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My Wife's SUV is getting a little bit dated so thought we would go down to the GMC dealer and look at the Acadia Denalis.
Not only the Acadias but every single Sierra and Yukon on the lot, has a $995 add on for Paint Protection and another $995 for a GPS tracking called Swat 5 or something like that. Now I don't know about the gps tracking (wouldn't want it) but you pretty much know that they didn't do anything to those trucks and SUVs except wash them.
I really wish there was a way to stop this scamming. I can't believe that whomever watches over this industry allows this crap to go on.
Back I the late 70's/80's they offered after market rust coating inside doors and panels. They always had some way to void the guarantee. I never heard of anyone collecting or getting repairs. I purchased a new car and had that done, price was high. I live in MN so cars rusted quickly then. I think the manufacturers started doing it in factory, not sure about that but I don't see it offered anymore. My grandpa said they rust proofed himself with some heavy grease of some kind. My last new car, 97 Ford escorted had virtually no rust, I drove it til it was no longer financially sane to keep fixing it. It was galvanized on the lower panels and doors. I am sure the paint finish thing is probably the same, a scam. Best to just use money for professional wax and buff jobs and car washes.
Also, the dealers are really marketing that Simoniz exterior and interior treatments that they guarantee for like 7 years or something. Any stain on the interior that cannot be cleaned is covered. How would something like this work in a minivan that is subjected to so much interior "abuse" by kids?
The Simoniz is really a big money maker and it sounds really good to people who don't know much about cars, car washing, waxes, etc.
My Wife's SUV is getting a little bit dated so thought we would go down to the GMC dealer and look at the Acadia Denalis.
Not only the Acadias but every single Sierra and Yukon on the lot, has a $995 add on for Paint Protection and another $995 for a GPS tracking called Swat 5 or something like that. Now I don't know about the gps tracking (wouldn't want it) but you pretty much know that they didn't do anything to those trucks and SUVs except wash them.
I really wish there was a way to stop this scamming. I can't believe that whomever watches over this industry allows this crap to go on.
First of all, find out if that has already been done. A lot of times it's put on the secondary sticker just to see if people are dumb enough to pay extra for that junk. My 2016 Silverado stickered for $52,430. The secondary sticker added in ADM of $2995 and Alaska Protection Package of $1847, bring the total up to $57,272. I drove the truck off the lot for $36,622 plus $280 for plates and two year registration. That was for a brand new truck with 12 miles on the odo and no trade in, in June 2016. The Alaska Protection Package had not been installed yet and I didn't want it. But if it's already been done and/or they refuse to delete, go elsewhere or special order. That's what I did when I bought my Jeep. With a special order I got only the options I wanted and I avoided all the add-ons, like tinted windows, which were done shortly after arrival. The other option is to start working with a salesman and find out when shipments arrive. Several times I intercepted a vehicle right as it arrived. No add-ons and no one ever took them out for a test drive. In one case I watched them unload off the truck and picked out the one I wanted and drove it home a few hours later.
Back I the late 70's/80's they offered after market rust coating inside doors and panels. They always had some way to void the guarantee. I never heard of anyone collecting or getting repairs. I purchased a new car and had that done, price was high. I live in MN so cars rusted quickly then. I think the manufacturers started doing it in factory, not sure about that but I don't see it offered anymore. My grandpa said they rust proofed himself with some heavy grease of some kind. My last new car, 97 Ford escorted had virtually no rust, I drove it til it was no longer financially sane to keep fixing it. It was galvanized on the lower panels and doors. I am sure the paint finish thing is probably the same, a scam. Best to just use money for professional wax and buff jobs and car washes.
Not only did manufacturers start rust proofing their vehicles, but when I got my 1989 GMC S-15 the owner's manual specifically stated that aftermarket rust proofing would void the factory rust proofing warranty. That's about the time that Ziebart and all those other outfits went out of business in Alaska.
I have no doubt that I could have nixed those 2 items out of the deal it is just bothersome that I would have to Start the negotiations there. I will go elsewhere but it just bugs me knowing that so many will fall for this crap.
I currently have 2 GMCs and was able to buy 1 of the 2 there. The 1st one, I drove 100 miles north.
paint Protection coatings or Xpel Paint protection is not a scam but I would not let a dealer install these options. Bring them to a specialty shop that installs these types of products.
You're right they do have some better paint protection but it's not the stuff the dealer does or doesn't put on.
Xpel and other clear bra brands are better for rock and road debri protection. I have Xpel on my Viper.
The reason I am calling it a scam is, the dealer will spray an inexpensive wax on costing them $5 or so and then charge $995 in my example.
Last edited by Slytrix; 08-07-2017 at 09:28 AM..
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