Maintenance+Plus Silver Value 1 - Should I cancel it?

[basteagow]

Hey guys,

I purchased a 2008 Versa SL three months ago and just joined this forum. Being my first car ever and having never looked under a hood before, I gave in to the finance guy's sales speech and got a Maintenance+Plus plan. However, while he said this would pay for "all maintanance" at a 3-month/3,750 mile interval, I was too inexperienced to read the fine print and eventually discovered that I ended up paying $729 only for the Silver Value 1 plan, which merely covers the following for a total of 3 years/45,000 miles:

* Services and replacements: Oil and oil filter changes, tire rotation.

* Inspections: Drive belts, vapor lines, fuel lines, brake pads and shoes, transmission fluid, steering system, exhaust system, drive shaft boots.

As I now understand it, this plan won't even pay for the actual parts found to need replacement during the few inspections covered.

I'm a read-the-manual-and-do-it-yourself kind of guy when it comes to everything else, but having no experience with cars and a busy schedule ahead I got this plan after hearing all the misleading things the finance guy had to say about it. I'm sure I could, however, learn what I need to know quickly enough to do my own maintenance.

Considering all the above and the fact that I've already had (but not yet used--first service is due next week) this plan for three months, which unfortunately is one month past the 60-day free cancelation deadline, should I keep it or should I go ahead and pay whatever fees they want to cancel my plan now and refund the rest? (I read in another post that it can be canceled for $50.)

Thanks!

[BBISHOPPCM]

Setting aside the 3-year aspect; IF you changed your oil every 3700 miles and rotated the tires every other oil change for 45,000 miles under this plan, you have paid approx. $44.61 for each oil change.

Here's the breakdown I came up with;

Tire rotations cost roughly $20, and should be done every 7500 miles. You are paying for 13 oil changes and 6 tire rotations. Here we go;

13 Oil changes ($730-$120=$610-/-13=$46.92 per oil change)

Yikes!

The reason I excluded the "inspection" is because this is already included with every oil change and is a general practice of most auto mechanics, as these "inspections" will usually lead to increased revenue after the car hits about 30,000 miles.

And a little about "inspections," I bought a car that passed a "rigorous 500 point inspection" that needed a new transmission, tires, a few light bulbs, and an oil change.

I would politely cancel. You've been had.

[basteagow]

Good points, thanks. I didn't know about the free "inspections" but it makes a lot of sense.

I also don't drive very much--I've had the car for three months and it only has 1,350 miles on it. So if I canceled the plan I could do the oil changes less often, which would make this plan even more of a rip-off, right? Given my mileage I understand I could space apart the oil changes by as much as 6 months (schedule 2) without voiding the warranty. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks again!

[jfanaselle]

I actually purchased the gold maintenance plus package with my V and my g/f's Rogue. I understand that it's higher in price, especially when you factor in the cost of the interest after financing it.

However, I sat there and did the math in front of the guy and knew it was going to be about $40 per oil change. I purchased it for the piece of mind, because I didn't want to skip maintenance and being a young man living paycheck to paycheck, I knew there would be times that I needed an oil change and didn't have the extra cash. It's nice to know that I just take it in when it needs service and don't pay a dime. I'm about to make my 4th visit to the dealership for service under this plan.

[2008nvs]

These plans are a rip, if you can get out of it do so.

[ghrshow]

These plans are a rip, if you can get out of it do so.

Hey its all in the Deal you make!I kept saying No to the Finance guy, till he told me if I take it, he will drop my percentage rate by a point.I took the Gold plan, I get oil changes (+) for 75000 miles (20 oil changes) for $490!

I drive a lot of miles and I get "No Waiting" and "No appointment needed", even on Saturday! - time is money!

Modified by ghrshow at 9:41 AM 1/11/2008
Modified by ghrshow at 9:42 AM 1/11/2008

[basteagow]

Just came back from canceling my crappy plan. The finance retard of course tried to make me feel guilty about it with lines like "I'm really confused here," "so you want to pay more," "you're the first one," "it's your vehicle and you can do what you want" and "I'm sorry," but I didn't give in this time.

On my way out I walked by Service and asked for maintenance prices: they charge $36.95 for oil changes and $50 for tire rotations. Even at these rates it would have cost me pretty much the same to do the maintenance here (which I won't) without the plan. And this way I get to keep my money and earn interest on it, because I paid cash.

I had to pay the $50 cancellation fee because the plan was three months old, but I couldn't care less. At least now I have that warm feeling inside that I did the right thing.

Thanks a lot for all the advice!

[mking8288]

Here in metro NY area, local Nissan dealer charged as low as $29.99 for 60 minutes Express Oil Change w. free safety inspections. I got my first oil change for free, no appointment needed & if you get there early - folks get there at 6 AM as they open for service at 7 AM - you can be out before 9 AM. As for tire rotation, I'm sure that there are lots of independent shops that can rotate and spin balance the tires for $50. These OME Conti tires are rated to go about 40,000 miles at most even with rotations and certainly will need to be balanced, and the Nissan guys will charge $$$.

It's a joke to pay the shop rate of $100/hour for inspections and then foot the extra bill for adjustments & parts when you think you got it cover under the maintenance plan.

Also, keep in mind the V has the factory 36 mos/36,000 miles warranty to cover things, except normal wear & tears.

[BBISHOPPCM]

My dealer charges $26 for oil changes... I would check around to see what the other Nissan dealers charge (or find a respectable independent mechanic). Even $26 is high. I do not recommend skimping on oil changes; I do mine every 2500 miles.

[2008nvs]

I drive a lot of miles and I get "No Waiting" and "No appointment needed", even on Saturday! - time is money!

Modified by ghrshow at 9:42 AM 1/11/2008

Bro, Money is Money, with these plans if you can get the dealer to give you them at cost then and only then are they worth it.

[corpsecorps]

Bro, Money is Money, with these plans if you can get the dealer to give you them at cost then and only then are they worth it.

If you get NO WAITING for an Oil change at a Dealer, that is a really good deal!

I had to wait over an Hour for my "Free First Oil change" - It didnt seem so free after that!

Let see the math works out to be, carry the 2, divids by, add the remander, pick up the calculator and it comes out to $24.50 and it (includes the other regular stuff with rotation) - that sound like a good deal!But only if you are Religious about it!

[2008nvs]

I did the math also, by the sound of his post it sounded like he tacked it on to his loan so your going to need to add in the whatever his interest is to the total cost of it over the course of loan 4 year 6 year whatever. I guess it really comes down to what you want. Some want to pay more so they don't need to wait and some prefer to save their money make an appointment and get the same service $10 cheaper and interest free.

[basteagow]

Actually I paid cash. Anyway, I signed the cancelation form on Friday, they said Nissan would call me to confirm, and I still haven't heard back from them. I'm being paranoid that the dealership is just sitting on the paperwork so I'll call Nissan myself to see if they have gotten the form.

I did my first free oil change at the dealership in question yesterday and will never go there again.

[corpsecorps]

I did the math also, by the sound of his post it sounded like he tacked it on to his loan so your going to need to add in the whatever his interest is to the total cost of it over the course of loan 4 year 6 year whatever. I guess it really comes down to what you want. Some want to pay more so they don't need to wait and some prefer to save their money make an appointment and get the same service $10 cheaper and interest free.

I dont know about his Financing, but let say, $25 plus 6% is about $26.50.

I live very near NYC and Know of No good place to get an oil change for less than that. But the cost of things dont get any higher than around here!

Hey ghrshow, what dealer do you use?

[ghrshow]

I guess it really comes down to what you want. Some want to pay more so they don't need to wait and some prefer to save their money make an appointment and get the same service $10 cheaper and interest free.

Rockland Nissan is the dealer and just an oil change it is $32+!I save money even with just oil changes in my financing. ( i also get tire rotation)

Just to buy Good Motor oil its $5 a qt ($20) and a good filter is at least $5 with a Total about $25 + 8.375 tax equals over $26.50. It works out to be cheaper than doing it myself.

CC you are correct i have to be right on the mileage.

[marleyfan]

There's WAY too much math in this thread. I'm going back to the p0rn.

[jfanaselle]

There's WAY too much math in this thread. I'm going back to the p0rn.