Ok, we are buying our first car a Honda Civic.

It is 2009 and out of warranty, we have been offered a $2500.00 (3 yr/60,000 km) extended warranty on it.

This covers all repairs and roadside recovery.

A Canadian friend recommends against it and says to go for CAA instead and just pay for the repairs (if any ... he says Civic's have a pretty good shelf life and hence why they offer this warranty as they know the repairs rarely amount to the warranty value).

Advice??? Experience ??? - need to decide tomorrow.

Thanks

R

These extended warranty's need to be examined very closely. The time must be taken to read and understand the 'small print'. They tend to be (in)famous for what they do not cover, rather than what they do.

Posters on here may have more direct knowledge of these policies than I, however, like most extended warranties, they work more in favour of the vendor, rather than the consumer!

CAA is a good move I would say. Given the age of your intended purchase I would pay for it to be independently examined by a Tech...and based on the feedback you get from him, make your purchase .....or not! When it comes to used cars, people usually trade or move them on for a reason, particlarly cars of the vintage you are considering.

My son had one on his first car.

They are zero tolerance policies, if you do not strictly adhere to their maintenance schedules etc., when you come to claim they wont payout.

Plus the small print excludes much coverage.

I'd agree, just buy breakdown coverage and stump up for any repairs as they happen, as the others have said the warranties rarely cover things that actually break anyway.

I agree. Join CAA. or even Canadian Tire Roadside Assist or similar and bite the bullet for the rest.

$2,500 is the premium? .... Holy cow, that is almost enough to have the entire engine stripped and rebuilt! Aside from that Hondas are pretty bullet proof, my Accord has just passed 250,000 miles and hasn't had $2,500 of repairs since I bought it new 10 years ago.

A colleague has just had her extended warranty claim for a new automatic gearbox declined because she could not prove that the vehicle had been serviced according to maker's schedule for the whole of the period of ownership. Unless you're geekily efficient at getting the car serviced exactly on time and keeping all the documentation, don't bother considering the warranty.

This is most unusual.....five replies and all in complete agreement! Hope the car works out for you.

Thanks Guys - we have taken all the great advice and declined ! Will either do CAA or Canadian Tire.

Neither seem to have the Homestart we had in the UK, but hey ho !

Car we brought has winter tyres on it - anyone know good place to get tyres in GTA area?

R

Pfft one of our trucks had its winters on all year, they seem to work fine, save your dosh and get some all seasons next year - you've only got 4 months left anyway

Costco.

The road side recovery here is more of a towing service. They don't try and get the vehicle going. If you need a jump start, locked yourself out or need a ture changed, they will come to the vehicle wherever it is.

I put this in the car, http://www.findmespot.ca/en/index.php?cid=106
Works where cell phones don't, they know where you are before you do, great for roadside assist, when I am flying through the mountains, the OH & kids go skiing and for medical emergencies. Roadside bit is only $30.