Dealer or aftermarket "Protection Packages" for new cars

[qccq]

Hi everyone,

My dealer offers a protection package when you buy a new car, it consists of:
- paint protection (diamond coat)
- interior protection (fabric, leather and plastic surfaces, includes replacement if ripped or cracked)
- undercoating (rust spray of some sort, and includes addition rust warranty from outside in, basically rust from paint chips and scratches)
- 1 full Mini-spa (full detailing inside and out) by the dealer per year, for 5 years

Alternatively, local detailing shops offer similar services for a lot cheaper.

Here are my questions:

1. Is this stuff necessary? Do they actually work?

2. Should I just give the car a coat of P21S wax or Menzerna paint sealant when as soon as I pick it up from the dealer instead, and just keep up the cleaning and waxing rituals periodically? I have all the detailing tools required to do full detailing at home btw.

3. All new European cars now have 12 year rust perforation warranties, should I still bother with under coating (the black tar stuff)?

4. I plan on getting clear bra put on the car as soon as I get it. Should I get the paint protection, or put on a coat of wax or paint sealant myself before I head down to the clear bra place? Of should I do that after I get the clear bra done?

Thanks for anwering my questions! Looks like I'll be motoring in my new MCS soon

[Cadfael_Tex]

I just got back from having mine put on. Seemed like just an expensive wax job and armourall on the dash and wheels. But, the reason I did it is that it came with a 5 year warranty on the parts they sprayed. I thought that the warranty might be worth it to me since I have a convertible. Wouldn't have wasted my money otherwise.

[xtremepsionic]

Other than the clear bra, everything else is cheap stuff you can get from Canadian Tire for $30 total.

For the clear bra, there other many local places that can do it for way cheaper than the dealer (they quoted me $900 CDN, I said no, a week later they came back and said $599 is their beest offer, I said no, because I can get it down for under $400 CDN in Calgary, or $200 + $20 supplies if you get the bra off ebay)

[nike61]

Got mine done by dealer from new....one advantage with this in Aussie [not sure if same elsewhere], is that each year via the dealer they reprotect the paint protect at no cost for the life of the car during your ownership.
What this means, is no waxing nor polish cutting, just washing with the 2 bucket method. If needed then just a Maguiars Quick Detail spray that is clear coat friendly.
For me this saves heaps of time and the car water always beads.......
Then its worth it

[qccq]

My Audi dealer offers free wash whenever you bring the car in for services, but in mine and many other's experiences, I always tell them not to wash. Sure the car looks clean, but they always manage to put more scratches on the paint af the same time. The problem is that they generally hire young kids that don't know how to properly wash and dry cars, just just don't care.