XPost: alt.autos.toyota   
   From: crwlrjeff@yahoo.com   
      
   "SMH"  wrote in message   
   news:XnsA21577D5D62CDSMH1960@78.46.70.116...   
   >   
   > 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.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)