Extended Warranty

[xaeniac]

No extended warranty roll the dice

 

[Pacfanweb]

Ford's powertrain warranty is already 5 years, 60k miles. The Focus doesn't have much problem with the powertrain to begin with, so I'd skip the warranty.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: funboy6942

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
Create a vehicle warranty bank account. Have $50 a month automatically deposited into it for vehicle repair expenses. After 1 year, you'll already have 600 bucks in there.

That way, you have peace of mind and you get to keep your money with you until you need to spend it.

But on a newer car, $600 isnt going to pay for much on the car if it breaks down, shit, the trans alone is upwards of $3500.

Not getting a extended warranty on a new or used car is like playing Russian Roulette, at some point it will break down, can be a huge break down or a small one. IMO coming from a guy who managed a few dealerships service shops, I HIGHLY recommend if your ever offered the warranty to take it. There is always that slim chance that something will break, if you bought it new or used, I seen new cars come into the shop needing major work with under 5k on the tick, and I seen new and used cars almost hit 200K before anything big went down, you just dont know, but depending on your financial situation, if you have the bank roll to take the chance and can whip out $3K for a repair, or can say fuck it and just dump the car and buy something else, then maybe buying an extended isnt that big a deal for you. Considering new cars now a days with a sensor for the sensor that controls another sensor, to make your turn signal blink, there just is no such thing as a small repair. But if your living paycheck to paycheck, or close to it, with a small chance that if something should happen your going to be car less, and then jobless because you cant get it fixed, then that extra $50 in the monthly note is going to be a lifesaver for you should something ever go down.

$1100 for top of the line warranty doesnt sound too bad, try also Auto One Warranty Specialists and do more shopping around, you may find one that covers it all, bumper to bumper, with no deductible at all for around the same price. $100 isnt bad at all, but having a ZERO one, with a free rental in it with no questions asked is much better, even if it costs a few hundred more considering it will pay for itself should you need to use the extended only a few times.

Another thing your going to have to think about as well is that you MUST do ALL the required maintenance thats in the owners manual no matter what for thats the extended way out of paying your bill no matter who you go with. For they can come back and say you didnt get a trans service at 45K and you now have 55k on the tick and thats why your trans blew up because you had neglected it, so it is VERY important that you keep up with all of it at the times it says you must do it. I know with Auto One that their very top package also includes doing all that stuff that it will need, even oil changes and light bulbs in their highest package the offer. Another thing to think about if you rather pay $100 more on your note, and not have to worry about shelling out for tune ups, trans services, or anything it could ever need other then brake pads/shoes, or belts.

But all in all extended warranties are good to have, if you never use it, you got yourself one dam good ride, but if you do, your going to be one thankful sob you got it. My wife before we got married bought a 97 Neon, and paid $800 for the basic extended warranty at the same time. At 45K the trans went out, they paid for it, by the time she had 65K on the car we had 3 more transmissions put in at $2,400 a pop. Needless to say her $800 investment paid her back and then some, and was a damn good thing she got it, with a zero deductible, for had she not, there would of been no way we could of afforded all of them transmissions.

Hey, thanks for this. Aside from Warranty Direct and Auto One would you recommend any others?

 

[LTC8K6]

But on a newer car, $600 isnt going to pay for much on the car if it breaks down, shit, the trans alone is upwards of $3500

So what? In the first year he's covered by the factory warranty. I was just pointing out how the money would add up. The powertrain warranty is 5 years. he won't need the savings money until the factory warranty ends, and by then it will be much more than $600.

If he is certain he will bust out of the factory warranty early, then he can save a little more each month. Since he's not giving the money away, he can put away $100 a month if he wants. He can even put it in a high interest account and make a little extra money.

An extended warranty is nearly always an unnecessary expense.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6

But on a newer car, $600 isnt going to pay for much on the car if it breaks down, shit, the trans alone is upwards of $3500

So what? In the first year he's covered by the factory warranty. I was just pointing out how the money would add up. The powertrain warranty is 5 years. he won't need the savings money until the factory warranty ends, and by then it will be much more than $600.

If he is certain he will bust out of the factory warranty early, then he can save a little more each month. Since he's not giving the money away, he can put away $100 a month if he wants. He can even put it in a high interest account and make a little extra money.

An extended warranty is nearly always an unnecessary expense.

Well, I am driving on average about 20-25,000 miles a year so that 60,000 mile warranty is probably going to be done in 2.5 years or so

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: TangoJuliet

Originally posted by: LTC8K6

But on a newer car, $600 isnt going to pay for much on the car if it breaks down, shit, the trans alone is upwards of $3500

So what? In the first year he's covered by the factory warranty. I was just pointing out how the money would add up. The powertrain warranty is 5 years. he won't need the savings money until the factory warranty ends, and by then it will be much more than $600.

If he is certain he will bust out of the factory warranty early, then he can save a little more each month. Since he's not giving the money away, he can put away $100 a month if he wants. He can even put it in a high interest account and make a little extra money.

An extended warranty is nearly always an unnecessary expense.

Well, I am driving on average about 20-25,000 miles a year so that 60,000 mile warranty is probably going to be done in 2.5 years or so

Which means your 100k warranty will be done in 4 years. Is that extra year of warranty worth 600 bucks? The answer is, no.

 

[LTC8K6]

Well, I am driving on average about 20-25,000 miles a year so that 60,000 mile warranty is probably going to be done in 2.5 years or so

So you need about $3k saved up in 2.5 years to cover a major failure. Save accordingly.

 

[Jumpem]

Originally posted by: TangoJuliet

Originally posted by: Jumpem
I say yes, but that sounds expensive. I got a 120k mile warranty for my Fit for $900.

Who did you get your warranty through, honda?

A Honda dealer, yes. I shopped around and bought it online from an out of state dealer for much less than the dealer where I got the car was selling it for.

 

[Robor]

I purchased an 08 Saturn Astra (made by Opel of Europe). I didn't pick up the EW because of sticker shock - I think they wanted $1100 for 6/60 and $1500 for 7/100. I tried to 'negotiate' the price but they told me they couldn't budge - something about FL having a law that fixes the prices because the elderly were getting taken advantage of. I figured I'd shop the rate and sure enough WarrantyDirect.com is right in the same area.

I'm still leaning toward purchasing the warranty. My previous car was a 2000 VW. I only went 4/48 on it and wound up spending a small fortune in repairs before dumping it last month. The last 3 bills were $1100 (A/C), $600 (pri/sec cooling fans), and $1300 (pri/sec water pumps, thermostat housing, and front end work). I'm worried that my Euro-made Astra could result in the same thing down the line.

 

[Turin39789]

no thanks

 

[TangoJuliet]

So I spoke with my salesperson at Ford today and turns out the extended warranty is $1695 and covers 5 years or 100,000 miles, rental/towing, bumper to bumper and roadside assistance. I also qualified for Ford's recent college grad program so I got an additional $500 back. I wasn't counting on that $500 so in essence the warranty would come out to $1195 or I can go with an outside party and get basically the same thing for $1140 (or that would be $640 with the unexpected cash back)

 

[Thump553]

Who's selling that extended warranty? Too many of those companies have folded for me to be comfortable buying one.

If the warranty is directly from the manufacturer-AND you are sure the manufacturer is solvent-then maybe.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: Thump553
Who's selling that extended warranty? Too many of those companies have folded for me to be comfortable buying one.

If the warranty is directly from the manufacturer-AND you are sure the manufacturer is solvent-then maybe.

Ok, Ford's warranty is $1695 with $0 deductible and covers 5 years or 100,000 miles. Covers everything on the car - bumper to bumper, roadside assistance, towing and rental car.

Warranty Direct is $1440 with $0 deductible and covers the same except the radio.

Thats a cost savings of $255 over Ford - but then I take the chance of this company going under and then I have nothing.

I have the same problem with Ford but I know not every single Ford dealership will go under and I'm sure there would be a way to fight it.

Since I got 0% financing I can keep the $1700 in the bank and just take out the $47 each month and put it towards the payment - make sense?

 

[TangoJuliet]

Jeez more and more details are coming out about the ESP from Ford. I called over to the dealership and spoke to the salesman again. I asked about the deductibles and asked if mine was $0. He said it was "disappearing".....I asked what does that mean - and he said it was $0.

I then called Ford directly and got their ESP sales department. The salesman on the phone said "disappearing" is indeed $0 BUT you have to have the car serviced at that dealership. If I took the car to another dealership then I would have to pay the deductible and I have no idea how much that is on the policy I was quoted.

Edit: I brought up the point - what if the dealership went out of business and he said well, then you would have to pay the deductible each time. In today's economy I don't trust any dealership staying open. We've had 3 Ford dealerships in the area close recently so I don't like this option at all.

 

[Pacfanweb]

I think the disappearing deductible means that if you have any ESP work performed at the dealership you bought it from, there's no deductible. If you have it done at another Ford dealer, the deductible applies.

IF you're dead-set on getting a warranty, get the Ford warranty. Make DAMN sure it's Ford ESP, not something else. If the paperwork says anything other than Ford ESP, it's not a factory warranty. You're probably being quoted Premium Care, which is Ford's top of the line warranty...and no, it's not "bumper to bumper" like the original warranty on the car is. But it IS everything electrical and mechanical that's not a wear item. Salesmen like to tell people their ESP's are bumper to bumper, but none of them are. Premium Care is as close as it gets, though.

I still wouldn't buy the warranty on a Focus.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
I think the disappearing deductible means that if you have any ESP work performed at the dealership you bought it from, there's no deductible. If you have it done at another Ford dealer, the deductible applies.

IF you're dead-set on getting a warranty, get the Ford warranty. Make DAMN sure it's Ford ESP, not something else. If the paperwork says anything other than Ford ESP, it's not a factory warranty. You're probably being quoted Premium Care, which is Ford's top of the line warranty...and no, it's not "bumper to bumper" like the original warranty on the car is. But it IS everything electrical and mechanical that's not a wear item. Salesmen like to tell people their ESP's are bumper to bumper, but none of them are. Premium Care is as close as it gets, though.

I still wouldn't buy the warranty on a Focus.

You are correct - its a Ford ESP premium care plan. Do you think I should just wait until my 5 year / 60,000 mile powertrain warranty is up and then get one through AAA or something? Or do you think this car's engine is durable enough that no warranty should be purchased.

Again, I drive 20-25,000 miles an average per year to/from work. This is my primary car and not going to work because my car is broken is not an option.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: TangoJuliet


You are correct - its a Ford ESP premium care plan. Do you think I should just wait until my 5 year / 60,000 mile powertrain warranty is up and then get one through AAA or something? Or do you think this car's engine is durable enough that no warranty should be purchased.

Again, I drive 20-25,000 miles an average per year to/from work. This is my primary car and not going to work because my car is broken is not an option.

The extended warranty does nothing to prevent the situation you are describing, or even remediate it.

 

[TangoJuliet]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: TangoJuliet


You are correct - its a Ford ESP premium care plan. Do you think I should just wait until my 5 year / 60,000 mile powertrain warranty is up and then get one through AAA or something? Or do you think this car's engine is durable enough that no warranty should be purchased.

Again, I drive 20-25,000 miles an average per year to/from work. This is my primary car and not going to work because my car is broken is not an option.

The extended warranty does nothing to prevent the situation you are describing, or even remediate it.

I understand that but if I don't have the extra money to fix the problem then I won't be going to work.

I can see putting the $1700 aside in a savings account and if something does happen then I can take from there; but if the engine goes and it costs $4000 to fix then thats going to be a problem

 

[funboy6942]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6

But on a newer car, $600 isnt going to pay for much on the car if it breaks down, shit, the trans alone is upwards of $3500

So what? In the first year he's covered by the factory warranty. I was just pointing out how the money would add up. The powertrain warranty is 5 years. he won't need the savings money until the factory warranty ends, and by then it will be much more than $600.

If he is certain he will bust out of the factory warranty early, then he can save a little more each month. Since he's not giving the money away, he can put away $100 a month if he wants. He can even put it in a high interest account and make a little extra money.

An extended warranty is nearly always an unnecessary expense.

In anything else sold on the market I would agree with you, but I have worked the auto field, and a extended warranty is just like buying life insurance. Your happy if you never have to collect on your policy, but the chance is there, and the longer he may wait to pay for the extended the more it will cost him to buy later on down the road.

For anything else I would buy id say your a fool for ever buying an extended warranty, but with the costs of repairs as high as they are for pretty much anything on a car, having it is a good thing. Plus how will you/he know what may happen to him in the next 5 years? What if he loses his job, gets hurt, laid off, down sizes and needs to take a job that pays less, or has to dip into the savings to make ends meet, and when 5 years are up his car breaks, then what??

I never in a million years thought I would get disabled for life, but one day I went to work all was good, and by the end of the day I was no longer able to work and been living with extreme pain, and havent been right for the last 6 years, but the point is you just cannot predict the future, and THATS one of the main points why a extended warranty, and forgot to mention is to get the added insurance that pays for your auto loan should you get hurt as well, on your car is just like why you may buy life insurance, or home insurance, its there if you needed it.

To buy an extended warranty on a New HDTV that you paid $1500 for that will protect it for 4 years, is stupid considering in less then a year your tv is obsolete, and in 1-4 years time, if it does break you sure as hell wont want to keep that old POS 1080P but want the 2560P 1,000HZ cock sucking you off, smell taste feel-O-Vision tv

Your car however is something that can make or break you if you lose it due to a loss of job, heath, injury, or breakage, and a warranty is a MUST, IMHO, and to think I can save that $50 a month now and in 5 years will have XXXX amount in the bank is pretty impressive, especially since your able to see where you will be at that far in the future to know that money may be there still at your disposal at that time when it breaks

Go with the warranty, you will kick yourself if you dont, and be saying "I should of listened to funboy", but again if you can predict the future 100% then by all means dont go for it. BTW also most extended warranties are transferable, so if you decided to sell your car, you will make up your money, pretty much all back, and sell it faster when the people who want to buy it find out they will be protected buying yours, over buying the one off LTC8K6
And they may also be able to roll what you have into something else you buy if you trade it into a stealership. All things you want to ask when you decide to buy a warranty, free transfer to the new owners should you chose, free transfer to your new car if you trade it in, or partial refund pro rated, what deductible, free rental, loss of job or accident insurance should you get laid off, fired, or hurt on the job, or maybe you can save more getting Aflac for this part??

More food for thought, there really isnt anything bad about getting a auto warranty, only if you never use it, but then again, if you dont, you bought a great car.

EDIT
I just read about the Ford warranty, thats a good option to buy! The reason being is that its is Ford, less hassles for you, for some other companies will make you just through hoops to get your car work done, but if you buy it through ford you can pretty much dump it off, grab their rental, and go about your way. If it really is bumper to bumper thats not bad, Id ask about getting it to 6-7 years, rather then just 5, if it can be done, and see if they are going to throw in all maintenance in there as well with the deal. So now your flooded with what the hell do I do I bet. Id say that if you can get one that will take care of what your car needs, oil changes, and such, are taken at most shops, call around to be sure, just call and say "do you take XXXX warranty?", and see what may be your best bet. Ford would be the easiest for you in terms of being able to drop it off at any Ford dealer across the country without having to worry if your claim will be covered, but some others may offer you better ups, like tunes ups and oil changes when needed at around the same price, you just need to jump through hoops and paperwork to get the work approved. And Id call Ford again about them taking a claim on your Warranty, I worked for Ford, I took them in and I took them if from many across the USA, I cant believe it changed that much in 10 years since I worked there, especially now more then ever when they need your money, BAD, that they will want to push you away should you take it somewhere else and have to pay a deductible, thats just insane.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: TangoJuliet

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
I think the disappearing deductible means that if you have any ESP work performed at the dealership you bought it from, there's no deductible. If you have it done at another Ford dealer, the deductible applies.

IF you're dead-set on getting a warranty, get the Ford warranty. Make DAMN sure it's Ford ESP, not something else. If the paperwork says anything other than Ford ESP, it's not a factory warranty. You're probably being quoted Premium Care, which is Ford's top of the line warranty...and no, it's not "bumper to bumper" like the original warranty on the car is. But it IS everything electrical and mechanical that's not a wear item. Salesmen like to tell people their ESP's are bumper to bumper, but none of them are. Premium Care is as close as it gets, though.

I still wouldn't buy the warranty on a Focus.

You are correct - its a Ford ESP premium care plan. Do you think I should just wait until my 5 year / 60,000 mile powertrain warranty is up and then get one through AAA or something? Or do you think this car's engine is durable enough that no warranty should be purchased.

Again, I drive 20-25,000 miles an average per year to/from work. This is my primary car and not going to work because my car is broken is not an option.

You're not going to get a Ford warranty that goes past 100k. The factory warranty already goes to 60k, plus the federal emissions warranty covers the computer and catastrophic converter for 8/80.

So, you're really asking if you should buy a warranty that covers that last 40k until you get to 100k. And my answer is, no. That engine/tranny combo should easily make it farther than that. And even if it doesn't, you're better off putting the money for the warranty aside to cover the repair later.

If the piece of mind means THAT much to you, then get the warranty. I probably wouldn't bother with Premium Care for a Focus, though....ask how much you'd save if you dropped back to Extra Care. It'll still cover most stuff, and should be significantly cheaper.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: TangoJuliet

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: TangoJuliet


You are correct - its a Ford ESP premium care plan. Do you think I should just wait until my 5 year / 60,000 mile powertrain warranty is up and then get one through AAA or something? Or do you think this car's engine is durable enough that no warranty should be purchased.

Again, I drive 20-25,000 miles an average per year to/from work. This is my primary car and not going to work because my car is broken is not an option.

The extended warranty does nothing to prevent the situation you are describing, or even remediate it.

I understand that but if I don't have the extra money to fix the problem then I won't be going to work.

I can see putting the $1700 aside in a savings account and if something does happen then I can take from there; but if the engine goes and it costs $4000 to fix then thats going to be a problem

Well, as long as you are comfortable with the ext. go for it. I am doing about 100km a day right now. I drive a 2002 Protegé5 with 170k km on it. I had to fix a few things,but they are mostly wear items.

I did buy 1 year of ext warranty off Mazda and it didn't really do anything for me since things did not go wrong til year 5

I think the best thing you can do is in fact find a reasonably priced honest mechanic. That is going to beat any ext warranty.

 

[Jugernot]

Originally posted by: TangoJuliet

Originally posted by: Vetterin
If the dealers didn't make money on extended warranties they would not offer them. Your major concern should be the powertrain but in 07 Ford extended its drivetrain policy to five years or 60,000 miles. You will rack up 100000 in 3 years so basically you're going to pay $1500 for 40,000 miles.

Yep, that is what I was thinking as well. If I went with Warranty Direct I could get their Secure Care + airbag protection plan (same as Luxury care except doesnt cover bluetooth radio) for $1140.

That would cover 5 years or 100,000 miles.

I have a Warranty direct policy and it has been great! Out of $3500 worth of repairs over the last 3 years, I've only paid around $110 for fluids and an alignment. They always pay up, unlike some other companies that take weeks.

Jugs

 

[Mister4x4]

It's kind of a trade-off. If you don't buy it, something bad will happen to your car that a warranty would've covered. If you do buy it, the car will run for 300,000 miles without anything major going wrong.

I bought the extended warranty on my Ram, and nothing happened during the time. Only after I hit 70,000 did the catalytic converter finally clog up, and after hitting 94,000 miles this past September did my water pump finally start leaking (well out of the warranty range - since I've had the truck for over 9 years now... and it's a '97).

We bought it on our '96 Z-24, and its water pump started leaking 4 years later and it was covered. Also, both power window motors went bad after 4 & 5 years as well - covered. Beyond that - nothing notable. Car was running like a champ when we sold it because of hail damage.

We also bought it for our '01 Grand Prix, and 3 years ago the HVAC pod shorted out, taking the DRLs, automatic lights, and a bunch of other dashboard things with it - covered. Again, car's running like a champ otherwise.

I figure all of those things coming out of my pocket instead of $50 deductables each time would've totaled up to around $2500 (instead of $200). Seems like a bargain to me, considering doing my own water pump in the Ram cost me pretty much half a weekend and almost $400 (I opted for electric fans, instead of just putting it all back together with the stock clutch/fan assembly), and swapping out the cat only ran me $280 (doing in myself as well). I could see both of those jobs running around $450-500 for the water pump (replacement only - no electric fans), and $450-500 for the cat replacement as well.

Also depends on your mechanical skills as well - I'm fairly adept at making my own repairs, modifications, engine/tranny/axle swaps, etc.

 

[rh71]

in my glimpse of this thread, it seems people who commented "my warranty paid for itself" because of early failures in just american cars... coincidence? Get the warranty.

BTW, my Isuzu's GM transmission got busted recently too - 13 years old but only 110k mi.

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: rh71
in my glimpse of this thread, it seems people who commented "my warranty paid for itself" because of early failures in just american cars... coincidence? Get the warranty.

BTW, my Isuzu's GM transmission got busted recently too - 13 years old but only 110k mi.

No. The Consumer Reports which some people follow like the bible states that extended warranty only makes sense for European cars and not for Japanese or American cars.