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Asked: Jul 13, 2009 - 05:47 PM

Status: Closed

Should I purchase the extended warranty for my 2005 Mazda MPV? I am confused. Car has needed work. Low mileage.

I purchased a new Mazda 2005 MPV ES. The factory warranty is about to expire, should I purchase an extended warranty?

I have been investigating many of them and am confused. The rep at the Mazda dealership in Seekond, MA, is of NO help.

I am looking at Warranty Direct. Consumer reports actually stated if one needed to buy an extended warranty this would be the one.

The car has has both door motors replaced, one strut, all the ignition coils just last week ($700). Plus a few minor things, like the sunroof leaked, etc. I am leery of not having any coverage with these kind of repairs.

In Makes & Models > Mazda > MPV
In Car Insurance > Buying Insurance
In Buying & Selling > Car Warranties > Extended Warranties
2 answers - 126 days ago

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morin2

Date: Jul 13, 2009
Time: 11:07 PM

This is something only you can really answer. Everyone has his/her own level of risk-aversion. I would never buy an extended warranty, but I'm much more a gambler and really don't lose sleep over what might go wrong with a car. If I was the worrying type, it would not be for those repairs - it would be about engine failure or a transaxle replacement. The little things might not be covered unless you bought the cadillac of extended warranty plans - and at that price, it might make more sense to just save a little money every month for future repairs. If there is basic coverage for large cost items like the engine and trans, then that might be worth it. In 37 years of car ownership (including one MPV ! - that was hit by a speeding stolen car...), I have only had one incident in which an extended warranty would have helped and that was a replacement transmission on a 95 Chevy conversion van. So, on balance, I've come out way ahead by not buying extended warranties.

All of the repairs you mention are normal hazards of buying cars with luxury items like the motorized doors and the sunroof. The best way to avoid problems with these items is to not buy them at all - A lesson for your next car purchase. Most basic things do not fail anymore with normal maintenance. The simpler the car, the less there is to go wrong.

One option may be to start using independent mechanics once your basic warranty expires. That will save a bundle. There is nothing unique about your Mazda that requires trips to the dealer. (It actually has some Ford components.) I have had good luck with this mechanic locator (my son found an excellent mechanic just 2 miles from his college using this site):

http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/





Answers

avatar

morin2

Date: Jul 13, 2009
Time: 11:07 PM

This is something only you can really answer. Everyone has his/her own level of risk-aversion. I would never buy an extended warranty, but I'm much more a gambler and really don't lose sleep over what might go wrong with a car. If I was the worrying type, it would not be for those repairs - it would be about engine failure or a transaxle replacement. The little things might not be covered unless you bought the cadillac of extended warranty plans - and at that price, it might make more sense to just save a little money every month for future repairs. If there is basic coverage for large cost items like the engine and trans, then that might be worth it. In 37 years of car ownership (including one MPV ! - that was hit by a speeding stolen car...), I have only had one incident in which an extended warranty would have helped and that was a replacement transmission on a 95 Chevy conversion van. So, on balance, I've come out way ahead by not buying extended warranties.

All of the repairs you mention are normal hazards of buying cars with luxury items like the motorized doors and the sunroof. The best way to avoid problems with these items is to not buy them at all - A lesson for your next car purchase. Most basic things do not fail anymore with normal maintenance. The simpler the car, the less there is to go wrong.

One option may be to start using independent mechanics once your basic warranty expires. That will save a bundle. There is nothing unique about your Mazda that requires trips to the dealer. (It actually has some Ford components.) I have had good luck with this mechanic locator (my son found an excellent mechanic just 2 miles from his college using this site):

http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/





avatar

jipster

Date: Jul 22, 2009
Time: 07:59 PM

Warranty Direct would be pretty good. I looked into their company, seems fairly solid.

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Top Mazda MPV Experts

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4. morin2 50
5. tony78 45
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