A comprehensive guide on Audi extended warranties
Audi, a true testament to German engineering and the excellence involved in building a well-deserved reputation across the globe. Audi vehicles are works of art and the driving pleasure these cars offer are rivaled by few and matched by even fewer. People don’t realize the levels of quality and cost that goes into producing these vehicles which, understandably, gives rise to high repair costs when the occasion eventually does arrive.
While warranties are offered by all car manufacturers, issues come up at a much later stage when the expiry date has been crossed and the mileage threshold has long since been utilized. This is where extended warranties come into play and when it comes to cars like Audi, they can save one a lot of money and despair.
Today, we’re going to take a look at these repair costs, the default manufacturer warranty and its drawbacks, the coverage offered under extended warranties, and the value for money you would enjoy if you were to purchase one. Hopefully, by the end, we’ll be able to convince you as to why extended warranty for cars is a good idea.
Repair costs
Most critical component issues cost a small fortune to repair. Timing belt replacement can cost up to $900, whereas with V8 engines, timing chain issues can chalk up a bill that ranges in the thousands. Depending on the issue you’re facing regarding your critical components, your costs can range anywhere from $1000 all the way up to $10000. This shouldn’t come as a shock as Audi’s are luxury cars and the parts used are obviously of exceptionally high quality.
What else would you expect from a manufacturer that charges $2000 for a replacement side mirror!
Audi’s default manufacturer warranty – why it isn’t enough
As is the trend with all car manufacturers, Audi offers a four-year, 50000-mile warranty, which is included in the price of the car. Audi also offers scheduled maintenance services for a fixed fee that would be built into your payment plan. Audi Care offers maintenance for the first 45000 miles, after which the fixed fee system stops and maintenance charges are according to tariffs in effect at the time.
Considering that most issues with high repair costs will pop up after the 100000-mile mark, the default warranty doesn’t offer much. It will cover any manufacturer defects your car may have, but repairs associated with wear and tear over a long period of time will most likely never fall under the coverage window as these cars are built to last.
Something serious, such as transmission box failure, wouldn’t be expected to come up within the 50000-mile mark and would run up a bill close to $10000. The default manufacturer warranty won’t cover that and you’ll be holding your head in your hands trying to figure out where to get that kind of money. And while Audi Care is a nice touch, it’s not exactly free and maintenance, which could delay issues, won’t invulnerably protect your car from inevitable wear and tear.
Audi extended warranty
Audi’s extended warranty, known as “Premium Warranty”, starts at the $2000 mark and only go up depending on the type of coverage you are looking for. While the cost may be a bit high, when compared to the repair costs we discussed above, it seems to be a bargain! The coverage, access, and other advantages also contribute to the fact that you’re getting great value for your money.
First and foremost, you would be entitled to genuine Audi parts and have access to all Audi dealers and authorized service providers across the entire country. There is 24-hour emergency roadside assistance and the company offers reimbursement for towing, rental, and “trip interruption”. You can also have multiple deductibles. If you were to cancel the warranty upon selling your car, you would also get a prorated refund for the unused portion of the warranty.
Looking at the above, it’s hard to argue with Audi’s claim of offering the most under their extended warranty. You will need to contact your local dealership or the company directly to see the exact length of coverage and costs, as they would depend on your car and the options that you choose with Audi.
Audi premium warranty vs. Independent service providers
There are numerous independent service providers that offer extended warranties through protection plans and other methods which also provide significant coverage. However, you would be hard-pressed to find someone who could offer as much as Audi does in the same price range. One of the biggest arguments in favor of independent providers is that they’re able to offer more than car companies, but in Audi’s case, that seems unlikely.
You can take your chances and speak to a few providers to see what they’re offering. Your benchmark will have to be what Audi is offering you in the same price range. However, it should be noted that working with the manufacturer directly would offer more certainty than an independent service provider would. So if by some stroke of luck you’re able to find a service provider that would offer everything Audi does for a slightly lower price, you should still go with Audi due to the brand recognition and market standing.
Conclusion
As you can see from the above, Audi offers great value for money with its extended warranty, especially when compared with other car manufacturers. The price point is a sore topic for most and you can choose to forego the extended warranty solely on this factor. However, if you crack your radiator or need to change your transmission box, you could end up paying a lot more than you would for an extended warranty.
Because of the specialized nature of Audi’s engineering and production, repair costs are bound to be high. Buying an extended warranty is a prudent move when you consider that your repair bills could be much more challenging, much more frequently, than it is to pay an extra $2000.