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Gold Plus Extended Warranty -- worth it?

133 messages,  Last post on Feb 19, 2013 at 12:40 AM

You are in the Subaru Forester Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Forester, Subaru, Car Warranties, Wagon

Messages Page 4 of 14

#29 of 133 Re: Low Priced Genuine Subaru Extended Warranties [aatherton] by jogousa

Jul 20, 2010 (3:17 pm)

Replying to: aatherton (Jul 20, 2010 1:45 pm)
Well, I am having second thoughts about this warranty on my 2010 XT.
 
My other Subaru Forester (2005) with about 50,000 miles on it (that I gave to my son) has major auto transmission problems. He took it to 3 different authorized Subaru dealers (in California) and all 3 of them gave him 3 different possible causes and estimates, what it would take to fix it (averaging $ 2000 price to fix it).
 
Then he took it to our friend who has a transmission repair shop for the last 20 years and we ended up making an all-wheel drive only rear-wheel drive (paid him $ 700 for a 2 week diagnostic work).
 
He took the transmission apart, replaced some gears and solenoids and still could not get it working. So he simply made my son't Forester a 2 wheel (rear wheel) drive.
 
Subaru tech support that he contacted was of little help, replacement parts are not available and they suggested a brand new transmission. Refurbised transmissions are not available on either coast (West or East). Also, apparently there are 2 different auto transmission configurations; one for East and one for West Coast.
 
So there you have it. I am seriously thinking of getting an extended warranty for 6 years / 100 k now!

#30 of 133 Re: Low Priced Genuine Subaru Extended Warranties [xwesx] by aatherton

Jul 21, 2010 (5:33 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Jul 20, 2010 1:44 pm)
"So, are you recommending that I consider the extended warranty?"
 
I don't know enough about you to recommend either way.
On one hand, if you will only put a few thousand gentle miles on the car during the term of the warranty, the premium cannot be worthwhile.
On the other hand, if you can give the car hard use for all the miles in the contract, there is a better chance the premium will be worthwhile.

#31 of 133 Re: Low Priced Genuine Subaru Extended Warranties [aatherton] by jogousa

Jul 21, 2010 (6:57 am)

Replying to: aatherton (Jul 21, 2010 5:33 am)
I don't think there is any difference between "gentle" driving and "hard driving".
The difference would be if you do most of your driving in the city or highway and in what climate do you live in.
 
If you do mostly highway driving in mild climates then it's not worth it, in my opinion.
 
If you plan to keep the car "forever" and/or if you drive in either extreme hot or extreme cold climates, I would get it.
 
Remember my earlier post, generally speaking it's not worth it (according to leading consumer research companies) but anyway you toss it, it's an "insurance".
 
Same thing with healthcare insurance. Do you expect to get sick?
 
In my own scenario (and my recent experience) since I plan to keep the car "forever" - I am getting it (6 years 100 K Gold Plan). Subaru USA has a 10 months installment plan so it's not such a shock on your budget.

#32 of 133 Re: Low Priced Genuine Subaru Extended Warranties [aatherton] by xwesx

Jul 21, 2010 (10:54 am)

Replying to: aatherton (Jul 21, 2010 5:33 am)
I was joking and would not expect you to give an actual recommendation - I simply thought it apt that you made that comment shortly after I returned from a trip of "hard use." I am actually undecided at this point, but will likely not get the warranty based on previous Subaru experiences.
 
We have about 15,500 on the car now after ten months of ownership, but typical annual totals are about 15,000.

#33 of 133 Re: Low Priced Genuine Subaru Extended Warranties [jogousa] by aatherton

Jul 21, 2010 (2:55 pm)

Replying to: jogousa (Jul 21, 2010 6:57 am)
"... I don't think there is any difference between "gentle" driving and "hard driving". "
 
I am sorry if I was misunderstood. I was not talking about gentle driving, I was talking about gentle use.
 
I am old, retired, and the only driver and occupant of the car. When not being driven, it spends its life in the garage out of sun and weather. It does not commute. It does not carry kids or pets or cargo. It does not go in snow or off pavement. It only goes 7,000 miles per year. I don't yank the windows to open or close the doors, or run the sunroof every day. Many of the controls are rarely used. The leather is still smelling new, the underside is clean, and the car will have the same newness when it is 6 years old with only 42,000 miles. It is not worth buying an extended warranty.
 
On the other hand, some cars are left out in the weather, commuted long distances every day, often driven by several drivers, perhaps by aggressive young drivers, and may carry kids, pets, cargo, and perhaps be used in snow, gravel roads, or off road. These cars are going to accumulate the miles and use and wear that make an extended warranty worthwhile.

#34 of 133 Re: Low Priced Genuine Subaru Extended Warranties [robsis] by ateixeira

Jul 22, 2010 (11:11 am)

Replying to: robsis (Jul 03, 2010 9:13 am)
Agree that it really boils down to price for that warranty. $2300 is too much, IMHO, that pays for a major repair and two of them are very unlikely and you may not want to keep the car anyway.
 
We drive few miles (3 cars, only 2 drivers) so for us a 7/70 warranty would be less than a grand, and you get roadside assistance for the 4 years beyond the OEM warranty.

#35 of 133 Re: Low Priced Genuine Subaru Extended Warranties [ateixeira] by robsis

Jul 22, 2010 (9:00 pm)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jul 22, 2010 11:11 am)
Just bought the 6/60 for our '09 Leggy (we drive 7500 a year or so). Great price (695) and Don at Mastria was great. Easy to deal with and fast service. Recommended!
 
Thanx, Don!

#36 of 133 Re: Low Priced Genuine Subaru Extended Warranties [ateixeira] by jogousa

Jul 23, 2010 (3:43 am)

Replying to: ateixeira (Jul 22, 2010 11:11 am)
As stated earlier on these pages, these warranties have a huge mark-up and dealers are not allowed to advertise them.
 
You don't have to buy this warranty from the dealer that sold you the car.
Don Mastria Subaru can get you the same warranty for close to half the price, depending on length of coverage and deductible chosen.

#37 of 133 Re: Low Priced Genuine Subaru Extended Warranties [jogousa] by ateixeira

Jul 23, 2010 (8:53 am)

Replying to: jogousa (Jul 23, 2010 3:43 am)
Absolutely, there are huge margins, look at robsis' price for instance.

#38 of 133 Re: Low Priced Genuine Subaru Extended Warranties [robsis] by xwesx

Jul 23, 2010 (10:17 am)

Replying to: robsis (Jul 22, 2010 9:00 pm)
Was yours the classic or gold warranty?

Messages Page 4 of 14

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