Do you keep your car after the warranty expires?

[zman]

While I have 2 more years on my warranty, I am just exploring my options.
Thus far, the car has been good for me.
The only problems I had was the coils. The only money spent on the car was alignment ($256).

Don't get me wrong, I love my baby. I want to keep it as long as possible.
But, since I have 2 girls at home, I have to be realistic.

My worries is as many cars things start breaking down after the warranty over.


Thanx!

 

[codex57]

I tend to keep my cars after warranty. I think the only car my family has ever sold before the warranty was up was my old Jeep Cherokee. Bought new. Sold in 6 months. It was more of an indictment against the car than anything else. THe coil problem seems to be a supplier issue. They changed suppliers so hopefully that helps.

 

[eddo1]

I've had my car for about 1 year now and a lot of things had to fixed. I can't begin to imagine how much all that would've costs me if it wasn't covered. I love the car and I don't want to sell it but if there are other major problems that come up, I might just have to do that and go back to the reliable but crappy driving japanese cars. I thought about the extended warranty too but I thought since I have so many fixed already what else can go wrong??! (knock on wood)

 

[codex57]

Holy moly! Lemon your car!

It's been a year and a half for me and the only things I've had done were 1 oil change, fixed sunroof (clip broke), and I mysteriously ran low on coolant (added some more and it's fine).

 

[aNoodle]

I can't imagine paying all that money the first 3 years only to give it away at such a diminished price for a car that has so much value. I won't lie to you, BMWs are expensive to maintain. There's just no question about that. But if you're willing to do some work yourself, or actually enjoying doing work to your car, it won't be that bad. I have had a steady stream of fix-its on my car. Nothing too crazy at 6 yrs 127,000 miles. The only real whammy was having to buy a new automatic transmission this summer. Yikes! That was a real blow, but who's to say with those boxes when they will go. I may have been unlucky....or maybe I just got a little too much fun out of driving my car the first 5 years. Who knows.

If you really don't have it in your budget to deal with a bunch of random little repairs, then you may want to consider going over to a new japanese car. Then you'll be assured a simple payment each month without any worries. If you're willing to do some work yourself, keep your BMW.

 

[Big Daddy]

I have had my roadster, a 1998 and since warranty expiration I have had no issues. I have only replaced normal service items, brakes, oil, etc. Anything else I have done to her has been my choice to do so. Also had my 91 318is until early this year and other than the steering rack, no issues! Keep the car, you've made a big investment in it.

 

[eddo1]

I don't know, some of these new BMWs aren't as reliable as the old ones though

 

[Average Jae]

think about the track record of the car before the warranty expires. if my car had little issues that cropped up left and right, requiring warranty work, i would try to trade that sucker in about a year or two in. (residual value worrying you? how about the headache of not having your own car, during those fixes?) where as if my car was relatively trouble free, why would you get rid of it? do you think the luck will run out? it's a gamble w/ pretty low odds. like always betting on 0 or 00 all the time. sure you'll make money when you do hit that, but what are the chances? now if i had a major engine rebuild/ replacement under warranty, you bet the car's going on the selling block!

selling your 3, 4 year old car, which i would imagine would be almost payment free, because of potentially big repair that would've been covered under the warranty seems a bit tiny bit absurd. unless you have an american car. (sorry for the cheap shot, well not really...) figure out how much you'll be losing by selling, and buying a new car, and keeping up with those payments, verses the cost for a repair that may never be coming.

 

[dm_longhorn]

You can play the "if" game all day... there's only one winner: BMW

 

[Kirby]

I always keep my cars. 17 years for my Volvo, 10 years on the Suburban, going for 15 to 20 years. The 330 will be around for 20+ years, hopefully "forever" as a classic/antique.

Even if the car does need a $3000 transmission someday, that's equivalent to about 6 months purchase payments. I'm still ahead of the game.

 

[bahnstormer]

i never buy new.
new is for wussies =]