Ford is pitching their ESP extended warranty to me. Is it any good? Do any of you have any experience with it? What sort of expensive bits might I have to replace at my cost if I don't have ESP?

My 2014 Mustang is my first domestic car in over 40 years. I would never have bought an extended warranty for a Honda, but what about Ford? Has their quality improved to the point that an extended warranty is a waste of money?

 

I bought my Mustang in 2011 and I just love the ESP! I bring her in ever 7,500 and they do the maintenance, don't try to sell me on additional work, and actually take care of any minor wear items (wiper blades). It is nice picking up the car and not paying anything. Since it covers bumper to bumper for 100K miles, if a part goes bad, they take care of it. Having said all that, most of the services are glorified oil changes, tire rotations, and inspections but, it forces me to keep up on the maintenance. I look at it like money in the bank. If you buy through Costco the ESP is somewhat reduced in price.

 

Where ever you buy from, make sure it is Fords ESP as others will.give you the shaft...

 

It's a crap shoot. No one knows how your car was built or what will go wrong in the future. I personally will NOT buy an ESP anymore because I believe cars are indeed built much better than ever before. Here is a list of my ESP or similar GM extended contracts.
1) 1988 Mercury Merkur XR4ti - The entire a/c system went bad in FL and I ended up on the plus side of over $2,000. The only time it ever paid off.
2) 1994 Ford Escort GT - sold it before the ESP ever kicked in. Partial refund.
3) 1995 Pontiac TransSport minivan - Broke dead even with repairs.
4) 1996 Pontiac Formula - Lost about $300 with the ESP.
5) 2001 Pontiac Tran Am - Lost every penny of the ESP except for a pinion seal repair ($200.00).
6) 2004 Chevy Venture minivan - Lost every penny of the ESP (over $1,000). No repairs.
As you can see, the newer the car, the smaller need for the ESP. If I was buying a BMW with all the 'bells & whistles' and literally dozens and dozens of sensors, I would probably buy a plan, but with Ford or GM, I would pass.
It's a very personal decision. Best of luck!!

** I should add a note: All my plans did NOT cover routine maintenance. Batteries, fluid changes, etc.. all were 'out of pocket' expenses that were not covered. To me, that is all chump change. I do many fluid changes myself anyway. Others may feel differently.

 

Hey tukatz,

Our Ford ESPs are a great peace of mind to have. You should check out our Extended Service Plans and the Maintenance Plan we carry. You can also contact our ESP Sales Department at 1-888-252-3899, for more info.

Deysha

 

Thanks, Deysha. I've decided to count on Ford quality and self-insure. At 10,500 miles my Mustang is doing just fine.

 

If you decide to buy, check online for a better price. I saved $600 (7year/75000 miles Premium Care) buying from Flood Ford online. They sell the genuine Ford plans, and the process is very smooth. There are other Ford dealers that sell online. Check them all, as their prices vary from time to time. So one may be cheaper today, and a few dollars more tomorrow. Flood Ford, Ziegler Ford, to name a few.

As stated stay with the genuine Ford extended warranty. IMHO

 

OP, I would imagine purchasing the ESP would give someone the assurance that everything from bumper to bumper is covered up till whatever millage or years the plan covers. Its a crap shoot and no right or wrong answer. I opted not to get any ESP when I purchased my 2011. I just had the 3 year 36,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty which was up last week on October 4th.

If you plan on modifications to your pony then don't waste your money on the ESP. If you plan on keeping it completely stock for the life of the factory and ESP warranty then go for it. I currently have 29,000 miles and have only had my drivers side O2 sensor go bad. With that said I can't blame Ford solely because I have long tube headers and off road mid pipe so can't pinpoint the cause of the failure. I just paid the 100 for the new O2 sensor and it was good as new.

My first power mod was a performance tuner at around 5,000 miles so the ESP would of gone out the door. It just depends on what someone wants.

 

You're welcome, tukatz! If you ever change your mind, don't hesitate to speak with your Finance/Sales Manager.

Deysha

 

I have owned Fords since 1992. Have had ESP extended warranties on all of my Fords. I pay for the premium version. Like all insurance, its good to have when you need it. I am someone who likes the peace of mind. In fact I traded in my 2001 C5 when repairs got costly and I did not have insurance.

So far it has paid for itself on a 1998 Windstar had 114,00 miles when I traded it in, and my current freestar. The premium covers electronics. On the Freestar; I recently had replaced Electric Window register; master cylinder, and vacuum boost and multiple front end parts.

I put it on the Van as I intend to keep it for a long time. I put it on the Focus's as I intend to keep them for a long time. I put it on the Mustang as I wanted to increase the number of years of coverage, more than the mileage,, as I don't drive it that much. Also all warranties include towing and roadside service.

You need to adjust your coverage to your projected use. Remember you can always choose the number of years and the mileage and deductible amount.

Oh I agree with looking on the Web. One advantage is you can get price quotes immediately for any configuration of coverage. It can get a little confusing, but take the time to look at the information and choose the coverage you want and need. (sorry I sound like a commercial).

I feel lucky that I can afford the insurance, which allows me to take my cars to the dealership and not worry about them "finding" problems. Oh remember that you will still have to pay out of pocket for regular items like oil change, brakes et.

Just my two cents.

 

Stephen, I do agree. It gives me that piece of mind also. I usually get the 7/75 premium care, and when it's ready to run out I'm ready for a new car. Works for me, and has saved my bacon on several occasions.

 

I bought the ESP for the first time on this car. I put about 18,000 miles a year on my vehicles so be base warranty does not last very long.

 

We are gonna get on for our 2012. Just need to get thru Christmas gift buying season first. LOL

 

Mine has a $100 deductable. It's ok for major stuff. Make sure you opt for $75.00 day rental reimbursement. I have only $30.00 and you can't rent a Yugo for that.