Did You Buy An EXTENDED WARRANTY For Your New Focus?

[BlueFocusSE5]

Originally Posted by st falcon

Sure, I have found a lot of great info here! We got the 75000 mile, and on our old Mountaineer we had the certified used warranty. Hit a huge pothole and destroyed the wheel speed sensor and wheel bearing. $100 deductable and a fully repaired vehicle felt good on a 500 fix.

Yet you paid far more for the contract. You're still losing out financially.

[BlueFocusSE5]

Originally Posted by BoomShakalaka

Thanks. I just wanted to get the help of a fellow consumer, just in case the finance manager was just trying to make me feel inconvenienced into keeping the warranty. I really want to be covered if something happens after the factory warning, but just one bad story about that extended warranty having no effect makes me want to stay away. I should probably just keep it even though that's a lot of money in the long run. $40x72 months. New car = thrilling, new car loan = fisting in the pooper.

Thanks again for the response, this forum is such a great resource.

$40 X 72 months = $2,880!!! Holy rip-off batman! Eeek-gadds! Return that fast and get your money back!

After the factory warranty is up, if you really feel the need to toss money away on one of these contracts, you can buy one then and for a lot less money too! No need to do it now.

[BlueFocusSE5]

Originally Posted by thelongone13

no extended warranty. I probably will only have this car for 2 years (24 month lease), so the next owner can decide. Besides, there will still be warranty left on the car when i turn it in.

+++++ 1 !

[BlueFocusSE5]

Originally Posted by BoomShakalaka

I bought an SE less than 2 weeks ago, no SYNC of MFT in it. Auto transmission is the only additional option I purchased (to safely share it with my gf to drive my daughter around). I bought a 7 year warranty through the dealership, but the finance manager said that if I cancel this that it won't take my monthly payments down but instead will just take the last two months off of my term. Can anyone confirm that? I brought my dad who hasn't bought a new car in forever, and I asked him if it sounded like a good idea and he kinda shrugged and said yeah. I can't justify 2800 on a warranty that wont likely be used. If this transmission is shoddy I'm going to test it in the first 36k and make it prove itself.

To add onto that, being it's my first car, the peace of mind sounded like the right choice, but without any extra electronics, I feel like if something happens to the tranny or suspension they're just going to try and find a way to exclude it from warranty coverage.

Smart move! You are very wise!

[kam327]

Originally Posted by BlueFocusSE5

The only cars that need an extended warranty are lemons and if it's a lemon, you shouldn't be buying it in the first place. The Focus is not a lemon. The standard warranty is just fine.

I respectfully disagree. Is the 2006 Ford Explorer a lemon? Nope. It's not bulletproof and they have a couple of chronic issues (e.g. V6 radiators) but no chronic powertrain issues that I'm aware of. But I just had to have a head gasket replaced at only 53k miles. Probably a 1 in 10,000 chance. A $2,500 job that was fully covered by my $0 deductible GM Major Guard extended warranty (bought the Ex slightly used at a Cadillac dealer). I paid $1,200 for the warranty - in this case it turned out to be a wise investment. I could not possibly have invested that money and doubled it in 2 1/2 years unless I got really lucky.

In my view an extended warranty is insurance to cover that 1 in 1,000 chance occurance. Each person has to judge the cost-benefit for themselves.

Originally Posted by BlueFocusSE5

The only thing that is covered are major components like the engine and transmission and those are very unlikely to fail..

I respectfully disagree. Believe it or not my Ex's "instrument cluster" was collateral damage in the engine rebuilt - the GM warranty covered it too, no charge or questions. Another $700 covered! They could have easily said "No, that's an unrelated failure that's not covered by the plan."

Originally Posted by BlueFocusSE5

Further, any repairs completed using an extended warranty are done to the minimum cost possible, as it is the extended warranty company paying for it. They will use rebuilt parts, not new parts, to save money and cut corners anywhere they can. Do you really want your care, "repaired", like that? I didn't think. Save you money.

So will your neighborhood mechanic. What's the difference?

Not trying to disrespectfully dump all over you, just pointing out that you may have gone slightly overboard and sometimes an extended warranty really does come through on a car that you had no reason to expect it breaking down. I've seen no other posts regarding blown head gaskets in '06-'10 Explorers on the Explorer forum, yet it happened to mine. 1 in 10,000 chance.

I'm going to be monitoring the Focus's quality issues, particularly regarding the DCT, over the next 3 years and if it looks dicey going forward I'll be seriously considering getting an extended warranty before the bumper to bumper expires.

[Needlesschatter]

I purchased a 7yr/84k bumper to bumper (not including tires, brake pads, wipers, etc.) with rental through my dealer. I have a 5 year loan on my fofo and wanted at least 1 year after the loan was up to save $$ for another car and not have to worry about paying for major car repairs. Oh, if I decide to sell the car before the extended warranty is up, it's a 50 buck transfer fee for the new owner to have the remainder of the warranty.

[Vernl]

I plan to trade mine in before the warranty expires...so no extended warranty for me

[JoeRogan]

I didn't purchase one through the dealer, but because this is my first brand new car I'm thinking of keeping it well past the 5 year loan term. Based on the fact that I've driven it 4000 miles in 6 weeks I'm thinking I'll hit the end of my bumper to bumper warranty by mid next year and the end of the power train warranty well before the 5 year mark, so I'm considering purchasing an extended warranty. Does anyone know around when the latest time I could purchase the warranty would be? I don't want to end up waiting to long and then being unable to add one to the car

[kam327]

Originally Posted by JoeRogan

I didn't purchase one through the dealer, but because this is my first brand new car I'm thinking of keeping it well past the 5 year loan term. Based on the fact that I've driven it 4000 miles in 6 weeks I'm thinking I'll hit the end of my bumper to bumper warranty by mid next year and the end of the power train warranty well before the 5 year mark, so I'm considering purchasing an extended warranty. Does anyone know around when the latest time I could purchase the warranty would be? I don't want to end up waiting to long and then being unable to add one to the car

I didn't see any limitations on the Ford warranty website. It only says if you buy a plan while the car is still under the original warranty you lock in the price now. Doesn't say anything about needing to buy a plan before the warranty expires.

And there's always the plan advertised on the radio for any car with less than 125,000 miles. I wouldn't be comfortable with that one though.

[Chaddz3]

The dealer I bought from tried pushing an extended warranty on me, I said... "That tells me you don't trust your product, maybe I better look at a different car."... He didn't like that.. I chose not to buy the warranty and instead plan to spend what the warranty costs on...

1. Ford's IDS system and when needed a 3 day subscription to the Motorcraft service website for access to updated factory shop manuals, TSB's and other documentation. Which will also work other Ford/Mazda Vehicles than just my Focus when the day inevitably comes that i buy a newer one.. Plus, I can use this to make a few bucks when fixing friend's cars...

2. By the time the factory warranty expires, there should be enough of these things that have been wrecked and end up on ebay parts auctions or local "U pull it" lots to get good useable parts at a discount.. Plus there will be reman parts and more aftermarket support by then...

Finally since I have a trim level that omits most of the "problematic" features I feel an extended warranty is a waste of money... It can never fail and cause a problem if it was never there in the first place..