Experiences with Extended Warranties - Vehicle Service Contracts?

[Scoobey]

I'm thinking about buying a 2000 Tahoe with 109,000 miles on it. I've been offered a limited vehicle services contract -- basically covers internally lubricated parts of the engine and tranny, with one huge exclusion: if an internal part fails due to failure of a non-covered part, it's not covered. In other words, if it just throws a rod, I'm covered; if a radiator hose comes off and the engine overheats before I notice, I'm not covered.

So it's not comprehensive, but there are a lot of potential problems that could be covered (for instance, if the tranny just goes out) -- and it's only $599.

Any thoughts? Anyone have experiences, good or bad, with these companies? There's a lot of bad reports on the Internets, but of course no one bothers writing about the good experiences they have! (And I'm a recovering litigator -- clean for 6 years now, but I can still raise more of a stink if they jerk me around than most people could.)

 

[2001Yuke]

What kind of coverage will you have, 2 year 24k? I sell cars, I always push them we usually make money on them, it sounds like they are selling it at cost. I bought the warranty with the two cars that I have financed, unfortunately I can't get anything to go wrong *Knock on wood* so I can't actually use it.

 

[Scoobey]

Warranty

The one I'm looking at is from DriverzEdge. It's a VSC, 5 yr 100,000 mile, engine and tranny internal lubed parts only, and not if they fail due to something else. Dealer says it's at cost... but I don't know whether it's a good deal even still. I could skip it and trust the truck to be reliable for another few years... or spend more money on something more comprehensive... or I could trust myself to pay close enough attention to my fluid levels etc. that the chance of an external failure destroying the engine or tranny is low... just dunno.

Since you're in the biz, btw... is $6k for a '00 Tahoe Z71 with 109,900 mi in good shape a good deal?

Thanks (oh -- and also fun trading barbs with you on the politics thread, even if we both did go off topic!! :thumbsup

 

[812EnRoute]

You need to be careful with after market warranty companies. They tend to find the littlest loop hole they can find and say they won't cover it. You also need to know that your service writer knows how to talk with them to make sure they will cover what needs to be covered. I know from experience working in a dealership (mostly Toyota and some Chevy) and from my truck. I took the extended after market warranty for around $500 and bought the truck with the ABS Light on. The warranty covers the internals for motor, trans, rear end and some other stuff. One of the things it said it covers is all ABS components. My problem was the wire that comes off the pump had a lot of corrosion on it causing the light to turn on. The best way to fix it would be replace the pump. The way the service writer explained it to the warranty company was that a wire was bad and needed to be fixed, so they said nope he can pay fix the wire we do not cover the electrical of ABS. After me talking with the warranty company, witch was a pain since the truck is under my fiance name (because I bought the house), I found a lady that was willing to help and she let me know what was going on with the claim I had some more info to bring back to my writer and now service manager who was involved. The service manager knew who I was and that I worked there before told me the writer is kinda new and did not know how to talk with warranty companies yet. Talking with my buddy who worked on the truck he said we can try replacing the wire and worse case we "find a short" in the pump after the wire gets fixed and make them pay for it witch they said they then will cover if fixing the wire fails to fix the problem. He was able to fix it and I was on my way and paid less to get it fixed than the warranty would have charged me for a deductable.

 

[Scoobey]

What Company Was Your Warranty With?

You sure had a headache getting them to do the right thing, but it sounds like you got a better warranty than the one I'm looking at, for the same money. What company was it, and how long did it extend?

 

[2001Yuke]

Hey, I sell the DriverzEdge Warranty at my personal lot (just got my dealers license). They have two types a 90 day unlimited mileage warranty that is $90 and the 5 year 100,000 that is $395 PLUS the other $90. So he is making $100 on you. It is a decent warranty but there is some fine print. I don't have a brochure in front of me but it only includes internally lubricated parts and I remember hearing something about there being a $1000 max but that might just be the $90 warranty. The truck is a good deal for sure. If they have the title on site ask to see it, it may be branded. To get a warranty on my Yukon it was $1200, but it covers EVERYTHING, unfortunately I can't make anything go wrong.

As for the politics thread, I give up. Politicians are all liars, can't trust any of them. They are the worst, they make you (attorney), and I (car salesman) Look GOOD!

 

[Scoobey]

Pinging 2001Yuke: Your Warranty Covers Everything?

For $1,200 I might be interested in that. How long's it last, and do you still sell it or know who does?

 

[2001Yuke]

Where are you from? I bought my warranty when I was signing that paperwork on my truck at the Credit Union. It's only a 2 year 24k, so I need to break something worth at least $2000 before January 2009 OR 81,011 miles.

BTW I forgot that you have to charge an additional $100 for the 4x4 system. So he actually was selling it at cost.

Anyone know how to make a transmission go out?

 

[Scoobey]

Making a Tranny Go Out

Anyone know how to make a transmission go out?

I wouldn't want to try and break something just to make the warranty cutoff -- bad karma, you may get reincarnated as a Ford -- but I'd definitely do any fluid flushes etc. a few thousand miles before expiration, since that's what lots of folks say causes them to finally go kaput.

I'm in Oregon, btw.

 

[2001Yuke]

Really where abouts? I am in Milwaukie, just south of Portland. I need to change out the fluids. But I know if I do I may as well cancel the warranty because nothing will go wrong. As soon as I cancel it however it will throw a rod. Thats life.

 

[Scoobey]

Tigard, and Transmission Fluids

I'm in Tigard, near King City. Kicking myself today, because I went down to the lot to pull the trigger and buy the '00 Tahoe I've been looking at (Z71, leather, super clean, 109,000 miles, $6k) SOLD this morning! Damn, damn, damn.

About the tranny, I seriously would do a flush a few thou before the warranty ran. There's a good thread on this that's active right now; look for the discussion of "sugar." http://www.tahoeforum.com/showthread.php?p=77869#post77869

See ya --

 

[2001Yuke]

That sucks about the Tahoe, that always happens. I am an Internet Sales Manager meaning the majority of my customers are one of two people 1) jack-offs that have no intention of buying a car, got off work, had a drink and a bong hit, decided to screw around on-line or 2) serious about buying but are a month out. So a month rolls around they finally get their asses in and oops the car we talked about a month ago sold... Sorry.