Car Extended Warranty

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Extended Warranty

Ah probably the most discussed topic in the automotive industry, the extended warranty. Should I get one? Should I save my money and pass it up? Is it a scam? etc. Hopefully I can put this one to sleep

An extended warranty can be a great piece of mind to have. Its like life insurance, its something you don't want to use, but it is nice to know you are covered in case anything happens. I guess what I am saying is an extended warranty is a craps shoot. On one hand cars are being built better and are designed to last longer, but on the other hand there are more parts to have problems. Some of these parts can be very expensive.

I own an American pickup truck, while my wife owns a small Japanese car. Well when it came down to it, we bough an extended warranty on my truck for two reasons. First my truck has a lot more electronics etc that I though would be expensive to fix. Second we were always taught that American vehicle don't hold up as well. I never believed this, but again I wasn't about to take a chance, so we bought an extended warranty on the truck and not her car. Why? Because we were smart and our thinking was logical. Well all said and done, we have taken her car in 7 times for repairs and my truck never. We both have about 55,000 miles. Our last repair to her car was because the hood, that's right the hood wouldn't shut. This is a part that gets used maybe about twenty times since we owned it. The cost was $400 for a new latch and cable.

My point is that it really is a craps shoot. Personally I like them because it gives me a piece of mind. If you decide to get an extended warranty, shop around. There are plenty of online companies that can offer extended warranties at a better price than the dealer. So before you buy a car, shop for a warranty also. Just make sure the company is reputable and has been in business for over ten year. You don't want to go with one of these fly by night companies. Also read what you are buying. Make sure they cover the problems you want covered. Again take time and read and do you home work and in the end, you will end up being a lot better off.