Extended warranty costs... exorbitant???

[eanders]

This is the quote I just got from Century Warranty Services (Costco's program):
3 YR, 36K mile
Deductible at 250: Price $7,508
Deductible at 500: Price $5,861
(price was like $9k for 100 deductible)

This is an exclusionary contract that covers wear and tear... probably the best coverage I've seen, but boy is it pricey. My beast has 72k miles on it - is near the cutoff for what they'll insure.

I have no point of reference for what others paid for "good" coverage, but this doesn't seem to make sense for me... will self-insure at these prices. Thoughts?

I am getting a quote from TSP at the advice of a forum member. Thanks

[twinsteve]

I paid $4,000 2 years ago for Fidelity Platinum (top of the line coverage from Audi) on my Audi with 45,000 miles....

[lswing]

Doesn't seem so bad if the coverage is good, you could spend $5k a year if things don't go well...not sure which rate I would choose though.

[eanders]

The contract offered by the used car dealer, American Auto Guardian (Wheelz product) is looking better to me now... was priced at $3,100 for 3 YR / 36K miles. This was an exclusionary contract, which is good, but doesn't have the wear and tear provision. This company based on my research may be more inclined to challenge claims. If anyone has experience with this company (AAGI or Wheelz), good or bad, I would love to hear it. I feel exposed with this car and no contract.

[vitalian]

I paid $4500 for 3 year/36K zero-deductible comprehensive coverage (including wear and tear) from National through the Audi dealership where I bought my car.

[alrightroad]

I paid $2,950 for 3/36 and $50 deductible. The inclusionary list is a mile long including struts. "Lexus Gold Care" is the name of the company... through Totyota.

[ben916]

I paid $3300 3yr/36k mile with $200 deductible on mine when mileage was at 36,300 miles thru Protective/Prism.
That was 2.5 years ago.
I don't have the phone numbers handy but there have been prior threads to this and I did list the phone number.

Mine covers suspension systems with a "variable dampening system" = I read that as the DRC ;)
I was most concerned with Transmission and DRC and valve cover gaskets...

[makaveli42]

i got a quote of $3400 with $100 deductible for a 5/yr 60k/miles thru Pinnacle....and my car has 97k miles. covers bumper to bumper

[eanders]

i got a quote of $3400 with $100 deductible for a 5/yr 60k/miles thru Pinnacle....and my car has 97k miles. covers bumper to bumper

I called Pinnacle... really high pressure sales call... quote was $4,300 for 4YR / 48K mile stated coverage contract (not exclusionary, which is preferred). I did like the fact that they have an option / ryder to cover posted labor rates... that is a gap with many of these coverages (i.e. American Auto Guardian).

I would need someone to tell me that they have a Pinnacle contract and have been pleased with the coverage... was really turned off by the high pressure sales call - felt like I was being scammed.

[makaveli42]

I called Pinnacle... really high pressure sales call... quote was $4,300 for 4YR / 48K mile stated coverage contract (not exclusionary, which is preferred). I did like the fact that they have an option / ryder to cover posted labor rates... that is a gap with many of these coverages (i.e. American Auto Guardian).

I would need someone to tell me that they have a Pinnacle contract and have been pleased with the coverage... was really turned off by the high pressure sales call - felt like I was being scammed.

Yeah they r high pressure...I just kept asking if that's the best they could do, each time I asked I got transferred and the price got cheaper lol. I Plan on getting a warranty thru them, just have some other stuff I need the mobey for first! Let me know if u go they then it not, they provide rental cars and towing too!

[RSSIK]

Fidelity is actually a great company. I bought mine through the Audi dealership and since then that is all who takes care of my car.

[eanders]

Final post on this... a synopsis of my research on warranties (really service contracts).
There are a few good ones (companies / plans), but they are expensive. People rave about Fidelity, but I couldn't get them to write mine... didn't buy the car through Audi. An Audi dealer recommended a company called Easy Care, they were very expensive ($9 for a 3 / 36k). Costco's program (Century Warranty Services) may also be a good one... would need to do more research on them, though.

Then, there are the 90+ percent of warranty companies that range from out-n-out crooks to iffy. The prices look good, and in some cases even the contracts (Wheelz), but at the end of the day I was very suspect that the warranty company would either a) stay in business, b) not fight every claim, c) leave you on the hook for the posted labor rate gap, d) use inferior parts, e) make the repair process a complete hassle.

I think I am going against the grain of the forum here and self-insuring my beast (absent finding a "good" company in the next week or so). We'll see how I make out... praying for at least a solid initial trouble free run.

[kday]

I don't think self-insuring is against the grain, there just isn't much need for discussion of it.

I tend to do my own work and can be without the car for a while, so the warranty didn't make sense for me.

Incidentally, according to car fax, the first owner of my car lived in Chagrin Falls.

[4.2Crew]

I don't think self-insuring is against the grain..... I tend to do my own work and can be without the car for a while, so the warranty didn't make sense for me.

Agree... Everyone has a different set of circumstances (ie. risk tolerence, DIY ability, initial investment price point in the car.)

I am always creep'd out the TC or tranny will dump. But, the cost of an extended warranty from a reputable source was almost the same cost as TC/tranny refresh anyway. The only certainty is the warranty times out after 3-5 years!....

[mmaturo]

My 2 cents get a warranty if you can...key besides the most complete coverage and the labor rate gap coverage is one that you can refund if you sell or wreck the car and that refund is based on time and not claims against it...unless you are like a few of the guys here that really can tear the car down and put it back together (trans/engine drop)...as a former owner that had a car that ate transmissions/torque converters literally once every year and a half regardless of driving...some abused with track days/aggressive driving launches all the time...why own an RS6 if you aren't going to drive it like one...last one though...babied heavily and still went. I traded it in as fast as I could after my warranty ran out and anyone I checked with that seemed good or I had used in the past successfully on multiple cars wouldn't touch the car knowing the claim rate. If I thought it would be just one tranny replacement later that would be one thing but not on this car. Don't get me started on control arm replacement frequency either.

[eanders]

My 2 cents get a warranty if you can...key besides the most complete coverage and the labor rate gap coverage is one that you can refund if you sell or wreck the car and that refund is based on time and not claims against it...unless you are like a few of the guys here that really can tear the car down and put it back together (trans/engine drop)...as a former owner that had a car that ate transmissions/torque converters literally once every year and a half regardless of driving...some abused with track days/aggressive driving launches all the time...why own an RS6 if you aren't going to drive it like one...last one though...babied heavily and still went. I traded it in as fast as I could after my warranty ran out and anyone I checked with that seemed good or I had used in the past successfully on multiple cars wouldn't touch the car knowing the claim rate. If I thought it would be just one tranny replacement later that would be one thing but not on this car. Don't get me started on control arm replacement frequency either.

Is mmaturo's experience common with the TC, tranny and control arms, or a result of harder than average driving / use? Good comment from the forum on this - agree the warranty decision is a function of a lot of things, but in the end, all are a moot point unless I can find a legitimate company with a decent contract that pays their claims. Where I am in Ohio, USA, I have not been able to find such a company. I am expecting to pay 3-4k / year on maintenance / repairs, which is tolerable based on what I paid for the car... naturally hope it's less, but it's good to have reasonable expectations. My beast has 72k miles and thus far has been great. Separately, to my knowledge their has been no repairs / rebuilds to the TC or tranny on this car. Should I be expecting something in the near term?

[lswing]

From what I've read over the last year, mmaturo has had the worst experience, thankfully covered by warranty. My assumptions are that a combination of hard driving and poor quality replacements/mechanic work caused the issue to be so bad. Luckily I've only had the TC swapped on mine and I'm third owner at 92,000 miles now. I'm putting a good amount of extra power into the car and know that one day the trans will pay for it. That said I do my best to care for it without too much flogging. Rebuilt the TC right away with ACE. My drive to work is about 3 miles city, so I can get away with reducing wear and saving the hard driving for weekends.

mmaturo, I wonder if you would have had them rebuilt out of pocket it might have been worth it and kept you in the RS6? I'm guessing you expected the problem to be fixed though, that's a bummer of a story. All that time down must have been a pain, but looks like you've got some good car options.

When/if the trans goes, get a rebuild that is stronger, along with the TC. Sounds like that has been good to many folks. I've heard a few people talk about our trans still being a "normal" one, so rebuild isn't too crazy, certainly nobody wants to spend $5k for rebuild and labor. A rebuild or new trans on a newer M5 is $10-15k, we don't have it so bad. Personally I think the shifting is great for an auto, certainly acceleration! And tip mode gets the job done on back roads.

I had the TC covered by the dealer, or at least $2k of it, and put another $4k or so into various repairs in the last year. Many of these repairs should last a long time, and the beast has been great. Although I've got a cv or control arm clicking on occasion in the front, my car seems to like eating cv joints:)

[mmaturo]

You guys all need to read deep in these forums if you think the trannys are ok. I drove the car like an RS6 for 6 years as a daily driver, but as i said above the last one went even though i drove it very lightly the last year and not daily with no track or even jumping off lights as was coming off warranty and knew I wanted to sell or trade it in. The first transmission (the original) was failing when i bought the car a year used and it was driven by a lady in Orlando as a daily driver...I don't think she was jumping on it much. I have had plenty of other cars and now my S5 with Stasis tuning to 400hp with zero issues and same driving style including a couple of track days...my TT zippo. The transmissions and TCs fail in these things people. I posted elsewhere also yesterday that all but one former or current RS6 owner I personally know had replaced a trans/TC...one at 13K from new, That number including mine is 6 out of 7. I have seen personally 3 for sale more recently that i looked at for others and one for a forum member here that was at auction and it was so far gone the car could only go into reverse and the other two were slipping or hesitating (when coming to a stop a long and abrupt shift into first gear is a good sign its going).

That said though your budget of 3 to $4K should do you just fine as long as you do not loose a tranny and or even if it does it will average out over time. I'm just worried about people who buy these things and do not prepare like you do for what will be high costs due to parts that are weak on the cars and the fact that most everything needs to be shipped from Germany and is $$$ as these are low production special cars. The only cheap parts are the common A6 pieces and thankfullyfor you guys cheaper brake/rotor/pad combinations now. MTM TCU reprogramming is defense number one though. I loved my RS6 and regardless was one of the most fantastic cars I have owned and I'm on my 6th Audi with an RS5 coming in a month so I'm not negative on Audi or the cars but this one you got to know what you are getting into. It could go well but more than likely I think it will be $$$$ to own over the long haul.

[nistah]

Get the warranty if you can, cost is only an issue in the absence of value. Mine was transfered from PO with a $50 transfer fee & the contract has paid out over 10K...so do the math folks! IMHO the warranty on these beasts is like AMEX don't leave home with out it unless you have $$$ to throw out the window:dig:

[mmaturo]

From what I've read over the last year, mmaturo has had the worst experience, thankfully covered by warranty. My assumptions are that a combination of hard driving and poor quality replacements/mechanic work caused the issue to be so bad. Luckily I've only had the TC swapped on mine and I'm third owner at 92,000 miles now. I'm putting a good amount of extra power into the car and know that one day the trans will pay for it. That said I do my best to care for it without too much flogging. Rebuilt the TC right away with ACE. My drive to work is about 3 miles city, so I can get away with reducing wear and saving the hard driving for weekends.

mmaturo, I wonder if you would have had them rebuilt out of pocket it might have been worth it and kept you in the RS6? I'm guessing you expected the problem to be fixed though, that's a bummer of a story. All that time down must have been a pain, but looks like you've got some good car options.

When/if the trans goes, get a rebuild that is stronger, along with the TC. Sounds like that has been good to many folks. I've heard a few people talk about our trans still being a "normal" one, so rebuild isn't too crazy, certainly nobody wants to spend $5k for rebuild and labor. A rebuild or new trans on a newer M5 is $10-15k, we don't have it so bad. Personally I think the shifting is great for an auto, certainly acceleration! And tip mode gets the job done on back roads.

I had the TC covered by the dealer, or at least $2k of it, and put another $4k or so into various repairs in the last year. Many of these repairs should last a long time, and the beast has been great. Although I've got a cv or control arm clicking on occasion in the front, my car seems to like eating cv joints:)

No on the out of pocket part or indy shop as these things were new or rebuilt units straight from ZF with certainly quality RS6 Audi techs working on the car each time in a major city. I trust they did it correctly. And they did last each over a year...just not much more than that, But to add up the rest of the parts I could make a really long post...the car eats parts (and tires) so just was to me getting too $$ when i could get into a newer car if one existed (S5 was a good choice). I owned it as long as I could waiting for the next RS6 or RS5 just took to long so now finally I have the RS5 coming and I am certain I will never see the same level of issues again as I think Audi learned from the RS6 to spend more time on the engineering. The tranny in our cars was a hardened A8 unit rated for torque just about/above what the car actually puts out and just can't take our lovely slow shifts that Audi reprogrammed the car with for the US market. Its the reason the MTM TCU tune is most important. The European cars shift faster and put less tress on the components.

[lswing]

Thanks for the continued input on this mmaturo! Agreed the biggest thing is being aware of some future costs, some big, some a few hundred here and there. I might never have bought this car if a close friend wasn't a great Audi/VW mechanic.

I'd agree with most all of your thoughts, but a few differences. I worry about the rebuild quality from Audi, I got a steering rack from them that was bad from the factory, cost me $1k in labor. Driving style is the most important thing, of course you don't want to have to baby this thing all the time. I've tried to be meticulous with fluids, and yes the MTM chip went in my car right away too.

[eanders]

Get the warranty if you can, cost is only an issue in the absence of value. Mine was transfered from PO with a $50 transfer fee & the contract has paid out over 10K...so do the math folks! IMHO the warranty on these beasts is like AMEX don't leave home with out it unless you have $$$ to throw out the window:dig:

As you put "if you can"... does anyone know of a legit company still willing to write these cars? The good companies are upwards of $9k to cover these for 3 years. Having worked for an insurance company myself I know they get smarter about how to price these contracts / policies, so $9k is probably right. The key is to find a good company / contract that hasn't caught on to the high claims frequency.

[eanders]

No on the out of pocket part or indy shop as these things were new or rebuilt units straight from ZF with certainly quality RS6 Audi techs working on the car each time in a major city. I trust they did it correctly. And they did last each over a year...just not much more than that, But to add up the rest of the parts I could make a really long post...the car eats parts (and tires) so just was to me getting too $$ when i could get into a newer car if one existed (S5 was a good choice). I owned it as long as I could waiting for the next RS6 or RS5 just took to long so now finally I have the RS5 coming and I am certain I will never see the same level of issues again as I think Audi learned from the RS6 to spend more time on the engineering. The tranny in our cars was a hardened A8 unit rated for torque just about/above what the car actually puts out and just can't take our lovely slow shifts that Audi reprogrammed the car with for the US market. Its the reason the MTM TCU tune is most important. The European cars shift faster and put less tress on the components.

Would an entry point into the car of the low $20's change your perspective? I may be looking at this wrong, but this is a hell of a lot of car for the current market price, so even if I spend $10k over the next few years I can rationalize buying this car over other alternatives. So by the time you buy it, maintain it and repair it, someone can expect to have $30-35k into the car over time, with a residual value of ~$15k down the road... seems like a reasonable investment for the performance and enjoyment of the vehicle. That said, down time would be a real bummer if this car lives in the shop.

[marklar182]

Total Service Protection

or

Spectrum VSC White Plan (cheap upfront, but you will have to eat the labor differences, also look at the exclusions in the contract and make sure you can deal with those)

[mmaturo]

Would an entry point into the car of the low $20's change your perspective? I may be looking at this wrong, but this is a hell of a lot of car for the current market price, so even if I spend $10k over the next few years I can rationalize buying this car over other alternatives. So by the time you buy it, maintain it and repair it, someone can expect to have $30-35k into the car over time, with a residual value of ~$15k down the road... seems like a reasonable investment for the performance and enjoyment of the vehicle. That said, down time would be a real bummer if this car lives in the shop.

Sure I guess...obviously I'm coming at this from taking a bath on the sucker as I bought it barely used in early 05 for $70K so depreciation from there on and then the large cost of ownership even under warranty is crazy on this thing due to tight packaging and parts...in the early days we had few choices but best example was OEM rotors at $1400 a set in front and pads at over $300 for the fronts...oil changes at the dealer were $240 but they didn't dare charge the real number so paid $100 but the dealer took a hit with the work involved to drop the stabilizer bar. But please understand I think you have EXACTLY the right attitude and approach and the cash available. I would just not want to see anyone drop $20K on the car and have a tight budget thinking it a used car and gee how bad could it really be...and end up with a very large paper weight. Enthusiasts that know what the car is and the $,$$$ it takes to run it this thing have what is still in my mind the best all around performing passenger car I have seen...I never replaced it as MB and BMW simply do not make a 4 wheel drive beast that handles and takes any weather as well (getting closer but I'm not buying). This thing was awesome in the snow, on ice, in heavy rain...on a wet track...etc etc. The countless times I out ran M5s and AMG with it off the line and stayed ahead in anything but dry pavement (and then i still got off faster every time to 60) is just priceless. The day i traded her in i got a last run with a spanking new Gran Sport Vette and outran it from 60 up...didn't think it could but it did. So yes its crazy how cheap these are and worth every penny as long as you have a piggy bank with more pennies. I can't wait for the next RS6 that crossing my fingers it really is coming this time...S6 is so good already that's coming later this year, the RS6 will be worthy.

Yeah the first 6 months i owned the car in 05 it was bad...it spent 3 months of it in the shop (not exaggerating at all) in 3 week intervals for over-boost then limping and trans/TC issues...nothing like paying for an RS6 and driving an A6 3.2. I know my service writers and techs a little too well over the years...I miss them now...I never need to take the S5 in. Since the first pile of time in the shop it did spend twice a year or more in 3 or 4 week stints waiting on parts and getting fixed. I got good loaners anyway and the customer loyalty points I built up actually paid my last timing belt change 100% so that was a silver lining : )

[Thor]

Just thought I'd chip in as a very new RS 6 owner... Firstly, hello everyone here.
Just last week I got my car and I was very adamant the Platinum level Fidelity Warranty was transferred into my name as soon as possible. Good thing too, as I had a tranny seal, wheel bearing and a couple other issues my local Audi dealer found while performing my state emissions and safety inspection. Aud called Fidelity and they honored the claim-minus my deductible. I am very glad this car had the extended warranty and I would recommend it...

[marklar182]

Just thought I'd chip in as a very new RS 6 owner... Firstly, hello everyone here.
Just last week I got my car and I was very adamant the Platinum level Fidelity Warranty was transferred into my name as soon as possible. Good thing too, as I had a tranny seal, wheel bearing and a couple other issues my local Audi dealer found while performing my state emissions and safety inspection. Aud called Fidelity and they honored the claim-minus my deductible. I am very glad this car had the extended warranty and I would recommend it...

Welcome! Love the Red Beast!

[eanders]

You guys all need to read deep in these forums if you think the trannys are ok. I drove the car like an RS6 for 6 years as a daily driver, but as i said above the last one went even though i drove it very lightly the last year and not daily with no track or even jumping off lights as was coming off warranty and knew I wanted to sell or trade it in. The first transmission (the original) was failing when i bought the car a year used and it was driven by a lady in Orlando as a daily driver...I don't think she was jumping on it much. I have had plenty of other cars and now my S5 with Stasis tuning to 400hp with zero issues and same driving style including a couple of track days...my TT zippo. The transmissions and TCs fail in these things people. I posted elsewhere also yesterday that all but one former or current RS6 owner I personally know had replaced a trans/TC...one at 13K from new, That number including mine is 6 out of 7. I have seen personally 3 for sale more recently that i looked at for others and one for a forum member here that was at auction and it was so far gone the car could only go into reverse and the other two were slipping or hesitating (when coming to a stop a long and abrupt shift into first gear is a good sign its going).

That said though your budget of 3 to $4K should do you just fine as long as you do not loose a tranny and or even if it does it will average out over time. I'm just worried about people who buy these things and do not prepare like you do for what will be high costs due to parts that are weak on the cars and the fact that most everything needs to be shipped from Germany and is $$$ as these are low production special cars. The only cheap parts are the common A6 pieces and thankfullyfor you guys cheaper brake/rotor/pad combinations now. MTM TCU reprogramming is defense number one though. I loved my RS6 and regardless was one of the most fantastic cars I have owned and I'm on my 6th Audi with an RS5 coming in a month so I'm not negative on Audi or the cars but this one you got to know what you are getting into. It could go well but more than likely I think it will be $$$$ to own over the long haul.

Just a quick question that shows I have a lot to learn. What is the MTM TCU reprogramming you are referring to?

[mmaturo]

Check out website...Hoppen Motorsports in US...you send them your TCU and they reprogram it. Adjusts the shift speed to quicker like European RS6s

http://www.hoppenmotorsport.com/Audi.RS6.C5.Engine.htm
http://www.mtm-us.com/en/Audi/RS6/4-2-T-331-kW-450-hp-Quattro?FZID=RS6331Q

[Jimmy]

http://www.horchaus.com/Car_imports.html

Hoppen is no longer in business !! These guys up North can get the MTM chip into your TCU....def a smart mod, if not the smartest mod for an RS6.

[Thor]

Thanks Jimmy for posting where we can still get MTM service/products. I have the MTM ECU/Tranny tune on my car but I have been searching frantically for where (if needed) I could call for help with MTM issues.

[makaveli42]

http://www.horchaus.com/Car_imports.html

Hoppen is no longer in business !! These guys up North can get the MTM chip into your TCU....def a smart mod, if not the smartest mod for an RS6.

i have Vipers TCU chip....its just as comparable right?

[Jimmy]

i have Vipers TCU chip....its just as comparable right?

I can't comment on the Vipers chip based on my no experience with it/them...however, I would suspect ANY TCU tune is better than what we USA owners got as OE.

[mmaturo]

http://www.horchaus.com/Car_imports.html

Hoppen is no longer in business !! These guys up North can get the MTM chip into your TCU....def a smart mod, if not the smartest mod for an RS6.

Oops, thanks for correcting me!! Kinda wondering why the links were a little weird and thought I heard that but everything was still online...you would think people would close down their websites or DUH maybe MTM would refresh their dealer list as I suspected it but Hoppen still came up as the rep on their site. I would go MTM...proven over the years with no issues and very inexpensive for the benefit...was just over a $100 in the Hoppen days if i remember correctly.