I just got a used '97 850R wagon with 48k miles and was wondering if I should get the extended warrenty or not. Its about $1000 for 72 months or 100,000 miles. If these cars are made to go 300,000 with regular maintenance then I think I'll pass but if they are know to go bad from now till 100k miles then its something to think about. If two major things go wrong then I think it will pay for itself, but if not then it will be just an insurance payment. So, what is the general feeling here about how these cars are made? Any known problem areas that will cost a lot in repairs down the road? Note: the history on this car has been very good. So far the only thing that was replaced under warrenty was the front and rear brake pads and a wheel bearing. So far so good... Any comments?

I would say definitely buy the warranty. I have the Volvo VIP warranty bought with my used '94 several years ago ($1,200 Cdn); it's covered the replacing of the A/C evaperator coil, A/C climate control electronic board, and some 4-5 misc, mechanical items. Total repair value at least $4,500; I have another upcoming repair that's being covered to the tune of $900. I sure hope the repairs stop when my warranty finally runs out this June. You'd think I would never have anything to do with Volvos again but I actually bought a 2nd one a couple of years ago (with an extended warrranty).

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS get the warranty.

I haven't piped in to these frequent postings, but have update therefore will do so:

I bought my easycare warranty (~$1800) thru dealer. In first year and half after original expired, I had:

1) AC evaporator go

2) ABS unit go (these two would have cost more than the warranty)

3) Wheel hub (this is new)

4) something else I don't remember.

Now: driver's door hinge is creaking, reportedly a well known problem per this forum.

Loaner cars have alway been covered. No co pays as I use the dealer I purchased it at. No hassles whatsoever as to coverage. I still have a couple yrs and 50K coverage left.

Similar experiences for my wife who only buys Fords.

DF

As a trained auto dealership F&I Manager (Finance & Insurance) I can tell you why you should have an extended warranty:

1. Peace of mind. #1 reason why people buy extended warranties.

2. It turns a variable cost (the cost of future repairs) into a fixed

cost (the price of the extended warranty right now). This is very

important. #2 reason why people buy extended warranties.

3. All factory warranties are limited...no matter what the salesman tells

you. The real troubles occur outside of the factory warranty (why do

you think they limit them in regard to time and/or distance driven?)

Not buying an extended warranty is a real roll of the dice. Remember, EVERYTHING is negotiable in the F&I room (where most warranties are sold). Most people think the dealing is done once they walk out of the salesman's office and into F&I. Not so. When being pitched on a warranty ask how much they paid for it, ask for proof of what they paid and then offer $200 over the dealer's cost. Never ask them to throw it in...always get all the numbers up front...otherwise they will structure the deal in such a way that you get the shaft either on your purchase price of the car, your trade in, your interest rate or the cost of the warranty. Believe me.

Sam -

What has been your experience w/Easy Care? I am going to purchase an extended warranty and have ruled out the VIP plan (too expensive, high deductible and doesn't cover as much). I have looked @ Easy Care and CNA by Western National - both plans offered thru different Volvo dealerships. I have also looked @ Warranty Gold. Which program did you choose and why. Thanks for your help.

I have had no problems whatsoever with Easy Care, to the point that everytime I go in, I expect bad news, but none forthcoming so far. I bought it thru the dealer as it was one of two options thru them. (I think VIP was the other). One time they took quite a while getting someone in to verify repair was needed. It really didn't effect me as they just had to pay more for the loaner. I have had all repairs done thru same dealer.

Addendum for those considering warranties: There are lots of debates about Volvo vs other similarly priced cars on Brickboard. After a couple years I have come to the conclusion that I am very happy with my Volvo, especially as there really aren't any cars with similar combination of size, safety, performance and etc. HOWEVER, Volvo reliability is not where we'd want it to be, especially compared to Japanese vehicles: My experiences with these shortcomings has fortunately been readily covered by extended warranty. When it runs out, I will have to really sit down and consider another car. (Volvo or otherwise).

Sam

Like somebody else indicated, this subject gets beat to death pretty much weekly in these threads. Put me in the camp of passing on the extended warranty. Nothing that I've fixed on mine in the last three years that would have been covered would have added up to $100. Then again, there are some fairly high dollar items like transmission and a/c evaporators that have failed before 100K. I just think extended warranties are very profitable for those offering them because they either don't receive claims or they don't pay when there is a claim. Of course, just my opinion.

Recently, on my 95 850, at 81k, I had the following done under the VIP warranty:

Rear Main Seal ($800)

Door Lock Assembly ($320) due to faulty microswitch in assembly.

Thats $1120....one more item goes in the next 7k miles, and it paid for it self.

Mike

Mike,

Glad that it's worked our for you!

Having owned and cared for my 850 turbo since day one, I would highly recommend getting the extended warranty. I have spent about 1K a year on "nothing major" type repairs the past three years. Such things as O2 sensors, knock sensors, sensors in the ABS system, hatch supports, and camshaft position sensors add up quick. In addition, do you know if the the previous owner changed the transmission fluid?

94 850 turbo, 86K miles, IPD ECU.

This topic has been discussed extensively recently. Scroll down the list and read about it. The search function will also bring up many threads. The topic is discussed almost weekly.

I would strongly recommend that you et the warranty sooner rather than later. Dont buy Warrantybynet though. I have had very bad luck with them.

Jerry,

I am curious. What plan did you purchase from warrantybynet? I purchased their Premiere Advantage Series for our 96R Wagon and have been very pleased with their coverage to date.

They had denied coverage for a $1,200 leaking a/c evaporator in December, claiming that it was a pre-existing condition. I bought the coverage in August and had the car into my local Volvo dealer in april because the air was blowing hot. At that time the dealer paperwork had stated "no leak detected" and yet Warrantybynet has claimed that it was obviously leaking at that point.