02 mailibu and i'm quickly approaching 36k. i am meticulous about maintenance and i baby the car. 1) should i even bother with the warranty? 2) if i do opt for it, i'm going for the top GM package(of 3
levels offered), and at only $1700 it's not that bad, but methinks all the major sutff will be breaking after 75k...thoughts?

We have a 2000 malibu and bought the extended warranty at the time we purchased the vehicle. I'm very glad we did and we are considering renewing the warranty since it comes due this year. I didn't think we'd use the warranty either, but we've replaced the front struts, had a fuel gauge problem fixed, replaced the water pump, replaced the head gaskets and a couple of other problems that I'm not remembering. Each time we've paid $100 deductible. We would have paid much more than that had we not had the warranty. Additional info: our car has just over 70,000 miles on it.

Hope this helps.

I seriously doubt you'll get your money out of it, if you pay $1700 for an extended warranty. You'll be buying piece of mind, but from a financial standpoint, warranties aren't the best decision. I bought one on my 2001, because they came down to about $650 for me. It has a $200 deductible and I've had to use it once. I'm over halfway to getting my money back, but I don't think I'll even come out good on it. I had the intake gasket problem, and water pump problem on mine as well. I know the intake gasket is a common problem, but I don't know about the water pump.

I have been debating purchasing the extended warranty myself. Some people swear by them, others claim they are a waste of money. My girlfriend has the highest level of coverage in her extended warranty for her 2001 Saturn SL2. She just passed 36K miles and had a $500 coolant system problem that was fully covered. I do think that when getting the extended warranty that you should get the best one they have or none at all. If you get anything less you run the risk of spending money on a warranty that doesn't cover the items that fail on you down the road, and its money misspent. If you buy the warranty and never need it, then the $1700 was piece of mind and you still come out ahead with a car that has been trouble free. Also, its a sunk cost, its a one time payment of $1700 which you may currently have, with the agreement that future repairs will cost X amount, which you are more likely to have down the road. Better to spend $1700 now and when you have a problem only being required to spend say $100 or $200 which you are more likely to have, then have 1 repair down the road that costs $1500 or more and you not to have the money at that time. Hopefully, these thoughts will aide in your decision process and not just make the issue even more complex. Good luck.

I recently asked the extended warranty question in another thread... I just bought a 2001 SL2 with 13000 miles on it and somehow felt kinda naked with only a 90day/3000mi warranty on what seems to me like a new car. Anyway I have read several posts both pro and con, but someone made this quite rational suggestion:
Why not take the @$1000 you'd spend on the warranty and put it in a savings account exclusively for unexpected repairs. Then if you're lucky enuf not to need it... you still have the money! :)

We financed our 02 malibu through GM, and bought the 5 year warranty. The logic was that as long as we're making payments to GM, GM can do the repairs.

I've already had an alternator, a tilt-steering actuator, and brakes done (twice). I'm anticipating an intake manifold gasket (based on reading the forums!), and GM can pay for that one, too.

Yes, it's worth it. Your best bet is to trade in the vehicle before it begins falling apart. Haven't you been reading the posts? I had the 60k warranty. However.......

ABS
85k blower motor speeds 1 and 2
87k new wheel hubs
88k new alternator
98k installed used engine [coolent in crankcase]
99k lower control arm, caliper.
ABS
101k ps recall [today]

I've put around $3,000.00 in this car in the last 30k miles

And I take care of my vehicles too

www.warrantydirect.com