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Car options: Value added, or not

The right options make your car safer and more valuable. The wrong ones just make it more expensive.

Rear-seat DVD systems
The redesigned 2008 Chrysler Town & Country, shown here, will have two separate DVD screens, allowing second and third row occupants each to have their choice of entertainment.
Buy it later
Rear-seat DVD systems
Let's say you're in the market for a Honda Odyssey minivan. It's an excellent choice for families, so long as you steer clear of the DVD option. Honda charges $1,300 for a ceiling-mounted movie player, a fold-down nine-inch screen and a pair of wireless headphones. All for the luxury of having the screen fold back up into the headliner once the brood is done watching Shrek 5.

A nine-inch portable DVD player bought at Best Buy costs about $180. Throw in two pairs of headphones and the price creeps up to $200. And like the portable GPS unit, you can take this handheld movie theater with you wherever you go.

The Verdict: Save the $1,000 and go for the portable. Then you can buy all the DVDs the kids want.


Stability control

Side airbags

Run-flats

Bluetooth

Rearview camera

Navigation

DVD
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