GreenHybrid - Hybrid Cars - View Single Post

lkewin · #5 (**permalink**) 02-09-2006, 08:02 PM

Terry, I am still shopping for a warranty, but not real sure if I will get one or not. On the advise of another person on GH, I contacted Moss Honda http://www.mosshonda.com/ There web site is not as slick as Bernardi but I just emailed them and within 10 minutes had a reply with the lowest price yet - $875 for 8/100 w/ $0 deductible, so pretty much the same as Bernardi.

Like some in the other threads about warranty say, you buy a Honda for the reliability so do not need an extended warranty, which I am sure is true, but the Hybrid parts (computer, battery, motor, etc) are fairly new and what I would really get the ext. warranty to cover. Best I can tell from talking with my local dealer, and Tom Spizuoco at Bernardi the HondaCare warranty DOES NOT remove the pro-rate on the IMA battery, so after 3 years you start kicking in money to get the battery replaced (40% on the 37 month..all the way up to 95% at 8 years). Since the details are in the contract and you cannot see that till you buy the warranty (60 day Money back if not satisifed so no loss for looking I guess) I really do not know what the contract says. Does anyone have a Honda Care warranty that could comment if the Hybrid battery is pro-rated even if you have the extended warranty ?

I am not sure how much they have improved the batteries since the first ones, but I belong to a Yahoo Group for HCH and have seen several posts (several out of 1000's of cars is still really good) of owners needing to replace the batteries at 3 and 4 years. One owner had the warning light come on 2 days before he would have had the car for 3 yrs, so just squeaked in under the wire to get a new battery for Free!

Good luck Terry and let me know what you end up doing or if you