Pre-Paid maintenance economics

I got the prepaid plan, and it makes sense for me. I have no clue how to change my own oil, and have no interest in learning. Also, I have a tendency to procrastinate, so on other cars I tended to put off oil changes. With the pre-paid plan, I get the maintenance on time at the dealer, and also mention other little things that I want them to check (like the brakes tended to squeal at very slow speeds, reversing out of a parking spot and then going forward, just after starting the car - they changed the brake pads under the warranty, which I hadn't expected).

I was almost late scheduling my 10,000 mile maintenance because I kept forgetting to call the dealer during hours they're open. Now they've started scheduling maintenance via the Internet, so that won't be a problem.

Certainly, the prepaid plan is out of the question for someone who's a good 'shade tree mechanic' or at least regularly does their own oil changes. But I'm still glad I got it.

Personally, I would NOT have bought the maintenance plan or extended warranty through my dealership the night I bought the car, because I heartily disliked the people at the dealership. But the fact that I could get them here through Troy at considerably less than the price from my dealership made it worth considering, and I'm still glad I got both.

Extended warranty: I've driven 'junkers' for over 30 years, so have had lots of experience with expensive repairs at inconvenient times. I bought a new car in 1998, and had a couple of expensive repairs soon after the original warranty ran out. Although I'm generally not risk-averse, I AM when it comes to cars! So I sleep better at night knowing I have the extended warranty!

 

Scheduling and paying for each oil change as it is needed is usually less expensive, plus you won't feel locked-in to a single dealer.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Sep 29 2007, 12:56 PM) [snapback]519101[/snapback]</div>

The Toyota plan you can take to any dealer, however the prius is a very low maintenance car. Generally even if you add up the retail charge for each service up to 55K miles, it is less to pay as you go rather than pay in advance.

 

(2007 Prius) We went for prepaid maintenance and the best extended warranty. The dealer ripped us on on both, but we cancelled both and re-ordered them with Troy, saving well over $1,000. It took about a month to get the check back, though. It's a complex car, and it's the dealer's job it keep it running now. Sure, I meddle will regular cars. There's probalby small print that says warranties are worthless if you didn't get regular maintenance, just like tire warrranties are useless if you didn't get them regularly rotated. And yes - the dealer damaged the car removing a wheel on the very first service Their job to fix it. Good job it wasn't me or kwikky-tire!