4yr/55k Prepaid Maintenance: how low does the price have to be before it makes sense?

[bluemoose]

I'm shopping for a Toyota Auto Care Plan for my '07 Camry. (the prepaid maintenance program)

The MSRP on the Premium 4-year/55k-miles plan is $1355. (service every 5000 miles, 3 major maintanances at 15k/30k/45k, plus free 24-hr roadside assistance for the duraing of the coverage)

What's the dealer cost for this plan? What's the lowest price that I need to find before this plan makes sense?(at least breaks even, financially)

Thanks!


Edit: the toyota dealer will sell me the Premium 4yr/55k plan for $859.
This will include eight 5000-mile services, the 15k/30k/45k service. Is
$859 low enough for it to make sense That's $496 off, or 36-percent off...

[carlo$]

dont do it.

[gdanaher]

I have no clue what the price of the full meal deal is at 15, 30, and 45, but just ballparking it, you are getting 11 oil changes over 55k miles. If an oil change is 25 bucks, that is worth 275 over 55k miles, and if they charge in the ballpark of 300 bucks for the 15, 30, and 45k service, and that might be high or low, that is another 900. So something like $1175?? Call one of your local service departments and ask what they charge for a 15k mile service to give you a better idea.

[njerald]

I go to the dealer for NOTHING!!!!!!!!

[bluemoose]

Originally Posted by njerald

I go to the dealer for NOTHING!!!!!!!!

but my last name ain't Soprano.... I dnn't even look Italian...

so I don't think I'll get the same special treatment from the dealer....

[TRD VVTi]

Prepaid maintenance isn't worth it. It only covers the bare minimum of service which is dirt cheap anyways.

It's a way for the dealer to have service retention. It's a great idea for some people but I think it's not financially beneficial for the customer or the service department. The dealership service department has to do the work at a discount so the front end can get fat off of the remainder of the contract.

Pay as you go.

[gdanaher]

Here's a situation where it works: My coworker's son-in-law is on the ground in Baghdad. His tundra isn't driven much but he wants his wife and father-in-law to exercise it enough to keep it greased. He bought a service package so nobody left behind would have to worry about the costs of service, just get it done.

The first 45k miles does not have to entail much work beyond oil changes and filters. Anything like brake pads and alignment aren't covered under normal service anyway, right?

[TRD VVTi]

Originally Posted by gdanaher

The first 45k miles does not have to entail much work beyond oil changes and filters. Anything like brake pads and alignment aren't covered under normal service anyway, right?

Right.

[bluemoose]

just reading the conditions.... non of the three major services include chaning the auto transmission fluid or the engine coolant

[Barracuda]

I do not know where you guys are getting 5 K service for $25. In NY, NJ it is $78 (I do it in the Toyota dealership).
For the 15K service I was quoted $299+ tax _ haz. Waste (and it does not include recommended A/c micro filter $60, throttle plate & fuel induction $175).
30K service will be $500.

My car has 11000 and I am starting to think to purchase 4 years/55000 Premium Maintenance plan. I was quoted $950 from my dealership and shopping around for the better price.

I can not do maintenance myself and rather not to go to the local shop where I would definitely save $10-30 but always will have a chance to hear that my warrantee was void because they did something wrong.

By doing a plain calculation: $300 (15K) + $500 (30K) + 45K + oil changes in between will definitely make my $950 spend a good investment.
The question is: does Premium plan covers all “recommended” by the dealership changes?

[kenny1773]

We all know roughly what an oil change costs, but no one can answer the question of value with this package until you list the specific detail of what exactly is going to be done at the major intervals

15k?
30k?
45k?

(they could simply change your oil and move on and you wouldn't know what they did or didn't do)

and since your tires need to be rotated every 7500, are they including that as well? That is maintenance too.

Interest rates are low right now, but inflation feels out of control (I don't believe the posted inflation numbers), so you also need to figure in the sunk cost of your capital for 4 years compared to paying it as you go and look at if you are going to get a gain on inflation/rising costs.

If you are truly trying to determine best value for your money, you have to take everything in account

As stated, it seems too expensive to me.

[TRD VVTi]

Originally Posted by Barracuda

I do not know where you guys are getting 5 K service for $25. In NY, NJ it is $78 (I do it in the Toyota dealership).
For the 15K service I was quoted $299+ tax _ haz. Waste (and it does not include recommended A/c micro filter $60, throttle plate & fuel induction $175).
30K service will be $500.

My car has 11000 and I am starting to think to purchase 4 years/55000 Premium Maintenance plan. I was quoted $950 from my dealership and shopping around for the better price.

I can not do maintenance myself and rather not to go to the local shop where I would definitely save $10-30 but always will have a chance to hear that my warrantee was void because they did something wrong.

By doing a plain calculation: $300 (15K) + $500 (30K) + 45K + oil changes in between will definitely make my $950 spend a good investment.
The question is: does Premium plan covers all “recommended” by the dealership changes?

You could have just read the thread and got your answer.

NO. Maintenance plans only cover the MINIMUM maintenance, NOT the recommended maintenance.

[marc780]

Originally Posted by carlo$

dont do it.

he's right; i wouldnt do it.
In 55k, what is this car going to need? Periodic oil changes (mine cost me about $8 done by me), X however many times you want to change the oil (most people here do it every 3000 so thats 55000/3000 = 18.3, X $8, = about $144 for oil changes if you go by the shorter interval. If you go every 5000 miles like they want you to, total = $88 for oil changes.)
-an air filter, or two. ($15)
-Tire rotation. (free)
-Probably one set of front brakes, possibly a rear set too. ($30-50 just for pads, all it will probably need the first time)

But thats all! It normally wont need a plug change or even a timing belt in this interval.
So is any of that worth paying more then a thousand bucks...?

[tvsjr]

Originally Posted by TRD VVTi

You could have just read the thread and got your answer.

NO. Maintenance plans only cover the MINIMUM maintenance, NOT the recommended maintenance.

And you know this for certain? Quite a number of manufacturers doing the prepaid maintenance thing include whatever is in the maintenance schedule included with the vehicle. Now, if it says "inspect brake pads/rotors" and they find you're in need of new pads, the pads aren't covered. But everything listed in the maintenance schedule should be.

[TRD VVTi]

Originally Posted by tvsjr

And you know this for certain? Quite a number of manufacturers doing the prepaid maintenance thing include whatever is in the maintenance schedule included with the vehicle. Now, if it says "inspect brake pads/rotors" and they find you're in need of new pads, the pads aren't covered. But everything listed in the maintenance schedule should be.

From my dealership experience, yes.

I've NEVER seen a maintenance plan that includes the following:

Throttle body cleaning
Tire balance
Alignment
Fuel Injection cleaning/service
A/C refresher service/evaporator cleaning
Top engine cleaning
Brake pads/shoes
Resurface rotors/drums
Brake fluid exchange/change/flush
Power steering fluid exchange/change/flush
Wiper blades
Belts
Hoses

Most maintenance plans cover the minimum factory recommended service (in factory maintenance schedule) or LESS. They will also not cover a service if it's needed before the recommended service interval. For example a transmission service or cooling system service.

I've spent many hours (usually one hour a month) and have had several meetings with the Rep's for these service plans and know exactly how they function and how the system works.