Extended warranty

[charlie b]

Well, just got a shock today, glad it wasn't for me.

My brother was at his Beemer dealer to pick up his bike. The service manager was just getting off the phone and talking to a customer. The customer had his bike in because the tranny had broken and took out the drive line with it (or vice versa). Conversation was something like this.

Service: Nope, they won't cover it.

Owner: Why?

Service: You modified your bike.

Owner: What mod? You mean the slip on muffler?

Service: Yes. The warranty language specifically says you can't modify the mechanical parts of the bike or the warranty is void. Changing any part of the exhaust system is considered one of those mods that will void the warranty.

This was not the BMW warranty. It was an aftermarket insurance deal. Just something to be aware of.

 

[RedLdr1]

Typical "third party" warranty...:rolleyes1: The BBB, FTC and several state Attorney Generals have all went after these warranty scams. Most people don't read the exemption clauses regarding modifications, or even using non-OEM parts in some cases, and since the warranty is "third party" the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act doesn't always apply. Buyer beware is an understatement....

 

[DirtFlier]

Taking it from the flip side, what insurer in their right mind would allow "modifications" that could in some way affect the durability of the vehicle? A slip-on muffler could cause the engine to run leaner and one would hope that the fuel injection system would compensate but without extensive testing, who knows for sure.

I'm someone who's never had an extended warranty for any motor vehicle so I don't have a stake in this issue.

 

[tawilke46]

This would not be the first case of finding out after the fact that you are not "insured" when making a claim.
Happens with all kinds of insurance......not just vehicle extended warranties.

 

[bicyclist]

I find the dealer at fault. He's the one who dealt with the insurance company and should have stood behind his customer. There was no reason to tell the insurance company that the bike had a slip on muffler. If his dealership sold that policy and allows the insurance company to weasel out, you can bet it will have an adverse effect on the customer's dealings with them in the future. If your dealer won't go to bat for you on warranty issues, you're better off dealing with someone else.

 

[DirtFlier]

If your wife wants another mini-van, take a look at the Honda Odysseys but don't buy the one with all the bells & whistles.
Just about all the customer complaints are related to electronic that may not work the way customers perceived them as working. The strippo version is fine.

You should also refer to Consumer Reports to see how the Odyssey stacks up against it's competition. The last time I looked, it was on top.

 

[Bear]

+1 on the Odyssey. If she wants to go smaller, Toyota Matrix is a great vehicle.

 

[Pick]

I have a Honda Fit for myself and a Toyota Sienna for the wife. Both are excellent.

 

[Warren]

While they have both had some quality problems recently you really can't go very wrong with either a Honda or a Toyota. I have owned several of each and have never been dissapointed. I usually drive my cars until they are at the 200+K mark. The worst car I have ever owned was a Grand Voyager mini van. Could not wait to get rid of it.

 

[slider]

I've only had Honda's or Toyota's for the last 17 years. Pretty sure I'll only ever drive a Yamaha or Honda MC. I've never purchased or needed an extended warranty.

 

[RedLdr1]

Two Toyotas, a Camry Hybrid and a Highlander, convinced me I'll never own another one... Recalls, wrong or no parts, bad OEM tires on both, and exceptionally lousy dealer support top the list and then it just goes down hill from there... They had their second chance, there will not be a third.

If you want an economical station wagon or "crossover" check out the new Ford C-Max hybrid. I have a SEL with the 303A option pack and it is very comfortable around town and on longer trips. With the rear seats folded down it easily hauls all five dogs in the back. Getting +41MPG in metro Atlanta driving is a pleasant bonus...

And to keep this thread on subject I did buy the Ford Extended Warranty since this is a first model year, new vehicle and engine design with lots of electronic gadgets... I consider it insurance knowing how much those toys can cost to repair or replace...

 

[vzshadow]

I've got Hyundai's now. Santa Fe for me, Sonata for the wive. They've been great.

I loved my Grand Voyager. Perhaps my favorite of all the vehicles we've owned!

 

[Phil Tarman]

I've got Honda's extended warranty on my NT. Four more years on top of the one-year standard warranty. Since it paid for the first two services, that got the cost down to maybe $300 and I got LoJack thrown in (I wouldn't have bought LoJack, but I guess it's OK to have. Since Honda can't sell NT's, I'm not really too worried about anybody stealing it!).

The water pump and muffler replacements added up to about $1000 of parts at Bike Bandit's prices, plus about $270 labor. I figure I've gotten my money's worth out of it, and since I'll probably ride it at least another 50,000 miles in the next two years, I may get some more repairs covered by the warranty.

It feels worth it to me.

Back when I was married to wife # 1, we didn't have very good credit and when we needed to buy a car our Ford dealer could finance the one we bought (a '91 Escort that was one of the best cars I've ever owned) if we were also financing an extended warranty. It came from GE and we didn't pay anymore for the car with it than we would have without it. The only benefit I ever got from that warranty was when the plastic radiator top separated from the core -- the warranty paid for a new radiator.

 

[JohnC]

My wife has a '91 4 cylinder Camry. It's getting a little loose and rattlely, but it has been about as reliable as a brick. It has stranded her on the road once. A cracked battery cell leaked and ate up the battery ground cable before it connected to chassis ground. It did not qualify for Obama's Cash for Clunkers program because it still gets better than 30 mpg on the highway.

Outside of oil, tires, and light bulbs, she tends to be a little more casual about preventive maintenance than I like. But then, being former military, PMCS is almost a second religion to me.

For motorcycles, I do not think an extended warranty makes much economic sense unless you know you are going to be doing a lot of LD riding. I will be getting an extended warranty for whatever I get if one is available.

 

[JohnC]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-28/ford-sued-in-class-action-claiming-sudden-acceleration.html

According to that article, there are 19 owners in 14 states involved. Additionally, there are claims against a few other years and models. It is possible, but I am skeptical.

I am working in Saudi Arabia. About 2 years ago, we changed to Ford for company vehicles, mostly 2010 and 2012 Explorers with a few 2011 and 2012 Expeditions. Company gave me an Expedition but I have driven the Explorers a few times. I have accidentally hit the gas pedal twice, once in a 2010 and once in a 2012, while going for the brake pedal. I figured that the problem was a combination of big feet and an initial adjustment to the vehicle. Now I am really careful, especially initially.

 

[vacanefan]

A quick note on the Honda extended warranty:
I purchased this within the first year of ownership of the NT (you have 12 months from purchase to do so). I traded the NT in about a year after that. The great thing about the factory extended warranty is that you can get a pro-rated refund on the time left in the warranty! I got a nice check from Honda about 4 weeks after trading in the NT and calling to cancel the warranty. A great farkle fund for the new bike! I also purchased an extended warranty, 6 years in all, on the new C14. All it takes is one covered repair to make the purchase worthwhile. If I end up trading the C14 before the 6 years is up, I'll get some of that cash back as well. But, that's just my take on it; I hate unexpected expenses and try my best to avoid them.

--Jeff

 

[Rocky]

Not really a mini van, but I love my Subaru Outback, (wifes actually), so far 160000 care free miles, great on gas, 4 wheel drive gets me all over the Rockies in the worst conditions. I got an extended warranty with it, and a front axle needed to be replaced at about 98000, I recall about breaking even as it was covered.