Extended warranty

[Piloto3524]

Having done some research as to the extended warranty (EW) or service contract, I am deciding to go with Warrany Direct. I first bought an EW on my '99 Dodge Caravan. It more than paid for itself. Something in the system wouldn't allow the van to shift upwards through the gears around 60k miles: this occurred twice. Both times EW covered it. An otherwise expensive repair was avoided. The
"clock spring" (something to do with the deployment of the steering wheel airbag) became defective around 70k miles and even though it became a recall item later the EW covered it. These events convinced me to get the EW on my '06 Sonata (bumper to bumper). Neither of these cars enjoyed the reliability gained by the tenure of Smarties. However, for $674 and 6yr/75k mile bumper to bumper I think I am convinvced to get it. I would like anyone's input into EWs as I haven't actually taken the lunge yet. I hope this doesn't sound like an ad for WD, I really would like some intelligent input as I usually get the dealer offered ones and am kinda leery of EW companies based on my research. The one offered by MB of SD is costly and less coverage.

[Piloto3524]

I went ahead and got the 6/75k EW from Warrany Direct with the Covered part and Noncovered part options. The heck with the emissions option - in California Smart has to cover the emission system for 7 years and 70,000 and are required to fix anything that doesn't allow the car to pass the test. Pretty stiff law.

[John_H]

I don't understand the $674 number since the quotes I see tend to be double that number. Are you going through a specific link to find "better" quote information than what I see on warrantydirect.com?

[Piloto3524]

John, here's the quote they gave me that shows the elite coverage........



Elite Plus MBI – Exclusionary, bumper to bumper protection
Deductible Terms/Miles* Will expire
on... Or when
odometer reaches... $0 $100 $2004 Years / 60000 Miles7/3/201260,001 Miles$ 485$ 318N/A4 Years / 80000 Miles7/3/201280,001 Miles$ 789$ 517N/A5 Years / 75000 Miles7/3/201375,001 Miles$ 920$ 603N/A5 Years / 100000 Miles7/3/2013100,000 Miles$ 1,192$ 782N/A6 Years / 60000 Miles7/3/201460,001 Miles$ 863$ 566N/A6 Years / 75000 Miles7/3/201475,001 Miles$ 1,028$ 674N/A6 Years / 100000 Miles7/3/2014100,000 Miles$ 1,462$ 959N/A

[Piloto3524]

Well that turn out like crap. This site altered the cut and paste that I tried to do.........no special link. I opted for the covered and non-covered parts. So my grand total for $734. I started with this link and it led me there : Warranty Direct

[Macaw]

I live in illinois and the price is almost double...change sate to california and price drops almost in half maybe I'll call them and offer to buy for the california price....

[Piloto3524]

Lot of bad drivers in Il? Or so many driver's in so cal that they can drop price?? Beats me..........................but it is half the cost of Smart's extended and twice the coverage. It includes tire, towing, rental, etc...

[DowneasTTer]

I purchased a 7year/100k $50 deductible ex warranty for my Audit TT from Warranty Direct a few years ago. So far I have been very pleased with there coverage. However, as with any of these policies you need to have work done at a place that will take the time and effort to follow all the rules to get a claim to apply. Over the years I have used a local small shop for all my work. Found that I was better off taking to the local Audi dealer for work under the warranty. They had already developed a business relationship with Warranty Direct's underwriter. That said I don't think I'll use them for the smart as it will not cover towing to my local smart dealer, 240 miles away. Whatever, please understand that what ever company you use for an extended warranty the experience is NOT the same as having a car under the manufacturer's warranty.

Good Luck

DowneasTTer

[jagzoo]

Hi,

I had checked out the Warranty Direct policies when we were trying to make a decision on extended warranties. The prices they quoted me, in NH, were significantly higher than what piloto paid. One of the deciding factors for us to not get a policy of this type were the inclusionary clauses like these (quoted from the Warranty Direct contract): "This Vehicle Service Contract Provides NO Coverage or Benefits for the following: . . G. IF ANY ALTERATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO YOUR VEHICLE OR YOU ARE USING, OR HAVE USED, YOUR VEHICLE IN A MANNER NOT RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THIS WILL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE FAILURE OF ANY CUSTOM OR ADD-ON PART; ANY FRAME OR SUSPENSION MODIFICATIONS; LIFT KITS; OVERSIZED/UNDERSIZED TIRES OR WHEELS; TRAILER HITCHES; AND OR MODIFICATIONS TO THE ENGINE, EMISSIONS OR EXHAUST SYSTEMS. L. IF YOUR VEHICLE IS USED FOR TOWING A TRAILER OR OTHER OBJECT OR VEHICLE WITHOUT BEING EQUIPPED WITH A FACTORY INSTALLED OR AUTHORIZED TOW PACKAGE; OR IS USED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, RENTAL, TAXI, LIMOUSINE, LIVERY OR SHUTTLE, TOWING OR ROAD REPAIR, CONSTRUCTION, FARMING OR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES, JOB SITE ACTIVITIES, HAULING, POLICE OR EMERGENCY SERVICES, PRINCIPAL OFF ROAD USE, RACING, COMPETITIVE DRIVING, SNOW REMOVAL, ROUTE-WORK, SERVICE OR REPAIR.

As far as I know, Smart has not "Authorized" or recommended any of the receiver hitches or other modifications that people are using/performing, and that we are considering.

It sounds like they may try to use any modification that the owner does to void the warranty. Their clause "1. Advise Contract holder that evaluation of a Failure does not mean that the repair is covered under this Contract. All covered repairs must receive prior authorization by Administrator " sounds ominous.

I checked different web sites and there were many complaints against these companies for refusal of payment. It seemed like too much of a gamble for us. If it had been a Smart warranty we would have felt better. Though, as has been noted, some, like piloto, have found them valuable. We did go for the tire/wheel warranty - seemed like the price was worth that gamble, who knows.

[Piloto3524]

JAGZOO AND TTR - - Gosh, this is the kind of input I was looking for before I bought the policy. I did an internet search on WD and didn't come up with many complaints. The one's I did read about seemed a little unreasonable on the complainant's part. There were a lot of praises on their site that one could read.

I was somewhat confused also by the "Exclusions" part of the policy. They made this available on line by allowing one to read the policy. However, upon further research, I found that all of the other companies also have these exclusions; with this level of coverage. When one drops below this level of coverage then there is a list of things that are covered; not a list of things that are not covered. I opted for the "Elite". And when I really delved into them the exclusions do seem reasonable and fair. SMART's 2/24k warranty also has similar exclusions. For example things are not covered through "abuse or negligence" or "misuse". How nebulous is that? My first two warranties were from Dodge (dealer) and Hyundai (dealer). I have never had a WD warranty. One thing I did think was a little underhanded was that after I paid the bill they sent me an email. That email had a sentence in the later part that said -

"Failure of a covered component occurring within
the first 30 days and 1,000 miles after the start date/mileage will not be
covered. "