| My 22-year-old son recently bought a new car. He also threw away over a million dollars. Yet he claims that he still doesn't see it that way. Let me explain... My son is a car guy. And he recently fell in love with a 2026 Audi RS3. I explained that - at his age - it doesn't make a lot of sense to buy a brand-new luxury car that will depreciate rapidly. But since when did being in love ever make sense? He had to have that car. More to the point, he is gainfully employed, and it was his money (which put me squarely in the peanut gallery). In the end, there was nothing to do but shake my head, congratulate him, and wish him many years of driving enjoyment. Then he told me he was also springing for an extra $4,000-worth of add-on warranties. Since he had not yet signed the papers, I urged him to reconsider. Studies show that those extra warranties on a brand-new car are a losing bet for most customers. The majority of buyers end up paying more for the coverage than they ever get back in repairs - and plenty never use them at all. Dealers push these products hard because they're a big profit center. In many cases, the dealer pockets hundreds or thousands of dollars per contract. (The markup is significant compared to what the warranty actually pays out.) On top of that, new cars already come with factory warranties. Most modern, mainstream vehicles are reliable enough that the expected cost of repairs during the "extended" period is often lower than the price of the warranty - especially if you finance it and pay interest on it for years. Things like paint protection, rustproofing, fabric protection, nitrogen-filled tires, VIN etching, and bundled "protection packages" are usually overpriced fluff. You can get similar services cheaper elsewhere - or you don't need them at all, especially on a new car built with modern materials and corrosion protection. Moreover, many third-party warranties look good on paper but fall apart when you actually try to use them. Exclusions, denied claims, and limited repair networks are common complaints. Those appearance or protection bundles can easily add hundreds or thousands to the price, without doing much - if anything - for the car's lifespan or resale value. | 
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