- #1 of 47
-
Chevrolet Impala: Warranty & Extended Warranty
by KarenS HOST
-
Jun 19, 2006 (8:38 am)
-
|
|
moved to here
|
- #2 of 47
-
Extended warranty
by bh0001
-
Apr 04, 2006 (6:49 am)
-
|
I had a 5yr/160,000km extended warranty on my '01 Impala LS. It paid for itself 2x over. Transmission issue (can't remember what it was), BCM, front wheel bearings (slightly damaged by someone backing into me, but they covered replacing both!), steering shaft, and a few other things.
I bought a 4yr/160,000km GMPP extended warranty with my '06 LTZ. I'm no good at the whole "put aside some extra money to cover future repairs" thing, so I choose the extended warranty.
As much as I love my Impala, I do agree that it's sad that I feel so strongly about purchasing an extended warranty because I pretty much expect things to go wrong. It would be nice if the factory warranty was longer, but as charts2 said, warranty costs are just built-in to the cost of the car anyway. Either way, you end up paying!
I'm up to about 7,000km in 10 weeks on my LTZ with zero problems.
|
- #3 of 47
-
Re: Extended warranty [bh0001]
by nosirrahg
-
Apr 04, 2006 (9:54 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: bh0001 (Apr 04, 2006 6:49 am)
How many of those problems did you have outside the timeframe that would have been covered by the original manufacturers warranty? I haven't had anything "new" crop up with my 2000 Impala since the warranty expired at 36k miles (and I'm over 91k miles now). As far as I can remember I haven't had any problems outside the initial warranty period that would have been covered by an extended warranty (which would have expired by now anyway).
|
- #4 of 47
-
Re: Extended warranty [nosirrahg]
by bh0001
-
Apr 04, 2006 (11:23 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: nosirrahg (Apr 04, 2006 9:54 am)
All of the things I mentioned were outside of the original manufacturer's warranty and were only covered because I had the extended warranty. I had a few things covered by the original manufacturer's warranty as well (most notably the upper intake manifold and another gasket leak).
The nice thing about extended warranties is that they are OPTIONAL. Everyone can do their own cost/benefit analysis and decide what they feel most comfortable with. There's no right or wrong - just what each person feels is best for them. 
|
- #5 of 47
-
Re: Extended warranty [bh0001]
by steve333
-
Apr 04, 2006 (2:38 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: bh0001 (Apr 04, 2006 11:23 am)
I had my mother buy a API Warranty (purchased from the Chevy dealer, who was pushing this one over GM's own!) on her 2006 Impala. It is $1400 for 7 years/100,000 miles. It seems like a good price and covers almost everything. There is a $100 deductible though. However, if she never has to use the warranty, after the 7 yr period she gets a full refund. Seemed like a good deal to me. Also, with the API Warranty she can get the car fixed at any service place, not just Chevy.
|
- #6 of 47
-
Re: Extended warranty [steve333]
by dispencer1
-
Apr 04, 2006 (3:45 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: steve333 (Apr 04, 2006 2:38 pm)
The dealers sometimes push third party warranties but I'd never buy anything but GM Protection Plan for a GM car. What if API goes out of business? You have kissed $1400 good bye. Look at ripoffreport.com and read the reports from buyers of the Winns warranty. The third party warranties are cheaper as a rule but I wouldn't buy one.
|
- #7 of 47
-
Re: Extended warranty [bh0001]
by white6
-
Apr 05, 2006 (5:54 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: bh0001 (Apr 04, 2006 11:23 am)
I agree with you 100%. I have only purchased extended warranty one time, and only because they offered it so cheap ($350 to extend my Sierra warranty to 5/60 from 3/36). Of course, GMC was forced to buy back this lemon and I received refund on the warranty. Olds dealer wanted $750 for GMPP when I purchased my 99 Intrigue in Dec. 98. Would have extended the warranty to 6/100. Between 36,000 and 100,000 miles I spend $450 on repairs, so I would have been down $300 (plus $200 for 2 deductibles, of course). Of course, the tranny required extensive repair at 105,000 ($1650 rebuild from a trusted independent shop as opposed to $2500 from dealer service dept.) but it wouldn't have been covered, since I was 5,000 miles past the warranty limit. You are basically buying an insurance policy and gambling that your car will require more in repairs than the policy costs (plus the $100 per visit deductible). I'm glad they give me the option of not paying for the extended warranty. I actually have a friend (very saavy mechanically) that mentioned he wished they would just sell him a car without a warranty at all and knock off $1,000. He's also considering all the hair he's lost dealing with frustrating dealer service departments. Can't disagree; if I see one more "can't duplicate/normal operation" I may punch someone. How do you force them to fix something that they say is "normal operation?"
|
- #8 of 47
-
Re: Extended warranty [white6]
by 66novss
-
Apr 05, 2006 (9:05 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: white6 (Apr 05, 2006 5:54 am)
I wonder how much in cost the basic 3 year 36K mile warranty actually adds to the price of a vehical. I know its factored in[the price],but is it possible to purchase a vehical with out it? Very doubtful.
|
- #9 of 47
-
Re: Extended warranty [white6]
by mitzij
-
Apr 05, 2006 (11:47 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: white6 (Apr 05, 2006 5:54 am)
"How do you force them to fix something that they say is "normal operation?" "
You can't force them, but you can:
1. return to the dealer when the vehicle is acting up,
request to ride with a technician, and point out your concern.
There may be an explanation for your trouble, or they may have incomplete information from their service writers. I've seen repair orders with 'Check noise' as the complaint. The tech has no idea what the noise is. We had a lady with an annoying rattle noise. The tech checked it several times, no problem found. He rode with the lady and found the problem: her garage door remote was rattling in it's cubbyhole!
Many times a customer will leave an Early Bird envelope with a complaint: Leaks. What leaks, when, how much, where does the leak seem to be coming from? If I can't get ahold of that customer, my tech is stuck searching for a leak that could be as little as the a/c condenser doing it's draining thing.
2. find another dealer. another shop may have a tech that has A) seen your problem before and knows the fix for it or B) actually looks for technical bulletins.
|
- #10 of 47
-
Re: Extended warranty [steve333]
by mitzij
-
Apr 05, 2006 (12:10 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: steve333 (Apr 04, 2006 2:38 pm)
There's a reason why the F&I guy was pushing the API service contract over GMPP. It's not because he is your friend.
Make sure that refund promise is in writing, on the contract.
|
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Sedans 
