sack2003

Hi Everybody,

I am at crossroads to buy or not the extended warranty from the dealer. I need some good advice. I am planning to keep the 2010 RX350 for at least 8 to 10 years. Mileage during that time span will be 10,000 km per year on average. The dealer is offering 8 years/120,000 km for $2,890 + taxes (Extra Care Protection) which includes eight (8) free oil changes, 3 years road hazard and 1 leather treatment.

I am really 50-50. Normally, I would have said no but the 8 years is very enticing but the price is steep. Statistics show extended warranties do not pay off "most" of the times. I have the Ultra premium package with the bell and whistles and I am afraid all this advanced technology is susceptible to some failure down the road. However, if you maintain the car correctly then the car should last 10 years without any serious problems other than regular maintenance. PLEASE, can some one help me here. Much appreciated.

euroja153

Sounds like the deal from Gabriel Lexus which is where I got mine, I got 6yr/120,000km for $2,250 plus tax with a couple less oil changes.

Fogcutter

I'm betting on the Lexus reputation and going long without the warranty. time will tell, but I'm OK with it. I wouldn't drive a Benz without warranty coverage, and my BMW extended warranty broke even over 100,000 miles.

If you are one to worry, buy the warranty. The price of peace so to speak.

sirCharles

No extended warranty unless you can afford to more than likely throw the money away for peace of mind because no issues is more than likely the case between standard warranty and 100K miles or so. Save your money. With standard maintenance, Lexus is very solid.

sirCharles

Another car, say for instance MB is another consideration to me due to potential cost and potential incident.

jeffmust

Just purchased our 3rd RX (450h FWD) and had two previous Lexus LS's...

Never had the extended warranty on the LS's and first '01 RX300 - in hindsight, it would have been money down the drain. Very reliable vehicles.

With all the power items and electronics in the new models, for us the extended warranty has made sense since our '04 RX330 based on real world, past experiences (note - I think only the Platinum version covers Nav).

Previous 2004 RX330 received over $4500 in repairs under the extended warranty - from the month after the original warranty expired at 48 months and the rear power hatch motor died to a few months before I sold it private party in 2009 when the hatch motor and both outside rearview power mirrors died. Numerous exterior and suspension bits and pieces make up the total - it doesn't take much to get to the level where the extended warranty cost has been covered. And you need to buy it at a discount; check other posts in this forum.

The secondary benefit beyond peace of mind - the folks I just sold the RX330 to (at $4k over KBB! great resale value) said that the remaining months of warranty coverage gave THEM peace of mind to sign the deal. So, IMO, if you're going to sell private party a few years after the 50k/4-yr standard coverage expires, you can get at least 50% of your ESC cost back if you sell at least 3 months before it expires. Only costs you $50 to transfer the ESC to the new buyer.

kitlz

I agree with Jeff and will be purchasing the extended warranty on my third RX. On my 99, the AC compressor died a month before I took delivery on my 04. Didn't cost me anything to replace. I have had both headlights and a driving light replaced in my 04. One headlight costs $2,500, plus labor. And an O2 sensor was replaced. Again, not a penny out of my pocket. Overall reliability has been fantastic. But I like the feeling that if something goes wrong, which can happen with any car, I am not going to be stuck with a huge repair bill.

jeffmust

Also remember that unless you want to bundle the price of the ext warranty in with your vehicle financing, there's not much reason to buy it ahead of your 50k/4yr OEM warranty expiration date. Just give yourself enough time ahead of that expiration to get it done, possibly with an out-of-state authorized Lexus vendor. The point in favor of getting it with the new vehicle is that ESC prices go up and it could (will) be more expensive later on - but, in my experience, the annual increase hasn't been that great to justify giving Lexus and the dealer free money to hold for approx 4 years before the program kicks in.

sack2003

Judging from your replies...it is exactly how I feel about it. Is it money down the drain because of the solid reputation? Or, is it peace of mind? It is a hard decision and I am picking it up on Wednesday. Any one else with other advice, please post. Thanks everyone with your responses.

Fogcutter

Well, I'm tipping the other way now. My daughter's Camry Hybrid just needed a new water pump for several hundred dollars, now the CD changer pooped out and will require a $2500 new stereo from what I'm told. All this at 80K miles.

Her extended warranty just payed off big time.

Lexus and Toyota have great reputations, but they still have service departments at every dealership. Perhaps my expectations are exceeding reality.

The G Man

With all those electronics in the new RX, one little thing that needs to be repair can easily cost as much as the extended warranty.