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Buying an extended warranty for a new vehicle is THE only type extended warranty I buy.

So far every one I've bought, (my first was for a Ford F150) have paid for themselves and then some.

With the Ford pickup, the AC went out at 70,000 miles or so and the cost to fix it was far beyond the original cost of the extended warranty. This was my first vehicle extended warranty. BTW, I'm a fanatic maintenance buff, so my vehicles are well taken care of.

Yes, the manufacturer gambles you will never use the warranty so they profit immensely if you don't have something go awry. You gamble something will eventually go awry.

Now, new vehicles are so very complex and parts so very expensive, I gamble complexity is rife with breakdown potential.

My wife is a warranty derider, she absolutely detests buying warranties, but given our experience with three different vehicle mfg's, (Ford, Honda, Toyota) we've come to realize, galling as it may be, buying this insurance policy (yes, it is a form of insurance) is both comforting and something (so far anyway) that has for us been a great investment.

On a side note: I've a friend who buys nothing but very high end vehicles i.e., Aston Martin as one example. His cars constantly break down. One would expect a $125,000.00 car to hold up, but even these pricey models are so complex with computer this and that - they are going to go belly up more often than when simpler vehicles were made...

WildBill,

At this point I don't remember. It's been 6 years plus since I bought the ext. warranty.

I could look it up if you want me to, but I remember it was another Toyota dealership located in Illinois, I think...but why I chose them or how, other than the cost is something me old noggin won't digest.

Mxrdad,

Given the large number of computerized gizmos in every vehicle now an extended warranty is a good investment no matter the make.

I recently had some sort of anti-lock brake thinga-ma-jig go bad and to replace it with labor and part replacement (computerized of course) cost nearly $3000.00. If I recall (roughly correct) the extended warranty cost about $1000.00 with no deductible. I am so glad I bought it.

My only complaint (mentioned in a previous thread) is the annoying email surveys (plural) and just this past Friday some Toyota entity mailed me a letter wanting more information. I filed it the round file drawer.

Honestly, the way they demand information you'd think I worked for them, I must comply, resistance is futile...my eye... or some other part of me...

I have yet to buy a new vehicle extended warranty that didn't ultimately more than pay for itself.

That said, such was offered at the dealership upon buying/filling out paperwork for my Tundra. I was also told I had to make the decision to buy the extended warranty there and then and couldn't take the time to think about and come back to buy it.

That was not true.

Without going into specific numbers, I bought a new vehicle warranty from a different dealership, same manufacturer, located in another state for roughly half the cost of the extended warranty where I bought the vehicle. I bought it 2/4 weeks after the purchase of the new vehicle. (I don't recall the time exactly as it was 6 years ago) That may sound a bit bizarre, but you can get such deals if you look for them.

So far, my Tundra has had 2 mechanical problems, occurring well out of the new vehicle warranty time period - one costly nearly $3000.00 (about 2/3 more money than I paid for the extended warranty) and not one cent out of pocket expense. In other words zero deductible.

So, when you buy a new vehicle, get the extended warranty...elsewhere, because chances are the dealership you're buying your vehicle will want to sell you one - for a lot more money than you have to pay.

Now, my question: Anyone else here bought an extended warranty outside the dealership you bought your new vehicle from or am I the only one to do so?

Thanks!