Maintenance Plan a rip off?

It most likely boils down, not to the cost of those low cost services like oil changes, but the fact that they have you coming to the dealership service department for another 85k miles.

Oh, you need new brakes...

Oh, you need new shocks...

Oh, your battery is almost dead, you need a new one...

About every wear item (and possibly others) not covered under that maintenance plan will be thrown at you as you continue to go back there. A lot of customers that don't know much about cars or trucks will trust the dealer and pay. That is where they are making their money. The more often people are at the dealership, the more likely they are to spend money. If special maintenance items aren't included (differential oil, flushing coolant, etc.) at the special recommended intervals (i.e. the standard recommendation is outside your maintenance plan interval), expect them to push those hard too. And yes, they will push things you don't need. The dealer told me once I was in dire need of flushing my brake fluid....when I had done it myself one week prior.

If you are smart about it, it doesn't sound like too bad of a deal if you don't want to do any maintenance yourself. I say this provided it truly does cover everything in the scheduled maintenance book.

 

Completely agree. Just looked, the differential oil and coolant is included.

 

If the plan is transferrable, then it's a nice selling point if you decide to sell the truck before it expires.

 

Still have yet to see anyone provide the math behind it

 

My time is more valuable than calling Toyota to get pricing for something already bought. Not too worried, and yes it's transferable.

 

So why bother starting the thread to begin with?

 

Want to talk about plans? I bought the following plans at time of purchase.

1. Maintenance plan- covers 3 full service oil changes after 2 year oem runs out. Cost 150.00
2. Service plan- comprehensive coverage, covers most repairs, rental car, roadside assistance 84 months/80000 miles cost was 1700.00
3. Tire replacement plan- covers both wheels and tire damage, repair or replacement, 48 months cost was 222.00
4. Key remote replacement plan- pays for replacing keys for 60 months in case I lose two sets, unlikely, cost 150.00
5. Paint or ding protection- pays for ding repair and paint hmmm, no expiration on that one, cost 150.00

Yes I know, I usually decline all these types of coverages but figured I'm buying a 35k truck might as well make it 37k and get some added protection. These prices were reduced because I kept declining them, we will see if I ever need to use one, and the hassle involved with getting it covered in the first place, time will tell. But knowing if a shopping cart goes flying into my truck side it's going to get fixed.

 

YIKES...
I hope you are kidding us...!!

 

Nope, no joke. I actually paid for these things. I see no difference in buying these things than buying insurance for your home, your car, your boat, your motorcycle, it sucks to pay out but should something happen you are usually pretty glad you had the coverage. Oh, did I mention health insurance, 1K a month for a single person that never ends up at the doctors office, now that is ridiculous, not this chump change to cover an expensive truck.

 

Ouch...1K/mo. for something that should be free... that sucks man.. I feel for ya.

I guess I was lucky... my 2006 Taco cost me an alternator and pullys/belt after 10 yrs of faithful service....$1400.00 Cdn.
That was the extent of the costs other than mtce. on that one... I'm hoping these new ones are as good, but from what I'm reading, I'm not too optimistic....fingers crossed...

Good luck...

 

Not gonna criticize you, but will say you overpaid for extended warranty. I got same one for 1,100, and I struggled wanting to pay that. I declined the key and paint stuff. I paid less than $200 for tire and wheel and mine was 60 months, no patching, new tire replaced. My maintenance plan covers all intervals to 72 months/85,000 miles. So, I too bought some but haggle hard! I had them at 11pm last day of month.

 

To see if others had any experience with it.

 

Only reason I bought tire and wheel package was because mine was upgraded before I bought, not factory. Mine are 285/70/17r. Pro comps

 

I'm sure I could of got them a bit cheaper, like you, but you reach a point in the process where you just want to drive your new truck home and be done with it! The good thing is I can get my money back if I sell the truck or pay it off and don't feel the need for it.

 

True my friend. Call and threaten to terminate warranty if you can't get it for less. Tell them you know another person who paid 1100 , which is 200 profit for dealer still. Worth a shot.

 

Yes. Anything the finance guy tries to sell is a rip off. Imo

 

Fair enough, if you pay full price. I'll see if I can call Toyota out of curiosity and get price estimate for services. Because we are not talking about DIY, we are talking dealership for fair comparison.