Extended Service/Protection Plans

[Myron D. Brown]

Hello,

 

I'm wondering if any of you are familiar with the extended protection plans TireCARE, WindshieldCARE, and DentCARE?(http://lincolnprotect.lincoln.com/triplecare)

 

Also, is anyone familiar with PremiumCARE, which covers 1,000+ components for 8 years/125,000 miles? (http://lincolnprotect.lincoln.com/premiumcare/)

 

 

 

In regards to the increasing quality of their cars and the warranty/replacement already provided by Lincoln, do these sound like potentially "good" deals for potential MKZ purchasers? Or do you think they're a ripoff? Also, does anyone have pricing information? The PremiumCARE (and other extended service plans) won't give you a quote without a VIN.

[drolds1]

It depends on how long you're planning on keeping the car.  I lease a new one every three years so the extended warranties aren't necessary for me.  Although quality has improved, the increased complexity of these cars gives food for thought.  Examine very carefully what's covered and what's excluded. Some people have gotten nasty surprises when certain repairs were not covered despite the extended warranty.

 

I did, however opt for the tire/wheel plan.  On my previous MKZ, I bent a wheel in a pothole.  It was repairable but if not, Ford gets a fortune for OE wheels for these cars and this one has 40-series tires. Not a lot of sidewall cushion there. After one tire replacement due to a large piece of metal which I picked up, the policy has just about paid for itself.  These 19" tires are about $300 a pop. 

 

Remember, the prices of the warranties are negotiable, like everything else.  I got them to knock $200 off the price of mine.   Also, you don't have to buy it from the selling dealer.  There are plenty of authorized dealers selling them online at discount prices and those are perfectly legitimate .  You can either go that route or use the price as a bargaining chip with your dealer.

[KenZ]

Hello,

 

I'm wondering if any of you are familiar with the extended protection plans TireCARE, WindshieldCARE, and DentCARE?(http://lincolnprotect.lincoln.com/triplecare)

 

Also, is anyone familiar with PremiumCARE, which covers 1,000+ components for 8 years/125,000 miles? (http://lincolnprotect.lincoln.com/premiumcare/)

 

 

 

In regards to the increasing quality of their cars and the warranty/replacement already provided by Lincoln, do these sound like potentially "good" deals for potential MKZ purchasers? Or do you think they're a ripoff? Also, does anyone have pricing information? The PremiumCARE (and other extended service plans) won't give you a quote without a VIN.

 

I have not seen the triple care package as a package, although I have purchased individual components of it in the past.   Typically, these are typically good for 3 years from purchase, although they can be renewed.  I typically only keep a car for 3 years.  I would say the prices are dealer based and somewhat negotiable.   

 

On my 2013 MKZ, I have the DentCare and have had three repairs done - all were parking lot creases by careless people.  Two were significant.  The two I probably would have paid for a repair, the third, I probably would have ignored if I had to pay.  The process is painless.  You call an 800 number with your info and a description of the damage.  They call you back - usually within the hour and tell you when/where to go.  Because I call first thing in the morning, mine has always been the same day at a place about 15 miles away.   In each case, the repair was done within 30 minutes of arrival.  In each, I was totally unable to detect where the original dent had been.   I probably will always get the dent care, it is kind of like an insurance policy - and little dents bug me.   Hopefully I will never need it, but if I do, there is no out of pocket cost.   The dents I had more than paid for themselves.  The services techs at this place hate to see a Lincoln come in if it is a repair where they have to remove the inside door panel.  Apparently the Lincoln glass is incredibly expensive to replace if they happen to damage it.

 

I had the tire package on a couple different cars in the past, and never used it.  I quit buying that one.    In the area I live in the south, all roads are paved, potholes are virtually non-existent.  I guess for my driving conditions, the cost outweighed my perceived value.  

 

Not listed here, but I have bought the Key Replacement package.  I have this fear of being somewhere on vacation and losing my keys or damaging the fob so it is inoperable.  Key replacement sort of alleviates that worry for me.  Even provides a rental car while getting replacement keys to you.  Again, it is like insurance, hopefully never need it.   Here, my peace of mind outweighs whatever the cost is.

 

I had gotten the Windshield care on a Jeep Wrangler in the past and actually used it, but the Wrangler Windshield is almost vertical and more prone to catching a flying rock.   But that was only once in years and years of protection  I have not gotten it on my cars recently, although I will admit I am much more careful now about not following garbage trucks, cement trucks, gravel trucks, etc.   I just slow down and keep my distance.   Seems easier to do this than risk a rock shaking loose from a truck like that.   For my driving style, the cost outweighs my perceived value.

 

All in all, it really is up to you, your driving style, the perceived value you have for each protection element.  Do small dents bother you?  Does losing/damaging your key fob unexpectedly make you nervous. Do you have crappy roads?  What is the final cost, etc?

 

I have never purchased the extended service plan, but I don't really plan on keeping a car long enough to need it.   My rule of thumb is to trade the car in before I have to buy new tires!   While many of the protection plans can only be purchased at the time of sale, the extended warranties can be purchased any time.   The finance guy at the dealership told me once that they did not charge any more or less for extended warranties purchased after 2 or 3 years of ownership.   

 

If you are financing your purchase and plan on keeping the car for a while, it may make sense to buy the extended warranty at the time of purchase since it can be rolled into your purchase price   Extended warranties purchased later would be an out-of-pocket cost.  I don't know if you can make payments on those or if it is a one time payment.   There are also third party alternatives, but I have heard some horror stories from friends who actually tried to use them.

 

Edited January 19, 2016 by KenZ

[Myron D. Brown]

It depends on how long you're planning on keeping the car.  I lease a new one every three years so the extended warranties aren't necessary for me.  Although quality has improved, the increased complexity of these cars gives food for thought.  Examine very carefully what's covered and what's excluded. Some people have gotten nasty surprises when certain repairs were not covered despite the extended warranty.

 

I did, however opt for the tire/wheel plan.  On my previous MKZ, I bent a wheel in a pothole.  It was repairable but if not, Ford gets a fortune for OE wheels for these cars and this one has 40-series tires. Not a lot of sidewall cushion there. After one tire replacement due to a large piece of metal which I picked up, the policy has just about paid for itself.  These 19" tires are about $300 a pop. 

 

Remember, the prices of the warranties are negotiable, like everything else.  I got them to knock $200 off the price of mine.   Also, you don't have to buy it from the selling dealer.  There are plenty of authorized dealers selling them online at discount prices and those are perfectly legitimate .  You can either go that route or use the price as a bargaining chip with your dealer.

 

I'm notorious for running over nails, screws, rocks, 1-inch bolts, even a pair of fingernail clippers once. I think in the last 5 years, I've probably gone through 8 new tires. Replaced through the Road Hazard protection from Sears. So I'll definitely get that and probably the DentCARE. I usually never have windshield issues. So if it's cheap, I'll consider it. And you're right about the 19" tires being so expensive.

 

​Thanks for your advice. I didn't realize these warranties were negotiable. I've already made my decision to purchase a 2017 Black Label Hybrid as soon as they come out this summer. I have two Lincoln Black Label dealers in my area--one is about 10 minutes from home, the other is about 30. I've been debating about the "appropriateness" of getting two dealerships to bargain with you on a new car. I honestly don't even know if dealerships will negotiate on NEW car pricing. Will they? Or just go by the MSRP? At any rate, all my service needs, maintenance, complimentary carwashes/detailing, etc. will be done at the one close to home. So it may seem like kind of a slap in the face to buy it from the other dealer up the road but have the closer one take care of it for the years to come. But maybe I can use these warranties as a bargaining chip and get them in a price war. Hmmm...

Edited January 19, 2016 by Myron D. Brown

[KenZ]

I'm notorious for running over nails, screws, rocks, 1-inch bolts, even a pair of fingernail clippers once. I think in the last 5 years, I've probably gone through 8 new tires. Replaced through the Road Hazard protection from Sears. So I'll definitely get that and probably the DentCARE. I usually never have windshield issues. So if it's cheap, I'll consider it. And you're right about the 19" tires being so expensive.

 

​Thanks for your advice. I didn't realize these warranties were negotiable. I've already made my decision to purchase a 2017 Black Label Hybrid as soon as they come out this summer. I have two Lincoln Black Label dealers in my area--one is about 10 minutes from home, the other is about 30. I've been debating about the "appropriateness" of getting two dealerships to bargain with you on a new car. I honestly don't even know if dealerships will negotiate on NEW car pricing. Will they? Or just go by the MSRP? At any rate, all my service needs, maintenance, complimentary carwashes/detailing, etc. will be done at the one close to home. So it may seem like kind of a slap in the face to buy it from the other dealer up the road but have the closer one take care of it for the years to come. But maybe I can these warranties as a bargaining chip and get them in a price war. Hmmm...

 

Jeeze.... You are hard on tires.  I have had one or two flat tires in 40 years.     

 

I think that dealers are used to shoppers.  When my neighbor bought his Lincoln, I think he went to 5 or 6 Lincoln only or Ford/Lincoln dealers in a 30 mile radius.  He spent 2 or 3 weeks dealing, negotiating, going back and forth.  Probably spent more on gas than he saved in the deal.  Frankly, I went to the Ford/Lincoln dealer 1 mile down the road and was done in 3 hours.  My neighbor may have gotten a better deal, but my time is worth more to me!  My neighbor actually ended up buying at a dealer about 45 miles away that he checked last minute, he has his service done just down the road.  The service folks could care less where you bought the car.  

 

My neighbor basically took the best deal he got to the dealership down the road and said if they would match it, he would buy the car there.  They would not match it.

 

Each dealer has it's own overhead, sales policies and sales volume which can affect price.  You will also see widely varying trade-in offers.  

[Myron D. Brown]

Thank you, KenZ!!

 

Very helpful. The dealership across town is ranked the "#1 Lincoln Dealer in the State," so they may have a bit more wiggle room. We'll see. And I usually keep a car 4-8 years. So I'm thinking of using the DentCARE and TireCARE as a bargaining chip. I'll buy from whichever dealer will throw those in for free/cheap and give me the best incentives. I'll probably keep this one at least 6 years. Unless they do a total refresh of the MKZ. If I like the new one, I'll trade. If not, then I'll add the extended PremiumCARE warranty a few years down the road. This forum is probably going to be my biggest help this summer. You all tend to know more than the dealers.

[Mark95man]

If you're going to keep the vehicle beyond it's factory warranty, it's looking like you should get an extended drive train and electronics coverage. I've read warnings on the engines with the internal water pump. If or when they leak, they either destroy the engine and your wallet or if you're lucky just the pump must be replaced. This usually takes place after the warranty expires from the examples I've found online. Water pump replacement cost, $2,300 at today's rates. Or an engine replacement that can exceed the value of the vehicle. This is what has been called a non-issue for some. But if your vehicle has this issue, it would become a costly issue for you. Next year my wife will either sell or trade in her 2014 MKZ and obtain a leased car. I just hope this water pump failure does NOT effect residual value of the lease at it's end.

[drolds1]

If you're going to keep the vehicle beyond it's factory warranty, it's looking like you should get an extended drive train and electronics coverage. I've read warnings on the engines with the internal water pump. If or when they leak, they either destroy the engine and your wallet or if you're lucky just the pump must be replaced. This usually takes place after the warranty expires from the examples I've found online. Water pump replacement cost, $2,300 at today's rates. Or an engine replacement that can exceed the value of the vehicle. This is what has been called a non-issue for some. But if your vehicle has this issue, it would become a costly issue for you. Next year my wife will either sell or trade in her 2014 MKZ and obtain a leased car. I just hope this water pump failure does NOT effect residual value of the lease at it's end.

I sincerely doubt that having an internal water pump is going to affect residual value.  It's not like it's something that makes the 11pm news.  For instance, I don't think Subaru's residual values have been hurt by their propensity to burn oil and blow head gaskets after accumulating high mileage.  This isn't an Oldsmobile/Cadillac diesel situation.