Options do increase your cars value though according to what I have been told by multiple dealers here in Seattle. It makes your car more marketable. Plus I just plain like all of the toys.

I think KBB and NADA have gotten into bed with the dealers to screw consumers. They love trade-ins because they maximize profit that way. As stated before, I would much rather give someone trade-in price + tax break I would get than give the dealers any more money. I have been screwed by enough of them.

Leasing is the only way I buy cars now.

1) I get an extended test drive to decide whether or not I really like the car.
2) If the car depreciates massively by lease end, I can ditch the car and it is the dealers problem.
3) I only finance the tax for the "portion of the car" I am purchasing during the lease.
4) BMW usually has really good lease rates.
5) Lower monthly payments let me buy more toys.