I've searched the threads and am unable to find the answers I looking for. I am in negotiations on 2 2006 XLRs, one with Cadillac certified warranty (46 months left) and the other from a non-cadillac dealer with 34 months on original warranty. Milage and price are similar, but the one from the non-cadillac dealer has chrome wheels and a V-grill - both options I interested in having.

I'm trying to understand the GM Major Guard and when to puchase. If I am understanding it correctly you can purchase this anytime as long as the factory warranty is still in effect. Why then would I want to purchase this BEFORE nearing the end of the factory warranty. It does not make sense to me to have double coverage. I've seen in some of the threads that there are mileage break points where cost of the warranty increases. Does this offset the double coverage? Also, if I plan to keep the car for a long time, isn't it best to wait until the end of the factory warranty so that the Major Guard will cover me for a longer time? . . .or is the maximum 84 months based on the original purchase date?

I just went through this when I bought my 06'. The certified warranty covers you from the date the car was first put into service. It does not do you any good to hold off on buying the certification. Based on the electronics involved in this car I made the decsion to by a warranty for the first time. Here's hoping I never need it and everything goes great! I do love this car.

I've searched the threads and am unable to find the answers I looking for. I am in negotiations on 2 2006 XLRs, one with Cadillac certified warranty (46 months left) and the other from a non-cadillac dealer with 34 months on original warranty. Milage and price are similar, but the one from the non-cadillac dealer has chrome wheels and a V-grill - both options I interested in having.

I'm trying to understand the GM Major Guard and when to puchase. If I am understanding it correctly you can purchase this anytime as long as the factory warranty is still in effect. Why then would I want to purchase this BEFORE nearing the end of the factory warranty. It does not make sense to me to have double coverage. I've seen in some of the threads that there are mileage break points where cost of the warranty increases. Does this offset the double coverage? Also, if I plan to keep the car for a long time, isn't it best to wait until the end of the factory warranty so that the Major Guard will cover me for a longer time? . . .or is the maximum 84 months based on the original purchase date?
A couple of suggestions---

Get the best deal form the non-Cadillac dealer in writing and take it to the Cadillac dealer. See if they will match it with the accessories you want. The grill is only $400-$500 and wheels are available new from the dealer (chrome stock and XLR-V wheels and 1 custom set) and from several aftermarket dealers.

If you can get close to your price, I would stay with the dealer because you will get better service and have the leverage to resolve those difficult issues that we all hope don't come up.

If you can get the serial numbers of both cars, there is a Cadillac site that will register what coverage both cars have along with the expiration dates for each component.

You can discuss the different coverages with the Caddy dealer and they shoud be able to explain the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Best of Luck in your purchase.

SOMEBODY PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG:

If one of the cars is indeed a "Certified Used" Cadillac: The best thing about a "Certified Used" Cadillac is that it is the only way to get the folding top mechanism covered under warranty (from GM at least). The "Certified" warranty also covers you to 100,000 miles.

The "Certified" type warranty is NOT available for purchase (again, from GM anyway). I believe there is no GM Extended Warranty product that will cover the folding top, though you can purchase a GM warranty to cover pretty much everything else. I think Mr. XLR said the cost of the warranties were going up sometime early in 2008 (if they haven't already).

Having said that, the folding top mechanism is probably the most reliable component of the car! Folks on the forum (myself included) have had more issues with drivetrain and other electronic components than with the top!

Regardless, you'll LOVE the car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:thumbs GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR DECISION!

Several months ago, I called GMPP to check on extended Major Guard coverage for the XLR, particularly regarding the top. The GMPP person I spoke with checked his resources and told me that the top mechanism was covered.

I don't recall the exact details, but the specifics eliminated all of my concerns.

If you have detailed questions, I'd suggest calling and talking to GMPP directly.

Your understanding of GMPP is essentially correct. There are maximum limits and time/mileage plateaus which dramatically increase the cost, and they are also VIN and model specific. While there are GM dealers which heavily discount GMPP prices on other boards (e.g., Corvette), I haven't been around here long enough to know if there are any here. You can buy from any GM dealer, though.

I wouldn't recommend any third party warranty.

I just talked to my local Cadillac dealer and got history reports on both cars I'm considering. I was told that they will certify the one that is not certified for $2,000 (plus anything required to meet the certification0. Since this car was originally titled 11/06 this will be by far the best deal if I can negotiate an acceptable purchase price.

An interesting thing I was told by my dealer is that they could NOT offer me a GM Major Guard warranty because they were not the selling dealer?!? They have just taken over the Cadillac franchise here, but are a well respected Chevrolet, Saturn and Hummer dealer so they should understand GM warranties.

Note: both cars I considering are a fair distance from me so I will not be servicing them at the dealer I purchase form.

Thanks for all the help and hope to join all of you as a owner soon!

I put a lot of time into researching the question of extended warranties and posted a long note here a couple of months ago. I can't seem to find my own copy, but if you can dig it out of the archives, it will answer all your questions. Ill keep looking.

a couple of points, quickly: 1. yes, the GM major guard does cover the top mechanism, in fact it covers just about everything. 2. definitely shop around on the internet, you will most likely get a much much better deal than from a local dealer, because the internet guys work on volume. just check to be sure they are reputable gm dealers. one name i remember is bob pion, and there was another whom i can't remember who had good prices. there is no reason to buy an extended warranty until the end of your factory coverage,up to a certain time limit, at which point there is a price jump. there are a lot more specific details in my original post if you can find it.

aerobat

I put a lot of time into researching the question of extended warranties and posted a long note here a couple of months ago. I can't seem to find my own copy, but if you can dig it out of the archives, it will answer all your questions. Ill keep looking.

a couple of points, quickly: 1. yes, the GM major guard does cover the top mechanism, in fact it covers just about everything. 2. definitely shop around on the internet, you will most likely get a much much better deal than from a local dealer, because the internet guys work on volume. just check to be sure they are reputable gm dealers. one name i remember is bob pion, and there was another whom i can't remember who had good prices. there is no reason to buy an extended warranty until the end of your factory coverage,up to a certain time limit, at which point there is a price jump. there are a lot more specific details in my original post if you can find it.

aerobat
Aerobat, I remember seeing a long string of posts on this subject but I was also unable to find the ones with difinitive answers - some of the strings seemed to just stop at a point where you think the next post will have the info you're seeking. One in particular had several detailed questions regarding extended warrarties and your post to Allen on 7/7/07 "Is there any compelling reason to buy the extended warranty now, as opposed to waiting toward the end of the factory warranty in spring 08, thus pushing up the final termination date of whichever plan I choose by about a year? His website states that the plan becomes more expensive as the car ages, but just to check, I requested quotes for a 2004 and a 2005 XLR and got exactly the same prices." was not answered. Did you perhaps receive a private message?

Thanks, Jon

Aerobat, I remember seeing a long string of posts on this subject but I was also unable to find the ones with difinitive answers - some of the strings seemed to just stop at a point where you think the next post will have the info you're seeking. One in particular had several detailed questions regarding extended warrarties and your post to Allen on 7/7/07 "Is there any compelling reason to buy the extended warranty now, as opposed to waiting toward the end of the factory warranty in spring 08, thus pushing up the final termination date of whichever plan I choose by about a year? His website states that the plan becomes more expensive as the car ages, but just to check, I requested quotes for a 2004 and a 2005 XLR and got exactly the same prices." was not answered. Did you perhaps receive a private message?

Thanks, Jon

Jon,

I found the following long post from my back up files, so I'll copy and paste it here. I'm not sure to whom I was responding, probably Mr XLR. It is from last Oct. I think it should answer your questions:

"1) I already KNOW that Major Guard is the way to go.
2) I already KNOW that you have to purchase it before the factory warranty expires, in terms of time or mileage.

My confusion was about WHEN is the best time to purchase it. I spent a couple of hours today looking at offers from online dealers (not the crap policies, only bonafide GMPP's from dealers who you can verify with GM). If I understand the rules now, it is not in my best interest to buy the plan now. Same goes for Galen, and other 2005 owners. For 2004 owners, you should buy the plan right now, before the new model year in October, if you want the longest ultimate coverage. Here's why:

I agree with Galen that if I start having a series of very expensive repairs, which is a real possibility as such a sophisticated vehicle ages, it will be a messy divorce! So, to make life simple, let's assume that we want the longest coverage period, with the most miles. At this time, for a 2005, that would be 7 years from the day you buy the policy and 70,000 miles, added on to what your odometer reads when you buy the policy. I plugged in 2004, (to simulate having a car that is one year older) and there is absolutely no difference in price, and you can still purchase exactly the same policy. Thus, if 2005 owners buy it now, it will be 2014, if we wait until next year, the final expiration date will be 2015, and we will be covered for a higher total mileage. I did the same thing for a CTS so that I could enter a 2003 model year, and at that point, things changed dramatically. The maximum plan they will give you is 4 yrs and 72k. So if my understanding is correct, any 2004 owner who wants 7 yrs coverage should sign up now, but the best deal for 2005 owners is to wait till next year, but no longer than that. If we wait until the factory warranty expires in 2009, we will only be eligible for GMPP plans until 2013. One caveat for anyone is that everything above holds true as long as you have less than 36k miles when you purchase the plan. At that point, you go into the next tier as far as prices and maybe coverage limits, I’m not sure.

As far as certification goes, that's a whole different story. Since certification gives you 6 years coverage from the inservice date, not the date of purchase, you are spending a lot of money for only a relatively short coverage period (2 extra years) if you buy a 2005 since you already have the exact same coverage until 2009 for free. The only advantage is for people who are going to exceed the 50k original warranty mileage limit real soon.

If I am correct, and it is best for anyone with a 2005 and later to not buy a GMPP now, that explains why I could not get a straight story from a single dealer dealer online or here--they want to make their money now, not next year.

The two big online dealers that I found were Pion and Roberson. Pion has the best prices, by a couple of hundred bucks. Also, I think that Roberson gave me some misinformation. I had several email exchanges with them, but as soon as I specifically asked whether it was in my best interest to buy now or later, I got no response.

A local dealer gave me accurate information, but higher prices.

If Mr. XLR tells me that I am wrong, or if he can beat Pion's prices, I will publicly apologize to him for trashing dealers and buy the plan from him!

One last thing, the local dealer agreed, after I explained my reasoning, that it was in my best interest to wait until Oct 08. I hope he is right, in that the decreased coverage limits are based on three model years later, not the three year anniversary of your in -service date (mine is June, 05.)

Hope this is helpful to anyone else trying to sort this out."

aerobat

Thanks for the re-post.:thumbs

It's going to be time for me- REAL SOON- to get an extnded warranty!

I made the mistake of getting my extended warranty shorty after I got my 2004.
I had never bought an extended warranty for any car/truck I have ever owned but with all the things this car had on it I just knew I should get one.
The bad thing is NO one told me it started the day I got it.
I thought it started after the factory one ran out...
Thats what I get for NOT reading the fine print on two pages that are longer then my arm.
The woman at the Cadillac dealership is still laughing I bet... I guess I had SUCKER on my forehead that day...
I do remember well and she will NOT be getting any more of my money...
I will just buy my next car somewhere else..
Oh well live and learn...

Blaise

It's unfortunate to get a salesman who puts their own interests (and short-term gains) ahead of their own (and their customers') long-term interests and business. My warranty expires in August of 08, so I'll be shopping soon.

What was the best price for the GMPP you got???

Hello all,
I have a 2004 with 12k miles, the factory warranty has run out, am I still eligible to buy this gmpp warranty? Or does my car have to be covered under factory warranty to buy?

I compared several local dealers and several internet dealers. The best prices overall seemed to be from a dealer named Bob (?) Pion. You can find him on line easily. I will opt for the longest possible coverage, so the prices boil down to how much of a deductible, if any, you want to pay. I printed out several pages of quotes in October, they have probably changed so there's no point posting them now, but if you get a couple of quotes let me know and I'll compare them for you to see if it looks like you're getting a reasonable deal. several of the online dealers also offer further discounts 'if you act right now...' (you don't have to be fluent in car dealer b.s. to know what that means)

rob

Vehicle: 2004 Cadillac XLR
Under 12 months/12,000 miles? No
Commercial Use? No
Snowplow? No

Major Guard – Best
$200 deductible $1862
$100 deductible $2162
$50 deductible $2351
End Date Feb 08, 2012 End Miles 60,000


Above is the lazy "cut & paste" copy of my quote for the GMPP plan from Pion. Roberson said my car was out of warranty and to call them for a quote! :eek

I hope I'm not violating anything by posting this.....

I looked at a copy of the waranty, and it looks like it specifically excludes the convertible top (though that's the least of my worries, I think....)

This is probably a stupid question, but would you folks recommend buying this? :confused

PS They offered me a $185 discount for purchasing it by Monday.

I had been under the impression Major Guard did cover the top. . .

Floyd

There is a great debate as to whether or not the top is covered under any plan from GM, but here is another "copy & paste" from the details of the Major Guard Warranty. It is my belief that this is the best extended warranty that GM offers. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong! You can view the details yourself at http://www.gm-auto-mall.com/major_guard_protection_plan.cfm This is a direct quote:

Covered Parts

It's as simple as this: If it's not on the very short list of what's not covered, it's covered!

For years, millions of Major Guard customers have known that, "From the trunk lock to the engine, if a part breaks–even if it results from wear and tear–and it's not on the list of the few items not covered, GM Major Guard will pay for the repair less any applicable deductible–whatever the part!"


Non-Covered Parts

Maintenance services and parts
(refer to agreement)
Glass and lenses
Sealed beams and light bulbs
Tires
Non-GM installed components
Sheet metal
Bumpers
Body panels and parts
Hinges
Upholstery, carpeting and trim
Convertible or vinyl tops
Molding or bright metal
Air and water leaks
Odors
Wind noises
Squeaks and rattles
Weather-strips
Rust
Paint
Fuel contamination
Exhaust system/catalytic converter
Brake drums/rotors
Brake pads/shoes
Shock absorbers
Manual clutch disc
Spark plugs and wires
Batteries

Every other part is covered

That's the end of the quote. PLEASE NOTE that the "convertible top" is EXCLUDED! Again, I'm not trying to bash anything; please correct me if I'm wrong!

My guess (and my hope) is that you're wrong. I would say that "convertible" refers to a traditional rag top, and "vinyl" refers to those hideous coverings you usually see on Gran Marquis in Florida. When the XLR hard top is up, it is as much a part of the structure as any other part of the body. Also, much of the complicated mechanism, i.e. the sensors and electrohydraulic units, serve to lift the trunk, lower the windows, etc., in a complicated ballet that involves a lot more than just a top.

Anyway, now would be the time for a dealer, such as mr xlr, to weigh in with a knowledgeable answer.

rf

I must agree with aerobat3, in that it's no-doubt referring to the old "rag top" feature. The XLR top is more a structure than a "wear" issue.

I have had a warranty claim on my convertable top, therefore I can state it is covered. It was necessary to replace the small arm that retracts the small window on the driver's side. A weld at the end broke and the actuator was hanging loose.

XLR KEN

I'll almost ertainly jump on the extended warranty if the top is indeed covered. i guess I should stop fiddling around and call the warranty center.

But, since I'm skeptical at best, I probably won't believe anything anyone tells me unless I get it it writing.....

I may have to part with the cash first to get the "real" contract....

I have a way around all this warranty stuff...........Buy a new XLRI'll almost ertainly jump on the extended warranty if the top is indeed covered. i guess I should stop fiddling around and call the warranty center.

But, since I'm skeptical at best, I probably won't believe anything anyone tells me unless I get it it writing.....

I may have to part with the cash first to get the "real" contract....

Before I started this thread I remember seeing a post from Mr XLR stating that the top IS covered under Major Guard.

Now I have another delima - I have finally found an XLR to my liking that I will be picking up next week. It is a 2006 that was originally titled 11/29/06, so it has almost 3 years left on the factory warranty. Since it is not at at Cadillac dealer it does not have the additional 2 years of certified warranty available, but my local Cadillac dealer is willing to certify it for $2000 dollars (plus any items not covered under the factory warranty). Does this sound like a reasonable offer or would I be better off opting for the Major Guard somewhere down the road? (I really prefer not to plunk down an additional 2K on top of the purchace price right now.)

Also, this same dealer offers a GE warranty that he claims is better the the GM Major Guard. They are new to Cadillacs, but are a well respected Chevy, Saturn and Hummer dealer in the area for many years. Does anyone have any experience with the GE warranty?

Thanks and I'll post pics after I pick up the car next week:party

I will try to eliminate any speculation, the XLRs top components, other than the roof panel exposed to damage, or any top component that was damaged not due to part failure is covered under the Major Guard policy.

www.Cadillac-XLR.com (http://www.Cadillac-XLR.com)

Thank you
Allen

I have a way around all this warranty stuff...........Buy a new XLR

I can't argue with logic like that..... however, my checkbook would beg to differ!:lol

Before I started this thread I remember seeing a post from Mr XLR stating that the top IS covered under Major Guard.

Now I have another delima - I have finally found an XLR to my liking that I will be picking up next week. It is a 2006 that was originally titled 11/29/06, so it has almost 3 years left on the factory warranty. Since it is not at at Cadillac dealer it does not have the additional 2 years of certified warranty available, but my local Cadillac dealer is willing to certify it for $2000 dollars (plus any items not covered under the factory warranty). Does this sound like a reasonable offer or would I be better off opting for the Major Guard somewhere down the road? (I really prefer not to plunk down an additional 2K on top of the purchace price right now.)

Also, this same dealer offers a GE warranty that he claims is better the the GM Major Guard. They are new to Cadillacs, but are a well respected Chevy, Saturn and Hummer dealer in the area for many years. Does anyone have any experience with the GE warranty?

Thanks and I'll post pics after I pick up the car next week:party

Investigate the GE warrany THOROUGHLY before you buy! The dealer might like it because they make more $$$ on it.

Kahuna,
It's your money, but I would strongly recomend the Cadillac Major Guard. it's good at ANy GM dealer in the US and Canada. It's worth the peace of mind.

Not all but most dealers will have you pay for the repair, then get reimbursed from the insurance company. The selling dealer will most likely honor it. The benefits far out weigh the cost, gm car rental included,, hotel reimbursement if on the road and parts must be ordered. 1400 Cadillac dealers and 4,000 GM dealers that will honor the Major Guard.

You mention certification, only the selling dealer can Cadillac Certify the XLR, and that must be done no later than at the time of delivery. Cadillac Certification is totally different from the Major Guard Extended Warranty.

www.Cadillac-XLR.com (http://www.Cadillac-XLR.com)

Thank you
Allen

I agree with mr xlr, definitely go with major guard. but i have yet to hear a good argument to buy the extended warranty while your factory warranty is still in force. it is completely redundant, and, worse, you're wasting years/mileage of major guard coverage, since the clock starts ticking as soon as you purchase the policy. just don't wait beyond three model yrs after whatever year car you buy, or there will be a significant price hike and limitation in length of available coverage. for instance, i have a 2005, with low mileage, there is no advantage for me to buy the major guard until oct 2008. 2004 owners would have gotten the best deal if they bought the policy in oct 2007, 2006 owners are good until fall 2009, assuming they don't exceed 50k miles. if anyone disagrees, i'd like to hear the reasons. thanks.

rf

The only reason to purchase sooner than later is that the price of the policy is lower. I tell all my clients to wait, until they have 60 days or less of the remaining 4 year term, and of course it must be below 50,000 miles.

Keep in mind, there is a fairly significant price increase when the vehicle exceeds 30,000 miles. So if someone had 29,000 miles on it, I would recomend purchasing now instead of waiting.

www.Cadillac-XLR.com (http://www.Cadillac-XLR.com)

Thank you
Allen

Thanks Allen,

That is how I understood both the Certified warranty and the Major Guard from what I have read on this site. I am not sure if my dealer is not familiar with the 2 warranties or just confused. They seem to think the can offer the Certified warranty and NOT the Major Guard for cars not sold by them, but it is actually just the opposite. They are a new Cadillac dealer (within the last month or so), but have had Hummers for several years and Chevrolets forever.

Anyway, I'm good for now but the car I buying has around 25K miles, so I may need to check the Major Guard before I reach 30K. Any idea how much the price jumps past 30K? I have the factory warranty until Oct 2010 and will likely put about 5 - 7K/year on the car based on current driving.

Thanks for the clarifications,

Jon