Q:I’ve never bought a car with a manufacturer-installed navigation system, since they are pretty pricey and I tend to use my car mostly for commuting and local driving. I’m looking at a new car in the premium/near-luxury segment. I usually keep cars five years and put 80,000 to 100,000 miles on them. Will I hurt the trade-in or resale value down the road if I don’t buy one with the navigation system?

—W. Nelson, Glenview, Ill.
A:Do you remember how cool car phones were in the 1980s? Personal-electronics technology has advanced to the point where having a phone built into a car seems silly. I think the same thing will happen to automobile navigation systems. There’s a good chance this will occur within the five years you plan to keep your next car, so you shouldn’t fret about the effect of a navigation system on the car’s resale value.

Q:I have a 2002 BMW 325xi with 62,000 miles. My mechanic and a tire dealer assure me that I still have plenty of tread on the original tires and don’t need new ones. Most of my driving is on the highway on cruise control. Should I replace the tires anyway because of their age?

—P. Herschenfeld, New York
—
A:According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association there are no reliable data indicating tires should be retired after a certain number of years regardless of mileage. Your tires are probably fine as long as you have kept them properly inflated. But many factors, including storage and exposure to sunlight and heat, can affect tire life. You can get some idea of your tires’ condition by examining them. If you think the rubber looks bad, you should plan to replace the tires soon. If not, drive on but continue to monitor your tread condition closely.

Q:I have a 2005 Lexus RX 330 with 46,000 miles that is in excellent condition. At a recent maintenance appointment I viewed the 2010 RX 350. Would it be a smart decision for me to sell my car and purchase the new RX 350 or should I hold onto my RX 330?

— L. McGuirk,
Colorado Springs, Colo.

A:You are better off hanging onto your current vehicle because it will be more economical and pleasant to drive in the long run. The latest version of the RX may have a few more electronic gadgets and creature comforts than your 2005 model. Its engine also generates 45 more horsepower, but the new vehicle weighs hundreds of pounds more than earlier versions. During a recent test drive, the RX 350 felt ponderous on the road and its interior electronics made it unnecessarily complicated to operate.

Q:I’ve never bought a car with a manufacturer-installed navigation system, since they are pretty pricey and I tend to use my car mostly for commuting and local driving. I’m looking at a new car in the premium/near-luxury segment. I usually keep cars five years and put 80,000 to 100,000 miles on them. Will I hurt the trade-in or resale value down the road if I don’t buy one with the navigation system?

—W. Nelson, Glenview, Ill.
A:Do you remember how cool car phones were in the 1980s? Personal-electronics technology has advanced to the point where having a phone built into a car seems silly. I think the same thing will happen to automobile navigation systems. There’s a good chance this will occur within the five years you plan to keep your next car, so you shouldn’t fret about the effect of a navigation system on the car’s resale value.

Q:I have a 2002 BMW 325xi with 62,000 miles. My mechanic and a tire dealer assure me that I still have plenty of tread on the original tires and don’t need new ones. Most of my driving is on the highway on cruise control. Should I replace the tires anyway because of their age?

—P. Herschenfeld, New York
—
A:According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association there are no reliable data indicating tires should be retired after a certain number of years regardless of mileage. Your tires are probably fine as long as you have kept them properly inflated. But many factors, including storage and exposure to sunlight and heat, can affect tire life. You can get some idea of your tires’ condition by examining them. If you think the rubber looks bad, you should plan to replace the tires soon. If not, drive on but continue to monitor your tread condition closely.

Q:I have a 2005 Lexus RX 330 with 46,000 miles that is in excellent condition. At a recent maintenance appointment I viewed the 2010 RX 350. Would it be a smart decision for me to sell my car and purchase the new RX 350 or should I hold onto my RX 330?

— L. McGuirk,
Colorado Springs, Colo.

A:You are better off hanging onto your current vehicle because it will be more economical and pleasant to drive in the long run. The latest version of the RX may have a few more electronic gadgets and creature comforts than your 2005 model. Its engine also generates 45 more horsepower, but the new vehicle weighs hundreds of pounds more than earlier versions. During a recent test drive, the RX 350 felt ponderous on the road and its interior electronics made it unnecessarily complicated to operate.

Q:I’ve never bought a car with a manufacturer-installed navigation system, since they are pretty pricey and I tend to use my car mostly for commuting and local driving. I’m looking at a new car in the premium/near-luxury segment. I usually keep cars five years and put 80,000 to 100,000 miles on them. Will I hurt the trade-in or resale value down the road if I don’t buy one with the navigation system?

—W. Nelson, Glenview, Ill.
A:Do you remember how cool car phones were in the 1980s? Personal-electronics technology has advanced to the point where having a phone built into a car seems silly. I think the same thing will happen to automobile navigation systems. There’s a good chance this will occur within the five years you plan to keep your next car, so you shouldn’t fret about the effect of a navigation system on the car’s resale value.

Q:I have a 2002 BMW 325xi with 62,000 miles. My mechanic and a tire dealer assure me that I still have plenty of tread on the original tires and don’t need new ones. Most of my driving is on the highway on cruise control. Should I replace the tires anyway because of their age?

—P. Herschenfeld, New York
—
A:According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association there are no reliable data indicating tires should be retired after a certain number of years regardless of mileage. Your tires are probably fine as long as you have kept them properly inflated. But many factors, including storage and exposure to sunlight and heat, can affect tire life. You can get some idea of your tires’ condition by examining them. If you think the rubber looks bad, you should plan to replace the tires soon. If not, drive on but continue to monitor your tread condition closely.

Q:I have a 2005 Lexus RX 330 with 46,000 miles that is in excellent condition. At a recent maintenance appointment I viewed the 2010 RX 350. Would it be a smart decision for me to sell my car and purchase the new RX 350 or should I hold onto my RX 330?

— L. McGuirk,
Colorado Springs, Colo.

A:You are better off hanging onto your current vehicle because it will be more economical and pleasant to drive in the long run. The latest version of the RX may have a few more electronic gadgets and creature comforts than your 2005 model. Its engine also generates 45 more horsepower, but the new vehicle weighs hundreds of pounds more than earlier versions. During a recent test drive, the RX 350 felt ponderous on the road and its interior electronics made it unnecessarily complicated to operate.

Q:I’ve never bought a car with a manufacturer-installed navigation system, since they are pretty pricey and I tend to use my car mostly for commuting and local driving. I’m looking at a new car in the premium/near-luxury segment. I usually keep cars five years and put 80,000 to 100,000 miles on them. Will I hurt the trade-in or resale value down the road if I don’t buy one with the navigation system?

—W. Nelson, Glenview, Ill.
A:Do you remember how cool car phones were in the 1980s? Personal-electronics technology has advanced to the point where having a phone built into a car seems silly. I think the same thing will happen to automobile navigation systems. There’s a good chance this will occur within the five years you plan to keep your next car, so you shouldn’t fret about the effect of a navigation system on the car’s resale value.

Q:I have a 2002 BMW 325xi with 62,000 miles. My mechanic and a tire dealer assure me that I still have plenty of tread on the original tires and don’t need new ones. Most of my driving is on the highway on cruise control. Should I replace the tires anyway because of their age?

—P. Herschenfeld, New York
—
A:According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association there are no reliable data indicating tires should be retired after a certain number of years regardless of mileage. Your tires are probably fine as long as you have kept them properly inflated. But many factors, including storage and exposure to sunlight and heat, can affect tire life. You can get some idea of your tires’ condition by examining them. If you think the rubber looks bad, you should plan to replace the tires soon. If not, drive on but continue to monitor your tread condition closely.

Q:I have a 2005 Lexus RX 330 with 46,000 miles that is in excellent condition. At a recent maintenance appointment I viewed the 2010 RX 350. Would it be a smart decision for me to sell my car and purchase the new RX 350 or should I hold onto my RX 330?

— L. McGuirk,
Colorado Springs, Colo.

A:You are better off hanging onto your current vehicle because it will be more economical and pleasant to drive in the long run. The latest version of the RX may have a few more electronic gadgets and creature comforts than your 2005 model. Its engine also generates 45 more horsepower, but the new vehicle weighs hundreds of pounds more than earlier versions. During a recent test drive, the RX 350 felt ponderous on the road and its interior electronics made it unnecessarily complicated to operate.