LoJack and Nitrogen in the tires
01-21-2016, 11:19 PM
#1
LoJack and Nitrogen in the tires
When I purchased my 2016 C7 Z51 convertible, the dealer had tacked on an extra $2000 for paint protection, LoJack installation and five years of monitoring, and a lifetime supply of dealer administered nitrogen inflation for my tires. Needless to say I paid significantly less than MSRP for the car but these goods and services were still made available. Leaving aside that these were just attempts by the dealer to inflate the price of the car and his profit, what benefits accrue from using nitrogen in the tires and having LoJack on a car equipped with Onstar?
01-21-2016, 11:34 PM
#2
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
$2000???!!! 
For that useless stuff? That's what is commonly called a ripoff.
I'd tell a dealer to deduct that before even starting any price negotiations.
I wouldn't drive an extra mile for nitrogen if it was free and I sure as hell wouldn't pay for it.
For that useless stuff? That's what is commonly called a ripoff. I'd tell a dealer to deduct that before even starting any price negotiations.
I wouldn't drive an extra mile for nitrogen if it was free and I sure as hell wouldn't pay for it.
01-21-2016, 11:48 PM
#3
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St. Jude Donor '16-'17,'22,'24
IMHO, the nitrogen thing is a total scam. Most of the tire dealers in my area have stopped using it and the few that still supply it, don't charge extra. Same for the paint protection. I'd rather they put a couple of coats of Zaino on instead. LoJack might be worth some extra $$$. I really hate it when dealers pull that crap of jacking up the price with stuff that doesn't come from the factory.
01-21-2016, 11:52 PM
#4
Moderator
Tire Rack has this to say about using Nitrogen:
And contrary to the belief of many:
Paint protection... total scam. For a fraction of the price you could have it professionally detailed with CQuartz or similar.
LoJack - I wouldn't pay $0.10 for it. YMMV.
Overall, inflating tires with nitrogen won't hurt them and may provide some minimal benefits.
Is it worth it? If you go someplace that provides free nitrogen with new tires, why not? Additionally we've seen some service providers offering reasonable prices of about $5 per tire (including periodic adjustments for the life of the tire) to a less reasonable $10 per tire (with additional costs for subsequent pressure adjustments) or more as part of a service contract, which we believe exceeds the value of nitrogen's benefit.
Rather than pay extra for nitrogen, most drivers would be better off buying an accurate tire pressure gauge and checking and adjusting their tire pressures regularly.
Is it worth it? If you go someplace that provides free nitrogen with new tires, why not? Additionally we've seen some service providers offering reasonable prices of about $5 per tire (including periodic adjustments for the life of the tire) to a less reasonable $10 per tire (with additional costs for subsequent pressure adjustments) or more as part of a service contract, which we believe exceeds the value of nitrogen's benefit.
Rather than pay extra for nitrogen, most drivers would be better off buying an accurate tire pressure gauge and checking and adjusting their tire pressures regularly.
Nitrogen is a gas and is still affected by changes in ambient temperature (about one psi for every 10° Fahrenheit). Nitrogen filled tires will require pressure be added during the fall/winter months as ambient temperatures and tire pressures drop. Nitrogen is good but can't change the laws of physics.
LoJack - I wouldn't pay $0.10 for it. YMMV.
01-21-2016, 11:57 PM
#5
Burning Brakes
01-21-2016, 11:59 PM
#6
My negotiations on the car started at MSRP and went down significantly from there. While I'm sure the dealer covered his costs, he did not get anywhere near his asking price. I was just curious about any potential benefits from the "extras."
01-22-2016, 12:24 AM
#7
Sounds like you already made the purchase. The usefulness is immaterial at this point.
With Onstar there is no reason for the Lojack. The Nitrogen is a dealer add on and as stated above not necessary if you monitor the tire pressure.
This is a scam that dealers have been presenting for some time, and when you look at the window sticker, there is usually the add-on taped below the window sticker showing the dealer add-on. They usually throw in the set of value stems caps with a green head, signifying nitrogen, no big deal for that.
You paid for add-ons that you really didn't or don't need. Don't use the low price paid below MSRP to justify the $2000 in additional expenses. Bottom line the dealer threw you some bait and you got hooked. Have to live with it.
With Onstar there is no reason for the Lojack. The Nitrogen is a dealer add on and as stated above not necessary if you monitor the tire pressure.
This is a scam that dealers have been presenting for some time, and when you look at the window sticker, there is usually the add-on taped below the window sticker showing the dealer add-on. They usually throw in the set of value stems caps with a green head, signifying nitrogen, no big deal for that.
You paid for add-ons that you really didn't or don't need. Don't use the low price paid below MSRP to justify the $2000 in additional expenses. Bottom line the dealer threw you some bait and you got hooked. Have to live with it.
01-22-2016, 12:32 AM
#8
Team Owner
you got ripped off.
01-22-2016, 12:35 AM
#9
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If you've already bought the car, just enjoy it. Others have already chimed in on the benefits of those items.
01-22-2016, 12:42 AM
#10
The benefit of nitrogen is that it's dry, meaning it's free of water vapor. That's important for airplane tires that are subjected to sub-zero temperatures during long flights. Condensation freezing to solid ice inside the tire could cause dangerous out-of-balance conditions.
It's a total scam in automobile tires, though.
It's a total scam in automobile tires, though.
01-22-2016, 01:43 AM
#12
Race Director
Some are, most aren't. I shopped state wide to find the C7 we bought last week and most dealers were accepting GM Employee as well. I got around $9,000 off window sticker from Quality Chevrolet in Escondido and Selman in Orange was offering the same with my authorization number.
01-22-2016, 06:14 AM
#14
Melting Slicks
Those dealer pure profit add-ons irritate me. Recently, we bought a one month old Infiniti that was traded in because the owner thought it too small. The finance person was pushing paint protection and other add-ons for $2k and I said, wasn't that stuff paid for a month ago by the previous owner? She said yes, but you won't get the warranty on the paint protection and interior protection. I said fine.
01-22-2016, 01:02 PM
#15
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St. Jude Donor '15
My '15 and many other cars came with the nitrogen filled tires, I ignored it and used good ole' air to fill the tires. I get the free air fills at Discount Tire and tip the guy a couple of bucks for the service, and the pressure is exact. The LoJack is a high jack as far as I am concerned.
You can get better paint protection off the shelf at Auto Zone for $20! Have your car detailed by a pro if you feel the need for paint protection, if you don't want to do it yourself.
You can get better paint protection off the shelf at Auto Zone for $20! Have your car detailed by a pro if you feel the need for paint protection, if you don't want to do it yourself.
01-22-2016, 01:13 PM
#17
Melting Slicks
I've been fortunate over the years to connect with both Cadillac & Chevy dealers who are on board with my "no over MSRP, no add-ons, and no dealer tag on the car" way of purchasing vehicles. I've been a return customer many times. Even on new generation Corvettes where I've got an early car they didn't try any games. There are honest/fair dealers out there-just need to find one.
01-22-2016, 01:43 PM
#19
Drifting
Yes! commonly referred to as AIR !!
And you can ask them how they purged the 1 atmosphere of air from the tire in order to fill them up exclusively with nitrogen.... think of a propane cylinder... if your getting if for next to nothing fine... i wouldn't complain... but anyone that charges more than a couple of bucks is well making a pure profit...
And you can ask them how they purged the 1 atmosphere of air from the tire in order to fill them up exclusively with nitrogen.... think of a propane cylinder... if your getting if for next to nothing fine... i wouldn't complain... but anyone that charges more than a couple of bucks is well making a pure profit...
