Thank god for extended warranties

I think you guys are missing Ashtons point...

A long time ago, in a nearly forgotten comic strip - husband has admonished his wife about unecessary purchases... she retaliates with " what about you? you just HAD to buy that fire extinguisher... and have you used it yet? Nooooooo...".

Personally, I find extended warrantees unattractive.... some find the "peace of mind" offered as irreplaceable... some even make out like Jack the Bear .

It is OK to have an opinion... but being judgemental is a tad lame..

In a sense, of course. But you are not making a bet so it's an imperfect analogy. No one should buy insurance with the expectation that they will come out ahead since the whole premise of insurance is that the vast majority of participants will not.

I do agree with you, in that I didn't buy the insurance to make money or come out ahead. Remember that I just got rid of a car with a blown engine, so that thought was running around in my head. And, heaven forbid, I don't buy health insurance with the idea of coming out "ahead.." That said, and agreeing with you, worst case scenerio, a new car is a lot cheaper than cancer.

From what many of you are saying, I should have kept the money and driven to Vegas -- "maybe" I would have come out ahead.

I think you just run the what ifs in your head and make a decision, whether its a trip to Vegas or a car warranty. I still think I did good in this case, but the vast majority of the time I never buy an extended warranty on anything.

The dealer doesn't care if you use the insurance. He makes his cut when he sells you the policy.

No this is like the sucker lottery bet: The state takes in $100 and pays out $50.

Jeff

Well, it seems this one paid out OK - RIGHT?

The insurance cost $2200, but the charges were $2000. And the person lost out on interest, too. Plus, the prices paid were dealer prices. THe person could have gotton the same service for less at an independent dealer.

So, no, the person lost out.

I'm to friggin' old for "got some".

Momma spent the last week in Edmonton visiting doctors again but she's home now...

Besides... I reserve "being judgemental" for me....

My Saturday to work.... and what a day it was......

There is one cercumstance where buying an aftermarket warranty can make sense. When buying a used vehicle of unknown provinance from a dealer who's reputation you do not know. If you get a warranty from one of the "better" companies, it will cover the patched up tranny and damaged engine the shyster didn't tell you about.

Better idea though, is to never buy a car from that kind of place in the first place.

I know of numerous used car lots that lost the "right" to sell these warrantees because they basically sold them on every car they sold - and never did any repairs or even inspections before selling. The contract they sign when they sell the warrantee to you states they have checked the car and there are no known mechanical problems with the car. When about 75% of the vehicles sold by these guys need major repairs within 6 months - and many within weeks (like this Escape) you know they are working a fiddle.

The Ranger is sold by Ford, not Mazda. Mazda doesn't even sell a pickup any more.

That was the Ford Courier.

Finally, you got it right. Before, you said: "Actually the Mazda are generally based on the Ford designed chassis, not the other way around."

Please note that there are two Ford Rangers. The US model is made by Ford. The model in most countries outside the US (including Europe, Africa and Asia) is designed by Mazda. In addition, Ford may stop selling the US Ranger at the end of the next model year. It is expected to close the plant in the next couple of years.

The american escort had nothing in common with the Euro Escort. It was a thinly disguised 323.

The engine was the same. I think the original Escort was derived from the European Escort, although it had little in common with it. I don't think it was until the second generation that Mazda got heavily involved.

Either way, it was a best-selling car.

Jeff

If that's the case, one would wonder why you are considering the car at all, unless the price is really, really low.

See, I hate to tell you so. But I knew it.

Working a fiddle? I never heard that expression.

Jeff

Madza were the lead engineers on the Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute project. Check with your "Ford sources" if you doubt me.

Derek

Source please. Autoworld says they're light trucks. I trust them.

Derek

Vans are a type of light truck, too.

I think the reason why they were considered light trucks is so that Chrysler could raise their light truck CAFE.

I don't know whether or not they are considered vans, but for all practical purposes, they are cars.

Jeff

He lost out on interest for a couple of months - not a biggie with today's interest rates. Yes, he could have paid less - but at a Ford dealership the warrantee on what was replaced WILL be better than at the local AC shop.

But that wasn't my point. It appears this warrantee company paid to have it fixed - in a timely manner - which some don't. I was responding strictly to "Why anyone would buy warranties from insurance companies without checking out how well the companies pay out claims is beyond me." from the previous post.

Also, the OP stated he bought the vehicle without having it inspected (OK - I know, that is generally a DUMB thing to do) and bought the warrantee as a hedge bet. And it appears he may have been smart to do that after making the dumb move of buying the vehicle without having it inspected. Chances are pretty good he'll be using that "warrantee" again before it expires.

That said - like I said before, they are generally NOT a good deal (or as I said before, investment)

It's a British or colonial expression. It was a common expression among the British Expats in Zambia in the years I spent down there.

The first generation Escort/Lynx was even further removed from the English Escort. The Escort 2000 Mexico of that period was a REAL car. They were front engine rear drive like the Cortina (and Pinto) but smaller