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VSA in US for 2023 Prius, yay or nay?

Discussion in 'Gen 5 Prius Main Forum' started by thnok, Apr 17, 2023.

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  1. thnok

    thnok Member

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    #1 thnok, Apr 17, 2023
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2023
  2. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Explain please.
    What is VSA ?
    Lease or purchase ?
    Monthly payment is 1650 ?
    100K what exactly ??
     
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  3. thnok

    thnok Member

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  4. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    Do you REALLY not understand that a really LOT of people won't understand what the hell
    you are taking about with all of the abbreviations and no details ???
     
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  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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  6. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    The other guy's complaint stems in part from the fact that "VSA" is not a common abbreviation that most folks here would recognize. The first abbreviation dictionary I tried, doesn't have "vehicle service agreement" listed.

    In general, extended warranties are cash cows for the seller, of very little benefit for the buyer. Very few cars have enough covered repairs during the coverage period to approach the purchase price, in fact the warranty purchase price is typically highly negotiable.

    Many are third party insurance products with too many exclusions, difficult claims processing, and/or the companies go out of business before you need them. This one is different in that it appears to be a subsidiary of the manufacturer, and has a longer list of covered items and shorter list of exclusions than normal. But I still wouldn't buy it. For no car I've ever purchased, going back 40 years now, would the extended warranty offered to me been anywhere close to having been worth it.
     
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    He already explained it, why are you still banging on about it? Once is enough.
     
  8. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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  9. David Mk.2

    David Mk.2 Member

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    I don't think it's worth it. It's pretty much the same situation as extended warranties for anything else. They are counting on people to not do an in-depth analysis of all the covered and non-covered services, their cost and how likely they are to actually happen during the lifetime of the warranty, and they are hoping that people will just look at the huge list of covered services and think it must be worth it. On average, it's not going to be worth it, but anyone could get unlucky.
     
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  10. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    If buying it, don't finance it.

    You can buy it for the same price until your 3 year 36k mile warranty runs out ... maybe allow two weeks.

    What happens if you total the car. sell it?

    Investigate the exceptions. It isn't like your original warranty, just a service contract the dealer wants to sell.

    Even at a discount, the dealer and salesperson and Toyota are making money.
     
  11. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Senior Member

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    Extended warranty on a Toyota? Might as well give them more money upfront and call it good.
     
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  12. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    I would never buy an extended warranty on anything, but that's just me. Just remember that it is not really a warranty, but rather is an insurance plan. Most people who buy this contract never get money's worth, that's why it exists. If it pays for itself for everyone, then they will not sell a plan. Only a few very lucky people get to use it and win a game, but you can never beat the house.

    BTW, did you know that it does not cover the "shiny metals" among the other things? LOL

    upload_2023-4-17_16-12-43.png
     
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  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    ^ Might be a shorter list if they listed what IS included..., but that'll never happen, lol.
     
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  14. David Mk.2

    David Mk.2 Member

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    They do list what is included (see the pdf in the OP), and the included list is 10x longer. But that's part of the ploy
     
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  15. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Commonly true, but not this time. Look at the third page of his linked *.pdf. The inclusions cover more than 80% of the page (white background), this exclusion block less than 20% of it (dark background in lower right corner):
    upload_2023-4-17_14-6-57.png
     
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  16. PhoS

    PhoS Active Member

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    To each his own but I have seen the warranty come into play later down the line several times on other Toyotas. Those parts and labor add up fast even on basic stuff. If you plan on keeping the car long term it's worth it to me. That said, I got the 10/100 on my Prius from another dealer for $1250. I would only consider a Toyota warranty, not any of the 3rd party contracts some dealers may offer.
     
  17. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    can't read the small print. what's on the included list that might possibly break in 7/100?
     
  18. thnok

    thnok Member

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  19. fsu23phd

    fsu23phd Active Member

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    Extended warranties are always a bad deal, particularly for reliable cars like Toyota
     
  20. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    VSA = Vehicle Service Agreement = a contract that allows a purchaser to lock in certain possible expenses of repair. Maintenance is a separate agreement so don't think replacing the battery air filter is covered. Or brake fluid or all the things in the exclusions area of the post above. It is a great idea to read the whole contract (available in some dealer's waiting for service rooms but certainly available on request).

    Note it is not a warranty and does not extend the factory warranty you get when buying a new car as there are many more exclusions.