New-car frills: Is the bang worth the buck?

You've made your decision about which new car is right for you: The model meets your family's needs, it's in your price range and the dealer is willing to deal.

As anyone who has ever shopped for a new car knows, the difference between a basic vehicle and one loaded with options can amount to as much as $10,000, once you add in everything from floor mats to a high-end stereo with a back-seat DVD player.

But will those options be worth the cost when it comes time to trade in that new car four or five years down the road?

It pays to shop wisely when choosing options. Some return only a fraction of the initial price and make very little difference in attracting a buyer or grinding out a few more dollars at trade-in time. Others can make a significant difference in value years later.

Here are some of the more common options and the residual value they will add to your vehicle when it comes time to sell.

There will be some regional differences: Cars loaded with options tend to be more in demand in California than in Iowa, while four-wheel-drive is more of a necessity on a truck in the Northeast than in Florida. But these tips will serve just about any car shopper well.

Satellite navigation

When this option began showing up in the late 1990s on high-end vehicles such as the Lexus LS sedan, it was a gee-whiz item that owners used to amaze friends and neighbors. The moving map display and the talking directions were very appealing.

Although satellite navigation is now available on more cars -- some much less expensive, such as the Honda Accord -- the option price has not dropped. On average, satellite navigation adds about $2,200 to the list price of a vehicle.

But at trade-in time, it returns less than $750 on some models and as little as $300 on others. An example: A 2000 Acura TL with the satellite navigation system will bring only $750 more than one without. Yet when new, the price difference was $2,000.

If you keep your car for more than four years, the depreciation is even worse, largely because an older navigation system would need to be upgraded to reflect changes in the street system. That upgrade could cost as much as $800. So ask yourself this: Is it worth $1,400 or more to never ask for directions?

Sunroof

This is one of those options that is indispensable on a luxury or sporty car, but may be an expensive luxury on more moderately priced vehicles.

On a Toyota RAV4, for example, a sunroof lists for $900 -- a 3- to 5-percent bump above the base sticker price. Yet four years later, that $900 sunroof will be worth less than $300. Also, some future buyers will view a sunroof, which can develop leaks and can reduce headroom in some cars when closed, as a negative. So unless you can see yourself as constantly craving that open-air feeling, think twice before paying to have a hole in your roof.

Leather seats

This may be a no-brainer on cars such as the Cadillac Escalade, but what about cars that are on the cusp of luxury?

Consider the Buick LeSabre. The addition of leather seats is a $995 option, yet at trade-in time four years down the road, the leather option has shrunk to only about $200. Also, some manufacturers advertise "leather seating surfaces.'' That means only a portion of the seats are actually covered with cowhide. So ask questions to make sure you're getting full value.

Xenon or high-intensity headlights

You've seen cars with headlights that have a bluish-white cast to them and appear brighter. Although often touted as a safety option, the verdict is still out on whether they make a real difference. What's not in dispute is that these lights are expensive, adding as much as $1,000 to some high-end vehicles.

On the BMW 3 Series sedans, Xenon headlights cost $700 more than the basic lights. But when it comes time to trade, they will add only $200, if that, to the value of the car. That's a stiff premium for a blue glow.

Upgraded wheels

This is a double-edged option. On garden variety cars and trucks, extra-cost wheels become almost negligible to the bottom line at trade-in time. They might entice a private party to choose your car over another at the same price, but don't expect to get anything extra. But on sports cars, where buyers are more savvy about such things, it can make a sizable difference. Consider the magnesium wheel option on the Chevrolet Corvette. It's a $995 option on a 2004 model and still worth more than $600 on a 2000 model.