Used car buying and safety upgrades

[pete6032]

I am looking at 2-3 y/o entry level hatchback vehicles and want to purchase something that has all of the modern safety features. For vehicles of this age many of the modern safety features like blind spot warning, lane keep assist, forward collision break/warning etc. were optional features. For example on the Subauru Impreza you could buy the base model and then get the "EyeSight" package for extra. If I buy a used car from a dealer, how likely is it that I could negotiate with the dealer to install the EyeSight package for a decent price? Do dealers do this or will the just want to sell the car as-is? Can I even get the extra safety features installed or is it too late?

 

[herm0016]

you will probably have to find one with all the options you want.

 

[mindless1]

Why not just call local dealer(s) and ask them? As far as "for a decent price", doubtful, they'll likely charge a premium. The used car market is wonky right now due to Covid but normally, it might not be much of a price difference to just get a used vehicle with the features already on it rather than paying to have them added after the fact, unless 90% of it is there already, wiring harness and computer features, sensor holes with plugs in them waiting to have a sensor put in, etc.

I doubt there is any negotiation for price. I mean it either comes off the sticker price on vehicle purchase negotiations or factors into that, subtract one place and add somewhere else unless the dealer is sitting on excess stock.

 

[manly]

The short answer is that it's too late to install driver's assistance features. It may not be impossible for all cars, but it just won't be economically acceptable to the buyer (you).

 

[ondma]

Subaru Eyesight is a fairly complete safety/driver assistance suite and has been around for several years. It is optional (until this year), but most models have it. The Impreza line also has a nice hatchback. Eyesight consists of forward collision warning/AEB, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control (great feature). It does not include cross traffic alert, but visibility is great, so I dont consider it essential. Many other makers are making these features standard (i.e. Honda, Mazda, Toyota), but only in the last year or two. If you are looking for a slightly older model, a Subaru is one of the more likely models to have most of the features.

Edit: noticed too late that you already mentioned Eyesight. You would need to find a model with the equipment from the factory (same for any other make as well). It would be impossible/prohibitively expensive to install the system after market. In addition to the cameras, you would have to install all the software, and even the windshield has to be carefully calibrated.

Edit 2: Eyesight is standard on all Imprezas with the CVT now I believe. I have a 2019 base with Eyesight as an option, but before that model year I believe you had to move up to a Premium or higher trim level to get Eyesight. (Eyesight is not available with a manual BTW)

 

[thecoolnessrune]

No, assume you cannot retroactively add any of those integrated safety features. Specifically for Subaru, the Main Wiring Harnesses, the VDC System, Steering, TCU, and BCM are all different on vehicles with Eyesight vs. without. The added cost alone of just *sourcing* those parts, let alone installing them, would likely add up the cost difference and then some of just getting the Premium model.

Comma.ai has been working on their OpenPilot system for some years now to augment some cars with the comma system to provide a form of camera-based Autopilot. There are still a number of caveats to this though, and the car in question already needs some degree of driver safety suite installed to leverage. Their supported car list is short: https://github.com/commaai/openpilot#supported-cars