Informative.

Of course it's not worth it. This is just another way the dealer tries to increase their margin. It's sort of replaced the old "undercoating" and rustproofing scams. I recently bought a new Scion and the dealer tried to sell me undercoating, paint sealant, and interior sealant (which I imagine is a Scotchguard type thing) as well! I said "Thanks, but no thanks." :) The prices they charge for this stuff is astronomical, considering what it actually is.

Do they offer OTC paint and interior sealants?

Undercoatings are not a scam if you live in a coastal area. I've live around the Texas Gulf Coast my whole life and have see the difference between vehicles that have undercoatings and those that don't. As for "paint sealants", they are normally called clear coats. The more clear coats you have on a vehicle, the less likely an object such as a rock can harm the actual paint underneath. IF you have enough clear coats, the more likely any scraches or small chips can be wet sanded out. I have a classic show car and have 14 coats of two different type of clear. It makes the paint look wet and protects it as well.

Grooveymarlin... Do you live in a coastal region?

I never bought a new car before...but is this stuff that they do at the dealer? If you pick out a new car on the lot, and you want these things, do they take it in the back and spray it down? Are the cars on the lot without these things?

This I know something about. I do premium detailing services, and I do believe that a new car needs a good acrylic sealant (or otherwise known as synthetic wax). I use Klasse, which is a premium sealent. You can do it yourself and get great shine and protection for 25.00 a bottle.

In addition, you can get a bottle of fabric guard for 15.00 I believe, and that stuff is SUPERIOR to scotchguard.

I buy from www.autopia-carcare.com where i get premium stuff. I know that dealers offer this, but don't know what they charge. This and a little time gives you more for the money with the same benefits.

Thankfully I don't live in a state with snow or constant rain. So none of this applies to me. None of the dealers around here even try to sell undercoatings or paint sealants. Instead, they try to get you with add-ons like:

* pin striping-- which ruins the look of the car, in my opinion.
* chrome wheels-- usually a $2000 - $3000 mark-up
* dealer prep fees-- $200 for a car wash? No thanks.

A lot of what the dealer tries to upsell are useless.

Thank you for yet another uninformed opinion. I always love how these kind of post always bring out all the "evil dealers trying to make profit" comments.

The truth of the matter is that paint sealant, undercoat and fabric protectant all provide valuable protection for your expensive purchase. The problem is that dealers tend to treat these like a cash cow and charge way too much. The solution is to negotiate a lower price at the time of sale. That way the dealer still makes a few dollars and you get a quieter, cleaner vehicle.

There is value in the treatments , especially when the produt they are using is made by the vehicle manufacturer (Mopar, Motorcraft, etc.), just don't pay full price.

The truth of the matter is that paint sealant, undercoat and fabric protectant all provide valuable profit for your dealer.

None of them are worth paying for.

When I brought my car in for service...the dealer told me that in addition to new brakes, I needed undercoating, two new Johnson rods, a flush of my blinker fluid lines, and that my A-frame was falling out ("I can't legally let you drive this home, but...)

Boy, they really know cars!

/snark

@venterminator: Thanks for the tips! I think Scotchguard was actually taken off the market a few years ago, but there are similar products, obviously. It makes sense to me to do these things yourself, when you can. If you pay a dealer's markup on these services you're getting ripped off. Labor is very expensive.

DTN: I live on the East Coast (DC area). I had a 2001 Passat that I drove for six years. It had no undercoating/rustproofing/whatever you want to call it, and when I traded it in recently it had not a spot of rust on it.

Aren't cars nowadays made out of different, lighter materials that just don't rust the way old American cars used to?

I believe that new cars are guaranteed against rust for a period of 5-10 years. At least the new GM truck I bought in 2004 was.

@ekthesy:

Johnson rods?

Am I the only pervert around here who snickered at that?

Yah, but you know that TrueCoat, they put it on at the factory.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Yeah, the dealership "paint sealant" service is nothing more than a wax* job or wax contract. There's no paint protection that will last more than a few months, I don't care what it is.

* Probably acrylic since they use the term "sealant", although it could possibly be carnuba.

@Acambras:

Ditto on the "johnson rods" LOL