I don't normally do it, but when we bought one of the Subaru's, they offered a three year bumper to bumper warranty, for half price, one time only special. $1800 and they covered everything, from light bulbs to the entire engine and transmission, only thing NOT covered was routine maintenance like oil changes, batteries, brakes and tires. The real kicker was that if you didn't use the extended warranty (at all,) during the three years... you got a refund of the full $1800 at the end of the three year period.
During that three year period, I had a couple bulbs burn out. Paid out of pocket, kept the receipts, stamped cash purchase. Had the radio / cassette deck fail. Paid cash for the new part and installed it myself. Kept the receipt, stamped paid cash for the part, service manager wrote Customer Installed item.
Three years came and went. Went to the head of the Sales Desk and told them I was there for the refund on the Extended Warranty, which had gone unused for the three year period. She pulled up the car history.
"I see you had two bulbs replaced and the cassette deck / radio removed and replaced. You have used the warranty."
"Here are my copies of the receipts for those repairs, I did the maintenance myself and paid cash for parts. The warranty remains unused. Today, I am requesting the return of the funds, IN Writing. You owe me $1,800. Tomorrow you will owe me $1,800 plus interest. In 30 days you will owe me $1,8000 plus interest, court costs, and lawyer's fees.
HERE is his card." (I knew how this was likely to go.) She made a couple of calls, then looked up and said:"Let me get the Cashier to cut you a check."
The cashier was laughing when I walked over and picked up the check. No one ever made it thru the three years without using the Extended Warranty, and most had paid $3,600 for it.
