baustin
Well-known member
leafdriving said:baustin said:leafdriving said:Please don't buy the warranty. You're only getting 2 years out of it. Any problems that you have will show up in the first 3 years and it will already be covered by the standard warranty. Trust me. You traction battery is covered even longer. And if something were to happen in years 3-5 just go to a reputable local mechanic. Yes, a leaf is an electric vehicle but most of the systems are like a traditional car. I doubt that whatever it is will cost you $1800. Also, the dealers do not do quality work. I've taken my cars in for recalls (only way I will take my cars to the dealer) recently and one car they overfilled the brake fluid and on the other they left two bolts loose on the actuator they replaced. The local guy who's been working on cars for years will take better care of your car when working on it.
Sure, there is a chance something major could happen after your standard warranty ends but your odds are really low. But again, most possible repairs will not cost you $1800. During years 5-8 more things will need repairs but that's why they don't offer a warranty during that period.
If everything I wrote still scares you then please buy the warranty. This is just my two cents.
I see this as poor advice all around. Read the forums. Non-Warranty repairs on the Leaf can be anywhere from $500 to $3500, and possibly more. Yes, the extended warranty is expensive reassurance, and the majority of Leafs may never have any issues, but some of them will. Many of the Leaf major component repairs also require use of the Consult Tool, which is expensive and not purchased by many shops that are not Nissan Dealers. Other than the warranty replacement of the traction battery, my Leaf has been trouble-free, so far. I wasn't willing to take the gamble, so I bought an extended warranty just before the factory warranty expired. I paid around $1800 for a 96 month/96,000 mile/$0 deductible plan.Yes, I read the forums. And you know what most people do on forums? They talk about problems. Most people don't join forums and when they do they rarely write about how great everything is.I see this as poor advice all around. Read the forums. Non-Warranty repairs on the Leaf can be anywhere from $500 to $3500, and possibly more.
You're right that the extended warranty is expensive reassurance. It's no different from car insurance. You're probably fine with 300k coverage but 500k coverage makes you feel a little better. Just like insurance companies, the dealers know that the majority of people won't use the extended warranty. Everyone knows this is how they make money.Yes, the extended warranty is expensive reassurance, and the majority of Leafs may never have any issues, but some of them will.
You said it yourself.Other than the warranty replacement of the traction battery, my Leaf has been trouble-free, so far.
Unlike you, the OP is adding only 2 years. Just as you said everything has been fine with your '13 until now- this is how long they would be paying $1800 for.I wasn't willing to take the gamble, so I bought an extended warranty just before the factory warranty expired. I paid around $1800 for a 96 month/96,000 mile/$0 deductible plan.
If you're the kinda person who thinks only the dealer can perform a $120 "full synthetic oil change + 1,376 point inspection" on your car then please buy the warranty. Seriously, why does the finance manager lick his lips when presenting you the extended warranty?
You're probably thinking that I'm a jerk who missed the point but please don't justify your purchase. If you think a car, even an "all-electric car with complex systems," requires a warranty, then maybe you shouldn't buy that car.
These are decisions everyone has to make based on their specific circumstances. I bought a discounted plan from Jim Bone Nissan. My local dealer even did the required inspection, at no additional charge, while doing some other warranty service. They wanted $2500 for a 5 year/75,000 mile/$100 deductible plan. I don't know if my Leaf will ever have any issues, but I have 5 years of worry-free driving from when the factory warranty expired. I'll keep driving after that, until the traction battery gives out, or the car breaks and I can't afford to fix it.
I do use a local shop for service on my diesel truck, which has about 140,000 miles on it, and for our other vehicles. However, I would not trust my Leaf to anyone but a dealer, except for the most basic of maintenance. I had to go out in the shop (local facility) and supervise the replacement of the 12v battery on my Leaf, because it was an EV and they were not comfortable doing it, since it was their first one.
I share my experience to help others make their own decisions. I don't need to justify my purchase. It was a calculated gamble that I was willing to spend the money on, that others are not so willing to do. If I was not able to get the discounted $0 deductible plan from the other Nissan dealer, I would not have bought it, since it would have been $2500 for only two more years of coverage.