HOnda Care -- worth it?
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 0
From: Memphis
If you plan on modding (more than the typical clearing of the lenses and side markers, etc.), I would recommend against HondaCare, but you can end up spending a lot in repairs. But as they say, you gotta pay to play. If you don't plan on modding, get HondaCare, there are common issues that will make you glad you did. ex: CV's, spindle nuts, differentials.
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 13,471
Likes: 35
From: Upstate NY
My wife and I have purchased 4 new cars in the last 20 years. We have had <$500 total worth of repairs done that would have been covered by one of these plans. Assuming that I would have paid $1000 per vehicle for coverage, I figure I'm $3500 ahead right now. I will never buy an extended service plan.
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,048
Likes: 8
From: Long Island, New York, US
Originally Posted by mav,May 27 2005, 07:59 AM
excel, trust me I've done a lot of research into HondaCare. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act only covers warranties, which HondaCare is not. HondaCare is a contract, like insurance. If you read the fine print, it states that the contract is voided if the car is modded in any way, shape or form.
I debated getting HondaCare myself since my factory warranty just ran out, but my S2000 is modded. Even so I figure I would use it only in the event of a major failure, like engine, transmission or rear differential but Honda will bring out the "you abused your car" line anyways so its worthless to me.
If your S2000 is not modded and you don't plan on modding it, then it might be a good option.
I debated getting HondaCare myself since my factory warranty just ran out, but my S2000 is modded. Even so I figure I would use it only in the event of a major failure, like engine, transmission or rear differential but Honda will bring out the "you abused your car" line anyways so its worthless to me.
If your S2000 is not modded and you don't plan on modding it, then it might be a good option.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: katy
I purchased it when I bought my '03 which I plan on keeping a long time. I haven't and won't be modding it. I have a 7 year 100,000 mile Honda Care warranty. I drive my car, it's not a garage queen even though I do baby it. I figure, living in Houston, that if the AC goes out I'm ahead by a lot. If I drive trouble free for 100,000 miles then Honda has suckered me. Even though it is a Honda I think the chances of driving a highly strung sports car for 100,000 miles without incident are slim. So, it's a bet...one of us (Honda or me) will come out ahead!
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 0
From: Memphis
Originally Posted by exceltoexcel,May 27 2005, 12:30 PM
There's been an on going argument that Honda care is presented to the customer as a warrenty, therefor it does fall under federal guidlines. however that remains to be tested.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,774
Likes: 0
From: Irvine, SoCal
Honda Care warranty or other extended warranties for all products is just an insurance. The company that sells these extended warranties must make some profits after all expenses, such as admin costs, marketing costs, middleman costs and payout for repair claims. If everyone pays X dollars for extended warranty and claims more than X dollars in repairs, then all those companies that sell extended warranties will be out of business.
Only few who bought extended warranties will come out ahead, most will loose. That why all business are pushing very hard for extended warranties.
Only few who bought extended warranties will come out ahead, most will loose. That why all business are pushing very hard for extended warranties.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 0
From: Memphis
I was doing a bit of searching on Honda's website and found this:
http://automobiles.honda.com/certified/warranty.asp
According to the website, if you buy a Certified Used vehicle, the Powertrain including "Engine","Drivetrain", and "Transmission" are covered by a Warranty that doesn't even require HondaCare.
http://automobiles.honda.com/certified/warranty.asp
According to the website, if you buy a Certified Used vehicle, the Powertrain including "Engine","Drivetrain", and "Transmission" are covered by a Warranty that doesn't even require HondaCare.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 995
Likes: 0
From: Simi Valley, CA
Bought HondaCare w/ my S in 01 for $1200. So far I've used it to get a few minor repairs done (probably only a few hundred dollars worth), but made my money back (and then some), when I used it to get my top replaced (due to the "frame holes" issue), with a glass window top no-less. That easily would have cost me $2500. Mod-wise, I have interior, stereo system, strut-tower brace, and CAI.
Dinnyin
Dinnyin
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,938
Likes: 0
From: limerick
Nearly everything in print that has Honda Care on it also states it's a warranty. So you can put all the fine print into a document that you want but legaly the argument would be that it is percieved and presented as a warranty and would fall under government guidlines. In a court caase you'd win. A jury case would eat honda alive but the legal expenceses would be too high, however, a small claims case wouldn't cost much and should be easy to win in the event that Honda tried to pull anything like the small print out if you only had a few brouchures on the subject that said warranty.