Car Accessories

Car Accessories are one of the options that consumers need to think about when buying a new car.  At one time, air conditioning in a car was viewed merely as an option or accessory that was nice to have if you could afford it.  Today, most new cars come with air conditioning installed as standard equipment, and it is no longer even offered as an option.  In addition, there are some accessories that really make a difference in the car's value.

Choosing Car Accessories

In this publication, we will be talking in generalities.  There will be exceptions to these rules.  For example, if you happen to find a car that has air conditioning listed as an option, then you would be well advised to purchase that accessory if you live in one of the warmer parts of the country.

If you plan to eventually sell the car, it will be difficult to find a buyer that is willing to drive a vehicle without air conditioning if the outside temperatures hit 90 degrees.  Air conditioning is something that most of us need, especially if we have an older relative that we might be transporting from time to time.

This same argument applies to standard shifts or manual transmissions.  These are cars without automatic transmissions.  If you are buying a minivan, this is a pretty important accessory that will add value to the vehicle when it's eventually sold.  But if you own a road-eating sports car, then the standard shift might be far more desirable.

The point here is that we're trying to identify car accessories that are desirable to those that would be interested in eventually buying a used car.  That means saving a little bit of money when buying a new car might limit the number of potential buyers later on. For that very reason, saving money in the short term could be a costly mistake in the long term.

Selecting Valuable Car Accessories

This last point is worth repeating.  When buying a new car, you may want to purchase options that hold their value when the car is eventually sold.  You may want to consider purchasing accessories that other buyers will value, and that means they'd be willing to pay a premium for those options.

According to used car experts, the options that tend to hold their value best include items such as moon roofs, T-tops, leather seating, and premium wheels.  In case you are not sure what premium wheels are, this is a general term that applies to car wheels that do not have hubcaps.  This category includes aluminum wheels, and more exotic steel or even chromium wheels.

If offered, sports packages tend to hold their value very well.  This may include a rear spoiler or a sports-tuned suspension.  Other valuable car accessories include power door locks and power seating.  Upgrades to the engine, in terms of more horsepower, tend to add value to sports cars and trucks, but do not add value to most cars or minivans.

Custom Car Accessories

When taken to the extreme, however, some car options can actually detract from the value of the car.  For example, if you start to purchase special accessories or custom paint jobs for the car, then you are really customizing the car to suit your tastes.  In this example, the car becomes very "personal."  Keep in mind that a buyer of the car may not appreciate all those fancy accessories, and again, they might even detract from the value of the car; thereby lowering its resale price.

Car Options without Value

Convenience items may make the car a little more enjoyable to operate, but they add little or no value to the selling price of a used car.  This includes power windows, remote keyless entry systems, premium alarm systems, and auxiliary lights.

Common accessories found on cars today such as a rear defogger or tilt steering wheel tend to be treated as standard equipment, and nearly all cars are expected to have them installed.  For this reason, they also tend to add little to the value of the car.

Optional stereo equipment is by far one of the more popular choices purchased on new vehicles sold today.  Unfortunately, they tend to be ignored when selling the car.  Once again, if you are building the ultimate car stereo, then you are customizing the car, and that can detract from its value.

Safety Accessories

It is one thing to worry about the features that will add value to the car; it is another to worry about the passengers of a car.  It is impossible to place a value on the personal safety of others.  The advice here is to purchase as many car safety features as you can.  This includes front air bags, side air bags, anti-lock brakes, all wheel drive; whatever is offered by the manufacturer.

You will never be sorry that you purchased a safe car.  Your automobile insurance company will even reward you for buying these options.  Most insurance companies offer discounts on insurance premiums when these accessories are installed on a vehicle.

Final Points on Car Color

The color of a car is certainly not an accessory, but it is worth a mention in this article.  There are certain colors that never seem to go out of style:  white, black, dark gray, silver, and reds.  Be careful of colors that might be trendy, because they might be out of style when you go to sell the car.  For example, that purple sports car might look great the day you drove it off the dealer's parking lot; but in four to six years from now, it might not be so easy to sell a used purple car.

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