Extended Warranty for PD TDI?

Our local dealer is offering a three-year extended warranty on our 2004 and 2006 TDIs. The warranty covers just about everything the factory warranty does except airbags and interior trim items. The cost is about $2,300, paid over 18 months with little or no interest. We plan to keep these cars for a while, since were committed to running B100, which the newer TDIs can't. So do you think $2,300 over three years is worthwhile . . . or should we just take our chances with repairs . . . . gambling that they won't cost more than the warranty? Of course . . . we still have to pay for regular maintenance anyway. Thanks.

Is there a chance that the warranty will refuse coverage on account of your Bio-Diesel use? Better find out in advance... (and please don't take a salesman's word for this... read the fine print...)

The other known problems with your model cars are the camshaft/lifter wear issues and the ceramic glow plugs that can disintegrate (although if you've had the VW update, there's a better chance at longevity)...

Last thought: Will you have to get your regular servicing performed at the dealership in order to keep this warranty in force?

Yuri

Befor you buy any automotive extended warranty ...Please call your State Attorney's office. Over the years members of this forum have posted with some serious problems related to these extended warranty programs.

http://hawaii.gov/ag/

Call and ask if the provider (of your extened warranty) has any legal matters consering consumer law under rewiew and verifi that the warranty provider is even legaly offering warranty insurance in your state.

ymz said:

Is there a chance that the warranty will refuse coverage on account of your Bio-Diesel use? Better find out in advance... (and please don't take a salesman's word for this... read the fine print...)

The other known problems with your model cars are the camshaft/lifter wear issues and the ceramic glow plugs that can disintegrate (although if you've had the VW update, there's a better chance at longevity)...

Last thought: Will you have to get your regular servicing performed at the dealership in order to keep this warranty in force?

Yuri

Click to expand...

VW only accepts up to 5% bio use.

I don't think they allow any bio in that car.

I will continue to run B100 in both cars, as we have done from the beginning. We've had no problems, except one fuel pump when the 2004 was very young and the dealer blamed it on bio. No proof, of course. But they denied warranty coverage. I should have taken them to court . . . as others have and won . . . but I didn't know I had that option at the time. Anyway, we've run thousands of miles on B100 without any other issues.

But why would you buy a warranty, then use a fuel that is not allowed, likely voiding the warranty? By all means continue to run bio, just don't buy the warranty.

Well any car can have major expensive repairs.

The profit to the salesman and company is usually over 50%. So for every $1,000 you spend the insurance company has less than $500 to pay for repairs or they will loose money, something insurance companies do not do. Some people will get nothing back and some will get a lot more than they pay. Most will get far less. In addition you need to keep in mind that the insurer has worded it to eliminate as many expensive things as they can.

Remember that the seller is out to make money and they get to write the rules and set the price. They are not going to sell them at a loss so one way or another they are going to have you pay more than they will pay out.

Would you gamble with a car dealer who gets to set all the rules and knows all the odds?

Your decision has to do with the value of the piece of mind it gives you. If that is worth the cost then buy it. Don't expect it to cover everything however, most are written to keep cost down and exempt what they know will cost them money.

Good Luck