The Car Discussion Thread

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Right, I think most people know that changing oil every 3K isn't necessary. But, I was under the impression that in order to keep a lot of the warranties that come with cars nowadays, the owner had to abide by the dealership's rules or regulations or wahtever. I was also under the impression a lot of times that entailed getting the oil changed every so often (3K miles) or the warranty was voided.

So, people end up getting their oil changed (at the dealership for $75 or whatever) 33 times over the first 100K miles instead of 20 times (for $40 at the local lube shop or whatever it costs). That alone is a difference of $1430.

[robbotis]

I guess this is as good of a place to post this as any since we're all talking about it.

Are the super long warranties worth it? It seems like a lot of cars come with 100K mile powertrain warranties, BUT the car has to be serviced and be checked at the dealership where the prices are outrageous. If you're paying $75 for an oil change every 3K miles and $700 for a checkup every 15-30K miles, is that long warranty really a 'deal'? The cost is going to be what $4K. The odds of a transmission, driveshaft and/or engine needing replaced/repaired in the first 100K miles has to be pretty low in this day and age, no? And if you do get a lemon, it should be apparent in the first 10K miles, I'd think. So, the warranty extension isn't really necessary, in my mind.

Thus, the maintenance costs at the dealership give the owner little other than peace of mind that in the unlikely event their new car's engine blows up, they won't have to pay to replace it....

What manufacturer requires all work to be done at the dealership in order for the warranty to apply? Isn't it illegal for them to require that? I believe it is, but am not sure if that's just a Minnesota statute.

My only powertrain warranty experience is w/ Subaru. At 58,000 miles (I think the powertrain warranty was 60,000), the center differential went out. They fixed it w/o ever seeing the car before. I want to say it was like $2500 estimate at another shop. I do all the routine maintaince (oil, tire rotation, etc...) myself. They didn't ask any questions in regards to maintainence and repaired it all.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

I am 100% certain Hyundai required check ups at XX,XXX miles and YY,YYY miles and possibly another one before the 100K powertrain warranty expired in order to keep the powertrain warranty. Those check ups were $700 and up. I had heard other guys talking at the office about it and could have sworn they mentioned having to get oil changed and work done at the dealership.

[robbotis]

I am 100% certain Hyundai required check ups at XX,XXX miles and YY,YYY miles and possibly another one before the 100K powertrain warranty expired in order to keep the powertrain warranty. Those check ups were $700 and up. I had heard other guys talking at the office about it and could have sworn they mentioned having to get oil changed and work done at the dealership.

I was just checking. And the manufacturer can't require you to have the dealer handle maintence.
It is illegal.
The Magnuson-Moss act enacted in 1975 made it illegal.

[IMADreamer]

I am 100% certain Hyundai required check ups at XX,XXX miles and YY,YYY miles and possibly another one before the 100K powertrain warranty expired in order to keep the powertrain warranty. Those check ups were $700 and up. I had heard other guys talking at the office about it and could have sworn they mentioned having to get oil changed and work done at the dealership.

I was just checking. And the manufacturer can't require you to have the dealer handle maintence.
It is illegal.
The Magnuson-Moss act enacted in 1975 made it illegal.

The M-M act isn't worth the paper it's printed on. You can go into the dealer and tell them their practices are illegal and they will just laugh at you. The big car companies have gotten beyond picky with warranty work in the last decade. There have even been cases of dealerships sending people out to race tracks and getting the plates of people racing then denying warranty work. This has happened at Gateway in STL numerous times with an area Mitsubishi dealer.

As with the long warranties what you have to do is have proof you have done the maintenance. Meaning if you go to Jiffy Lube you need to keep your receipt with the work they've done. The dealer will still probably give you some crap about not having the work done at their shop but a well kept book will be enough to get the warranty work done.

The easiest way to do all of this is to develop a relationship with your dealership. I know that is probably much harder where most of you live then it is here, but I've found by getting to know them and being known by them things tend to go easier.

[jim]

Right, I think most people know that changing oil every 3K isn't necessary. But, I was under the impression that in order to keep a lot of the warranties that come with cars nowadays, the owner had to abide by the dealership's rules or regulations or wahtever. I was also under the impression a lot of times that entailed getting the oil changed every so often (3K miles) or the warranty was voided.

So, people end up getting their oil changed (at the dealership for $75 or whatever) 33 times over the first 100K miles instead of 20 times (for $40 at the local lube shop or whatever it costs). That alone is a difference of $1430.

The dealer isn't going to impose more rules than in the maintenace book for the car, and no car that I know of has a change interval at 3. Generally it's 7 - 15 with synthetic.

But you might be right that in order to keep the warranty you have to go to the dealer, which would both be more expensive and time consuming.

[jim]

How exactly can we have a discussion on boring cars without mentioning this?

A Buick at least tells the world, "I'm old, and cannot afford a Caddy."

The new Buicks are nice though. I'd buy one in a heartbeat if shopping for a sedan, and you can probably snag one for about the same price as a Camry. So there you go, Rad.

I wouldn't say that about "afford". My parents could easily afford a Caddy, but choose a Buick. What the car tells the world in their case is "I was alive and greatly influenced by the great depression.".

[stlouie_lipp]

I take my car (Hyundai) to the dealership for oil changes. I really don't think it is that much more expensive, and they check everything in the maintenance book. That way, I didn't have to do the x mile check ups to keep the warranty intact.

[jim]

Buick's I get. Don't like them but I do get it. I've driven with my parents and there is no denying it's a "soft" ride. Soft rides are great for long trips to Florida and across town for the 4pm special at Olive Garden. 5-10 under the speed limit and there is no need to actually feel the car attached to the road. Your just floating ... it's all ok ... just trust it.

[IMADreamer]

Buicks are great for old people. No denying it. Reliable, safe, boring as hell. If that's your thing get one.