Accessories on New Car: Trim/Moulding

It's been a while since I bought a new car in the United States (late 1980s,
I am guessing), so perhaps things have changed.

I just got a 2013 Toyota Corolla L and know that I need certain things:

* Protection of floor carpet
After looking at the "digital fit" mats priced from $120 and up on Ebay,
I went with some $50 package (on Ebay) because it is carpeted and not
like stepping on a Rubbermaid surface, although I am not entirely sure
that the digital or custom fit Weather Tech or Husky Liner products are
merely neoprene or plastic looking. I would need to see the product to
know what I am missing. Note that $50 package also threw in some seat
covers.

* Trim/Moulding
This is the part I am concerned about. Naturally I would like to stick
something on the door to prevent door opening dings. I don't think that
should affect any dealership or manufacturer warranties

* Security against auto theft
I was asking someone what they did for protecting the car against theft
in Miami, and they said "insurance." In other words, they said there
is nothing that can be done to stop a thief. "Once they get your
car, it will be dismantled for parts before you can report the
theft after directly witnessing it." Opinions?

* Other accessories?
Is there an extra I should be planning on?

In article >,
SMH > wrote:
>
>It's been a while since I bought a new car in the United States (late 1980s,
>I am guessing), so perhaps things have changed.
>
>I just got a 2013 Toyota Corolla L and know that I need certain things:
> [...]
>* Security against auto theft
> I was asking someone what they did for protecting the car against theft
> in Miami, and they said "insurance." In other words, they said there
> is nothing that can be done to stop a thief. "Once they get your
> car, it will be dismantled for parts before you can report the
> theft after directly witnessing it." Opinions?

Many people opt for a car alarm. Before you do, ask yourself what YOU do when
you hear a car alarm going off. Run towards the sound yelling "stop thief" or
feel annoyed and ignore it?

If you ignore it, consider that most others do, too. What do you get for your
money besides a way to annoy people with false alarms?

--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
| Brian Gordon <-- brian dot gordon at cox dot net |
+ Bass: Lexington "Main Street Harmonizers" chorus +
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"SMH" > wrote in message
...
>
> It's been a while since I bought a new car in the United States (late
> 1980s,
> I am guessing), so perhaps things have changed.
>
> I just got a 2013 Toyota Corolla L and know that I need certain things:
>
> * Protection of floor carpet
> After looking at the "digital fit" mats priced from $120 and up on Ebay,
> I went with some $50 package (on Ebay) because it is carpeted and not
> like stepping on a Rubbermaid surface, although I am not entirely sure
> that the digital or custom fit Weather Tech or Husky Liner products are
> merely neoprene or plastic looking. I would need to see the product to
> know what I am missing. Note that $50 package also threw in some seat
> covers.
>

You already selected a solution, but I was going to suggest the auto parts
department at WalMart as a source for floor mats. An auto parts store is
also an excellent place to shop for mats. If your online solution has
shipping charges, the store might work out to be cheaper.

If your Corolla L is the base car, that is often a poor choice because you
are now looking for stuff that might be included in a car that has the
features already included. For example, if your car has manual door locks
and you want an alarm -- it looks like you do -- then the power locks from
the factory wold work better and cost about the same as having the alarm
installer put in lock actuators, and the package that has power locks has
power windows too, and probably has a better radio. The cost-up for the
higher trim package is cheaper, usually, than buying parts of the trim
package later and adding them on. As a bonus, the parts fit and work better
from the factory.




> * Trim/Moulding
> This is the part I am concerned about. Naturally I would like to stick
> something on the door to prevent door opening dings. I don't think that
> should affect any dealership or manufacturer warranties
>

WalMart and Pep Boys, among others I am sure, have very good products that
fit over the door edge. There is no warranty implication at all with these.
You should visit the dealership parts department and casually stroll the
display cases. They have some good ideas of stuff to buy. I'm not suggesting
you buy it there, just look as what they have already figured out what many
customers want and they have it.




> * Security against auto theft
> I was asking someone what they did for protecting the car against theft
> in Miami, and they said "insurance." In other words, they said there
> is nothing that can be done to stop a thief. "Once they get your
> car, it will be dismantled for parts before you can report the
> theft after directly witnessing it." Opinions?
>

Stop by your local car alarm store -- Best Buy's radio/electronics
department might be a good place to stop. It is not a difficult task to
install a car alarm that has Ignition Bypass. If your Corolla has power door
locks, then it is very easy to install an alarm system that locks and unlock
the doors with the press of a button. If your car does not have power door
locks, the alarm installer can add actuators that perform this task. I
forget, but I think they are about $25 each.

If your car has an automatic transmission, you can easily install a system
with Remote Start if that sort of thing is interesting to you.

If you financed the car, you already have the insurance you need. Your
insurance carrier would probably discount the premium if you have an alarm
system installed.



> * Other accessories?
> Is there an extra I should be planning on?

If there is anything "missing" on your car, odds are excellent that you
bought the wrong car.

It's fine to buy a base model car, but if you turn around and start putting
stuff on it that might be included as a factory option on a higher trim
level car of the same model, a Corolla S instead of the Corolla L for
example, it is easy that the stuff that you buy costs more and works worse
than going up-market a little bit when you made the original purchase.

You asked about an alarm, but you need power locks so you will know that the
doors are locked when the alarm is armed. Without power locks, you might
have an instance where a door is not locked and the alarm is pretty much
useless at that point. For the cost of the higher trim level, you would get
both power door locks and power windows, and power mirrors too. The power
package installed at the factory probably costs about the same as the door
lock actuators you need, and the factory installs this stuff before the door
panels are put into place, the alarm installer has to take the door panels
off. He'll know how to do this, but anytime somebody has to take something
off there is a chance it will be damaged in some way that will just annoy
you for the rest of your life.

"Brian Gordon" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> SMH > wrote:
>>
>>It's been a while since I bought a new car in the United States (late
>>1980s,
>>I am guessing), so perhaps things have changed.
>>
>>I just got a 2013 Toyota Corolla L and know that I need certain things:
>> [...]
>>* Security against auto theft
>> I was asking someone what they did for protecting the car against theft
>> in Miami, and they said "insurance." In other words, they said there
>> is nothing that can be done to stop a thief. "Once they get your
>> car, it will be dismantled for parts before you can report the
>> theft after directly witnessing it." Opinions?
>
> Many people opt for a car alarm. Before you do, ask yourself what YOU do
> when
> you hear a car alarm going off. Run towards the sound yelling "stop
> thief" or
> feel annoyed and ignore it?
>
> If you ignore it, consider that most others do, too. What do you get for
> your
> money besides a way to annoy people with false alarms?
>
> --


Good point Brian. But an advantage of a good car alarm is that it will
disable the ignition and starter circuits, and with any luck at all the
people that are breaking in will not take the car if they can't get it
started.

And if the bad guys trip the alarm at the OP's house, which is in Florida,
he can simply walk outside with his 9 and go all Zimmerman on the guys
taking his stuff.

(Brian Gordon) wrote on Wed 07 Aug 2013 11:54:31a

> In article >,
> SMH > wrote:
>>
>>It's been a while since I bought a new car in the United States (late
>>1980s, I am guessing), so perhaps things have changed.
>>
>>I just got a 2013 Toyota Corolla L and know that I need certain things:
>> [...]
>>* Security against auto theft
>> I was asking someone what they did for protecting the car against
>> theft in Miami, and they said "insurance." In other words, they said
>> there is nothing that can be done to stop a thief. "Once they get
>> your car, it will be dismantled for parts before you can report the
>> theft after directly witnessing it." Opinions?
>
> Many people opt for a car alarm. Before you do, ask yourself what YOU
> do when you hear a car alarm going off. Run towards the sound yelling
> "stop thief" or feel annoyed and ignore it?

No, I wasn't thinking some much about a bleating or even distinctive alarm,
real or fake. I am fully aware that people are probably pleased that such a
car is in fact stolen.

One would be a visible deterrent, like a lock (steering wheel or other).

Another would be the future (or present?) of personal notification that
someone is tampering with a vehicle. Consider that WiMAX is supposed to
connect our devices (laptop, whatever) to a network pretty much anywhere
(the everywhere access point). Imagine a device with WiMax connection in
the car in a hidden location, and with its own power system (no wires
leading to its location traceable by the thief). The device transmits GPS
coordinates every 120 seconds to a smartphone. That smartphone runs an app
that brings an instant notification if the car's position is changed by more
than 50 meters. A better device would inform the smartphone if the car's
status is being altered before a thief has a chance to start it and run off
(door opened, lock position changed, roll motion detected as if someone is
sitting in the car).

It seems to me that custom installation riggings or do-it-yourself kits
could start giving more trouble to the thieves rather than the owner, and
not be prohibitively costly.

"Jeff Strickland" > wrote on Wed 07 Aug 2013 12:48:52p

>
> "SMH" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> It's been a while since I bought a new car in the United States (late
>> 1980s,
>> I am guessing), so perhaps things have changed.
>>
>> I just got a 2013 Toyota Corolla L and know that I need certain things:
>>
>> * Protection of floor carpet
>> After looking at the "digital fit" mats priced from $120 and up on
>> Ebay, I went with some $50 package (on Ebay) because it is carpeted
>> and not like stepping on a Rubbermaid surface, although I am not
>> entirely sure that the digital or custom fit Weather Tech or Husky
>> Liner products are merely neoprene or plastic looking. I would need
>> to see the product to know what I am missing. Note that $50 package
>> also threw in some seat covers.
>>
>
> You already selected a solution, but I was going to suggest the auto
> parts department at WalMart as a source for floor mats. An auto parts
> store is also an excellent place to shop for mats. If your online
> solution has shipping charges, the store might work out to be cheaper.
>
> If your Corolla L is the base car, that is often a poor choice because
> you are now looking for stuff that might be included in a car that has
> the features already included. For example, if your car has manual door
> locks and you want an alarm -- it looks like you do -- then the power
> locks from the factory wold work better and cost about the same as
> having the alarm installer put in lock actuators, and the package that
> has power locks has power windows too, and probably has a better radio.
> The cost-up for the higher trim package is cheaper, usually, than buying
> parts of the trim package later and adding them on. As a bonus, the
> parts fit and work better from the factory.
>
>
>
>
>> * Trim/Moulding
>> This is the part I am concerned about. Naturally I would like to
>> stick something on the door to prevent door opening dings. I don't
>> think that should affect any dealership or manufacturer warranties
>>
>
> WalMart and Pep Boys, among others I am sure, have very good products
> that fit over the door edge. There is no warranty implication at all
> with these. You should visit the dealership parts department and
> casually stroll the display cases. They have some good ideas of stuff to
> buy. I'm not suggesting you buy it there, just look as what they have
> already figured out what many customers want and they have it.
>
>
>
>
>> * Security against auto theft
>> I was asking someone what they did for protecting the car against
>> theft in Miami, and they said "insurance." In other words, they said
>> there is nothing that can be done to stop a thief. "Once they get
>> your car, it will be dismantled for parts before you can report the
>> theft after directly witnessing it." Opinions?
>>
>
> Stop by your local car alarm store -- Best Buy's radio/electronics
> department might be a good place to stop. It is not a difficult task to
> install a car alarm that has Ignition Bypass. If your Corolla has power
> door locks, then it is very easy to install an alarm system that locks
> and unlock the doors with the press of a button. If your car does not
> have power door locks, the alarm installer can add actuators that
> perform this task. I forget, but I think they are about $25 each.
>
> If your car has an automatic transmission, you can easily install a
> system with Remote Start if that sort of thing is interesting to you.
>
> If you financed the car, you already have the insurance you need. Your
> insurance carrier would probably discount the premium if you have an
> alarm system installed.
>
>
>
>> * Other accessories?
>> Is there an extra I should be planning on?
>
> If there is anything "missing" on your car, odds are excellent that you
> bought the wrong car.
>
> It's fine to buy a base model car, but if you turn around and start
> putting stuff on it that might be included as a factory option on a
> higher trim level car of the same model, a Corolla S instead of the
> Corolla L for example, it is easy that the stuff that you buy costs more
> and works worse than going up-market a little bit when you made the
> original purchase.
>
> You asked about an alarm, but you need power locks so you will know that
> the doors are locked when the alarm is armed. Without power locks, you
> might have an instance where a door is not locked and the alarm is
> pretty much useless at that point. For the cost of the higher trim
> level, you would get both power door locks and power windows, and power
> mirrors too. The power package installed at the factory probably costs
> about the same as the door lock actuators you need, and the factory
> installs this stuff before the door panels are put into place, the alarm
> installer has to take the door panels off. He'll know how to do this,
> but anytime somebody has to take something off there is a chance it will
> be damaged in some way that will just annoy you for the rest of your
> life.

Thanks for a lot of the useful info.

The 2013 "base model" L sold to me is an automatic transmission with the
smart key entry and power locks, mirrors, windows.

Normally I would have bought something better, but I just returned to the
United States, and there is a lot of uncertainty about personal financial
security right now. In fact, I was thinking if getting a low-mileage used
car, but the prices in many cases were higher on those car types than buying
the new Toyota: apparently Toyota was willing to take a bath [?] and
unloading unsold 2013 inventory at cheaper prices than for certified pre-
owned cars, same model, color and features! I looked at 2013 Corolla L with
900 miles that was certified pre-owned, and it was about $500 more expensive
than the new 2013 Corolla L. And that was true at two dealerships in the
city.

I have jotted down your advice for future shopping activities.

On 8/7/2013 11:47 AM, SMH wrote:
> It's been a while since I bought a new car in the United States (late 1980s,
> I am guessing), so perhaps things have changed.
>
> I just got a 2013 Toyota Corolla L and know that I need certain things:
>
> * Protection of floor carpet
> After looking at the "digital fit" mats priced from $120 and up on Ebay,
> I went with some $50 package (on Ebay) because it is carpeted and not
> like stepping on a Rubbermaid surface, although I am not entirely sure
> that the digital or custom fit Weather Tech or Husky Liner products are
> merely neoprene or plastic looking. I would need to see the product to
> know what I am missing. Note that $50 package also threw in some seat
> covers.
>

I'm quite pleased with the WeatherTech floor and cargo mats I purchased
for our 2003 Matrix & 2004 Highlander. Excellent fit, and holding up
quite well after almost 10 years.

"SMH" > wrote in message
...
> "Jeff Strickland" > wrote on Wed 07 Aug 2013 12:48:52p
>
>>
>> "SMH" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> It's been a while since I bought a new car in the United States (late
>>> 1980s,
>>> I am guessing), so perhaps things have changed.
>>>
>>> I just got a 2013 Toyota Corolla L and know that I need certain things:
>>>
>>> * Protection of floor carpet
>>> After looking at the "digital fit" mats priced from $120 and up on
>>> Ebay, I went with some $50 package (on Ebay) because it is carpeted
>>> and not like stepping on a Rubbermaid surface, although I am not
>>> entirely sure that the digital or custom fit Weather Tech or Husky
>>> Liner products are merely neoprene or plastic looking. I would need
>>> to see the product to know what I am missing. Note that $50 package
>>> also threw in some seat covers.
>>>
>>
>> You already selected a solution, but I was going to suggest the auto
>> parts department at WalMart as a source for floor mats. An auto parts
>> store is also an excellent place to shop for mats. If your online
>> solution has shipping charges, the store might work out to be cheaper.
>>
>> If your Corolla L is the base car, that is often a poor choice because
>> you are now looking for stuff that might be included in a car that has
>> the features already included. For example, if your car has manual door
>> locks and you want an alarm -- it looks like you do -- then the power
>> locks from the factory wold work better and cost about the same as
>> having the alarm installer put in lock actuators, and the package that
>> has power locks has power windows too, and probably has a better radio.
>> The cost-up for the higher trim package is cheaper, usually, than buying
>> parts of the trim package later and adding them on. As a bonus, the
>> parts fit and work better from the factory.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> * Trim/Moulding
>>> This is the part I am concerned about. Naturally I would like to
>>> stick something on the door to prevent door opening dings. I don't
>>> think that should affect any dealership or manufacturer warranties
>>>
>>
>> WalMart and Pep Boys, among others I am sure, have very good products
>> that fit over the door edge. There is no warranty implication at all
>> with these. You should visit the dealership parts department and
>> casually stroll the display cases. They have some good ideas of stuff to
>> buy. I'm not suggesting you buy it there, just look as what they have
>> already figured out what many customers want and they have it.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> * Security against auto theft
>>> I was asking someone what they did for protecting the car against
>>> theft in Miami, and they said "insurance." In other words, they said
>>> there is nothing that can be done to stop a thief. "Once they get
>>> your car, it will be dismantled for parts before you can report the
>>> theft after directly witnessing it." Opinions?
>>>
>>
>> Stop by your local car alarm store -- Best Buy's radio/electronics
>> department might be a good place to stop. It is not a difficult task to
>> install a car alarm that has Ignition Bypass. If your Corolla has power
>> door locks, then it is very easy to install an alarm system that locks
>> and unlock the doors with the press of a button. If your car does not
>> have power door locks, the alarm installer can add actuators that
>> perform this task. I forget, but I think they are about $25 each.
>>
>> If your car has an automatic transmission, you can easily install a
>> system with Remote Start if that sort of thing is interesting to you.
>>
>> If you financed the car, you already have the insurance you need. Your
>> insurance carrier would probably discount the premium if you have an
>> alarm system installed.
>>
>>
>>
>>> * Other accessories?
>>> Is there an extra I should be planning on?
>>
>> If there is anything "missing" on your car, odds are excellent that you
>> bought the wrong car.
>>
>> It's fine to buy a base model car, but if you turn around and start
>> putting stuff on it that might be included as a factory option on a
>> higher trim level car of the same model, a Corolla S instead of the
>> Corolla L for example, it is easy that the stuff that you buy costs more
>> and works worse than going up-market a little bit when you made the
>> original purchase.
>>
>> You asked about an alarm, but you need power locks so you will know that
>> the doors are locked when the alarm is armed. Without power locks, you
>> might have an instance where a door is not locked and the alarm is
>> pretty much useless at that point. For the cost of the higher trim
>> level, you would get both power door locks and power windows, and power
>> mirrors too. The power package installed at the factory probably costs
>> about the same as the door lock actuators you need, and the factory
>> installs this stuff before the door panels are put into place, the alarm
>> installer has to take the door panels off. He'll know how to do this,
>> but anytime somebody has to take something off there is a chance it will
>> be damaged in some way that will just annoy you for the rest of your
>> life.
>
> Thanks for a lot of the useful info.
>
> The 2013 "base model" L sold to me is an automatic transmission with the
> smart key entry and power locks, mirrors, windows.
>

Then you're golden. You can have an alarm installer put in a system that
locks the doors and disables the ignition until you come along and unlock
the doors again. If the doors/windows are compromised to gain entry, the
starter and ignitions systems will not operate. You might already have an
ignition bypass that is part of the smart key. You can test for this by
putting a window down and then locking the car. Reach inside with the key
(without unlocking the car) and see if you can start the engine. If no, then
you already have an ignition bypass, and the alarm is nothing more than a
horn that you don't seem to care about.

Since you have a smart key, then you may be able to get a Toyota alarm that
is plug 'n play.

You can hit Walmart for door edge guards and floor mats as you need them.

On 8/7/2013 8:47 AM, SMH wrote:

> * Security against auto theft
> I was asking someone what they did for protecting the car against theft
> in Miami, and they said "insurance." In other words, they said there
> is nothing that can be done to stop a thief. "Once they get your
> car, it will be dismantled for parts before you can report the
> theft after directly witnessing it." Opinions?

This is true. And the percentage of vehicles recovered that have a
Lojack is about the same as the percentage recovered without one. You
can park in ways that would make it difficult to get the car onto a tow
truck. An ignition immobilizer and fuel cut-off are also helpful.

In California (and several other states), Corollas are the most stolen
car of all 21st century cars. The reason is that they are world cars
with a high demand, for both parts and complete vehicles, in a lot of
countries. My sister-in-law used to buy used Corollas and Civics at auto
auctions and would ship them to China. The whole thing fell apart
because buying the vehicles, versus stealing them, added too much cost.

"sms" > wrote in message
...
> On 8/7/2013 8:47 AM, SMH wrote:
>
>> * Security against auto theft
>> I was asking someone what they did for protecting the car against
>> theft
>> in Miami, and they said "insurance." In other words, they said there
>> is nothing that can be done to stop a thief. "Once they get your
>> car, it will be dismantled for parts before you can report the
>> theft after directly witnessing it." Opinions?
>
> This is true. And the percentage of vehicles recovered that have a Lojack
> is about the same as the percentage recovered without one. You can park in
> ways that would make it difficult to get the car onto a tow truck. An
> ignition immobilizer and fuel cut-off are also helpful.
>
> In California (and several other states), Corollas are the most stolen car
> of all 21st century cars. The reason is that they are world cars with a
> high demand, for both parts and complete vehicles, in a lot of countries.
> My sister-in-law used to buy used Corollas and Civics at auto auctions and
> would ship them to China. The whole thing fell apart because buying the
> vehicles, versus stealing them, added too much cost.


So, now your sister-in-law steals the cars she ships to China?