The price goes up and the coverage options go down once your car has 6k miles on it. So be sure to purchase before that time. Check this thread for links to various online discount HC dealers.
I bough a 07 Honda CRv-EX and am considering whether to buy the EW. It is like yours 7yr/100k miles. Where did you get the Honda Care warranty from? From the dealer? Is it god at any Honda repair shop? what's the deductible?
I have a 2002 Accord LX that I bought new with the 7 years 75k mi extended HondaCare warranty with no deductible. My question is: does this warranty cover squeaks and rattles? I have a buzzy rattle coming from the passenger side rear seatbelt housing. It looks like it would involve substantial work to get in there, but it bugs me when I drive.
I am about to get an EXL 4 Cyl MT. I am going to sift through the posts here to assess the debate, but was wondering if someone could point me to a link that briefly discusses pros and cons of getting extended warranty.
The other question is about using independent mechanic versus honda dealer. Over the years I have not had good experience with assorted dealers for servicing, but I now know a mechanic who is honest and competent. Will I run into problems if I was to use him for scheduled maintenance?
If you decide to go with an extended warranty, get the HondaCare warranty from a discount online dealer. You have until your new car hits 6k miles to buy at the lowest price.
You sure can use your mechanic for all routine stuff like oil and filter changes. I would buy some OEM filters from a discount online dealer and have your guy use those. Be sure to keep all receipts showing you had the proper work done at or before the time required by Honda and you should be fine.
There is a thread discussing service contracts. It's called 'Extended Warranties' and is here in the Smart Shopper section. I'll give you a list...
Pro: if something very expensive breaks on your car, a service contract may pay out more than you paid for it, saving you money.
Pro: It's a way to budget your money. The payments come out of your pocket slowly. A new window motor requires payment-in-full now.
Con: most cars are well-built enough that pricy problems do not happen often during the timeframe of a service contract (before about 125,000 miles)
More Cons: claims with an aftermarket service contract company can take excessive time. Many shops won't deal with service contract companies at all because so many have not paid their bills, or gone out of business. Service contract companies will often stall a big job-requiring an inspection, then not sending an inspector out until a week later. They will often require the use of aftermarket or used parts. They will often refuse to pay diagnostic charges.
A well-maintained vehicle is your best insurance against a major repair. Dwynne already answered your second question.
Thanks Dennis & mitzij. I think I will not get the warranty partly because I am getting a 4 cyl instead of v6, and an MT instead of AT. As for the independent mechanic issue I am also going to ask the mechanic himself.
You are right about there being no assurance of a long trouble free life from a 4 cyl or MT. But...
Among the considerations for buying or not buying extended warranty are the likelihood of failure and the financial impact of failure. There is evidence that MTs fail at lower rate than ATs, and that Accord's 4 cyl is more reliable than the v6. My understanding is that the v6 warranty sells for more, so perhaps the 4 cyl vs v6 issue is factored in the price (although I think not completely). But there is no price differential between MT & AT warranties. Kind of similar logic as if you were to say that you would buy extended warranty for a Chrysler but not for a Honda, even though there is no assurance of a long trouble free life for the Honda!
Chances are pretty low that a mechanic would declare himself incompetent, but then again I am not talking about walking over to a random mechanic on the road. Plus it is not a question of competence -- he may say that he does not have this tool or that, or he may be planning to sell his business and retire!
From a discount online dealer HondaCare for an I4 Accord is pretty reasonable. Are you likely to need it? Perhaps not, but with today's high repair prices for parts and labor one single claim would pretty much offset the cost of the plan purchased at a discount. A guy I know had his Accord's AC compressor fail just after the 3/36k warranty ran out - the cost to repair was about 2x what a HondaCare plan would have cost him.
Since the plan had a pro-rated refund and is transferable to a new owner and is Honda backed, *I* think it can be a decent deal if you plan on keeping your car past the new car warranty.
Of course it doesn't work that way the vast majority of the time or they would adjust the price of the warranty higher so sales of the extended warranty continues to be a profit center to the manufacturer. Also if things like that were common, the Accord would certainly be a car to avoid rather than buying the car and then buying an extended warranty to cover all these problems you are going to have to keep having fixed.
It does not have to happen to you or even a majority of owners - just to ME and it makes the purchase worthwhile.
Same is true for your car insurance, right? You are a great driver and will not cause an accident so drop your coverage and take your chances. You would save a lot of money that way and depend on your driving skill to not be out a lot of money.
This seems to be the pricing and info forum, not the "should you get it or not" forum .
It is not for everyone, but if you want to get coverage then get HondaCare from a discount dealer - and we can help you do that in this forum.
Even for "YOU" when discussing cost. If you buy the extended warranty on the next 10 Honda's you purchase, you can bet that you would have spent more on extended warranty premiums that you would get paid back in claims. Not just a few dollars more either. Likely thousands of dollars over that time period. That remains true even if one or two out of the 10 cars had some major covered failure that would have cost more than the warranty's premium. That is how it is a money loser. You cannot forget about all the times you paid for the warranty and lost money and think that if you hit the jackpot on some major issue that wipes all the other previous and future costs away. If you had invested the extended warranty money even into something as risk-free as CDs over that time period, the money lost is magnified that much more.
Also, of course the dealership is going to print that it costs $2000 or more to replace an A/C compressor on a 3 year old Accord. You have no reason to question the price printed on the invoice and it's a marketing technique to drive future extended warranty purchases by you and all the people you go around telling how great the warranty was to pay so much money out. It increases their business. The service department will get paid the extended warranty's discounted rate which is still much better than the $0 they would receive if you had a reason to shop that high-ball price they print on your copy of the invoice around elsewhere.
After having recently purchased a 07 Honda Accord w/ NAV, I debated whether to get a Warranty or not. Most dealer Markups on this type of Warranty are all over the place. With advanced components like a NAV system, it could be very expensive to replace. If you are looking for pricing information, may I suggest this web site www.hondacuraworld.com. They sell genuine Honda extended warranties on line. I saved more than a $1,000 purchasing an extended warranty from them rather than from the dealer I purchased my car . At the very least you could use their pricing information to negoiate a better price from a dealer. One thing to remember, you can buy a genuine Honda warranty anywhere. It's good at all Honda dealerships. Hope this info helps. One last thing,with the ody thread discussion, an extended warranty for 8yr 120k goes for $1330.
At www.hondacuraworld.com they show $1025 for 8/120k/$0 for an I4 Accord or $1480 for a V6 Accord (I think this price is a mistake - way too high). The Ody is $1330 as you mentioned.
I4 Accord: 8 years/120,000 miles warranty $0 deductible = $925.00
V6 Accord: 8 years/120,000 miles warranty $0 deductible = $980.00
Ody: 8 years/120,000 miles warranty $0 deductible = $1,230.00
So if you order from the place you suggest, you will pay $100 more for the same thing. You have 30 days to cancel for a full refund, I would cancel and re-buy and pocket the $100. If you purchased the V6 Accord plan for the $1,480 shown you would get back $500 by cancelling and buying from Bernardi.
I have no affiliation with Bernardi, but I HAVE purchased HC plans from them in the past. If someone has a better price I would post it.
Normally I don't purchase extended warranties, but yesterday when buying my accord I was intrigued (but did not actually buy) by a $1600 8/120 warranty sold by the dealer. The underwriting company is Fidelity something. One of the terms of the deal is that if you make no claims at all, you can get $1550 back after 8 years. So, one way to use this warranty is to not use it unless you need a repair for more than $1600. So either you lose $50 + interest, or you get repairs worth more than $1600. This sounds like a good deal -- what's the catch?
Of course, there should be other considerations, such as if the company will be around for 8 years, or if the company denies claims for phony reasons.
Does anybody know about this company and it's warranty?
The catch could be that like folks who purchased a Warranty Gold contract you are left with nothing - no money and no service. Ask the DEALER if he will give you a notarized statement that they will: repair your car free of charge or give you the $1,550 back if you don't use it IF Fidelity does not live up to its end of the bargain.
What happens if you need an $800 repair? Do you pay for it yourself and hope you get the $1550 back later? If you do pay for it, then have more problems then you will be out the $1600 plus the $800 you paid out of pocket to try to get the $1550 back.
Also check the fine print, they could have language in there that says you have to still own the car and the end of the warranty to get the refund. They are betting the majority of folks will either have their car wreck, stolen, or sell/trade it before then - then they get to keep the whole $1,600 and do nothing for it. While looking at the fine print, hot much WOULD you get back if you cancel early for any reason.
As for the $800 scenario, if you get the $1550 refund without a hassle you are still ok. Compared to the no insurance scenario, you are out only $50 + interest. If you do need a major repair and if your big claim is paid without a problem, then you come out better than the no insurance scenario. It sounds like an insurance against a major failure that costs $50 + interest.
But as you point out, there could be things in the fine print (which I have not seen) that could cause a problem. When I googled the company it brought up a few complaints about denial of claims and about long waits before their adjusters approve the claim. I would also be worried about denial of that one big claim for whatever reason, which then would also disqualify you from getting the $1550 back. Thanks!
The problem is, what if you have an $800 now - do you claim it or not? Say you do not, then you have another $500 claim. Well, you are in for $800 out of pocket and now $500 more, so do you claim this one or not? That is the game they are trying to get you to play - keep paying for things out of pocket so they pay nothing. Once you pay for anything then in order to get that money back you can't claim ANYTHING - so now you are stuck.
As I said, I bet in the fine print you will see lots of restrictions about early termination and such.
If the dealer will stand behind it with a notarize agreement that you could risk it. Otherwise, get HondaCare or just do without.
That is the worst thing about insurance... If I use the benefits of the policy, will I lose money elsewhere? Either through higher premiums, or in this case, lack of a refund..
I'd rather stay away from that type of insurance..
OK, I just posted yesterday about buying a SE V6 for a good price from Herb Chambers in Westborough, MA. But I was totally unprepared for the warranty sale by the finance guy. I knew nothing about these warranties and didn't even know there were competitors to shop around to.
He offered me an extension on the bumper-to-bumper 3yr/36,000 mile up to 5 yr/60,000 for $805 from API (stating that this price was discounted from their normal rate by 50% or so). At first I refused but then he said that: 1) if I didn't use it I would get the money back (I assumed this meant not using it from 36,001 through 60,000 miles), and; 2) I could cancel the purchase anytime up to the 3yr/36,000 limit.
But when I read the refund terms from API it says:
"Use of any benefit of the Service Contract, including Roadside Assistance, Car Rental, Towing [etc.] voids the GPR [refund] Program." Does this mean that if I use the service contract EVER from mile one I cannot get a refund on the extension?
It also says: "Contract must expire by time (in months) to be eligible for the GPR." Does this mean that if I run up 60,000 miles before five years is up I still can't get a refund?
Nowhere does it say I can get a refund at any time before the extension period begins, as the finance guy said. Is this a rip-off? Is the price reasonable for this warranty?
Who is API? Will they be around to pay claims? Will any Honda dealer accept them to pay? Will they be around to give you the refund?
I can understand folks who think an extended warranty is not something they want to buy, but if you DO decide to buy one you should only get a HondaCare warranty and buy it from a discount dealer (like Bernardi).
I would get a refund on this as soon as you can. If does sound like if you use any benefit (roadside, rental car, etc) you get nothing back and yes, you don't get anything back until the months are up, no matter the miles.
Here is the URL of the policy I bought: http://www.apiprotection.com/premiercare.aspx --you can check out the homepage if you like. The lienholder for this policy is American Honda Finance Corp., so I guess it's legit and the coverage is universal for Honda dealers.
I do plan to call to cancel this plan tomorrow--I had better be able to! I've already gotten a quote on the Bernardi website, and for the same money I can get 7yr/100,000 miles with $0 deductible instead of 5yr/60k miles with $100 deductible! What a rip-off!
Strangely enough, I had been at Bernardi Honda earlier the same day I bought the car from Herb Chambers but Bernardi didn't have the car I wanted and couldn't meet their price.
You may be right, you should always check around for the best price before you buy. If you are in the same state as the dealer (Bernardi?) do they charge you sales tax on a warranty?
It may depend on the coverage select and Honda model as to who is cheapest at any given time.
Bernardi for 07 Accord I4 w/$0 deductible
5 years/60,000 miles warranty: $435.00 5 years/80,000 miles warranty: $530.00 5 years/100,000 miles warranty:$615.00 6 years/80,000 miles warranty: $550.00 6 years/100,000 miles warranty:$675.00 6 years/120,000 miles warranty:$775.00 7 years/80,000 miles warranty: $570.00 7 years/100,000 miles warranty:$745.00 7 years/120,000 miles warranty:$845.00 8 years/100,000 miles warranty:$825.00 8 years/120,000 miles warranty:$925.00
Saccucci for the same car (all $0 deductible):
60 months 60k miles $325 60 months 80k miles $530 72 months 80k miles $550 84 months 80k miles $570 60 months 100k miles $615 72 months 100k miles $675 84 months 100k miles $745 72 months 120k miles $775 96 months 100k miles $825 84 months 120k miles $845 96 months 120k miles $925
I usually just check the 8yr/120k or maybe 8yr/100k when I am spot checking prices and those are the same today. You also get $25 an online part or accessory with Saccuci if you order from them right now. Sounds like a better deal on this model today!
Keep in mind that HC is not an extension of the bumper to bumper factory warranty, there are exclusions (like squeaks and rattles, body panels, carpet, upholstery, etc). Read the contract and be sure you can live with the exclusions before you buy.
I think a lot of the dealers sell whatever nets them the most profit, not what might be best for the buyer. It is another way for them to profit from your deal - the buyer hammers them on price, hammers them on trade, then gives all their hard work back in the F&F office by signing up for some "protection package" (fabric coating, paint sealant, rust proofing, etc - none of this is needed) or too high a lease/loan rate or a warranty that is double or triple what it should cost. Imaging how much they make on someone who does not negotiate a good deal? You can see how one price new and used car lots have a lot of appeal to some folks.
No tax on the policy for Massachusetts residents according to Bernardi, but they do charge $50 for setting up a 0% APR 1 year payment schedule. Saccuci charges a $25 fee.
According to Saccuci, the 0% APR (they give you a HondaFinance credit card) would save you $81 on $1000 at 16.1% APR. (Their fee is $25 and the special $25 offer on parts cancel each other out.) But since you pay 10% down and none of the 0% deductible policies cost $1000, you won't be borrowing $1000 and the amount saved in a year will be less.
In my case my credit card charges only 11.25%, so I would only save $53 in interest on $882 ($980 less 10% for the 8/0/120 plan) with Saccuci. Bernardi charges $50 for the 0% APR and does not give a $25 certificate, so the savings is only $3 ($53 saved-$50 fee). If I go with Saccuci I will save $53.
You've described exactly what happened to me, and I'm sure happens to everyone else at this dealer. I was also thinking about how many people get ripped off at one, two, or three steps in the process--which is why they're willing to let me get a good price on the car, fair price for trade-in, and let me cancel my rip-off EW (which they said they would do, btw). I'm picking up the car tomorrow and canceling the EW--let's see if I can do both!
I find myself so torned with buying all the following services. I love to have the peace of mind but adding all those numbers up results in a hole in my pocket. Any advice as to what's neccessary and what's not is greatly appreciated.
Any one know if WarrantyDirect provides better protection and more reliable than Hondacare? Since WarrantyDirect claims to offer wear and tear protection sounds better but it covers less mileage and year.
How likely is a reliable car like Honda gonna fail before 120Kmi? Since Hondacare doesnt have wear and tear warranty, they are not gonna replace the timing belt unless it breaks, right?
If you have a balance on the card you use to buy the warranty, you will pay a lot more than the 0% finance plan would cost. Most card companies only have you pay 1/24 or less of your balance so in the end how much you would pay on a card is based on the rate, how much your already owe, how much you pay now, and how much extra (if any) you will pay once you stick the warranty on there. The only way to compare them is if you owe nothing on the card and you were to pay about 1/12 of the warranty cost each month on the card. Your card is an annual rate, but you not be keeping the full amount for a full year since you would be paying it down and have it almost paid off at the end of the year.
If there is something you need from their online store that the $25 will buy or count toward, that sounds like the way to go - unless you owe nothing on your card.
I would skip the paint protection, keep your car washed regularly and wax it (or have it waxed) a couple of times a year and you will be fine. You don't need the interior treatment - if you think you do run to K Mart or Wal-mart and buy a few cans of ScotchGuard and spray it around. Ditto the rust proofing - has not been needed in years and the experts says it can do more harm than good. A non HC warranty is out, if the quote on the HC 8/120k is $0 deductible then it sounds like it compares with the online quotes (you didn't say which model car you have) - check the online places to see for sure. The price they quoted you may be for the $100 deductible plan, but sure to check that as it cost less.
I think LoJack does work, but I don't know that it is worth the money. If your car is stolen you call them and they turn on a hidden transmitter in the car. They GIVE police departs around the country free receivers to mount in the police cars. If a transmitting (stolen) car drives close to an equipped police car the receiver detects it and points the way. In theory this lets the police get your car back for you. My thought it, that is why I pay for insurance. If my car is stolen, insurance will replace it. And I also hope that if someone does take one of mine, they NEVER bring it back. I would rather start over and not have one someone has stolen and abused. A lot of areas the police have no receivers, so if the car is taken there it will do no good. I would assume in the DC area they have the receivers, but I would found out about all the surrounding areas and see. LoJack does have a pay out if your car is not recovered. Like I said, in the past it has not been offered here so it was not an option, but I am not convinced I would pay for it for something as easily replaced as a Honda. If I owned Steve McQueen's Mustang he drove in Bullitt then yes I would have it, but for an Accord or Civic? They make thousands of those each year, don't they?
Now, if someone carjacked you with your kid(s) in the car and drove off with them - then yes the LoJack would be worth its weight in gold.
Can someone who's used this benefit explain a couple of questions for me? First, until you drop the vehicle off and have had the mechanics look at it, how do you know if you will need a rental? I work 55 miles away from home, so I typically will overnight drop off my vehicle at the dealer, at which point I need a rental to get to work the next morning. I've driven myself to work and probably have 3 hours on the clock before the dealer has even LOOKED at my vehicle...if the dealer turns around and says that the fix was simple, only 2 hours of work, am I going to get reimbursed for my rental? Second question, does the HC policy just reimburse you for rentals and YOU need to find a local rental place and rent and return and then submit receipts? It's probably not convienent like the Honda dealership giving you a loaner, is it? Detail will help me, thanks
No reason to be torn about these extras. As an earlier poster said, the first three are totally unnecessary and are simply additional dealer profit.
Don't buy any EW except Honda's. It is a good warranty but, like all insurance, you are betting that you are going to win by having problems and Honda is betting the other way. Who has more knowledge? I can't see it unless you're buying something with extra (and very expensive) "toys" like an Ody Touring R&N (one of which I own and I haven't even bought an EW for it).
No, it does not cover service items such as timing belts or brake pads.
Don't know much about Low Jack but it sure seems like a lot of money.
how do you know if you will need a rental? You won't know. Most plans only pay for a rental if the repair is covered. You will find out when the shop calls you with an estimate/update.
if the dealer turns around and says that the fix was simple, only 2 hours of work, am I going to get reimbursed for my rental? Not likely. Most contracts pay for rentals if repairs exceed a set number of labor hours, or there is an overnight wait for parts. There is usually a cap on the amount paid per day, as well as the total amount paid.
Second question, does the HC policy just reimburse you for rentals and YOU need to find a local rental place and rent and return and then submit receipts? It's probably not convenient like the Honda dealership giving you a loaner, is it? If the dealer has rentals, they can directly bill HC, they may call a service (like Enterprise) for you, or make you get your own wheels. It really depends on the dealership. Find the answer to this by calling your favorite dealer and asking. Request a loaner (rental) when you make your appointment whenever possible.
I agree about the need for EW. I've driven typically unreliable cars (Ford Escort, Mercury Cougar, etc) and I've put a lot of miles on them but they've been pretty reliable before 100,000 miles and the 120,000 mile point is when the repair bills started coming in (maybe that's why 120,000 miles is the highest EW you can get). If I spent $1000 on every car I ever bought, I'd be in the hole quite a bit, but on the other hand, at some point I might get unlucky and have to replace a transmission at 80,000 miles, but even if I did, I'd still be ahead based on all the other cars where I didn't buy the EW.
So if this is what I'm getting on old Fords, I'd think that with Honda you'd be pretty safe without an EW. On the other hand, as some other people have posted, if you have a vehicle with a lot of new gadgets on it, some brand new feature, or if there is some specific reason for the reliability to be suspect, then you may want to get an EW.
This is a great web site to do your shopping for a hc warranty (www.hondacaresource.com)It will list almost all the online hc dealers and there prices to compare.With links to there site's.Makes shopping much easier.
Sorry, I'm not too impressed with www.hondacaresource.com. They misquoted the 0% interest 7/0/120k fee charged by myhondawarranty.com at $955 when it is really $900 (with $25 admin fee and $25 HondaParts certificate). That is cheaper than the Bernardi rate at $900 with a $50 admin fee. If I'm not mistaken, Mr. McGilvray works at Bernardi.
I wondered about the "owner" of myhondawarranty.com site. Did some fishing and found a name to whom the name is registered. The same name comes up as having connection with acuracarewarranty.com (and hondawarrantyinfo.com). Both sites may have the same web designer.
I ASSUME the site is set up to pull quotes from the other online dealers periodically and I would think, automatically. I have no idea how often it checks, but I would guess any such system would not be goof-proof. Heck, if someone typed the prices in manually it is not likely to be right all the time .
Before someone buys they should check all the sources for the latest prices - for sure if you want to do something like finance the warranty purchase. It looks like it is neck and neck between Saccucci and Bernardi right now for the lowest prices - but I have not checked in a few days
My name is Gardiner and I run MyHondaWarranty.com for Saccucci Honda. I watch these forums daily and when I saw this new website popping up, I too was concerned about the ownership.
The design aspects are very similiar to Bernardi Website. I sent the owner an e-mail with my contact info, and quickly got a phone call from him. The owner of the site previously worked for Bernardi, and did their warranty site design. He has started his own business and being familiar with the Honda Care internet market created this comparison shopping website. I will be meeting with him in the near future, and hope to work with him so we can provide accurate pricing information.
If anybody has any questions for me about my websites or Honda Care, please feel free to ask.
We are currently redesigning our Honda Care and Ford ESP Websites to make them more user friendly.
I have been debating buying the hondacare warranty. I think if it replaces half of my AAA coverage (for me and my wife), it is definitely worth it. Cursory reading of the benefits seem to indicate that the two are similar. Are they?
AAA sells it's membership to named individuals, not specific vehicles. If I get hondacare for my honda does anyone know how I can buy roadside assistance for my other car?
Thanks for posting - and thanks for your low prices
I have not purchased from Saccucci - yet - when I needed coverage Bernardi or (farther back) another dealer was cheapest. Last time I did check, you appeared to be about the cheapest - and for sure if someone wanted to do the 0% finance deal I think you had the best deal.
Has anyone had experience with purchasing through Saccucci/myhondawarranty, I purchased a new Pilot today and of course the finance person used all kinds of scare tactics to discourage me from buying the hondacare from them.
You can get HC from any Honda authorized dealer - and the ones that advertise cheap HC policies online (like Saccucci) are legit Honda dealers. You get the same HC contract and you can call the HC toll free number after you sign up (give it a couple of weeks), give them your VIN, and they will confirm your coverage.
There ARE folks on the web trying to sell bogus warranties and non-Honda warranties, but just be sure what you buy is the real deal from a real Honda dealer and you should be OK (note that many Honda dealers also sell non HC warranties for extra profit - so be sure it is HC). If it makes you feel better, use the Honda dealer locator to find Saccucci and call in on their main, listed number - then you know you are talking to a real Honda dealer.
At the time I purchased, I went with the lowest price - so I have not personally dealt with Saccucci but I would bet someone the forum have.
I am thinking of using AmSoil synthetic oil in my new V6 Accord. If I do, that means I won't have to do my oil changes at Honda's recommended intervals because the synthetic oil is changed 1x/year or every 25-35,000 miles depending on the oil selected. I know that choosing a particular brand or viscosity of oil different from Honda's recommendations cannot void the warranty, but what about when your service record shows oil changes every 25k miles instead of every 3750?
Comments
Dennis
Here's where I got the quote I mentioned earlier (click Buy Now for pricing):
https://www.myhondawarranty.com/benefits.php
As far as I know, it's equivalent to the one offered by the dealer and has 2 options of 0 or $100 deductible.
http://www.hondawarrantyinfo.com/quote.php
Dennis
I am about to get an EXL 4 Cyl MT. I am going to sift through the posts here to assess the debate, but was wondering if someone could point me to a link that briefly discusses pros and cons of getting extended warranty.
The other question is about using independent mechanic versus honda dealer. Over the years I have not had good experience with assorted dealers for servicing, but I now know a mechanic who is honest and competent. Will I run into problems if I was to use him for scheduled maintenance?
You sure can use your mechanic for all routine stuff like oil and filter changes. I would buy some OEM filters from a discount online dealer and have your guy use those. Be sure to keep all receipts showing you had the proper work done at or before the time required by Honda and you should be fine.
Dennis
I'll give you a list...
Pro: if something very expensive breaks on your car, a service contract may pay out more than you paid for it, saving you money.
Pro: It's a way to budget your money. The payments come out of your pocket slowly. A new window motor requires payment-in-full now.
Con: most cars are well-built enough that pricy problems do not happen often during the timeframe of a service contract (before about 125,000 miles)
More Cons: claims with an aftermarket service contract company can take excessive time. Many shops won't deal with service contract companies at all because so many have not paid their bills, or gone out of business. Service contract companies will often stall a big job-requiring an inspection, then not sending an inspector out until a week later. They will often require the use of aftermarket or used parts. They will often refuse to pay diagnostic charges.
A well-maintained vehicle is your best insurance against a major repair.
Dwynne already answered your second question.
...and what do you think the chances are that the mechanic will declare himself incompetent and recommend you see the dealer???? :-II
Among the considerations for buying or not buying extended warranty are the likelihood of failure and the financial impact of failure. There is evidence that MTs fail at lower rate than ATs, and that Accord's 4 cyl is more reliable than the v6. My understanding is that the v6 warranty sells for more, so perhaps the 4 cyl vs v6 issue is factored in the price (although I think not completely). But there is no price differential between MT & AT warranties. Kind of similar logic as if you were to say that you would buy extended warranty for a Chrysler but not for a Honda, even though there is no assurance of a long trouble free life for the Honda!
Chances are pretty low that a mechanic would declare himself incompetent, but then again I am not talking about walking over to a random mechanic on the road.
Since the plan had a pro-rated refund and is transferable to a new owner and is Honda backed, *I* think it can be a decent deal if you plan on keeping your car past the new car warranty.
Dennis
Also if things like that were common, the Accord would certainly be a car to avoid rather than buying the car and then buying an extended warranty to cover all these problems you are going to have to keep having fixed.
Same is true for your car insurance, right? You are a great driver and will not cause an accident so drop your coverage and take your chances. You would save a lot of money that way and depend on your driving skill to not be out a lot of money.
This seems to be the pricing and info forum, not the "should you get it or not" forum
It is not for everyone, but if you want to get coverage then get HondaCare from a discount dealer - and we can help you do that in this forum.
Dennis
If you buy the extended warranty on the next 10 Honda's you purchase, you can bet that you would have spent more on extended warranty premiums that you would get paid back in claims. Not just a few dollars more either. Likely thousands of dollars over that time period.
That remains true even if one or two out of the 10 cars had some major covered failure that would have cost more than the warranty's premium.
That is how it is a money loser. You cannot forget about all the times you paid for the warranty and lost money and think that if you hit the jackpot on some major issue that wipes all the other previous and future costs away.
If you had invested the extended warranty money even into something as risk-free as CDs over that time period, the money lost is magnified that much more.
Also, of course the dealership is going to print that it costs $2000 or more to replace an A/C compressor on a 3 year old Accord.
You have no reason to question the price printed on the invoice and it's a marketing technique to drive future extended warranty purchases by you and all the people you go around telling how great the warranty was to pay so much money out.
It increases their business. The service department will get paid the extended warranty's discounted rate which is still much better than the $0 they would receive if you had a reason to shop that high-ball price they print on your copy of the invoice around elsewhere.
car insureance you have no choice according to the law.
an extended warranty is by choice and a poor one in my opinion - especially on a Honda. If you say it gives you peace of mind, then so be it.
I have peace of mind keeping that coin in the bank or on a couple of plane tickets to Hawaii :shades:
At www.hondacuraworld.com they show $1025 for 8/120k/$0 for an I4 Accord or $1480 for a V6 Accord (I think this price is a mistake - way too high). The Ody is $1330 as you mentioned.
At Bernardi the same plans are MUCH less money.
I4 Accord: 8 years/120,000 miles warranty $0 deductible = $925.00
V6 Accord: 8 years/120,000 miles warranty $0 deductible = $980.00
Ody: 8 years/120,000 miles warranty $0 deductible = $1,230.00
So if you order from the place you suggest, you will pay $100 more for the same thing. You have 30 days to cancel for a full refund, I would cancel and re-buy and pocket the $100. If you purchased the V6 Accord plan for the $1,480 shown you would get back $500 by cancelling and buying from Bernardi.
I have no affiliation with Bernardi, but I HAVE purchased HC plans from them in the past. If someone has a better price I would post it.
Dennis
Of course, there should be other considerations, such as if the company will be around for 8 years, or if the company denies claims for phony reasons.
Does anybody know about this company and it's warranty?
What happens if you need an $800 repair? Do you pay for it yourself and hope you get the $1550 back later? If you do pay for it, then have more problems then you will be out the $1600 plus the $800 you paid out of pocket to try to get the $1550 back.
Also check the fine print, they could have language in there that says you have to still own the car and the end of the warranty to get the refund. They are betting the majority of folks will either have their car wreck, stolen, or sell/trade it before then - then they get to keep the whole $1,600 and do nothing for it. While looking at the fine print, hot much WOULD you get back if you cancel early for any reason.
Dennis
But as you point out, there could be things in the fine print (which I have not seen) that could cause a problem. When I googled the company it brought up a few complaints about denial of claims and about long waits before their adjusters approve the claim. I would also be worried about denial of that one big claim for whatever reason, which then would also disqualify you from getting the $1550 back. Thanks!
As I said, I bet in the fine print you will see lots of restrictions about early termination and such.
If the dealer will stand behind it with a notarize agreement that you could risk it. Otherwise, get HondaCare or just do without.
Dennis
I'd rather stay away from that type of insurance..
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He offered me an extension on the bumper-to-bumper 3yr/36,000 mile up to 5 yr/60,000 for $805 from API (stating that this price was discounted from their normal rate by 50% or so). At first I refused but then he said that: 1) if I didn't use it I would get the money back (I assumed this meant not using it from 36,001 through 60,000 miles), and; 2) I could cancel the purchase anytime up to the 3yr/36,000 limit.
But when I read the refund terms from API it says:
"Use of any benefit of the Service Contract, including Roadside Assistance, Car Rental, Towing [etc.] voids the GPR [refund] Program." Does this mean that if I use the service contract EVER from mile one I cannot get a refund on the extension?
It also says: "Contract must expire by time (in months) to be eligible for the GPR." Does this mean that if I run up 60,000 miles before five years is up I still can't get a refund?
Nowhere does it say I can get a refund at any time before the extension period begins, as the finance guy said. Is this a rip-off? Is the price reasonable for this warranty?
I can understand folks who think an extended warranty is not something they want to buy, but if you DO decide to buy one you should only get a HondaCare warranty and buy it from a discount dealer (like Bernardi).
I would get a refund on this as soon as you can. If does sound like if you use any benefit (roadside, rental car, etc) you get nothing back and yes, you don't get anything back until the months are up, no matter the miles.
Dennis
I do plan to call to cancel this plan tomorrow--I had better be able to! I've already gotten a quote on the Bernardi website, and for the same money I can get 7yr/100,000 miles with $0 deductible instead of 5yr/60k miles with $100 deductible! What a rip-off!
Strangely enough, I had been at Bernardi Honda earlier the same day I bought the car from Herb Chambers but Bernardi didn't have the car I wanted and couldn't meet their price.
and their prices look better than Bernardi's.
It may depend on the coverage select and Honda model as to who is cheapest at any given time.
Bernardi for 07 Accord I4 w/$0 deductible
5 years/60,000 miles warranty: $435.00
5 years/80,000 miles warranty: $530.00
5 years/100,000 miles warranty:$615.00
6 years/80,000 miles warranty: $550.00
6 years/100,000 miles warranty:$675.00
6 years/120,000 miles warranty:$775.00
7 years/80,000 miles warranty: $570.00
7 years/100,000 miles warranty:$745.00
7 years/120,000 miles warranty:$845.00
8 years/100,000 miles warranty:$825.00
8 years/120,000 miles warranty:$925.00
Saccucci for the same car (all $0 deductible):
60 months 60k miles $325
60 months 80k miles $530
72 months 80k miles $550
84 months 80k miles $570
60 months 100k miles $615
72 months 100k miles $675
84 months 100k miles $745
72 months 120k miles $775
96 months 100k miles $825
84 months 120k miles $845
96 months 120k miles $925
I usually just check the 8yr/120k or maybe 8yr/100k when I am spot checking prices and those are the same today. You also get $25 an online part or accessory with Saccuci if you order from them right now. Sounds like a better deal on this model today!
Keep in mind that HC is not an extension of the bumper to bumper factory warranty, there are exclusions (like squeaks and rattles, body panels, carpet, upholstery, etc). Read the contract and be sure you can live with the exclusions before you buy.
Dennis
Dennis
I just checked Bernardi and Saccuci and they have the same rates for my V6 Accord:
5yr/80k $555
7yr/120k $900
8yr/120k $980
$0 deductible
No tax on the policy for Massachusetts residents according to Bernardi, but they do charge $50 for setting up a 0% APR 1 year payment schedule. Saccuci charges a $25 fee.
According to Saccuci, the 0% APR (they give you a HondaFinance credit card) would save you $81 on $1000 at 16.1% APR. (Their fee is $25 and the special $25 offer on parts cancel each other out.) But since you pay 10% down and none of the 0% deductible policies cost $1000, you won't be borrowing $1000 and the amount saved in a year will be less.
In my case my credit card charges only 11.25%, so I would only save $53 in interest on $882 ($980 less 10% for the 8/0/120 plan) with Saccuci. Bernardi charges $50 for the 0% APR and does not give a $25 certificate, so the savings is only $3 ($53 saved-$50 fee). If I go with Saccuci I will save $53.
Please check my math!
Paint Protection 5yr = $295
Interior = $145
Rust Proof = $299
Low Jack Installation= $750
WarrantyDirect 7yr/100K= 1330?
HondaCare 8yr/120k =980
I find myself so torned with buying all the following services. I love to have the peace of mind but adding all those numbers up results in a hole in my pocket.
Any advice as to what's neccessary and what's not is greatly appreciated.
Any one know if WarrantyDirect provides better protection and more reliable than Hondacare?
Since WarrantyDirect claims to offer wear and tear protection sounds better but it covers less mileage and year.
How likely is a reliable car like Honda gonna fail before 120Kmi?
Since Hondacare doesnt have wear and tear warranty, they are not gonna replace the timing belt unless it breaks, right?
Is paint protection neccesary in DC area?
Is Low Jack necessary? Does it really work?
If there is something you need from their online store that the $25 will buy or count toward, that sounds like the way to go - unless you owe nothing on your card.
Dennis
I think LoJack does work, but I don't know that it is worth the money. If your car is stolen you call them and they turn on a hidden transmitter in the car. They GIVE police departs around the country free receivers to mount in the police cars. If a transmitting (stolen) car drives close to an equipped police car the receiver detects it and points the way. In theory this lets the police get your car back for you. My thought it, that is why I pay for insurance. If my car is stolen, insurance will replace it. And I also hope that if someone does take one of mine, they NEVER bring it back. I would rather start over and not have one someone has stolen and abused. A lot of areas the police have no receivers, so if the car is taken there it will do no good. I would assume in the DC area they have the receivers, but I would found out about all the surrounding areas and see. LoJack does have a pay out if your car is not recovered. Like I said, in the past it has not been offered here so it was not an option, but I am not convinced I would pay for it for something as easily replaced as a Honda. If I owned Steve McQueen's Mustang he drove in Bullitt then yes I would have it, but for an Accord or Civic? They make thousands of those each year, don't they?
Now, if someone carjacked you with your kid(s) in the car and drove off with them - then yes the LoJack would be worth its weight in gold.
Dennis
Second question, does the HC policy just reimburse you for rentals and YOU need to find a local rental place and rent and return and then submit receipts? It's probably not convienent like the Honda dealership giving you a loaner, is it?
Detail will help me, thanks
Don't buy any EW except Honda's. It is a good warranty but, like all insurance, you are betting that you are going to win by having problems and Honda is betting the other way. Who has more knowledge? I can't see it unless you're buying something with extra (and very expensive) "toys" like an Ody Touring R&N (one of which I own and I haven't even bought an EW for it).
No, it does not cover service items such as timing belts or brake pads.
Don't know much about Low Jack but it sure seems like a lot of money.
if the dealer turns around and says that the fix was simple, only 2 hours of work, am I going to get reimbursed for my rental? Not likely. Most contracts pay for rentals if repairs exceed a set number of labor hours, or there is an overnight wait for parts. There is usually a cap on the amount paid per day, as well as the total amount paid.
Second question, does the HC policy just reimburse you for rentals and YOU need to find a local rental place and rent and return and then submit receipts? It's probably not convenient like the Honda dealership giving you a loaner, is it? If the dealer has rentals, they can directly bill HC, they may call a service (like Enterprise) for you, or make you get your own wheels. It really depends on the dealership. Find the answer to this by calling your favorite dealer and asking. Request a loaner (rental) when you make your appointment whenever possible.
So if this is what I'm getting on old Fords, I'd think that with Honda you'd be pretty safe without an EW. On the other hand, as some other people have posted, if you have a vehicle with a lot of new gadgets on it, some brand new feature, or if there is some specific reason for the reliability to be suspect, then you may want to get an EW.
Do you know of a similar website for Infiniti cars?
Spyderred.
Buyers beware!
Acuracarewarranty.com has Bernadi as links in the header bar and clearly says it's maintained by same (http://www.hondawarrantyinfo.com/acura/).
Is there a connection between the sites and a particular dealer? Is the information on warranties from other sources correct?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Before someone buys they should check all the sources for the latest prices - for sure if you want to do something like finance the warranty purchase. It looks like it is neck and neck between Saccucci and Bernardi right now for the lowest prices - but I have not checked in a few days
Dennis
The design aspects are very similiar to Bernardi Website. I sent the owner an e-mail with my contact info, and quickly got a phone call from him. The owner of the site previously worked for Bernardi, and did their warranty site design. He has started his own business and being familiar with the Honda Care internet market created this comparison shopping website. I will be meeting with him in the near future, and hope to work with him so we can provide accurate pricing information.
If anybody has any questions for me about my websites or Honda Care, please feel free to ask.
We are currently redesigning our Honda Care and Ford ESP Websites to make them more user friendly.
AAA sells it's membership to named individuals, not specific vehicles. If I get hondacare for my honda does anyone know how I can buy roadside assistance for my other car?
I have not purchased from Saccucci - yet - when I needed coverage Bernardi or (farther back) another dealer was cheapest. Last time I did check, you appeared to be about the cheapest - and for sure if someone wanted to do the 0% finance deal I think you had the best deal.
Dennis
There ARE folks on the web trying to sell bogus warranties and non-Honda warranties, but just be sure what you buy is the real deal from a real Honda dealer and you should be OK (note that many Honda dealers also sell non HC warranties for extra profit - so be sure it is HC). If it makes you feel better, use the Honda dealer locator to find Saccucci and call in on their main, listed number - then you know you are talking to a real Honda dealer.
At the time I purchased, I went with the lowest price - so I have not personally dealt with Saccucci but I would bet someone the forum have.
Dennis