Poll: Extended Warranties

[Mark Hofman]

Thumbs up or thumbs down on purchasing an extended warranty?

 

[Staci Matheis]

I've never bought one - but that's just me.



If peace of mind is what you're looking for - Do It!



Keep in mind that the prices are VERY NEGOTIABLE. Dealers have 30 to 50% profit in them. (In "mark-up" terms, that's 50 to 100%.)



me

 

[Texas Transplant]

Some swear by them, if nothing but for piece of mind. I usually max out way before I get to adding the extra cost. I figure that if the motor is serviced properly, then it should make it 5 years with normal wear and tear. That would be one factor that would really play into it. If you are going to use it 25-35 weekends (trips) a year, that extended warranty might be worth it. If fishing more in the 15-20 trips, I don't think you'd have the hours on the engine.



I know that TrepMan swears by them. Having just spent $2,800.00 on a new engine for my Buick (at 96K miies), the $800.00 I could have spent 2 years ago looks cheap now.



You can pay me now, or pay me later. . . . . .

 

[Jim Clevenger]

I always make sure to have warranty coverage for the length of the loan. Nothing worse than to be making payments on something that you are having to fix.



Jim

 

[TrepMan]

OK Tex, that's a little strong. For brand new cars no way, they are made way too well and my history tells me that I don't keep a car longer than 3-4 years. I also don't buy new cars, that's my WIFE!



On the boat, I would not have bought my Tracker with out it. Now 1 1/2 years out of factory warranty i've not yet needed it. BUT, for the less than $650 I paid for a $25 deductible on a total 5 year (4 years after Tracker's) warranty we'll have to wait and see. When I buy my next boat, which may very well be used, i'll definetly look for a factory motor warranty, especialy on anything in the big motor size (for me that's be anything over 100hp). I've heard too many horror stories of blown heads and such.



On my 175 I don't think other than the guages and trolling motor there is much that could go really bad that would cost more than $25 a shot to fix, EXCEPT that MONSTER of a 40hp Merc!! So I figure if the Merc needs any work in the first 5 years, i've probably broke even. If not, as JimC said I built it into my loan and will have this baby paid off in the spring after 3 years, then 2 more trouble free or less than $25 fixes.



I don't buy them on good used cars (1-2 yearold or 4-5 that are reliable and completely checked out by independant mechanics and from CarMax!). I wished there was a BoatMAX store that sold good quality used boats with a money back garuantee, 5 day no questions asked return policy and fixed prices. MAN that would ROCK! Closes thing i've found is Tracker for new (and the other Marine Group boats) and Stingray Boats which sell fixed price.



Hey ROB - Hindsight, if you could have bought a 3 year extended warranty on the OB on your Nitro for say $500, would you have ?? I know dumb question after all his work.



But it is a gamble, they don't sell them to loose money!

 

[Huck Palmatier]

Have you read the entire "insurance policy"? That's all an extended warranty is in my book. I believe that if a "manufacturer's defect" doesn't manifest itself within the normal purchase warranty period, it ain't gonna happen.

Especially with some of the three year periods offered by some companies. Then the burden of proof is on you to show the damage wasn't due to your negligence. A stuck ring or carbon builup is not a defect. The transferabilty of extended warrantees is a big marketing ploy too. So unless you're running less than say 100 hours/year, I'd say "fogettaboutit".

 

[Barry Loos]

Yes on the Mercury Extended Warranty. With a warranty, if an engine breaks it may or may not be covered. Without a warranty nothing is covered. As an example, I'm third tilt and trim unit and I haven't paid a cent. The expense I've avoided more than covered the costs of my warranty. Just my .02



Bear

 

[Mark Hofman]

I got offers for extended warranties from both Mercury Marine and from The Marine Group (owner of Tracker Marine, Inc.). I didn't bite on the offer from Mercury, but I've still got the information, and now I'm wondering if it's too late.



Or is the 150 XR6 so bullet-proof that I don't need to worry about it?

 

[Barry Loos]

If your engine is over a year old then it's too late. But save your money, the 150 XR6 is bullet proof.