Mine has paid for itself twice already and I have only had to use it for 6 months.

Sam

 

Trust me, this happened to me after waiting a week to make up my mind and the dealer was kind enough to back date the paper work to get the lesser price.

 

There must have been a general price increase just before you signed. AFAIK the GM price has been the same for quite some time. It's not dependent on when you sign or your mileage as long as your initial warranty hasn't lapsed. Ken quotes you the same numbers whether your car is a week old or 33 months old and the mileage is under 36k. At least, that is my read on it.


[Modified by Richin Chicago, 12:12 PM 8/2/2002]

 

I wonder who managed to dream up this extended warranty thing. You pay for the car and then they say, well for a few thousand more we will make it work. I really have a problem with the logic of this and they and a lot of other manufacturers are getting away with it.

 

FWIW,

I'm a believer in extended warranties - especially on the C5. In the last three weeks I've had over $3,400 worth of work performed. I also believe that the C5 will have at least $2,000 worth of work performed in the 5 years or 65,000 miles following the factory warranty.

There is an extensive FAQ that I recently posted on extended warranties over in the General C5 section. You need to determine where your risk theasholds lie and how you can best protect your wallet. Extended Warranties are, for lack of a better term, a gamble.

Someone earlier equated extended warranties to an insurance policy - and that is exactly what an extended warranty is - an insurance policy. Just like car insurance, home insurance, life insurance, etc. This is auto performance insurance.

How much are you willing to pay on uncovered claims over a specified period of time? Is that more or less than what the extended warranty will cost? Do your homework! Compare policies on an apples to apples basis (this can be very difficult - but it is feasable). In the end - you need to be comfortable with your decision making ability regarding your risk level for future work.

Good Luck,
Eric


[Modified by embassured, 1:59 PM 8/2/2002]

 

If something breaks as a result of ones neglect or misuse is one thing but to have to pay for failures of defective parts or with poor specs is yet another. For example, water pump failure at 60K, Air conditioner fail at 45K, radio fails at 64K. If all cars without exception had this happen then its the way things are but to have an unlucky few have it happen and charge everyone extra for this stinks. What did I do to make the water pump fail, it had defective bearings, the radio had a bad solder joint and the air conditioner leaked due to defective compressor. Not even why the cats failed at 50k. This all and more happened on my 88. Now if you think its fair to charge 40K for a car and spend another 20 fixing screwups then its guys like you that let this happen again and again. :mad

 

Mass produced American cars-no way around it some people can drive 100K w/o changing the oil, or you can drive it off the lot and the rear tire falls off :eek:

The extended warranty game is very tricky. I just paid a little over $1500 for an out of warranty on 98 4x4 Expedition with low miles (29K), with 0% interest 10 easy payments-and it's bumper-to-bumper.

I am covered for 7 years from now, up to a 100K :D
A lot of these guys just grab your $$$ and go-so be cautious. I did a lot of looking and talking-and they are not freaked out by mods (but won't cover the mod if the mod fails).

 

It depends - as I have purchased one on every car I have had - and made out like a bandit on everyone..

I would never pay more than a grand for one and I have ALWAYS had several thousand dollars in service covered by them..

Just my experience.. :cheers:

 

<<Now if you think its fair to charge 40K for a car and spend another 20 fixing screwups then its guys like you that let this happen again and again.>>

Did you just get personal with my comment or were you just being a touch over-zealous in your opinion?

Do I think its right to spend another 20K more fixing factory screwups? Are you being serious here or are you just writing to see your own words on the screen?

I believe in fact and I believe in the statistics born out over the historical trend of a particular item. To me, It was a no brainer to think that I would spend $2,000 over the next 5 years or 65,000 miles. Based on my educated guess - I was right and hence why I hedged my risk with an insurance contract.

It seems you should have done the same with your '88 (if you had indeed had the chance). Should the car have from the factory with no defects - yes, absolutely! Will they EVER come from the factory without defects - NO WAY.

The question is do you substitute hope for reality when there is little you can do to impact the course of events. Warranties are about being a realist and then deciding how to best protect your downside (if you should at all).

Your problems suck, it's not fair, yes - it's GM's fault and there is nothing you can do to change that scenario (except don't buy their cars).

Next time buy a warranty if you buy Vette, if not, buy a Lexus. Like I said, its not fair - but it is reality.

Good Luck,
Eric

 

Sorry it you thought it was personnal. I get irritated when people get passive and say oh well that's the way it is. My 88 was a mess and I didn't include all that was wrong. Now my 77 went 125K with no problems at all, my 84 went 95 with zero problems, incidentally they were traded off at those points. My 85 had 100k with no problems, then there was the 88. My 00 had 90k with zero problems and was just traded off. My point is that of the 60 or so cars I've owned over the years without extended warranties has more or less paid off for me. They say the the average life of a car is defined as 120K, so cover it till then, whats the problem if it's built right. I don't like having to pay for oversites like poor bearing tolerances or sloppy workmanship. In my industry our warranty covers for the average life of product which ususally exceeds the life of the equipment it is in. Guess what we are extreemly successful and have been for over 50years. I just don't like having to pay AGAIN for something that should already work and because people let it happen it keeps going on. How would you like to buy something and they say, would you like it to work and if so pay us some more and we'll fix it.......

 

I have used my warranty for ........replacing two seat racks,glass top latch,glass top,h-pipe,fuel guage,temp. guage,power in seats broke......etc.

It was worth it for me, $1500 3yrs 36,000miles and they are really nice about it too.

 

Mike your right you came out on it but it shouldn't have broke to begin with. If it was built right to begin with these wouldn't be a problem. For example on my 00 I stated that there wasn't a problem, there was the fuel gauge. Had it replaced twice under the 36K. They wouldn't fix it the third time because it was out of warranty. Now is it right that I needed to pay extra for an extension so this screw up would be covered, I don't think so.

 

True, I have to admit that the build quality is pretty bad.....whereas the build quality of a porsche is much better. I think us vette owners take performance over quality........


[Modified by Mikegotool, 5:53 PM 8/3/2002]

 

Actually JD Powers puts the later C5s ahead of everybody for initial quality in the sportscar category.
And don't even get me started on the service costs on a Porsche!

 

Jimman,

I know how you feel. I take a look at my C5(s) and the problems that have endured with both of them - and it is frustrating.

I had a Lexus and the thing was engineered and built like tank. In one of Lexus's training videos it was said that they DID NOT release the LS400 until they could ensure that one with 50K on the odometer drove and performed like one that was brand new. That's engineering & commitment to quality.

Regarding the C5, we're all buying GM. It should be different and I suspect, one day it will be...

Have Fun,
Eric

 

Mass produced cars, mass produced price. I shopped Mercedes and Porche before I chose the 'vette.

I couldn't justify the $15-25K more in build quality vs. looks vs. performance, vs. moddability, vs. removable roof-and a slower car.

Oh, and an oil change and tune up you don't need NASA to perform!! :hat

 

I think the folks at Corvette have come a long way in the last 5 years, or so. If somebody told me they were going to win the Best Premium Sports Car in Initial Quality I would have been very dubious.
http://www.jdpa.com/studies/pressrel...ID=625&CatID=1

Also, I think it is still, somewhat, luck of the draw. I have a golfing buddy that has had a nightmare with his Boxster. He bought his a few months after i got my 2000 Hardtop. he has had all kinds of problems where my vette has never been back to the dealer.