Too many dealers

The vast majority of the time, the dealer and insurance company make out on the insurance. Otherwise, they wouldn't be selling it if they didn't make money.

jeff

Insurance is for things that you can't afford to fix yourself. A burnt down house, for example.

The cost of repairs, IMHO, doesn't qualify for buying insurance. The odds and costs make auto repairs something that most people should effectively self-insurance.

Yeah, but they can't very well say that these nearly identical cars have the insurance and these don't. Those sorts of offers apply to all qualifying cars.

Jeff

They should be illegal! You are more likely to be hit by the oncoming driver you blind.

I remember people said this when they changed from the system where one headlamp switched off altogether on low beams to leaving both lamps lit but aimed down. Then again when they changed from separate bulbs mounted in a reflector to sealed-beam units. And again when they changed to quartz-halogen lamps. I'm not old enough to remember, but they probably said the same when vehicle lighting changed from carbide or kerosene to electric.

Perce

This is a different situation. The white level is too high, blinding many oncoming drivers.

They are unnecessary for our driving conditions, but nice to have at the gas consuming high speeds on the AB in Germany.

I didnt have a choice in it, one way or the other. My responsibility is to dim my lights when there is oncoming traffic, and I do my best to be mindful of this.

I've not found it to be a problem, even on a two lane that is my regular route from work in the dark of winter. Idiots with high beams or poorly aimed driving lights are a bigger problem.

I never complained about others with HID headlights either, Ed. Nor with DSLs. They just dont bother me like they apparently upset some people

So that means that if you sell a $900 policy for $1200, you make a fast $300.

That means, assuming zero overhead and profit for the insurance company, a loss of $300, on average.

Jeff

Insurance is always a loss, unless you need it. Sometimes even then it is a loss.

Life insurance never helped a single insuree.

That's wrong in two counts: With life insurance, you can get an annuity with it. That's not a good idea. Plus, if death is imminent, the insurance companies may be willing to provide a payout while one is still living (at less than what the payout would have been).

However, the insuree is not the person who is insured. Rather, what is insured the financial well-being of the beneficiary of the insuree. And that has made a lot of lives easier after the passing of a loved (or hated one).

Jeff

I know all that, but the fact stands, simple life insurance doesnt help the insured.

I agree that those repairs are expensive, but I still - were one of those problems to occur - would be money ahead without having spent the money for the extended policy. Average the cost and the risks over several cars over the years, and you would average out money ahead without the extended coverage. If not, the companies would not be able to stay in business.

Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with the letter 'x')

Which is one of the reasons I do my own work whenever possible.

I happen to have a '99 Concorde with a bad evaporator now, and I still have no regrets not having extended coverage.

Bill Putney (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with the letter 'x')

It is only justified if the cost of repairs exceeds the cost of the insurance (it is sold like insurance, a service contract pays for actual services). Considering the typical cost of the policy is about $1200, you need at least one large or two medium expenses to be covered. The total expenses of my last four cars combined would not have made that amount in the first 100,000 miles. As the car gets older and more miles, the cost of the policy goes up making it even less attractive.

If it makes you warm and fuzzy feeling, by all means, buy it. If you are practical and have $500 in the bank to cover repairs, it is a money loser. As I said, a few people may make out on the deal, but most do not. That is how the insurance companies make money.