I can't decide which warranty to go with: Lifetime with everything covered ($3K); 7 years/100,000 miles with everything covered($1.5K), or just the manufacturers 3 years/36,000 miles (free). I plan on keeping the car for a long time, but I don't drive a lot - I probably will only put 3000-4000 miles/year on it if even.

Any thoughts on this?

congrats on the new car

If you are not mechanically inclined go with the 3K

Free sounds like the best plan to me...

Take the free warranty.

You don't drive it enough to require a larger plan, and if you take care of it then you wont need very much done to it before 7 years anyway.

But, I guess it matter what kind of car it is!

Go with the free one.Chances are by the time it runs out you wil be ready for another car.

2008 Dodge Caliber.

Thanks!

Noooo. I plan on having it forever and ever.

Like I said the 3k one, it will make it easier for when the water pump goes -- 100,000.00 miles

congrats on new purchase, wow you wont put any miles on it, must be nice - i can do 15-20 a yr without going anywhere. lol

if you are truly planning on keeping the car forever, I would get the warranty for lifetime.
Because the other warranties will be null and void once the time or the mileage is met, as you wont put on much mileage and plan to keep forever, maybe this will be best for you.

What did you get?

Free one is nice but the thing is, everything goes wrong AFTER the 3 years is over. Keep in mind that on newer cars you can run up 3000$ in repair bills really fast. If you plan to keep the car a long time its better to get the longest warranty available.

7yr/100,000mile warranty sounds good!If you only drive that little a yr... then you probably only need that one.

If you only drive 3 to 4 thousand miles a year, you do not need any warranty other than the free one that comes with the car. However, it is my guess that you probably make a lot of small trips. If that is so, make sure you get frequent oil/filter changes. Additionally, in some states, if you drive less than 5,000 miles a year, you get a discount on your yearly inspection.

ok.. when you buy a car the factory gives you some type of warranty.. the free one.. now the dealer is trying to sell you an extended warranty or service contract, but you have to be careful and make sure you read the contracts carefully.. for example are they selling you a manufactures extended warranty or are they selling you a after market contract from some random company. make sure you find that out.. the after market contracts are crap, if you by anything make sure it's from the manufacture period.. now you also have different deductibles involved as well.. meaning it's cheaper to have a contract with a 500 deductible then say a 0 deductible.. also remember it's like insurance it's only good when you need it, and it doesn't cover oil changes , coolant services , brakes, tires, trans service, tune ups, etc.. now if you don't take care of the car and slack on oil changes, coolant flushes, transmission service and something happens and you don't have receipts that you did do the required services at the required times, you are screwed, they will not cover the repair due to lack of maintaining the car.. to make a long story short.. the chances of you holding on to the car for that long for you to need a warranty is slim, most people change cars with in 4 years.. now if you are sure your going to keep the car as if it was the last car your ever going to own then buy the life time warranty( but remember even that expires sometime) and is not transferable to another person if you sell the car or give it to a family memeber.. other then that save your money in the bank and collect interest on it and if something goes wrong with the car it will most likely cost you less then the 3k it was to buy the contract.. also there are many car manufactures that offer a 100k warranties as well as life time power train warranties for free when you purchase the car.. so really do your research and look a bit into the future to see what is right for you.. just don't let the finance sales man pressure you into buying stuff you don't need because remember thats what they get paid to do... the don't care about your interest, they care about there commission...

wow thanks MatDav - this is the first time I understood it - thank you

well what is the fine print on lifetime

and what does it cover

yep 3k is a lot of money but it should be the last car you ever have to buy if you keep the body up

just a thought but hey what do i know

and how long is a long time

100,000 miles most cars do that with no major issues if regularly maintained

and speaking of maintainance do they do preventive maintainance and if you are late on it does it void the warranty

does maintainance records need to be kept

and is it mechanic restrictive (say you move and they do not hav an approve shop in the area)

all things to consider

but if you truly are going to keep it forever go lifetime if not to restrictive and overly cumbersome

{{{adj}}}

my Lola always said, all material possession, get damaged, break, etc. that's why the manufacturer's make so many of them.

so as for lifetime anything - it's a fluke

but that's my Lola's perception

well this is why i posted how i posted

forever and ever is a long time

oh and fran


don't tell yer man friend