What is your roadside breakdown plan? | FerrariChat
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What is your roadside breakdown plan?

Discussion in 'Ferrari Discussion (not model specific)' started by BT, Jun 6, 2008.

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  1. BT

    BT F1 World Champ
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    #1 BT, Jun 6, 2008
    What does everyone use for protection against being stuck on the side of the road for your sports car? I had Allstate Motor Club until today. They are not good in my opinion. An excerpt from the letter I wrote them is as follows:

    "The day I had a mechanical breakdown, I hopelessly waited on hold for about 30 minutes. My cell phone was losing its charge so I had my wife try and call a tow for me through the “Emergency Roadside service number”. Eventually my wife got through on the home line after waiting an additional 30 minutes on hold. We were told to get the tow ourselves and we would be reimbursed. I got towed home by Kauff’s and paid via my personal credit card (copies attached). After calling for another 40 minutes I was told to send in the receipt with the number 1002900015 written on it. I did that almost a month ago. After trying to speak to a breathing human for the past week using the 800 number on the membership card and sending emails I came up with a new plan today. I looked up the “Allstate Motor Club” on the web and found a different 800 number to call. This is the number you get when researching the club and a person picks up the phone on the first ring! I cancelled my membership today, but was told that I will still get reimbursed for the expense that occurred while I was a member. I doubt it will happen, but I am willing to give it a try.

    The customer service representative’s claim that my initial receipt must have gotten lost in the mail seems far fetched as I had a printed return address on it.

    Having an 800 number on all the membership materials and cards that makes it impossible to speak to a living person at customer service is just one indication of the shady practices you employ to systematically prevent benefit payment. I would not be surprised if there is a job that the description reads “Take all envelopes marked “Benefit payment” from p.o. Box 3094 and dispose of in the dumpster.”

    I feel stupid for signing up for a worthless service and deceived by believing in the big corporate name of Allstate to stand for anything."

    So what do you use? Allstate, AAA, take the chance???

    BT
     
  2. DrStranglove

    DrStranglove FChat Assassin
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    #2 DrStranglove, Jun 6, 2008
    Cell phone. AAA.
     
  3. sprite

    sprite Karting

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    #3 sprite, Jun 6, 2008
    Do F430s come with Roadside Assistance? Lamborghini roadside assistance goes through Haggerty. The two times I've had to use them they were very helpful, so Haggerty is definitely recommended.
     
  4. GrndLkNatv

    GrndLkNatv Formula Junior

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    #4 GrndLkNatv, Jun 6, 2008
    and if it's in town, or up to 100 miles, I call Ferrari of Denver directly, their covered truck is as cheap as a tow truck. If it's farther away, it's AAA! I have Haggerty but haven't used their roadside assistance... I have used FoD and it was great!
     
  5. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #5 donv, Jun 6, 2008
    AAA. Theoretically, my state farm coverage includes towing, but I've never used it.

    I have had to use AAA, though. No problems.
     
  6. zippyslug31

    zippyslug31 Formula 3

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    #6 zippyslug31, Jun 6, 2008
    AAA and a cell phone. In the worst possible cases I do have a can of no-flat... should it really come to that.

    Allstate? Meh; theres your problem right there. Terrible company. Was a customer of theres for many years but recently changed..... shocked by the better service and have never looked back.
     
  7. dm_n_stuff

    dm_n_stuff Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #7 dm_n_stuff, Jun 6, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  8. dm_n_stuff

    dm_n_stuff Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #8 dm_n_stuff, Jun 6, 2008
    Actually, I have the # of the towing service that is RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM ALGAR on my cell phone.

    Do all the Ferrari Dealers have a towing service that ended up ACROSS THE STREET from them? Hmmmm..... I wonder.
     
  9. branko

    branko F1 Rookie
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    #9 branko, Jun 6, 2008
    Same here.
     
  10. BT

    BT F1 World Champ
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    #10 BT, Jun 6, 2008
    I think you are right. I should probably shop my car insurance since it is also with Allstate. What a crummy service / sham their roadside assistance plan is. For $170 per year I expect better.
    BT
     
  11. venusone

    venusone F1 Rookie

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    #11 venusone, Jun 6, 2008
    The main problem is having a company w/ the equipment to load your low slung sports car w/out tearing off the front air dam. All the standard good-ole-boy operations will suck at this. At the house I supply 2x8s. BTW, they never leave them at the destination w/ the car. On the road it’s not pretty. Body shop is the next stop.
    I have Haggerty but have never used them. Had Allstate & AAA in the past. Allstate cancelled my policy after I had 2 cars towed in the same day. The RX-7 wouldn’t start in the morning so I had it towed to the shop. Drove the Datsun 240Z to work but on the way home the clutch cylinder blew & had it towed to another shop. A guy I knew from the gym was at the gas station where I pulled over & gave me a ride to the 1st shop where my 7 was ready. Allstate contacted me shortly thereafter. Apparently I had exceeded my limit.
    AAA gave several tows & some push starts – never dropped me. Most clubs only allow a certain amount of tows/year. The 800 # was great. You must be specific & ask for a flat bed for your baby.
     
  12. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
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    #12 darth550, Jun 6, 2008
    More drama.......

    You probably tried to claim they damaged your cars. :rolleyes: In any event, they upsell the tow so a reasonable person would think they would like someone even more who doubles up on tows in a day?
     
  13. norcal2

    norcal2 F1 Veteran

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    #13 norcal2, Jun 6, 2008
    AAA and Good Sam, Good Sam will tow my RV with my car hauler as well, AAA will not and Good Sam will send out a special vehicle for my cars if needed..more money but worth the assurance I will not be out of luck...
     
  14. venusone

    venusone F1 Rookie

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    #14 venusone, Jun 6, 2008
    They did crack the air dam and paid for repairs. The damage was obvious.
     
  15. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
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    #15 darth550, Jun 6, 2008
    See? I knew it! You did force their hand!
     
  16. DGS

    DGS Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #16 DGS, Jun 6, 2008
    The best plan for a roadside breakdown is to not have one: regular maintenance before it stops by the side of the road.

    And if it does stop anyway, ...
    ... the car *does* come with tools. ;)
     
  17. venusone

    venusone F1 Rookie

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    #17 venusone, Jun 6, 2008
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2008
    So, Darth550, have you ever had a car towed? If so, what car? Did you have ground effects & a high performance suspension? Do you even have a car? Do tell.
     
  18. BT

    BT F1 World Champ
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    #18 BT, Jun 6, 2008
    I guess I'll give AAA a try. At least there is a local office if I have a problem. One of the major frustrations with the Allstate club is the lack of ability to actually speak to someone there.
    Thanks for the responses. After the breakdown I managed to do some additional maintenance items since I had the car kind of apart on the lift.
    BT
     
  19. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Ten Time F1 World Champ
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    #19 PAP 348, Jun 6, 2008

    A box of matches!! :D:D
     
  20. ferraridriver

    ferraridriver F1 Rookie

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    #20 ferraridriver, Jun 6, 2008
    Shouldn't need one, I have empathy with my car. ;)
     
  21. bwassam

    bwassam Formula Junior

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    #21 bwassam, Jun 6, 2008
    AAA will, for an extra charge include your RV on your policy. I recently needed to get a tow for my Class A and talked to AAA about it later. They'll do it but Good Sam is a better deal. So we have Good Sam now.

    Bob Wassam
     
  22. bwassam

    bwassam Formula Junior

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    #22 bwassam, Jun 6, 2008
    Yeah, I can just see some one out there on the side of the freeway changing a water hose with the Ferrari Tool Kit. (Grin) I want to meet that guy. He's got to be the smartest and most interesting guy in the world. McGyver would be jealous.

    Bob Wassam
     
  23. Hubert888

    Hubert888 F1 Veteran
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    #23 Hubert888, Jun 7, 2008
    sulk and cry like a baby
     
  24. darth550

    darth550 Six Time F1 World Champ
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    #24 darth550, Jun 7, 2008
    Never. I just tied the car to my Johnson and dragged it home! ;)
     
  25. DGS

    DGS Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #25 DGS, Jun 7, 2008
    Actually, the 328 comes with some pretty good tools. I actually use them for some things. (CIS system, mostly.)

    But, yes, water hoses tend to require trained mice with their own sized tools. ;)
     
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