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/
Extended Warranty
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
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
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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 !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.
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
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
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 😉.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.
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).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.
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
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