Alternatives?

[akaeleven]

Hey guys, just signed the papers for a 2017 CX-5 GT

Finance guy was offering me:
1. extended warranty (Mazda Added Protection - 60 months - NC60UN)
2. tire warranty (Diamond Kote)
3. rust protection (Diamond Kote)
4. paint warranty (Diamond Kote)

I declined all 4 but was thinking "what's my best alternative for each one?"

 

[Xeler8ing]

From a personal standpoint, only one that has some merit is extended warranty (only if it is from Mazda themselves not the dealer)

Over here, most people don't do 2-4 because we see them as a bit of a scam.

 

[jlx21]

None

 

[finch204]

The alternative is to build up a car fund savings account. You'll either use it when something breaks down out of warranty, or you'll never have to use it, in which case you have extra money to use for whatever you want to use it for.

 

[akaeleven]

So if I understand this correctly:

1. extended warranty
- stick with default Mazda warranty

2. tire warranty (Diamond Kote)
- replace tires only when required

3. rust protection (Diamond Kote)
- don't apply anything? How about Krown?

4. paint warranty (Diamond Kote)
- don't apply anything? How about wax?

 

[Xeler8ing]

So if I understand this correctly:

1. extended warranty
- stick with default Mazda warranty

Yes

2. tire warranty (Diamond Kote)
- replace tires only when required

Yes

3. rust protection (Diamond Kote)
- don't apply anything? How about Krown?

Depends if you live in an area that is prone to high rusting vehicles

4. paint warranty (Diamond Kote)
- don't apply anything? How about wax?

Most people apply a wax after they have washed their vehicle

 

[Monterra]

The alternative is to build up a car fund savings account. You'll either use it when something breaks down out of warranty, or you'll never have to use it, in which case you have extra money to use for whatever you want to use it for.

^^^that's the smart $ right there

 

[NelsonLewis]

The alternative is to build up a car fund savings account. You'll either use it when something breaks down out of warranty, or you'll never have to use it, in which case you have extra money to use for whatever you want to use it for.

Smart man!

 

[Xeler8ing]

That's normally called savings

 

[Studum]

My .02

Here in Canada:

Mazda added protection (MAP) if you must have the warranty extended. If you don't want MAP don't bother with anything at all.

If you're a high-mileage driver the 5yr/unlimited is an OK value but it's still just a gamble. I bought that for myself for my '17 3 because I drive 36-40k per year and my car is critical to my job so the projected cost / km of coverage is better when I'm expecting to have 180-200 kms on the car in 5 years. Plus, I get a replacement car provided to me in the event it has to go and stay in. Of course my justification is all my own and it goes completely out the window if my life circumstances change but those are the only reasons I went with it.

If you are a low mileage driver and want longer coverage than the OEM 3yr/new car 5yr/powertrain the 7 yr / 160k I believe would be the only one that really makes sense... if you plan to keep that long and want to buy the peace of mind.

Keep in mind: You have up to 1 year / 20,000 kms to purchase Mazda added protection without an added cost penalty so you have time to think about it. You can still buy after 20k but there is added cost. Also keep in mind it's money lost if you buy it and don't use it. There is no refund if it's not used at all so if you can't handle effectively throwing that money away if your car is great to you and doesn't break then don't buy it. As mentioned you can put that money away and save it for if / when something eventually happens.

As mentioned I bought it on my 3 as it's fully loaded and high-mileage but we did not buy it on the new CX-5. It's a lower mileage car and couldn't justify the added cost to ourselves.

Re: rust proofing. My personal opinion is to go with Krown. Relatively low cost to get it sprayed yearly and if you get it in early in the cars life and retain your schedule every year it will carry a warranty as long as you keep up the annual treatments.

Other one time applications like Diamond Kote are a higher 1-time application up front but still require the inconvenience of a required inspection by an authorized facility yearly. Also required within a time window or your warranty becomes null and void. Some of these inspections still carry a cost - depending on where you go and what product you use - further increasing your possible savings "buy-back" vs a yearly Krown treatment.

For me: I Krown treat. I haven't had any issues in the past and it's much better than not getting anything at all done up here with what they put on our roads.

Forget paint warranty. You're better off getting it sealed /waxed at a good detailing facility if you don't want to do it yourself. Chips are going to happen no matter what, rust in chips typically isn't covered. Rust from behind is protected by the rust treatment...

Tire warranty: Don't bother as a standalone. If you end up getting MAP you get 100,000 kms of tire warranty and flat repairs with it. After that, replace your tires and buy tire warranty with the new tires if you must.

That's all the insight I can provide as being a fellow Canadian purchaser who's done a lot of reading / researching car shopping in the past year.

 

[azntaiji]

Careful with these packages. Short story here on my 2017 CX-5 GT:

For me, I declined the car care packages and the dealer said "ok, well I'll give the packages to you for free, sometimes we do this for every other customer that comes in. Just let me get manager to write-off on it."

Manager gave an OK, I signed papers and then the next week they told me to come back to re-sign because something was wrong on contract (an unrelated tax issue). HUGE red flag because I know about spot deliveries, and guess what? After a very detailed read of my contract (I know, should have thoroughly read it upon signing initially, but I was at the dealer for about 5 hours and wanted to get the hell out), I found out they charged me for these packages, which ended up raising my payment $50/month. So I didn't get them for "free", more like $1500 added to my lease.

Luckily, the spot delivery tax issue was in my favor for a contract rewrite, so they took the packages off and lowered my payment. But overall very dishonest from the dealer, I almost unwound because of it.. but really like the car so I kept it.

TL;DR: Read every ******* number and line item on your contract/paperwork. And never buy a car on spot delivery terms (typically on the weekend when banks are closed). And never trust a dealership (I was skeptical going in, I should have stuck to my guns the whole day).

 

[Xeler8ing]

Did you report the dealer?

 

[jlx21]

Did you report the dealer?

To whom though? Nothing's going to happen and they'll probably manage to pull one on an unsuspecting buyer.

Finance managers are the worst to deal with btw. I love it how every time you decline their extended warranties and they proceed to reduce the warranty cost, and you still decline, they'll treat you like an insane person.

 

[Xeler8ing]

Fair enough I suppose

 

[azntaiji]

To what end? This particular dealer is known for shady practices, especially in their services department, so I doubt anything would change.

I seriously considered unwinding, but at that point my trade had been sold (in WA you can sell a trade before a spot delivery clears), so they would have cut me a check for less than my trade was worth and I'd be out a car. I preferred having a new car and really love the 2017 CX-5.

Lesson learned. I just wish people didn't dick me around -- their attitude completely changed once I explained the issue to them, and they even sent someone out 2 hours (dealership was far from home) to have me sign the new paperwork, because they knew the bank was on their ass. Of course at that point, I did compare the numbers and they made right in the end. But to have to get to that point? A headache and completely dishonest

 

[NelsonLewis]

To whom though? Nothing's going to happen and they'll probably manage to pull one on an unsuspecting buyer.

Finance managers are the worst to deal with btw. I love it how every time you decline their extended warranties and they proceed to reduce the warranty cost, and you still decline, they'll treat you like an insane person.

Haha, I hear ya. Mine said, "you don't see the VALUE!?!". I said, nope there is none. He then tried to talk to my girl about it, when I had to interrupt and tell him it isn't happening at any price. I asked to see the breakdown on price he wanted, and his first go at it was $110/month, or $6600 added to the cost of the car. JEBUS!! How do people fall for this crap?! The cheapest one he had was $50/month, or $3000. Highway freaking robbery.

 

[Xeler8ing]

Maybe because we are a smaller market but over here the governments consumer authority does take particular interest in shady dealer practices.

 

[NelsonLewis]

Maybe because we are a smaller market but over here the governments consumer authority does take particular interest in shady dealer practices.

And they should. Good to hear. They carry a stereotype here for a reason, because it fits perfectly. It's a shame, really...

 

[Xeler8ing]

Indeed

 

[akaeleven]

Yes



Yes


Depends if you live in an area that is prone to high rusting vehicles



Most people apply a wax after they have washed their vehicle

We got snow and salt. I noticed some of the Masdas at the parking lot has rust so that got me worried. Thanks for the response.