What are peoples thoughts on this?

http://www.dodge.com/en/lifetime_powertrain_warranty/

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/26/b...rain-warranty/

Funny thing I've seen this advertised during Ram commercials but this is not availabler on: SRT, Diesel vehicles, Sprinter, Ram Chassis Cab, and certain fleet vehicles.

It asks if you need a tough Dodge Ram truck* for your job, then the * states it's not available on the Cummins models.

Also, if it's Lifetime, why is it also Limited? Must be cause it's non-transferable, so you can't buy one used and get the lifetime warranty,only the normal 3yr/36K miles.

A side note. I saw a local dealer advertising today 2007 Ram 1500's 48% off and 2007 Ram 2500/3500 33% off. I know their trying to make room for the '08's, but they still can't move these trucks fast enough.

 

hopefully things turn around for them, but since theyve been sold im seeing more ads and better advertisement then before

 

Lifetime of the company?

Jim

 

Huh? I'm unsure what you mean by this.

 

i imagine lifetime of original owner

 

Yeah, this only covers the life of the truck for the original owner. If sold, it reverts back to the normal 3yr/36K mile warranty for all other owners.

 

Nothing funny about it = those models are in demand.

The whole reason for this offer is to move stale inventory...PERIOD.

Chrysler has a HUGE surplus of unsold vehicles, over a 6 month supply of some models (the auto industry average is 30-40 days).

Rams, Jeep Commanders and Dodge Stratus' lead the parade.

Rams nationwide are being offered for as much as 15 grand off MSRP = no restrictions.

Once the surplus is gone, so will be the Lifetime Warranty offer.

 

I completely understand the reasoning for this. But this is not a selling point for me, maybe for others though. These vehicles aren't in high demand and are sitting on lots cause no one seems to want them. Whether this incentive brings in the customers, we'll have to wait and see.

 

I guess they are also banking on most people not keeping them for an extremely long time. Can't wait to here stories about people's 50 year old Rams going in for a warrantied tranny job...assuming they still make the parts and are around...

Better keep REALLY good maintenance records...I bet it will be worse than dealing with a separate warranty company in that regard.

 

I think it is a great idea, especially in the short term. Long term, theoretically, it makes no sense since you are telling people never to but another new vehicle, but with people buying new vehicles every few years on average they are banking on very few buying and holding on to their vehicle for very long. If I was looking for a new vehicle it would be a major selling point, but I also hold on to vehicles for ever.

 

i bet it will be more of a pain then its worth with documentation and such

 

How long do you think Chrysler will be in business? Think American Motors, Studebaker, etc.

Jim

 

Got ya! Yeah, they can't and most likely won't offer this promo for too long. Otherwise they'll go under quickly if these vehicles have huge issues with the powertrain.

EDIT: Or maybe they hope that issues will arise with other parts of the vehicle, people thus trading/selling the car and then Chrysler is no longer required to fulfill the lifetime warranty for the 2nd+ owners.

 

This is the same tactic Hyundai used to sell cars. How many Elantras did you all see after they started offering the 100K warranty? It wasn't too long ago that Hyundais were total trash, and now the company is growing. I say good for Chrysler, that is a much better warranty then the 3/36K I got with my F250.

And to the part about excluding the cummins, I think that is a good idea. They won't have the same issues that Ford has with Navistar, besides, Cummins warranties their engines themselves.

 

Absurdly long warranties are marketing tools that feed off the fact that most Americans don't/won't take responsibility for their own decisions and actions. They always want someone else to foot the bill. It's never their fault.

Perpetuated by the manufacturers, they create a fake perception of quality. However, that's fine by me.