Tuesday, 31 August 2021

Protect My Car Reviews, Cost, Coverage, & Service (2021)

Affiliate disclosure: Automoblog and its partners may be compensated when you purchase the products below.

Car driving down the road
Protect My Car Review
In Our Opinion:
Protect My Car reviews indicate this company has a positive reputation for customer service, various maintenance plan options, and fair rates for extended car warranties.
Industry Standing
Coverage
Affordability
Customer Service
Pros
Oil changes and tire rotations included
Warranty and maintenance combo plans available
Long payment terms
Options for older vehicles
Cons
Not available in AK, CA, HI, MO, OK, or WA
Not available for vehicles older than 10 years
4.5
Best Maintenance Benefits

Protect My Car has underwritten extended car warranty plans for over 16 years. The provider is headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, but administers vehicle service contracts in almost every state, and Protect My Car reviews are generally positive.

Below, we’ll take a close look at the extended service contract provider’s coverage, average costs, claims process, and customer service. To find the right plan for your vehicle, we suggest getting a quote from Protect My Car, as well as from a few of the best extended car warranty companies.

 

Best Maintenance Benefits

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Get Quote

(888) 430-0227

Its Ambassador Maintenance Plan guarantees 25-50% off repairs, plus covered oil changes

 

Protect My Car Highlights

Protect My Car is known for having some of the best maintenance benefits for extended auto warranty coverage. We rate this provider 4.5 out of a possible 5.0 stars, putting Protect My Car in third place alongside CarShield and autopom!.

Protect My Car extended warranties are available in every state other than Alaska, California, Hawaii, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Washington.

If you’re looking for a provider with good customer service and comprehensive coverage at affordable rates, Protect My Car might be a good fit for you. The Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX review found that both companies perform very well with customers.

Protect My Car Coverage

Protect My Car offers customers three coverage plans for peace of mind: Supreme, Select, and Driveline. Low-mileage vehicles qualify for the Supreme plan, the most inclusive of the three warranty plans. Owners of high-mileage or older cars should consider the Select or Driveline plan.

Here’s a breakdown of coverage for each plan:

Details Driveline Plan Select Plan Supreme Plan
Best Plan For: New or low-mileage vehicles Vehicles over 50,000 miles that don’t qualify for Supreme coverage Vehicles 4 to 10 years old with over 80,000 miles
Comparable Type of Coverage Bumper-to-bumper warranty Highest level of stated-component coverage Powertrain coverage
Maximum Length of Coverage 5 years/100,000 miles Varies 5 years/125,000 miles
Engine ? ? ?
Transmission ? ? ?
Drive Axle ? ? ?
Differential Assembly ? ? ?
Cooling System ? ? ?
Air Conditioning and Heating ? ? ?
Electrical ? ? ?
Timing Chain ? ? ?
Front and Rear Suspension   ? ?
Select Brake System Components   ? ?
Turbo Charger     ?
Navigation     Varies

 

You can also find sample contracts online, which bodes well for the company’s transparency. 

Additional Benefits

Benefits that come with every Protect My Car extended warranty include:

  • Tire rotations
  • Free oil changes
  • 24/7 roadside assistance
  • Rental car reimbursement
  • Towing to a licensed repair facility

Protect My Car offers above-average benefits and a 30-day money-back guarantee for customers who wish to cancel policies. 

Warranty & Maintenance Combination Plans

Protect My Car also has Ambassador Maintenance Plans that provide vehicle service coverage to cars no longer eligible for a traditional extended warranty. Ambassador Plans come in three levels of coverage: Ambassador Platinum, Ambassador Elite, and Ambassador Pro. According to Protect My Car reviews, these plans are one of the reasons why many drivers prefer the provider for maintenance.

Ambassador Platinum: Covers most major components of your car after a 25% deductible and includes roadside assistance.

Ambassador Elite: Covers most major components of your car after a 50% deductible and includes roadside assistance.

Ambassador Pro: Covers most major components of your car after a 50% deductible, but leaves off roadside assistance.

The plans cover most car essentials, however, none cover navigation systems. Ambassador Platinum and Ambassador Elite both come with roadside assistance, but the Ambassador Pro plan does not.

Some benefits to all Ambassador policies by Protect My Car include:

  • Flat tire service
  • Lockout services
  • Rental car reimbursement
  • Free oil changes and tire rotations
  • Guaranteed 25 to 50% off repairs

Ambassador Plan Exclusions

These benefits are impressive, but the Ambassador Policy does not cover every auto repair. Some items that the Ambassador plan won’t cover include:

  • Rotors
  • Brake pads
  • Spark plugs
  • Wear and tear items
Wheels and Tires
Protect My Car includes tire rotations and oil changes in its extended warranty plans – a rare bonus.

Cost of Protect My Car Coverage Plans

Our research team found that Supreme coverage from Protect My Car costs about $58 to $96 a month for four years of coverage. There is also sometimes a down payment for activating coverage, ranging from $50 to $100. 

Flexible payment plans are available and break up the overall pricing of Protect My Car extended warranties into somewhere between 36 and 48 different installments.

Based on our research, extended car warranty coverage costs about $636 per year of coverage, but monthly payments can vary significantly. Protect My Car quotes we received were higher than average compared to other providers.

All Protect My Car plans come with a $100 deductible, which is the price you’ll pay the repair shop when you bring your car in for a covered repair. The company will then cover the rest of your repair costs.

Protect My Car Quotes & Claims

To get a quote from Protect My Car, call 888-430-0227 or head to the quote tool at the bottom of this article. Protect My Car also has an online quote tool that can get you in touch with a customer service representative.

When you need to file a claim, Protect My Car reviews suggest that it can be pretty difficult to get coverage approved. This is somewhat concerning, since the entire point of an extended warranty is to protect your vehicle in times of trouble.

Call roadside assistance if you need a tow or other mechanical work that can be conducted roadside. After that, take your car to a licensed repair facility of your choice, which will reach out to the provider for payment. Protect My Car reviews show that mechanics have had trouble getting in touch with the company, though.

Protect My Car Reviews

Despite having been in business for over 16 years, Protect My Car reviews don’t reflect the company’s long history. Protect My Car is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), though it does have an A+ rating. Protect My Car has over 600 customer reviews on the BBB, rating the company an average of 4.56 stars. The provider also boasts a 4.5-star rating on Trustpilot.

Positive Protect My Car Reviews

Positive Protect My Car reviews on the BBB detail the company’s knowledgeable customer service representatives and great coverage options.

“I have really enjoyed the service I have received from Protect My Car. They have been prompt and respectful, and really helpful when I need them. They have also made it so easy for the mechanic to get paid without delay.” – Jesse via Trustpilot

“Quality customer service as well as reasonable coverage and claim approval process. I have saved approximately $500 on repairs in the last two years, as well as a heightened peace of mind.” – Chethan Lai via Google Reviews

Negative Protect My Car Reviews

Negative Protect My Car reviews detail trouble getting coverage for car repairs under warranty, difficulty getting a prorated refund upon cancellation, and complaints by mechanics having trouble getting claims approved.

“I have been dealing with this company for 7 years, and every time I have my car repaired, they find an excuse to deny the claim. They are nearly impossible to get on the phone, and when you finally do, invariably they disconnect you.” – Dave L via BBB

“Not worth the price or the frustration. There is no communication or follow-up with the dealership or the customer. Every time you call, you’re placed on hold for half an hour before they disconnect you. Out of my $5,000 bill, they covered less than $1,000.” – City Island Physical Therapy via Google Reviews

A mix of positive and negative customer reviews is to be expected with any extended car warranty company. Protect My Car reviews are largely positive and speak to an above-average customer service experience.

Conclusion: Maintenance Coverage May Be Worth The Extra Cost

Protect My Car offers comprehensive extended warranty coverage at average prices. However, your plan includes oil changes and tire rotations, which are rarely included in vehicle service contracts. These perks may be what increases the overall cost of coverage.

Protect My Car reviews largely favor the business and point toward the company’s positive business practices and excellent customer service reputation.

We recommend getting quotes from Protect My Car and other reputable extended car warranty companies. This way, you can compare quotes to make sure you’re paying the best rates for the most comprehensive coverage. Drivers looking for the best extended car warranty protection should also check out our Endurance warranty review, CARCHEX review, and CarShield review.

Featured Extended Warranty Companies
We reviewed the industry’s top extended auto warranty providers, and here are our featured picks. 
Best Overall Best for Used Cars Low-Cost Plans
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Endurance CARCHEX Select Auto Protect
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Get Quote Get Quote Get Quote
(866) 990-3410 (866) 950-7122 (860) 294-4933
     

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Protect My Car legit?

Yes, Protect My Car reviews reveal that the company is a reputable provider backed by high BBB and Trustpilot customer reviews. In our extended car warranty review, we gave Protect My Car 4.5 stars overall.

How much does Protect My Car cost?

Extended car warranty prices depend on your vehicle make, mileage, and age. Based on our research, Protect My Car’s Supreme Plan costs about $58 to $96 a month for four years of coverage. Compared to other car warranty providers, Protect My Car’s costs are about average.

How does Protect My Car work?

Protect My Car offers standard extended car warranties as well as maintenance-warranty combination plans. If a mechanical breakdown occurs, Protect My Car covers the repair bill. You’re only responsible for a deductible and the cost of the contract. If you’ve opted for one of Protect My Car’s combination plans, routine maintenance services are also covered.

Original article: Protect My Car Reviews, Cost, Coverage, & Service (2021)



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Tasty throwback: A beefy XJR1300 from Unikat

Yamaha XJR1300 cafe racer by Unikat
The Yamaha XJR1300 is a relic from a bygone age, and we say that with a tinge of regret. It’s a big, brutal muscle bike that unfortunately has no place in today’s highly regulated market.

The hefty, air-cooled inline four still has an ardent fan base in Europe though, despite the engine being a rejigged version of the unit that powered the mid-80s FJ1100. And one of those fans is a Polish rider called Tomek, who commissioned Unikat to build the very solid café racer we’re looking at here.

Yamaha XJR1300 cafe racer by Unikat
“Tomek contacted us more than a year ago,” says shop founder Grzegorz Korczak. “He set the level of expectations high: he’s an experienced rider, and owns machines like a Kawasaki Ninja H2.”

This 1999 XJR1300 is not Tomek’s first foray into customizing either, so the design became a collaborative effort with Grzegorz and the Unikat crew in WrocÅ‚aw. “Tomek had a lot of references, and the design process took some time. He also wanted all of the parts to be top shelf, with no compromise in the design.”

Yamaha XJR1300 cafe racer by Unikat
Grzegorz suggested a minimalistic look, and Tomek was happy. Fortunately, he was also happy to wait six months for the wheels to be built in Italy: a man who understands that good things take time.


In this case, the mechanical and custom work took around 400 hours, with another hundred hours assigned to design work, plus subcontractor and project management.


Yamaha XJR1300 cafe racer by Unikat
Unikat have refreshed the 16v dohc, 1251cc engine, which in stock form pumped out just under a hundred horsepower. The mods include everything from new piston rings to rebuilt cylinder heads, plus a Stage 3 Dynojet jet kit for the four rebuilt Mikuni carbs.

The intake end is now graced with K&N filters, and there’s a new 4-into-2 exhaust with handmade mufflers and dB killers. Most drivetrain wearables were replaced as well, including the clutch, and power now hits the back wheel via a D.I.D ‘ZVM-X’ black chain.

Yamaha XJR1300 cafe racer by Unikat
The suspension gets a huge upgrade, with the complete front end from a Yamaha YZF-R1—including the brakes, which have been treated to EBC parts and a Magura master cylinder.

The shocks were custom-built to Unikat’s spec by Bitubo, and the whole shebang rides on 17-inch Kineo tubeless rims, 3.50 at the front and 6.00 at the back. They’re shod with Pirelli’s super-sticky Diablo Supercorsa SC V3 tires—essentially street-legal track rubber.

Yamaha XJR1300 cafe racer by Unikat
Unikat whipped out the grinder and welding gear for the back end, fabricating up a simple but effective new rear loop. The classic humped café-style seat is upholstered in Alcantara, the electrics have been relocated to under the seat, and there’s an LED brake light embedded in the back of the subframe.

The electrics are now juiced by a tiny lithium-ion battery tucked in by the swingarm, which is wired up to discreet LED turn signals, switchgear and a Motoscope speedo from Motogadget. LEDs are at work in the Highsider headlamp and the custom license plate holder too.

Yamaha XJR1300 cafe racer by Unikat
The Polish company Womet-Tech supplied a smart fuel tank cap, classy rearsets adapted from a model designed for the R1, plus sporty clip-on bars—which Unikat have finished off with leather grips stitched with blue thread to match the finish on the Kineo wheels.

Touches of the same blue appear on the fuel tank and front fender, but this machine is overwhelmingly black. All the hard parts have been soda blasted, glass blasted, sand blasted or chemically cleaned—and then powder coated, anodized or black galvanized. 


Yamaha XJR1300 cafe racer by Unikat
The XJR1300 is a supremely satisfying ride in stock form, with a wall of torque that eventually pushes the factory suspension beyond its limits. Unikat have fixed all the flaws, and added a little extra oomph and a lot more style.

“Giving an impression of the ride goes beyond my writing skills,” says Grzegorz. “The bike is lighter—it feels like it’s around 80 kilos less. And the power raises the wheel at the twist of the wrist.”

Yamaha XJR1300 cafe racer by Unikat
It won’t be as fast as Tomek’s supercharged Ninja H2, but in the old school entertainment stakes, we reckon this XJR will give Kawasaki’s tech-laden spaceship a run for its money. And that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?

Unikat Motorworks | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Grzegorz Korczak

Yamaha XJR1300 cafe racer by Unikat



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Monday, 30 August 2021

2022 Audi e-tron S & e-tron S Sportback: Three Motors, Torque Vectoring & More Aggressive Styling

The 2022 Audi e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback are arriving at U.S. dealerships promising more of everything. Whereas a standard e-tron SUV and e-tron Sportback have two electric motors, the e-tron S has three: two in the back, one in the front. Three electric motors are suitable for power and torque output, but the new e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback have torque vectoring for a safer and sportier ride.

2022 Audi e-tron S & e-tron Sportback S

Let’s begin with the juicy bits. The e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback are identical vehicles underneath, although the latter has a swoopy, coupe-like roofline. Both come with three electric motors for a combined output of 429 horsepower and 596 lb-ft. of torque. But in boost mode, the motors can churn out 496 horsepower and 718 lb-ft. of torque momentarily, allowing you to rush from zero to 60 mph in a scant 4.3 seconds.

The electric motors sip juice from a 95 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, enough to deliver 208 miles (e-tron S) and 212 miles (e-tron S Sportback) of driving range. Dual charging ports are standard along with a 9.6 kW AC Level 2 charger, but the e-tron S supports up to 150 kW DC fast-charging to replenish the batteries from five to 80 percent in under 30 minutes.

Electric Quattro AWD With Torque Vectoring

The 2022 Audi e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback feature electric quattro AWD with front and rear torque vectoring. In everyday driving, the e-tron S is rear-wheel drive and is motivated by dual electric motors.  However, those two motors operate independently and can spin faster or slower depending on existing driving conditions. And in Dynamic mode, the electric quattro system allows the driver to execute controlled drifts on a closed course.

But when the going gets rough, the single front electric motor comes to life to offer more push and an innovative brake-based torque vectoring system. According to Audi, the system activates in milliseconds to provide more driving confidence in inclement weather or challenging terrain. Keeping everything tidy is a standard adaptive air suspension, 20-inch wheels with all-season tires (larger and wider alloys are available), and six-piston front brake calipers with massive 15.7-inch brake discs.

Sportier Styling

Audi claims its newest e-tron S models are the first to feature wider bodywork than the standard non-S variants. It now has 0.9-inch wider front fenders and updated front and rear bumpers. Also available is Audi’s Digital Matrix LED headlights with 1.3-million pixels to project five special welcome and exit lighting animations. Other features like on-road lane markers and dipping light beams are also possible, but only if stringent and outdated U.S. regulations allow such features to be “unlocked.”

2022 Audi e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback.
2022 Audi e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback. Both vehicles are manufactured in a certified carbon-neutral plant in Brussels, Belgium. Photo: Audi of America.

Posh Interior

As expected, the 2022 Audi e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback have immaculate interiors and a bevy of advanced features. Both vehicles come standard with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster (Audi virtual cockpit) and dual-screen MMI displays, including a 10.1-inch upper and 8.6-inch lower central display screen. Also standard are diamond-stitched Valcona leather sport seats, 3D satellite navigation, predictive traffic light information, a top view camera, and an integrated toll module.

Safety Features

On the safety front, the e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback have traffic sign recognition, active lane assist, active turn assist, adaptive cruise control, Audi pre-sense front, and an Audi phonebox with a signal booster.  

Audi Warranty & Maintenance

The Audi e-tron SUV has a five-year/50,000-mile limited warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty, although Audi has yet to announce if the same guarantees apply to its newest e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback. Depending on how much you drive, it might be worth investing in additional warranty coverage. This comprehensive guide will shed light on the Audi extended warranty.

2022 Audi e-tron S and e-tron S Sportback: Pricing & Availability

The 2022 Audi e-tron S has base prices at $84,800 (Premium Plus) and $89,800 (Prestige). Meanwhile, the e-tron S Sportback starts at $87,400 (Premium Plus) and $92,400 (Prestige). Prices do not include $1,095 destination fees and up to $7,500 in federal tax credits. The first deliveries are arriving later this year.

When it comes to getting the best price on any new Audi, we trust Rydeshopper, a free and neutral third-party search site* that lets you see dealer inventory in your area. Rydeshopper will help you compare prices and see which dealers are offering the best discounts and incentives.

Alvin Reyes is an Automoblog feature columnist and an expert in sports and performance cars. He studied civil aviation, aeronautics, and accountancy in his younger years and is still very much smitten to his former Lancer GSR and Galant SS. He also likes fried chicken, music, and herbal medicine.

Photos & Source: Audi of America.

*Although always free for you, Automoblog and its partners may receive a commission when you use the services provided through that link. 

Original article: 2022 Audi e-tron S & e-tron S Sportback: Three Motors, Torque Vectoring & More Aggressive Styling



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