 and I wanted one that I could see when driving as they make dashboards, etc. too high for men and not thinking of women driving. Same with seat belts too, can they be moved down to women height to use. How is the highway noise and can you hear yourselves talking or the radio on? And if you live in a really hot temperatures, then make sure you get the right air conditioning as the bigger vehicles like those you really get good air but the smaller ones like mine, ou don't get it as much. Same with heat, if you live in cold temperatures, make sure too that you check that out. Check the windows as I don't like the back windows in like the subaru forester my dad has as it would come down a bit and so sitting in the back you couldn't get them down like you wanted too. How is the visiblity, if you struggle backing up due to not seeing well if you are short then go to a parking lot when test driving it and back up and see how it works for you. Also are the mirrors good too for bakcin up and using for yourself? What things come with that type of vehicle and do you like it all? I checked for like where can you put things you need in the car, what size is the back trunk area and what do you put and carry, what things do you buy and need space to buy and carry it and bring it home. does it fit your parking that you will park it in, also how easy is it to park it in parking lots as the spaces got smaller to park in then back out of them. How easy it is to turn it around corners,etc. Also where they put the automatic too, on the crv 1995 its way up at the steering wheel and the subaru forestor my dads has it down and mine is at an angle. Check too the pedals as soo many are as they age not stepping on the right pedal, gas instead of brake so check them all out, how fast can you stop it? I found with my many vehicles I wanted to find I didn't have alot of those problems anymore. My one frustration with new ones is the back windows are dinky size, not the nice big ones they used to have so I have to use mirrors and turn and watch and its hard these days due people walking everywhere and behind you and vehicles too and so its alot to watch. Can you safely reach knobs that you must while driving and not stray you from watching the road?????? How do things work, make sure they show you if you aren't sure, don't go home and go, ummm, I can do this but can't. Don't be afraid to keep coming back and trying things out, I did with my matrix. Also asked about this and that too. One guy told me he would throw in the liner in the back trunk area but the guy that sold it to us didn't, said now when he asked someone. Also I consider waiting if your old vehicle is still good to drive and get the colour and seats in it that you want if you drive it until its done for like 10 years. And take care of it too, so many do not but if you take it in regularly and get the work done and check ups, your car will last long time for you. Only you will know what fits well with your life style and if you drive lots and long distances you do what something that is comfortable both back and front seats plus good trunk space too. There isn't anything worse then sitting in the back and the driver doesn't and its so uncomfortable back there.

Someone ran into me back in Nov and totaled my 2008 ES 350 Lexus, and I purchased the the 2016, same model, shortly afterwards. I didn't test drive any other car! I love the way it sits, not too high or too low, as with many of the new models. It has every option known to man, a very generous trunk, and spacious back seat. I've had a couple of 'altercations' with heavy truck treads on the road, which caused absolutely no damage to the under carriage. DD has a Kia and had the same thing happen,and did cause damage and a part needs replacing. It also feels heavier than most cars I have ridden in as a passanger. Also free car wash any time I need/want. ;)