Buick Warranty
In the market for a Buick Warranty? Didn't opt for the extended warranty when you made the original purchase? Hello, my name is Nate Waterfalls and I will try to help you answer the question "Do I need to purchase a Buick extended warranty or mechanicalo breakdown protection? Here is what I will cover in this short article:
- Buick History
- Buick Warranties
- Buick Reliability
- Do I Need Buick Extended Warranty Protection?
- Options for Extended Protection
Buick History
Buick was founded as an independent car manufacturer in 1903 by David Dunbar Buick in Detroit, Michigan. Now, a division of General Motors, Buick is considered to be General Motor's only North American-based entry-level luxury brand with four models. Recently, Buick has enjoyed great success and a high reputation in China.
Buick Warranties
Buick offers a 4year/50,000 mile limited basic warranty and a 5 years/100,000 miles Powertrain warranty
For more information see www.buick.com.
You will want to consider the remaining time and mileage on your Buick warranty to determine your need for an extended vehicle warranty or mechanical breakdown protection. Remember, the manufacturer's warranty will expire whenever time (months) or mileage (whichever comes first) reach the thresholds described above.
The next thing that you will want to consider is the reliability record of your vehicle.
Buick Reliability
Fact: In the 2009 Initial Quality Study done by J.D. Power and Associates, the Buick line of vehicles was the only one to score higher than 3/5 in the "Powertrain Quality – Mechanical" category.
Buick is planning on leaning on the LaCrosse and Lucerne over the next few years in the entry-level luxury car category. This is a smart choice on Buick's behalf, seeing as the LaCrosse is one of Buick's least problematic vehicles.
The intake manifold gasket leaking is the most common problem I've seen among Buick's. These will crack causing coolant to leak, and the longer it goes on, the worse it gets. Repairing this issue typically cost anywhere from $500 - $1000 depending upon the extent of the damage.
There are a few specific Buick models I can suggest to watch out for high repair costs.
- Lesabre
- Century
- Rendezvous
- Regal
These models have the most reported problems, and are often the ones you see up-in-the-air in garages. These are examples of models where you wouldn't want to risk not having an extended warranty or vehicle service contract. Unless you really like supporting your mechanic.
Before making any decision, research your specific model and year to ensure reliability. Certain cars are known to be unreliable, making the extended protection decision a no-brainer. Check out the the U.S News and World Report. for current reliability ratings.
Another easy to find out about a product's reliability in the age of the Internet is to check with a community of people that have the same product. People in these groups tend to be very outspoken. In the case of automobiles one such community is Edmunds.com.
Use the links below to research your specific model for known problems.
Do I Need Buick Extended Warranty Protection?
Choosing to purchase extended protection for your Buick is ultimately a personal decision. However, here are some things to consider:
- The manufacturer's warranty
- The age and mileage of your Buick
- The reliability record of your particular Buick model
- How many miles you drive
- How long you plan to own your Buick
- Your risk tolerance
- Your financial ability to pay for unexpected repairs
If you decide that extended protection is a good “bet” for you then be sure to purchase it before the original Buick warranty expires. The sooner you do it the less it will cost you. If the Buick warranty expires, your options may be limited. However, you don't have to purchase a Buick extended warranty – there is another option: Vehicle Service Contract.
Options for Extended Protection
You have two basic options when it comes to extended protection for your Buick.
- Genuine Buick Extended Warranty
- Third Party Mechanical Breakdown Protection Plan
The extended Buick warranty is only offered by the manufacturer and is usually sold through the dealership. A mechanical breakdown protection plan may be purchased from a third party company. Coverage between the two options is usually comparable.
The main difference between the options is the price and the fact that the mechanical breakdown protection plan lets you have your service done at any repair facility. The Buick extended warranty requires that you service your vehicle at the dealership or other Buick authorized repair facilities. This tends to limit your options.
Third party mechanical breakdown protection plans tend to offer more value and can be found at a lower price with similar coverage. However, it is important to purchase mechanical breakdown protectionfrom a reputable company.
The Buick extended warranty is a solid choice but a mechanicla breakdown protection plan from a reputable third party my serve you best if you need the flexibility of choosing your own service location or personal mechanic.
Nate Waterfalls
For additional information on determining your need for mechanical breakdown protection please review the following pages:
Although, you will pay more, the manufacturer's extended car warranties are usually a solid choice. However, if you decide that mechanical breakdown protection is a better option for you, I recommend the folks at auto-POM! and Mercury Insurance Group.
autoPOM! backed and administered by Mercury can provide you with repair service comparable to the manufacturer's extended warranty. Not surprising, autoPOM! pricing is far less than dealer pricing and offers the flexibility of allowing you to choose the repair facility that you're most comfortable with.
autoPOM! has an A+ rating from the BBB and Mercury has a A+ rating from A.M. Best.See 10 Reasons To Choose autoPOM! and Mercury.
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