Q. My husband and I recently purchased a new 2010 Honda Pilot Touring and are very pleased with it. The day of purchase, we were presented with several options, including environmental paint protection, interior protection and some type of windshield protection, as well as extended warranty options. At first glance these options seemed quite expensive. Can you comment about their value?

A. Paint protection, fabric protection and windshield protection are, in my opinion, all about additional dealer profit. I feel that it makes more sense to wash, clean and wax your new car on a regular basis than to buy these add-ons. Extended service contracts can be worthwhile, but perhaps you should wait until the factory warranty expires. Why pay to duplicate the factory warranty coverage?

Q. When I put my truck in “drive,” it takes a couple seconds to take off. Is this a major or minor problem? Where do I start?

A. The first place is to look at the transmission fluid level. If the fluid level is low, the truck will be slow to go into gear. If it is low, find the source of the leak and consider servicing the transmission by having the fluid and filter changed.

Q. I have a 2005 Volvo XC-90 and need to change front and back brake pads. Is there a Website I can go to for information on how to do this service? I hate spending hundreds of dollars on a factory shop manual.

A. I use Alldata for a source of technical bulletins and service procedures. This is a costly but necessary expense to provide accurate information. Alldata now has a DIY version that may be just what you are looking for. A one-year subscription for a single vehicle is available for less than $30. Go to alldata.com for more information.

Q. Greetings from New Mexico. I was hoping you could advise me regarding my 2002 WRX. Because I moved to a high-altitude climate from the east, I was told I need to replace my fuel ratio sensor. The cost is not cheap; I was quoted $387 for parts and labor. They advised me that a front pipe may need to be replaced if the sensor seizes and cannot be removed easily. The shop is quoting up to $1,000 for the total repair. The local dealer told me I can still drive my WRX; however they are not completely certain if other components are damaged as a result of not replacing the sensor. If you were me, would you order the part and have the work done?

A. I believe the sensor you are referring to is the front oxygen sensor (referred to by Subaru as an air/fuel sensor). There are two air/fuel sensors mounted in the front exhaust pipe and one oxygen sensor mounted just behind the catalytic converter. After doing a little research, it doesn’t appear as if Subaru offers different components for high-altitude states. At this point, if the car is running well and the check engine light is off, I would not do anything other than perhaps find a new garage. If you are try to get more performance out of your WRX, find a shop that specializes in performance imports.

Q. I am about to sell my 1998 Camry LE. It's clean and in excellent condition. It had only one owner, is fully maintained and has only 95,000 miles. I am selling it to a very good family friend. He told me years ago that when I was ready to sell, he’d like to buy it for his grandson. He wants me to give him a price. I want to give him a fair price, but I also want to be more than fair to myself. The car is surely not a Porsche, but I did baby and love it for 12 years. Any suggestions for me on a price to offer him?

A. Doing a little research should help determine the price. Check book values on nadaguides.com and kbb.com and then see what similar cars are selling for. The “cars for sale section” of Websites such as cars.com and autotrader.com is a good way to check for comparable prices. Keep in mind the book values are dealer prices, which include a warranty and necessary repairs. The price that you set should be somewhere between trade-in and retail price. One other bit of advice, selling a car to a close friend car is a good way to end a friendship.