[hciman77]

Yesterday the alternator on my 95 escort died and I had to get AAA to tow me to my local garage, after two different very kind souls had jump-started the car, well this is the city of brotherly love. This was my fourth call (Starter, Lock-out and Dead battery were my other 3) and as such the last one I get "free" (which seems pathetic btw). Should I need another call-out before October it will cost

Does anybody know the rough scale (or magnitude) of charges for (AAA dscounted) call-outs, the AAA site is pretty useless on this point - would I be better off just starting a new membership or trusting to luck that any call-out is not excessive ? I would rather be covered than be liable for big charges.

Sigh.....

 

[Lazarus Short]

...where I could not easily afford the road service coverage. I now deal with such costs as they come. AAA is for retirees with Buicks and such.

Laz

 

[Uncle Erik]

Why don't you call AAA and see if they have an extended service plan or something you can buy. They might take the gamble that you won't break down again.

Do you do the preventative maintenance on your Escort? I used to have a '95 as well (great car, but unfortunately totaled. Not my fault.) and they're designed for the average person to wrench on. You can do all the regular maintenance yourself. It's easy and not difficult to learn.

AAA has been very good to me over the years. I think the price is worthwhile for the service I've had.

 

[mrarroyo]

I have the extended AAA membership and it is $92 a year. For this fee you will get towed up to 100 miles. The regular membership is $60 and they tow you for up to 5 miles for free, after that the local rates apply.

Here is a list of the benefits: http://www.aaasouth.com/benefits_plus.asp

The sad thing is I have been paying for 4 years now due to my 1970 Beetle and so far it has not been needed (although I have driven the Beetle for over 47,000 miles).

 

[kingsqueak]

I had AAA Gold for a time when I had used GM cars that would constantly break down on me.

One note, AAA gets very nasty when you start to make money on the deal.... their response times slows (I found it more than a coincidence) and they start to argue about towing a car to a home.

Just like health insurance companies, they are happy to take your money as long as you don't really use their coverage very often.

At the time my income was so low that AAA saved me many many times. I would budget for their coverage and not have to worry about road trips as much in my broken down junkers. I didn't have a spare $200 cash floating around to gamble on a break down.

 

[hciman77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif Why don't you call AAA and see if they have an extended service plan or something you can buy. They might take the gamble that you won't break down again. AAA has been very good to me over the years. I think the price is worthwhile for the service I've had.

I am already on the "Plus" plan - the highest they offer but that still only allows 4 calls per year

I have emailed them to see what they say, I might just register again and stuff the extra fee with my car it is risky to be without coverage...