Hi all,
I have driven Audi quattros since 1982 and had most of the models (except the most expensive) during this period. My cars served me well and I never had any serious problem with any of them. My longest-serving Audi was my 1988 5000 TQ. It reached 250K miles without any serious problems before I gifted it to another Audi fanatic. My current ride is 2019 Q5 Progressive with 28,500 (46,000km) of happy miles. In my four years of use, I have never had any problems, zero repairs. I had the Audi Care package and performed all required maintenance on time. My Audi warranty expired in February and I am considering purchasing an extended warranty from my Audi dealer. Based on my 40 years of experience with Audi cars I should feel safe to continue driving my Q5 without a warranty, but Audi cars today are way more complicated than they were years ago. I am afraid that any serious problem with this sophisticated car might be too expensive for me to afford to repair.
Is an extended warranty necessary? I am asking for your collective wisdom to help me with making the right decision.
Thanks,
Efraim

 

I personally think that if you are doing the scheduled maintenance and treating it reasonably gently, you can put the warranty money in the bank and save it for eventual repairs. As I am sure you know, warranties don't cover wear items (brakes, rotors, filters, etc) which will have to be replaced periodically. Plus some warranty companies play games with exclusions and deductibles. So I tend to stay away.

E.g., I bought the Ghibli below with a standard 5 year factory warranty. I have minor cosmetic issues repaired under that warranty, but absolutely none of the expensive stuff (e.g., drive train). I will pass on an extended warranty and if it needs major repairs, just pay for them. My fear is an engine or tranny failure, but I am gambling that is unlikely given how I maintain and drive the car (lots of easy highway miles).

 

Thank you for your response. However, it came too late, I had already bought the extended warranty, just for peace of mind.

 

You'll probably be glad you did. There are several very expensive failures common to your Q5, motor mounts, rear springs, valve cover, and total engine failure.

jack vines

 

Well, let us know if the extended warranty actually addresses any issues you experience over the next few years. Even anecdotal stories can be helpful.