Warranty Almost Up

[Welker]

Re: Warranty Almost Up

A note to Greg: Extended warranties are a good thing if you keep the car for 100k miles. I had $4000 done on my T Bird for the $100 deductable. All the window motors went bad on my '98 Audi and cost the dealer $4500 to repair(he knew about the problem at trade in time). I have never considered it a waste of money when I didn't need the warranty.

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: Warranty Almost Up

A note to Greg: Extended warranties are a good thing if you keep the car for 100k miles. I had $4000 done on my T Bird for the $100 deductable. All the window motors went bad on my '98 Audi and cost the dealer $4500 to repair(he knew about the problem at trade in time). I have never considered it a waste of money when I didn't need the warranty.

Ned, I appreciate where you and some of the other gentlemen are coming from. I've bought these extended warranties on a few cars I've owned over the years. In only one case, a 1982 Chrysler LeBaron convertible, did I ever have more work done under the warranty than it cost.

All I'm saying is that cars today, regardless of manufacturer, are far better than they were 10 or 20 years ago. Most problems will either be identified during the initial warranty (usually 36 months on most vehicles now) and then will go on to do 100,000 miles with no major problems. As these cars age at some point you'll have to run your risk if you plan to keep the car longer term as I do.

Also, I agree that an extended warranty may make some sense for those driving their Thunderbird daily and plan to drive it up to 100,000 or more miles in the next few years. For those who use their Thunderbirds more as a evening/weekend toy, as I do, you're probably not as likely to collect under an extended warranty as we're not putting a lot of wear on the cars.

Anyways, those are my thoughts on this subject.

[2K2BIRD]

Re: Warranty Almost Up

Jewel turned 7 years old this week and as a result the Ford extended warranty I purchased is no longer in effect. I guess I could have saved the money - I didn't have to use the extended warranty one time in the 4 years it was in effect.

That might make a couple of interesting polls in about 2012 or so when the extended warranties for the 2005's are gone. How many times did we have to use the warranties and what were the dollar amounts avoided? It wouldn't do much good to do them now since there are several years warranty left on a lot of the cars and the data would change constantly.

I'm not sad I bought the warranty as it provided a certain peace of mind, but I'm really happy Jewel has been so reliable and fun to drive over the past 7 years. Where did they go? Seems like only yesterday she was the only "new" Thunderbird in town.

[z06bigbird]

Re: Warranty Almost Up

On luxury cars, I sometimes buy the warranty because it makes the purchase attractive to the next buyer. I buy the ext warr only if I get a wholesale price on it. (I have been able to find good pricing for GM products [GMPP], but not for Ford products.)

[02TBIRD]

Re: Warranty Almost Up

The Ford ESP Warranty on 02TBird expires in 20 days. So far with
a dip stick replaced, valve cover gaskets replaced, and 2 COP's w/8 spark
plugs, boots and gaskets (again), I'm about $400 ahead of what the
warranty cost.

Would I buy it again on a 'new production' car? Yes.

02TBird
See you in Hot Springs!!

[2K2BIRD]

Re: Warranty Almost Up

I need to amend my post - I did have to use the warranty once in Nashville when the power steering switch started leaking power steering fluid. Not sure exactly what that would have cost to fix, but I do know the part itself was about $25.

[mamabird]

Re: Warranty Almost Up

Ed... I do the same thing with our dealership here. We are in a small town and we bought my husbands hugh monster Ford truck there and we (sales guy and I) tried all year long to find a T-Bird so I did bring him pizza for his effort. I took up homemade fudge to the service guys when I pointed out a small rip on the armrest thing in the truck and they fixed it when their leather repair guy came in.

Since having my Bird for the past 3 weeks I have taken it up there for floor mats, touch up paint (I have a few rock chips) and the owners maual, synthetic oil change because I don't know what the previous owner had in it, and while she was on the rack I looked underneath and found that one of her tires had a big gash in it. All of that cost me a few bills and thats it. Coming from a dealership I thought that was a good deal ESPECIALLY with a woman going in there. They always seem to give the guys the good deals

Anyways~> I was thinking about getting a exteneded warranty because I noticed that my little heat seat light on my passanger side is flickering and the finance guy said that would be covered under the warranty. I just don't know much of the cars history except of what I got on car fax and what potentially could go wrong. She is my daily ride... she just doesn't sit in the garage for the ocassional weekend. Not to sound too political but I think Ford and GM will be around... the government will probably bail them out too.

[Ski]

Re: Warranty Almost Up

Can I even get a warranty on an '02 with 16k miles? From who? Auto warranty scams are abounding. I get mail notices telling my warranty is about to expire but don't say which car or have anything specific about it. Same with e-mail - which I trust even less.

[mamabird]

Re: Warranty Almost Up

I was going to go through Ford... I am friends with the finance mgr there and he said that he could get me one for mine? I don't know the details of it though... I will let you know...

[Borla Babe]

Re: Warranty Almost Up

Can I even get a warranty on an '02 with 16k miles? From who? Auto warranty scams are abounding. I get mail notices telling my warranty is about to expire but don't say which car or have anything specific about it. Same with e-mail - which I trust even less.

John, your original warranty would have expired by now, and then an extended warranty kicks in, if one was purchased. After the extended warranty expires, that's it, no more chances to renew. Those warranty offers you receive in the mail are worthless, just trash them.

[Leroy]

Re: Warranty Almost Up

Ski, I think Ford has a warranty you can get, even if your original 3 year/36,000 mile warranty has expired. It's like thier Certified Used car warranty. They give your car a inspection first and then give you a price. I would think with the low miles you might get a pretty good deal. It's worth a try. Independent warranties are different. You pay the full bill and send it to them and then they send you a check for what they say your warranty covers. Some of them are just Scams. Leroy

[Ediron]

Re: Warranty Almost Up

Said it in an early post my company pays the dealer with Visa my outlay $50 deductable.

[z06bigbird]

Re: Warranty Almost Up

Hmm......do you mean when Leroy is dead; or when his warranty expires and he has to sell the T-Bird?

....as long as I get the bird. Now, that just does not sound right. Time to quit.

Ed

[z06bigbird]

Re: Warranty Almost Up

Ed... I do the same thing with our dealership here. We are in a small town and we bought my husbands hugh monster Ford truck there and we (sales guy and I) tried all year long to find a T-Bird so I did bring him pizza for his effort. I took up homemade fudge to the service guys when I pointed out a small rip on the armrest thing in the truck and they fixed it when their leather repair guy came in.

Since having my Bird for the past 3 weeks I have taken it up there for floor mats, touch up paint (I have a few rock chips) and the owners maual, synthetic oil change because I don't know what the previous owner had in it, and while she was on the rack I looked underneath and found that one of her tires had a big gash in it. All of that cost me a few bills and thats it. Coming from a dealership I thought that was a good deal ESPECIALLY with a woman going in there. They always seem to give the guys the good deals

Anyways~> I was thinking about getting a exteneded warranty because I noticed that my little heat seat light on my passanger side is flickering and the finance guy said that would be covered under the warranty. I just don't know much of the cars history except of what I got on car fax and what potentially could go wrong. She is my daily ride... she just doesn't sit in the garage for the ocassional weekend. Not to sound too political but I think Ford and GM will be around... the government will probably bail them out too.

My approach to life is that I think "people are more fun than anybody." I believe in treating people very politely and courteously. Most people will reciprocate.

I happend to go by the local Caddy dealer today and visited with the of the sales people, service writer, lot attendants, and one or two mechanics. I did not take them any gifts, but we all chatted for a few minutes. It gives them a break from their routine, and I learn a few things about various cars and problems.

The best part was when I walked by the cashier's office and saw the service director and service manager working at two desks in there. I approached one of the clerks and loudly asked "who has been hiring these ugly girls in here?" Five or six of us were almost rolling on the floor. Picture two gray haired guys working there instead of the normal girls. That was fun, and we all enjoyed it. I love getting away with that kind of _rap.

This might be the only fun in life that I get. Who knows!

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: Warranty Almost Up

....as long as I get the bird. Now, that just does not sound right. Time to quit.

Ed

No further comment. From my personal experience, only once did I come out ahead with the extended warranty. Every other time, I would have been better off saving my money and paying for the service when the need occurred. Obviously, others have had different experiences or like the peace of mind.