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Bumper to Bumper AUL Warranty 2011 Prius Two 72k miles

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by Chilly36, Mar 11, 2016.

  1. Chilly36

    Chilly36 Junior Member

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    I have been lurking reading and learning everything I can about the Prii. I finally pulled the trigger this evening and purchased a used 2011 1-owner Prius Two with 72,000 miles. CarFax came back clean all the maintenance was done at the dealership that I purchased (same as the original owner).

    I was offered an AUL bumper to bumper warranty (including the hybrid system) for $2500 for the life of the car, zero deductible. I plan on keeping the car for quite some time (8+ years/220k miles). I have read several threads where new owners asked about the limited time period warranties if they were worth it but I haven't seen anyone mention the bumper to bumper for life. One additional factor is that the dealership will give me lifetime warranty (again through AUL) for the powertrain at no cost with a $100 deductible. So really you are paying the $2500 for everything else other than the powertrain. Normal exclusions apply - No wear and tear items (tires, brake pads, wiper blades, etc). It is transferrable to the new owner if I sell the car. I completely understand that this is like life insurance, one person is betting that you will use it and the other is betting that you won't.

    Any thoughts on whether to get it or not.
     
  2. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    Better read the fine print, there's got to be a catch. How can there be a "lifetime warranty" on the traction battery, transaxle, air conditioning, etc.?

    They would definitely lose money on all the repairs.

    Are you sure it isn't a one and done warranty, where you use it for one repair/claim, then it's done?
     
    The Electric Me likes this.
  3. Chilly36

    Chilly36 Junior Member

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    I'm looking at the brochure and it doesn't mention a one and done type of coverage. I am just as incredulous as you but the Finance guy says it is a new program to their dealership. They get their foot in the door with the powertrain and hope you will upgrade the wrap coverage. I will definitely ask. Thank you for your reply!
     
  4. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Have you ever noticed that every time you buy something new at a store that they're always trying to sell you a useless 2-year extended warranty?

    Even on something like a spatula?

    There's a reason for the enthusiasm surrounding this activity, and it has nothing to do with WalMart's desire that you not suffer from a financial loss caused by a spatula failure.

    I'm not sure what the people that sold you the car are up to, but I would trust nothing that they said to you after offering you this "product."
    AUL "warranties" have a reputation on the Internets.
    Look them up.
    They're not new, and they're not trying to get a foot into a door, but rather their fingers into your wallet.
    If this car were worthy of an extended warranty, then the dealership would have offered you a REAL OEM extended warranty or a real FACTORY CPO coverage plan.....
    Not some third-rate scam "coverage."
    A LIFETIME, transferable B2B warranty?

    Yeah, right!

    I smell some unrefrigerated fish!!!
     
    #4 ETC(SS), Mar 11, 2016
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2016
  5. Chilly36

    Chilly36 Junior Member

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    Chief,
    I'm tracking. The dealership said it was a new product for them. They just started selling the AUL product. The "devil is definitely in the details". By the way I love your signature!
     
  6. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Good luck with the G3.
    FWIW, I'd put the 2.5k into a repair fund and roll the dice.
    Smart money says you'll be looking at lunar mileage before something really expensive, especially if you check your oil regularly (every 1k miles or so-----you don't have to be anal about it) and you familiarize yourself with some of the common maintenance tasks.

    If you have some hand tools, do some research in this forum and consider a transaxle fluid change.
    It's about THE ONLY item that's not on the schedule of maintenance that I would consider doing or having done.

    Again....good luck!

    Enjoy the car.
     
    Chilly36 likes this.
  7. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I'd be VERY suspicious if only because as described it very quickly falls into the "Too Good To Be True" category.
    Gee, for a mere $2,500 dollars I could make this vehicle the last vehicle I would EVER have to buy? With a never ending full warranty on all major parts? Forever.
    Sorry, Santa just knifed the Tooth Fairy...and other things I can't believe.

    There has to be a catch. Maybe a whole lot of them.

    Of course without seeing the paperwork the actual written agreement I don't know.
    My only semantic, long distance question would be...is there a difference between "lifetime"and "life of the car"? And who determines what the "life of the car" is?

    In other words, could coverage be denied if problems happened outside of a pre-determined "life of the vehicle"?

    FYI...at least in my area...a lot of dealerships will extend the factory warranty on the powertrain...advertising either a 10 year warranty or a "lifetime" warranty IF you buy from them. In that case they are hoping you'll never need or use that coverage before you've decided to move on from the vehicle. It's more or less just a sales tool.

    In your case as presented? It appears to be an offer for some type of vehicular immortality. Barring accident you could keep it "Forever". And I've never ever heard of a warranty coverage that was THAT good.

    So something isn't being presented correctly.

    The reason you've never heard anyone mention "Bumper to Bumper for Life" is because that type of warranty doesn't exist in the real world.

    The closest I've ever seen to that was Stephen Kings "Christine"....it fixed itself.
     
    Chilly36 likes this.
  8. yeldogt

    yeldogt Active Member

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    So ... if I understand correctly ... they are giving you the powertrain warranty. The question is -- do you want the extended for $2500?

    I would read the fine print ... and not the simple foldout pamphlet from the dealer. I can't see how they cover the battery for life .... it's the very fine print that matters.

    You will find that many normal items that fail are not covered. Struts/ coolant hoses ... they don't pay to find out what is wrong.

    My neighbor had an extended warranty and when the AC failed -- they told him the leak was not covered as it was a "hose" ... they also excluded any leaks caused by a rubber seal.
     
    Chilly36 likes this.
  9. Chilly36

    Chilly36 Junior Member

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    Seems like an ongoing theme here... Run do not walk from this offer. I researched the BBB website and they list AUL as an A+ company. They seem to wear people down on bigger claims with initial denials I.e. rust on the part, carbon buildup, etc.
    Thank you for taking the time to respond!
     
  10. Chilly36

    Chilly36 Junior Member

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    That is correct on the powertrain warranty provided at no cost. I read through some of their BBB complaints and found similar issues to your neighbor's. One complaint even stated that the repair facility stated that the damage was not due to wear and tear and AUL then sent an independent appraiser who said it was wear and tear.

    Thank you for taking the time to respond. I'm very happy to finally be a member of PriusChat!
     
  11. JSH

    JSH Senior Member

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    I would put the $2500 in your bank account. Extended warranties have a huge profit margin and a nice fat commission for the salesman.

    Nexus 6 ?
     
    Chilly36 likes this.