Extended Warranty

I'd only buy the factory warranty. I once purchased something called Warranty Gold to cover my Sable. I sold the Sable prior to ever needing the warranty. I went to get my pro-rated refund (I had paid $1,100) and the company had just gone into bankruptcy. I never received a dime and would not have had any coverage if I had needed it.

You might ask your dealer if they can certify the car and give you the SAAB

6 year 100,0000 warranty (from date of service). I purchased a used 2004 9-5 wagon with the warranty. My logic is that the warranty will outlast the car payment. I didn't want to be in for major repair dollars without some backup plan.

thats what I did with my '00 9-3

Extended warranties are expensive insurance with a limited risk venture. Bad buy.

I would have to disagree. It depends on the general level of dependability of the car. For a Honda or Toyota I would probably pass on the extended warranty. On a Volvo or Saab, I'd consider it. (1) Neither has a currently good reputation for trouble free service and (2) The parts and labor are outrageously expensive.

One large item like a transmission could pay for the warranty alone.

I'm a current 9-5 owner and a former owner of three troublesome Volvo 850's and a V-70 (the worst car I ever owned). It spent more time in the shop than on the road. I traded it at 23,000 miles for the 9-5 Wagon.

What country are you in?

What country are you in?

I disagree entirely. Parts and labor are only more expensive if you choose to take it to the SAAB stealership. Independant SAAB specialists get no more or less for their labor than any other mechanics (including domestic). I buy SAAB parts online for about the same as what you would pay for like parts for domestic cars. It is only if you buy the parts at the dealerships that you get screwed over.

True, but the chances of the trasnmission needing to be replaced (vs repaired) are slim. You pays your money and (or?) you takes your chances... ;-)

Well "outrageous" is a relative term. I have not noticed that parts prices are that much different at the dealer for any make or model. Around here there is not much difference between Saab repairs and other makes - maybe $10/hour. All dealers appear to be a rip off to me. Flat rate is the biggest scam ever perpetuated on the public - but I digress.

Extended warranties are insurance, like any other. You should buy to cover the catastrophic losses you cannot afford out of pocket. That does not mean "comfortably out of pocket". It should hurt a little if you are matching the deductible to the policy cost. You should avoid paying for insurance to cover "ordinary expenses" or reasonable losses. Insurance is not a "maintenance plan" - it's too expensive for that (one of the problems with "medical insurance" today paying for things like office visits, but again I digress :-)

I agree that certain cars, particularly in retrospect (V-70) have been issues that beg for extended warranties. But, you should probably just avoid those makes and models that make you tremble and buy something else. You should not buy based on the assumption that your particular car will be a lemon in a line of good cars. I suppose you can just consider the ext warr cost as the part of the cost of ownership to drive a V70 if you really, really, have to drive one.

I don't mind paying $500 for a $250K in house coverage, or $500 for $300K in driver's liability. I think $1000+ to cover a low odds tranny loss at maybe $3-$4k is really just a give away to the warranty companies.

MHO, there obviously are others.

Bob,

You obviously are not from NY or NJ. In NJ the average auto policy is $2,500+, the average homeowner's policy $1000+ (because the average house is $500,000+ in Northern NJ area). I'm not guessing at the insurance figures, I'm an insurance agent.

This being said, non-dealer SAAB mechanics charge virtually the same hourly rate as the dealer.

I thought I would save money with my Volvo 850 by going to an independent Volvo mechanic. It ended up costing the same as the dealer.

There are even fewer SAAB mechanics than Volvo ones. I chalk all this up to the outrageous cost of living in NJ or NY.

I have to agree. They couldn't give me a Volvo product for free. These cars spend more time in the dealer than the road. So far the 9-5 Wagon has been far less aggravating as well as more spacious, powerful, and fuel efficient than the V-70. Time will tell if it holds up well.

[snip]

I agree with your comments on the cost of living in NY and NJ. Have you tried Swedish Connection in Bergenfield?

I was very satisfied with their work and pricing when they fixed the exhaust system on my 9000. Since I was out of town on a work assignment, they met all my unreasonable scheduling demands and provided me with a free loaner car from the Thrifty agency across the street. They work on Saabs and Volvos, and the owner told me that he would consider working on Subaru's even if they aren't marked "9-2X".

On the Extended Warranty topic: I consider them a waste of money that could be put toward actual repairs if they are needed. The last new car I bought, the F&I guy told me I was crazy not to by the extra warranty because of "all the complicated parts in these new cars." The car in question hasn't yet had a repair that would have been covered by that warranty. The car is now

16 years old.

My Saab needed a new transmission after 6 years of my ownership at 130K miles. I was able to install a rebuilt transmission, clutch, pressure plate, slave cylinder and replace a few other parts for US$2000. How much does that extended warranty cost, and what is the deductible? Hopefully the warranty company won't try to weasel out of paying by claiming driver negligence or abuse - that assumes they are still in business when you need them. Remember, not all warranties sold by dealers are backed by the factory or any other credible entity.

Walt Kienzle

1991 9000T 1990 Ford Taurus SHO

Swell. So the rest of the world should take heed of what happens in the metro New York?

My house is worth ~$400k and I pay about 400 a year for homeowners insurance. I pay about $3000 a year to insure *5* cars. I'm not an insurance agent, but I were in your position I would move out of that area as fast as humanly possible.

Nonsense. The local SAAB specialists get half the hourly rate that the stealerships do, and they know how to troubleshoot. Dealership mechanics are generally parts swappers.

So your experience at one Volvo guy means they are all the same?

Usually the SAAB guys around here work on both.

When I purchased my used 2004 9-5 Wagon it was SAAB certified. This gave me the six year/100K warranty plus the balance of the original 4/50. I was told that the certification adds about $2000 to the cost of the car.

Where are you located? In NJ, the foreign car "specialists" demand almost the same hourly rate as the dealers.

Walt K. mentioned someone in Bergenfield NJ (which is about 50 minutes away (but near where I work). When my warranty expires, I'll have to check them out.

I have to agree with you. I hate NJ passionately. It's corrupt, run by spineless politicians who borrow now and leave the mess for the next guy (this is a non partisan comment because governors of both parties have been guilty of this crime) In addition, the cost of living now rivals NY, CA, or MA. Five cars in NJ would cost at least $7000 to insure and much, much, more with underage drivers or accidents/tickets.

My brother has "made it over the wall" and is leaving for El Paso, TX where

3000 sq ft houses cost about $225,000!

Due to family constraints I'm stuck to serve out my sentence in NJ for the forseeable future. My only consolation is the dream of a future somewhere south of here.

Same in MA... anyone with "Saab Specialist" in their name is likely charging close to dealer prices. The indies might not throw in all the ridiculous fees and charge for every single peek, or perhaps not charge for overpriced packages, but the rates don't vary all that much.

As long as required work is done, they can't insist it be done at a dealer. But, it is more "comfortable" for most folks to have a dealer do it.

Same in MA, and I think everywhere else. Includes the Federal Gov't too.

Eh... at least you have some nice beaches. Ours are filled with rocks and gravel.

>

I'm in New Hampshire. Live free or die! ...and the booze is cheap too!