Extended Warranties

driftracer

my suggestion - go with a VW plan or put your money in the bank.

deeleeh

Just wanted to say that I would be checking on the warranty provided by Equis before I would take that one. SC&E Administrative Services, the company that marketed the Smart Choice program through National Warranty also has a program called Equis.

pasquali

I've got a 2001 TL with almost 40K miles. I love this car and would like to keep it -- but I want to be covered under a warranty beyond the existing 4 year/50k warranty that will expire in the not-too-distant future (of course, based on time, not miles). Have any of you purchased extended warranties for your TLs that you would recommend? I know that Acura offers some, but there are also many others out there. I would like a pretty comprehensive warranty for my peace-of-mind.

By the way, I checked with Acura and I understand that my transmission already has an additional 3 years of coverage -- as do all 2000 to 2003 TLs due to the common problems with transmissions on these models. So basically, I'm looking for a good extended warranty that would cover any other major mechanical problems for the next two or three years. Thanks for your help.

thebigshow

I am trying to find the dealer (invoice) cost for a Ford ESP PremiumCare Extended Warranty on a 2003 Ford Expedition that is 14 months old with 15,000 miles. Do you know where I can find this information? Please let me know. Thank you in advance for your help.

driftracer

thebigshow

I want to offer a dealer $100.00 over their cost. I do not have a lot of faith in the dealer giving me their "real" cost, so I am hoping to get this information before making teh offer. Isn't their a source for this information like there is for new car invoice prices?

driftracer

varies by region - just ask to see the F&I guy's warranty book, listing the costs - I've pulled that book out when I get a grinder customer.

mitzij

Your best bet would be to put aside a little money every paycheck in an auto repair fund. In essence, warranteeing yourself. But if you must purchase a service contract, go with one your automaker backs. In my case, that would be a General Motors Protection Plan. If the contract does not say Acura, it's not an Acura plan. Plans are pricey, be sure to shop around and negotiate for the best price.

emarks1

I just purchased an extended warranty from American Auto Warranty (www.aawarranty.com)

The person I dealt with, Mark was excellent to deal with. He answered my questions, was not high pressure, and actually told me to go with a lower cost option than I was originally looking for. I ended up getting an extended warranty for my 2000 Subary Legacy for another 5 years and 60,00 miles. If I don't use the warranty, I get 100% of my money back. The product they sold me is called Service Shield from Lyndon Property Insurance Company.
 http://aawarranty.com/serviceshield.htm#manplus

If I have a claim, I will report here. I am also awaiting a price for my 2004 Camry... They told me they had some new A+ rated insurance products coming after the first of the year.

driftracer

an insurance policy (that's not a warranty) when you can get a real warranty?

emarks1

I didn't think I could get a "real" warranty for my 2000 subaru.

driftracer

after years of experience in sales and service, I try to steer folks away from aftermarket "warranties".

mitzij

Sounds like a 'too good to be true' deal. Make sure you have that 100% refund in writing, on the contract they send. The contract your link takes me to does not mention that bonus. Also be sure your favorite mechanic will deal with AA, and that AA pays for OEM parts.Buying a service contract is the easy part, using it is a whole 'nother can of worms. Also, don't put a spoiler, bigger tires, fancy wheels, running boards, or any other modifications on your vehicle, that voids the contract.

jaa37

I just bought a 2004 Civic EX. Given Honda's reliability, should I even bother shopping for an ext. warranty, or just save my money?

jratcliffe

My advice would be:

a) if you do buy a warranty, only buy a HondaCare (i.e. manufacturer-backed warranty)
b) if you buy a HondaCare, remember you can buy it from ANY Honda dealer, and the price is definitely negotiable. Do a bit of net searching (there's a website dedicated to Odyssey owners where a couple of dealerships that sell the warranties for ~$100 over cost post - can't give you the link here, but a few minutes with Google should get you where you need to go).
c) don't do anything now - you have until your 3/36 warranty ends to buy a Honda extended warranty, so you might as well wait, see how you like the car, if you have any problems, etc., before deciding to buy.

ateixeira

Keep something in mind - their reliability lowers the price of that warranty.

Honda does not offer roadside assistance for free, but if you buy a warranty you get it. If you get a 7 year warranty that could save you $497 in AAA or other club fees.

Could help resale, if you sell just before it expires the buyer gets peice of mind.

Get quotes and shop around, it could still be worth while.

-juice

mitzij

AAA offers more than roadside service. My sister uses hers more for travel books, brochures, and trip tix than anything else. That's not comparing apples and oranges. More like comparing a fruit salad and a piece of fruit.
Saving $497 by spending $1200 (for 'the best' service contract, the closest thing to bumper to bumper possible) is just not good handling of funds.

ateixeira

But I like plain fruit. :-)

We used trip tix once. In 7 years. I do fine with Mapquest now, in some ways it's better, easier to read at a glance when the co-pilot is asleep.

YMMV, but we're quite happy.

-juice

menauidiver

I thought I would save money and lost big time with Warranty Gold who filed chapter 11 and took all my money- and I never filed a claim. The law allows them to still sell policies.

Please if you must have a policy get it from your dealer. However, I think self insuring would be better. Put away a litttle each month for repairs, say $50 - $100. Then if you get rid of the car and you didn't use the money take a vacation. Whatever you do don't go to a third party like Warranty Gold and buy a policy. If you have second thoughts go to warrantynews.com and look around. You will see these guys are not nice. That is WG site on their chapter 11.

zimirza

I have purchased a 2000 CL500 with 15000 miles, still under factory warranty. I can buy extended warranty for upto 100K miles and 5 years for about $3,400 (no deductable, very few exclusions). Like to get advice on this issue, is it worth it?

driftracer

If it's a Mercedes-Benz warranty, then you may be doing yourself a favor. If it's an aftermarket/private company, chances are better than not that you'll be wasting money and initiating higher blood pressure.

brozhnik

For a VW Passat, some VW dealers offer a "Volkswagen Real Driver" extended warranty, which is more or less ok as far as exclusions, services etc. But it is backed by "Fidelity Warranty Service" of Deerfield Beach, Fl. Anybody know anything about this outfit? Is this no better than any 3rd-party warranty, or does the "VW Real Driver" add any value?
Thanks.
(BTW, it does have exclusions (like "overheating"), but not more than usual; and it does allow the use of aftermarket parts. Any comments on that?)

driftracer

Volkswagen, I wouldn't look twice.

The overheating exclusion is common with aftermarket warranties and gets them out of paying a LOT of big money claims.

ateixeira

Overheating seems like a big loophole.

Say your head gasket leaks and you blow a piston through the block.

They'll be glad to give you $12 for a new head gasket.

Nice. The new engine will cost many thousands of dollars.

-juice

driftracer

but because you overheated the car, the private warranty company is off the hook, and you just bought a motor for a routine failure, involving parts covered under factory warranties.

fimo_s

Is anyone know about Viking extended car warranty? They also specializing in many other product warranties like: houses,kitchen equipment,furniture and so on.
Thank's.

driftracer

is an insurance policy, whether it's on a car or a toaster.

It's still not a "warranty", it's still written by a private company with an adjuster whose primary goal is cutting down on claims, and then there's the whole financial solvency issue - use at your own risk.

teacherjim

My daughter bought a 2001 Chey Malibu with 26800 miles and 4 months left on the factory. She paid $1100 for a 36 month 36000 mile $200 deductable GM extended warranty. The warranty is the top of the line GM warranty. She did this Wed Jan 28, she thinks they charged her to much and is having second thoughts about it. The question is, since it has only been 3 days can she cancel it and get all or most of her money back? Also did she pay too much for the warranty? any idea whatthese GM plans cost for the type of coverage she wanted? Thanks for any advice.

driftracer

warranty at any time - not a problem. Another choice, though, is to go back and talk to the F&I person and tell them your thoughts. The F&I person is facing a chargeback if the warranty is cancelled, so they will be motivated to lower the price.

If I remember correctly, cost on the warranty is around $600. If you offered $100 over...

Better yet, have the person SHOW YOU their warranty book with costs listed.

Again, you certainly can cancel it. Now, on another note, if it was financed with the car, you won't get the refund, your bank will - the refund will be applied to the loan - nothing changes with payments and the like, except that at the end, you won't have to pay a couple of payments...

TMLTML

FYI - Just bought a 7 year/75,000 mile Platinum $0 deductible Toyota Extra Care Vehicle Service Agreement from Red McCombs Toyota in San Antonio, Texas for $625, which P.J., the F&I guy said was $50 over his cost. It is administered by GS Administrators, Inc, which he said was simply Gulf States Toyota, the distributor. Anybody have any problems with Toyota Extra Care?

Any caveats about fulfilling the maintenance obligations. I remember the Sienna engine Sludge warranty voided debacle, (which caused me to buy a Odessey).