Is extra warranty necessary? Did you buy it?

[Tom S.]

I guess I'm the odd man out. I don't have an extended warranty, not do I plan to get one. I'm mechanically inclined and fix most stuff myself. If you're not handy with a wrench or older and not as 'fexible' as you used to be, it might be a good idea.

If every warranty 'paid for itself', all the places selling them would be out of business. And while I'm speaking of going out of business, several aftermarket warranty businesses did just that. They sold a crap load of extended car warranties and then went out of business, leaving a lot of people s.o.l.

[tcorbitt]

And I will be the second one out... Over they years we have found nothing that I could not fix myself in any of our campers. Parts are generally not all that expensive and it gives you the option to upgrade lower grade items that have broken. We generally keep our campers for 8-10 years and have never regretted the decision. In fact, if we purchase $2K warranties for the past 3 campers, we would be out $6k. The fact that I kept that money, even if something expensive should break on our new camper after the warranty expires later this year, we are way ahead of the game I feel.

Now, if you do not enjoy researching, taking things apart, fixing, and maintaining an inventory of tools to do the job right, the warranty route could be the road to take. We follow the same line of thinking for our trucks, construction equipment and appliances. But again, for any of these, if I did not know how or was not willing to learn how to fix these machines, the warranty would be a serious consideration. I think the key is, if you ENJOY fixing things, forget the warranty. I would rather fix my own than tow if off to a dealer for fixing. If you do not ENJOY fixing vehicles, why not get the warranty and spend your time doing what you enjoy.