[mytouaregsteve]

Greetings All,
I’ve seen earlier posts seeking opinions on purchasing an extended warranty, but nothing recent so soliciting input again. I have a 2016 Lux 3.6 VR6 (gas) with 58K miles. My existing VW Drive Easy Platinum warranty expired this week, so purchased another 48 mo/48K mi. Platinum plan for $4,460. I purchased this vehicle in 2017 w/14K mi. on the odometer, and it has had an easy life, being serviced faithfully by VW. Only non-scheduled maintenance was replacement of power steering rack + pump @ 47,953 miles, costing $2,249 (covered under warranty). Anticipated (possible ?) repairs over next 4 years include drive shaft housing, alternator, A/C compressor, radio/Nav, etc. The drive shaft housing may be covered under the existing 10 YR/100,000 mi. warranty under Drive Train, but VW Care couldn’t confirm this. Love the vehicle, and don’t see anything else on the market that interests me, but repairs are $. Appreciate any feedback from folks that have owned these vehicles longer than I. Thanks Steve

 

[mytouaregsteve]

Greetings All,
I’ve seen earlier posts seeking opinions on purchasing an extended warranty, but nothing recent so soliciting input again. I have a 2016 Lux 3.6 VR6 (gas) with 58K miles. My existing VW Drive Easy Platinum warranty expired this week, so purchased another 48 mo/48K mi. Platinum plan for $4,460. I purchased this vehicle in 2017 w/14K mi. on the odometer, and it has had an easy life, being serviced faithfully by VW. Only non-scheduled maintenance was replacement of power steering rack + pump @ 47,953 miles, costing $2,249 (covered under warranty). Anticipated (possible ?) repairs over next 4 years include drive shaft housing, alternator, A/C compressor, radio/Nav, etc. The drive shaft housing may be covered under the existing 10 YR/100,000 mi. warranty under Drive Train, but VW Care couldn’t confirm this. Love the vehicle, and don’t see anything else on the market that interests me, but repairs are $. Appreciate any feedback from folks that have owned these vehicles longer than I. Thanks Steve
P.S. this web site provides the VW warranty info under the Maintenance section; https://www.newcenturyvw.com/maintenance-menu/

 

[tadpole]

I am going through the same thought process as you are with a 2016 TDI 30,000 miles. The power train and emissions system has pretty good protection up to 100,000 mi,but this is a complicated car and fixing stuff other than emissions can be a real issue. If you will be keeping the car long term get an extended warranty. I bgt only one policy in the past for a BMW 735 sedan and it paid off and more.. I still have some time to decide if I want ti keep the car long term,but I will be pricing out my options. The longer you wait the higher the price will be. Good luck with the car.

 

[mytouaregsteve]

I am going through the same thought process as you are with a 2016 TDI 30,000 miles. The power train and emissions system has pretty good protection up to 100,000 mi,but this is a complicated car and fixing stuff other than emissions can be a real issue. If you will be keeping the car long term get an extended warranty. I bgt only one policy in the past for a BMW 735 sedan and it paid off and more.. I still have some time to decide if I want ti keep the car long term,but I will be pricing out my options. The longer you wait the higher the price will be. Good luck with the car.

Thanks for your response Tadpole. The dealer shop rates continue to escalate due to competition for Techs, etc. so repair costs will rise accordingly. Regardless of the build quality on these vehicles, components like a/c compressors, alternators, etc. typically fail ~ 70-90K miles. In my opinion, the two choices with owning vehicles are a) replacing @ 5 years/ 60K mi. or b) keeping vehicle for 10+ years and managing maintenance costs. Although the extended warranty cost is painful, it minimizes option b, ultimately reducing my cost of ownership per mile significantly. Please post what direction you take, and your ext. warranty cost so I’ll know if I overpaid. Good luck !

 

[SaVAGeSoot]

I personally can't imagine spending that kind of coin on warranties on such young\low use vehicles, especially ones that still have powertrain and\or AEM warranties on them...... if you have such little faith in your rigs, get something else... you clearly own lemons!

I'd suggest finding a good shop\mechanic who actually does diagnostics instead of these part chucking wrench monkeys you're dealing with.....

Steve, was your first warranty worth it? Did you get ROI on it?

 

[mytouaregsteve]

I personally can't imagine spending that kind of coin on warranties on such young\low use vehicles, especially ones that still have powertrain and\or AEM warranties on them...... if you have such little faith in your rigs, get something else... you clearly own lemons!

I'd suggest finding a good shop\mechanic who actually does diagnostics instead of these part chucking wrench monkeys you're dealing with.....

Steve, was your first warranty worth it? Did you get ROI on it?
So purchased my Treg @ 14,437 mi. & added an 84 mo/70K VW Platinum warranty for +$2,340. At 47,953 mi. had to replace the steering rack/pump @ $2,428 (dealer), so actually came out $88 in the black. The VW Easy Drive warranty is transferable, and can be cancelled at any time with remaining balance refunded (pro-rated). Honestly I’m having second thoughts about purchasing the second warranty. Steve

 

[mytouaregsteve]

So purchased my Treg @ 14,437 mi. & added an 84 mo/70K VW Platinum warranty for +$2,340. At 47,953 mi. had to replace the steering rack/pump @ $2,428 (dealer), so actually came out $88 in the black. The VW Easy Drive warranty is transferable, and can be cancelled at any time with remaining balance refunded (pro-rated). Honestly I’m having second thoughts about purchasing the second warranty. Steve

 

[SaVAGeSoot]

I still don't understand. You down there have a 10/120 factory warranty. So even the initial warranty seems useless to me. As per prior statement, I also can't see why both those repairs would've failed so early and at the same time, etc.

 

[jeffnhiscars]

You have the remainder of the factory warranty PLUS an 84mo VW warranty w apparently 12k left on it. Makes zero sense to buy yet another warranty which sure won't kick in u less the other 2 don't pay. Makes no sense.

put the $4400 in to a reserve account and if you still can't sleep at night throw half what you've been paying on your loan once its paid off.

 

[mytouaregsteve]

You have the remainder of the factory warranty PLUS an 84mo VW warranty w apparently 12k left on it. Makes zero sense to buy yet another warranty which sure won't kick in u less the other 2 don't pay. Makes no sense.

put the $4400 in to a reserve account and if you still can't sleep at night throw half what you've been paying on your loan once its paid off.

Some additional clarity- the period associated with the initial 84 mo. Drive Easy warranty purchased with vehicle in 2017 commenced with the In Service date entered on my purchase agreement as 3/17/16, thus expiring 3/17/23. The 10/120 warranty is drivetrain only, which doesn’t cover items like A/C compressor, alternator, power lift gate, electronics, etc. Obviously the original factory 3/36 warranty expired in 2019. Frustrating side note was VW web site listed my true In Service date was 2/15/16, so Lewisville VW entered the incorrect date on my purchase agreement. This mistake resulted in a more expensive second warranty cost since it was purchased as a new warranty instead of extension of the original Easy Drive warranty purchased with the vehicle. The new Easy Drive warranty period commenced at current mileage 58,900, so provides bumper-to-bumper coverage until 3/17/27 or 106,900 mi., whichever occurs first. The buy decision is whether I will incur > $4,400 worth of repairs over the next 4 years. Was hoping other members on the forum would share what repairs they have experienced on a gas 2016 TReg with less than 100K miles, but so far no luck. If repairs experienced on my 2007 Passat with a similar 3.6 gas engine is any indicator, the $4,400 should be a good investment 😉.

 

[jeffnhiscars]

That provides some clarity. Seems you bought it as a year old vehicle so the in service date discrepancy is either a scriveners error (meaning a typo) or whoever had it in new inventory submitted the warranty registration to VWoA to meet a quota or to earn a volume incentive. This is routine and not relevant to the subject at hand.

that takes us back to the core question to which this is really no good answer. Again, it all boils down to your risk tolerance and how well you sleep...which Im guessing is not great or you would not have started this thread (unless you're a school teacher).

A warranty is insurance and the best insurance is the one you never use. If you never use it and will need therapy to cope with the wasted cost, then get it. If you chalk it up to the cost of doing business and are comforted to know most major repairs will be covered, then get it. If you do as I suggested and set the cash aside to cover any repairs and are in a position to write a check without remorse if it runs out, then don't get it.

No one's crystal ball is any better than anyone else's so the roll of the dice is on you.

 

[archills]

I bought the extended warranty after my new car warranty expires on 2018. 3Years Protection at around AUD2400. Car never had any issue. Never claimed in coverage. Recently my parking brake switch is dead and i fixed by myself with some helper from SaVAGeSoot remotely in cost of AUD 88 + future beer claim from SaVAGeSoot.

In short, in my view it is not worth it.

 

[SaVAGeSoot]

@archills
Thus far, I've only been travelling to the Carrabien islands since immigrating from the communist E block as a young teen.... But I do plan to make my way to your side of the world eventually so I'll keep it in mind.

Back to the OP. It sounds like you barely drive/use your vehicle. Why not just skip these warranties and simply take it in for a good once over at a decent independent once a year while keeping up with scheduled maintenance?

All these high cost repairs/failures that got you all scared don't actually happen that much, and are not typical. Most are a result of lack of maintenance or poor shops misdiagnosing and just throwing parts at vehicles until they guess right.

 

[jeffnhiscars]

i fixed by myself with some helper from SaVAGeSoot remotely in cost of AUD 88 + future beer claim from SaVAGeSoot.

In short, in my view it is not worth it.

he's Canadian so do not underestimate the potential cost of that beer claim. It may be more than the warranty !!

 

[TXEngiNerd]

Like others have mentioned, there is no one answer to fit everyone's situation. The OP spent $2250 on a steering rack that costs $1k new for the part. If you do your own wrenching and maintenance on your vehicle the cost would be your time plus cost of parts. Personally, my time is worth a lot less than $1k for that job since I get value of knowing the work is done by me and I have a better connection with my vehicle. If it was my wife, she would pay the fee for the warranty as she barely knows how to add air to a tire (thankfully she has other redeeming qualities). For major operations, I have a local shop that I trust who can do the work and completes it with astounding quality.

If you are hell bent on adding an extended warranty, you could consider alternative warranty companies and looking at some with a deductible that is a bit higher, then keeping that cash in an account for that deductible. A higher deductible warranty should come with a lower upfront cost.

EDIT: I had a Zurich warranty on my Audi and never had to use it. Great car, but got rid of it to get a Touareg about a week ago to fit my kids in the vehicle.

 

[mytouaregsteve]

Like others have mentioned, there is no one answer to fit everyone's situation. The OP spent $2250 on a steering rack that costs $1k new for the part. If you do your own wrenching and maintenance on your vehicle the cost would be your time plus cost of parts. Personally, my time is worth a lot less than $1k for that job since I get value of knowing the work is done by me and I have a better connection with my vehicle. If it was my wife, she would pay the fee for the warranty as she barely knows how to add air to a tire (thankfully she has other redeeming qualities). For major operations, I have a local shop that I trust who can do the work and completes it with astounding quality.

If you are hell bent on adding an extended warranty, you could consider alternative warranty companies and looking at some with a deductible that is a bit higher, then keeping that cash in an account for that deductible. A higher deductible warranty should come with a lower upfront cost.

EDIT: I had a Zurich warranty on my Audi and never had to use it. Great car, but got rid of it to get a Touareg about a week ago to fit my kids in the vehicle.

Thanks for your comments - use to wrench much of the required maintenance on my vehicle, but crawling under a vehicle on jack stands @ 63 is not as fun as it once was. I’ve tried non-dealer shops and not realized much savings with do-overs, etc. as few techs have experience with TRegs. I looked at a few alternate non-VW warranty contracts and the litany of exceptions was extensive (yes I know the VW East Drive is actually a Fidelity product).
Still hoping to hear from members sharing their experiences on major repair items on similar models (2015-2017) & mileage (<100K mi.). Ex. is the drive shaft housing support bearing that typically requires replacement ~ 70K mi. Are there other common failures that would help clarify how often an extended warranty would be helpful? A/C compressor ? Power lift gate failure? Thanks Steve

 

[TommiT]

The centre bearing rubber on the drive / prop shaft is a common failure on Generation 1 cars but not on Generation 2 Touaregs.

 

[SaVAGeSoot]

You drove 40k in 7 years... your component failures will only be representative of driveway ornaments.
I'd be more worried about rust, things getting all seized up, rubbers and wires rotting away and or getting chewed up by rodents, or finding a family of critters living in your barely used vehicle.

Try driving more and worrying less.

How many times have you had your brake fluid flushed?

 

[jeffnhiscars]

Seems to me you're wanting to know the odds of you making money on a warranty VS the company that sells one. they rely on a hoard of trade data that they don't share that tells them how to price them and if they should even offer one for a given vehicle.

If they're actually still in business, I'd say theres your answer. You sure won't find it here