hey all,

just picked up my 07 gt hatchback yesterday and am loving it so far. had a question about the extended warranty that the dealer was pushing on me when i picked it up. i don't plan on getting the whole package, but i can get the tire and wheel road hazard protection for $400 for 6yrs/75k miles. this is my first new car ever and first car to have nice rims. this seems like a wise investment, given replacement costs for mazda rims.

what are other people's opinions on this?

thanks,

 

I found out that a credit union (preferably the one you finance through if you are) you can buy a full bumper to bumper plan for like 70% dealership cost as well as the GAP insurance. The banker saved me $800 alone with that.

 

I've gone 50,000 miles without using my warranty a single time...Beware about a tire warranty, they end up prorating the $$$ based on the mileage you have on the tires. You'll still end up paying out of pocket to get the repairs done.

 

If you look at some of the paper work they give you there is a little asterisk next to "service plan" in the fine print it says the dealer may retain a portion of this amount. when i bought my mazda, they tried to push the powertrain coverage, they wanted 2100 bucks for 2 years, they told me it would lower my interest rate...i agreed to buy it only because of the lowered interest rate (the bank doesnt careabout a service plan for any vehicle), i returned it a week later didnt loose a penny, but still have that lower interest rate.

long story short, every price they tell you can be negotiated (underbody protection, service plans, APR), anything the "business associate" gets you to agree to over what the dealer sells it to him foris his money. they tried telling me 9.5 % interest. i walked out with 6.3%, (thats why they wanted so much for the service plan, the guy at the computer had to make 'his' money somehow)

for example: sometimes they will try to offer underbody protection, also called Waxoyl or something like that, its a sprayed on coating costs the dealer around 50 bucks a vehicle, i have known people to pay $1000+ for this.