reliability...

[remusrm]

how reliable is your vibe? should i get extended warranty? i am at 3000 miles in the first month. i know i will cool off after 6 months or so, but 36k miles for warranty is nothing...

[Kari]

As far as I can tell, just as it would be with any car, there are reliable ones and unreliable ones, and people who will say it's reliable and others who will disagree. Mine is extremely reliable, with no major problems and its first major parts replacement coming up as the result of a TSB on the catalytic converter. Other than that, all of my warranty repairs have been things like maplight bulbs or otherwise things that were damaged at the dealership in the course of some other type of service.However, I know there are people who are *extremely* glad they bought the extended warranty, especially if they have higher mileage, and have had to use the extended coverage. I have the extended warranty with a deductible, but my car as yet only has 19,800 miles on it. It really just depends on how your Vibe acts and what starts happening -- our cars all seem to be individuals...heh. Mine's great, but others have lots of problems. If you can, I'd just ride it out and see what happens and how things go before making a decision.

[bud_one]

Extended warranty policies are one of those catch-22 situations...Danged if you do because what if nothing ever goes wrong you're out the money spent but at least you had coverage if anything did go wrong...and danged if you don't when a rod starts knocking for some strange reason or transmission goes out etc... So it's one of those personal choices in life we hate to make... Personally - I don't have one... it's a good car and I've had a couple of toyotas in the past and the most that's gone wrong was a starter on a corolla at 125k miles... (just my $.02)

[JustinVGT]

I'm going on 43k miles and have had no major problems at all. Just a couple minor rattles that I've fixed. It's been a great car.

[ColonelPanic]

Definitely wait a little while, but not too long... Honestly, my car was damn near perfect until 30,000 miles, and then it has started to self destruct. So yes, I'm one of those who is damn glad that they bought the extended warranty. Pretty soon, I'll probably be around the $1K mark if I added up parts and labor for the various things I've had done. The warranty, which is through GM, bumper-to-bumper, zero deductible, and good until 88,000 miles was $1900. I hated to throw that kind of money down, but at least I was able to get it in installments through GM. $115/month for 15 months or something like that.One thing I will suggest - don't let the "it's a Toyota, I won't need it" mentality sway you. Even they can, and do (as in my case) build a complete piece of crap. As you get some time and mileage in the Vibe behind you, see what things are like. If your gut instinct tells you to do it, do it - this has worked out great for this car and the one before when it comes to fighting with myself trying to figure out if it was worth it.But if your car doesn't suck, you should be fine. But if you do want to go for the warranty, get it sooner than later. As I found with GM, there was a significant cost difference the longer you wait. That cost me a good $200 or so more by getting mine after 24,000 miles.Hopefully you won't need it. However if you have even the slightest feeling that you may, get it now. It's saved me, I don't have enough money to throw around on repairs all the time, so the $115/month for the warranty has saved me...

[remusrm]

well, i want to get it after 30k...

[Pick]

Basically he paid $1900 for 55k miles of warranty coverage. I'll be taking my chances, never forget that if they usually didn't make money off of it then they wouldn't offer it.

[jimincalif]

Extended warranties are simply insurance. It is a matter of what is important to you, the security of the warranty or keeping your money and taking your chances. Obviously the people who write and price extended warranty contracts do so to make money. I used to have a client in the business back in the 80s. IIRC the actuarial reserve for actual repairs on an auto contract was a bit less than 20% of the purchase price. Rest went to sales commissions, expenses and profit. So the odds are in your favor not buying the warranty. But odds only work out in large groups, if it is your particular car that has a big problem, you lose.My own approach is to buy insurance for things that I can't afford, so I have lots of liability, homeowners, earthquake, major medical, etc. When it comes to appliances, computers, cars, etc., I do not buy extended warranties and take my chances. Figure in the long run I should come out ahead - so far so good. Only two exceptions, I want a 3 yr warrantly on laptop computers, and I always buy the flat insurance when I buy tires. I seem to get enough flats that it pays for itself.

[jimincalif]

One other comment. My Vibe has been OK, had it in for AC adjustment, loose drivers seat, warped A-Pillar cover, no major stuff. But too many rattles for a new car, and the dealer is absolutely worthless, even when I take them out and demonstrate the rattles and they acknowledge hearing them, they will not do anything, just keep the car a couple of days and then say they could not find them. No evidence they even tried. And every time I come in it is always "what's your name again? Do you have an appointment? When did you make it? Who did you talk to? What is your name again?" They treat warranty work customers like they have the plague. I will never darken their door again except as absolutely necessary for warranty issues.At my independent shop I am treated like a customer, so even if I have to pay them for repairs once the warranty is gone, it is worth the price to avoid going to the dealer. So I would recommend you not buy a warranty until you've experienced your dealer's service a few times to see if they are someone you want to do more business with. Hopefully yours is better than mine.

[tnpartsguy]

Quote, originally posted by remusrm »well, i want to get it after 30k...Watch out, you can't buy GMPP after 36K miles OR 3 years from the delivery date. Is it expensive.......you bet.....is it worth it....up to you.....any other warranties out there worth mentioning......NOPE.....if it ain't GMPP/Major Guard, don't waste your money on it. Most of these other warranty either won't pay, or want to put (a) cheap aftermarket; or (b) used parts on your car. i've seen people with aftermarkety warranties pay up to 90% of the repair cost because the 'warranty' company denied the claim in some form or fashion, or wouldn't pay for all the parts needed for a proper repair.

[ColonelPanic]

Quote, originally posted by tnpartsguy »any other warranties out there worth mentioning......NOPE.....if it ain't GMPP/Major Guard, don't waste your money on it. You're right about that one man! I've got my '03 with the GMPP Major Guard and a friend has his '03 with some off brand warranty he bought from the dealer when he bought his car. We both frequent the same dealer. I use my warranty frequently, and he uses his nowhere near as much, but still has to use it often. I think there was maybe $500 difference between the two warranties, mine being more expensive...The 3rd party warranty hasn't been worth anything. He recently had his Vibe in for a check engine light, they had to keep the car for a couple of days. Warranty company x only allows rentals through Enterprise, and they didn't fully cover the cost so he ended up having to pay money up front for the rental. Plus, every time he goes into the shop, he calls me stressing about how whatever's broken this time may or may not be covered. The GM warranty, OTOH is worth every penny. For the most part, you're covered - especially if you have the MajorGuard. And rental coverage has been very good... I've had rentals for about 5 days now all together, no questions asked. The dealer just gives me the keys to a loaner and I'm on my way. Hopefully the warranty on my clunker will keep paying for itself... I'm sure it will.

[Raven]

Quote, originally posted by remusrm »how reliable is your vibe? should i get extended warranty? i am at 3000 miles in the first month. i know i will cool off after 6 months or so, but 36k miles for warranty is nothing... Your warranty is only 36K? In Canada the full bumper to bumper is 80,000 km or 49,709 miles and drivetrain is 100,000km or 62,137 miles.

[ColonelPanic]

Yep, our neighbors to the north get a far better deal when it comes to warranties!We get 3/36,000 mi bumper-to-bumper. No additional powertrain coverage like you guys get.

[bud_one]

Quote, originally posted by tnpartsguy »...if it ain't GMPP/Major Guard, don't waste your money on it. .I second that opinion