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Is AAA better than a credit card's roadside assistance?



 
 
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  #11  
Old May 24th 05, 02:00 AM
val189
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wrote:
> I'm wondering if it is worth it to buy a AAA membership for the

roadside
> assistance.


Have been an AAA member for decades, but only called them twice.
However, the peace of mind is worth the fee, not to mention the money
I've saved dozens of times on motel discounts.

Have no experience with any other car assistance outfit.

Ads
  #12  
Old May 24th 05, 02:53 AM
SoCalMike
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Bob Ward wrote:
> On Mon, 23 May 2005 00:11:10 -0700, SoCalMike
> > wrote:
>
>
>>The Real Bev wrote:
>>
>>>Possibly at $7/mile, according to a towtruck operator I chatted with. AAA
>>>also gives you fairly significant discounts at a number of places. And maps.
>>>I love maps. I got a closetful of 'em. Really.

>>
>>nice to have, and i used to have to get a new thomas bros guide
>>yearly... but ive found mapsonus, google maps, mapquest, etc work pretty
>>damn good almost all the time.

>
>
>
> And they are sooooo easy to refer to when you are lost somewhere
> between Barstow and Bakersfield!



thats when ya pull out the GPS unit.
  #13  
Old May 24th 05, 06:28 AM
The Real Bev
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SoCalMike wrote:
>
> The Real Bev wrote:
> > Possibly at $7/mile, according to a towtruck operator I chatted with. AAA
> > also gives you fairly significant discounts at a number of places. And maps.
> > I love maps. I got a closetful of 'em. Really.

>
> nice to have, and i used to have to get a new thomas bros guide
> yearly... but ive found mapsonus, google maps, mapquest, etc work pretty
> damn good almost all the time.


Functionally nice, but nothing beats a real paper map and a magnifying glass!

Google maps are especially nice, but I wish the satellite photos provided the
same magnification as the original terraserver or globexplorer.

--
Cheers,
Bev
================================================== ============
Everyone crashes. Some get back on. Some don't. Some can't.
  #14  
Old May 24th 05, 07:26 PM
Rod Speed
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The Real Bev > wrote in
message ...
> SoCalMike wrote
>> The Real Bev wrote


>>> Possibly at $7/mile, according to a towtruck operator I chatted with.
>>> AAA also gives you fairly significant discounts at a number of places.
>>> And maps. I love maps. I got a closetful of 'em. Really.


>> nice to have, and i used to have to get a new thomas bros
>> guide yearly... but ive found mapsonus, google maps,
>> mapquest, etc work pretty damn good almost all the time.


> Functionally nice, but nothing beats a real paper map and a magnifying glass!


Bull****. A decent GPS with mapping function leaves that for dead, dinosaur.

> Google maps are especially nice, but I wish the satellite photos provided
> the same magnification as the original terraserver or globexplorer.


Too many used those to perve at those nude sunbaking in their backyards.


  #15  
Old May 24th 05, 07:57 PM
Don Bruder
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In article >,
The Real Bev > wrote:

> Bill wrote:
> >
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > I'm wondering if it is worth it to buy a AAA membership for the roadside
> > > assistance. I have a Citibank Mastercard, and they have something called
> > > "MC ASSIST", which provides just about the same services that AAA offers
> > > --
> > > jump-starts, towing, gas delivery, and tire changes (not sure if they
> > > offer
> > > locksmithing).
> > >
> > > So has anyone ever relied on their credit card's roadside assistance? Is
> > > it
> > > as good as AAA's? If my credit card's is as good as AAA's, then there's
> > > no
> > > reason for me to pay an extra $60/year for a AAA membership.

>
> Is it that much for a single membership where you live? I think it's only
> $47
> (one card, which is enough) in California.


That $47 gets you three tows of up to 5 miles each - Not worth the
effort to bother, in my case. YMMV. For me, using up the entire card on
one "incident" would have been extrememly unlikely to get me anyplace
useful. Of course, you can't get to the "plus" version without wasting
the $47, so it's a "gotta do it" thing.

> After a year you can upgrade to
> 100-mile tows for $75.


$68 for me when I renewed last year (and the year before) - Where are
you getting tapped for a $75 price?

The "Plus" version is the only way to fly. 4 tows, up to a hundred miles
in any direction from point of hookup. Never mind the tire service, gas
delivery, jump starts, car unlocks, and all the rest of the "stuff" that
you can use the card for. That hundred miles per tow is the deal-maker
for me - If it breaks on me and I can't fix it on the spot, I should
still be able to get the car back home (where I've got the tools and
most of the supplies topractically rebuild it from the ground up) from
just about anyplace I'm at all likely to be. Even if it DOES mean using
up the whole card for one incident.

Having that thing has saved my bacon a couple of times now - It'll pay
for itself, AT LEAST, and possibly "make you a profit" the first time
you actually put it to use for the "main" purpose. (My last tow would
have been over $170 if I was paying cash - Close to triple the price of
the card! And I've still got three more of them left on the card.)

Handy fact for those who like to "hit the sauce". One that's usually not
mentioned very loud, but does exist: "Free ride home" from the bar. AAA
would rather have you call 'em and use your card to get you a towtruck
to drag you and your car home at closing time than have you DUI. They'll
make *NO* fuss about it at all, treating it as "just another one of your
4 freebies" - no different than if you were to call them up and tell
them you need a tow 'cause the engine just exploded and the wheels fell
off. Dial 1-800-AAA-HELP, and tell 'em "I'm drunk. Send a towtruck to
Joe's bar" and they'll do exactly that, without a peep - now or in the
future - of protest about it.

--
Don Bruder -
- New Email policy in effect as of Feb. 21, 2004.
Short form: I'm trashing EVERY E-mail that doesn't contain a password in the
subject unless it comes from a "whitelisted" (pre-approved by me) address.
See <http://www.sonic.net/~dakidd/main/contact.html> for full details.
  #16  
Old May 24th 05, 09:49 PM
The Real Bev
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Don Bruder wrote:
>
> In article >,
> The Real Bev > wrote:
>
> > Bill wrote:
> > >
> > > wrote:
> > > > So has anyone ever relied on their credit card's roadside assistance? Is
> > > > it
> > > > as good as AAA's? If my credit card's is as good as AAA's, then there's
> > > > no
> > > > reason for me to pay an extra $60/year for a AAA membership.

> >
> > Is it that much for a single membership where you live? I think it's only
> > $47 (one card, which is enough) in California.

>
> That $47 gets you three tows of up to 5 miles each - Not worth the
> effort to bother, in my case. YMMV.


4 tows, 7 miles each.

> For me, using up the entire card on
> one "incident" would have been extrememly unlikely to get me anyplace
> useful. Of course, you can't get to the "plus" version without wasting
> the $47, so it's a "gotta do it" thing.
>
> > After a year you can upgrade to
> > 100-mile tows for $75.


Maybe six months. Still four tows. You'd think that they might let you carry
a few over if you don't use any, wouldn't you?

> $68 for me when I renewed last year (and the year before) - Where are
> you getting tapped for a $75 price?


California. I think each state is different.

--
Cheers, Bev
================================================== =============
Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely and in a
well preserved body, but to skid in sideways, totally worn out,
and shouting HOLY ****!!! WHAT A RIDE!!!
  #17  
Old May 24th 05, 11:59 PM
ameijers
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Posts: n/a
Default


> wrote in message
...
> I'm wondering if it is worth it to buy a AAA membership for the roadside
> assistance. I have a Citibank Mastercard, and they have something called
> "MC ASSIST", which provides just about the same services that AAA

offers --
> jump-starts, towing, gas delivery, and tire changes (not sure if they

offer
> locksmithing).
>
> So has anyone ever relied on their credit card's roadside assistance? Is

it
> as good as AAA's? If my credit card's is as good as AAA's, then there's

no
> reason for me to pay an extra $60/year for a AAA membership.
>

Keep your car in good shape, carry a little cash+plastic, maybe a cell phone
(even a 'dead' one from a garage sale) to call 911, and who needs an auto
club? It's like an extended warranty on an appliance- what are the odds you
will ever use it enough to counter the upfront cost? If you can't see
civilization from where you break down, 911 will always (albeit grudgingly)
log a 'motorist assist' call and send a tow truck. If you only drive
locally, keep a 3x5 in the glove box with the local garage and tow numbers.
Just IMHO, of course, YMMV. The other auto club perks like triptiks,
discount tickets, etc., may make it make sense for you. Personally, I'd
rather put the money to keeping the car up to snuff, and replacing it when
needed.

aem sends...

  #18  
Old May 25th 05, 01:05 AM
Don Bruder
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In article >,
The Real Bev > wrote:

> Don Bruder wrote:
> >
> > In article >,
> > The Real Bev > wrote:
> >
> > > Bill wrote:
> > > >
> > > > wrote:
> > > > > So has anyone ever relied on their credit card's roadside assistance?
> > > > > Is
> > > > > it
> > > > > as good as AAA's? If my credit card's is as good as AAA's, then
> > > > > there's
> > > > > no
> > > > > reason for me to pay an extra $60/year for a AAA membership.
> > >
> > > Is it that much for a single membership where you live? I think it's
> > > only
> > > $47 (one card, which is enough) in California.

> >
> > That $47 gets you three tows of up to 5 miles each - Not worth the
> > effort to bother, in my case. YMMV.

>
> 4 tows, 7 miles each.


Whooo! Generous! They've increased things. My "freshamn year", it was 3
at 5 miles each, and the direction was "towards the nearest AAA-approved
garage or back toward the towing company impound yard, and you pay the
difference"
>
> > For me, using up the entire card on
> > one "incident" would have been extrememly unlikely to get me anyplace
> > useful. Of course, you can't get to the "plus" version without wasting
> > the $47, so it's a "gotta do it" thing.
> >
> > > After a year you can upgrade to
> > > 100-mile tows for $75.

>
> Maybe six months. Still four tows. You'd think that they might let you
> carry
> a few over if you don't use any, wouldn't you?


Sure would be nice, but... <shrug> They gotta make money SOMEHOW, I
guess...

>
> > $68 for me when I renewed last year (and the year before) - Where are
> > you getting tapped for a $75 price?

>
> California. I think each state is different.



I'm IN California...

I hope that doesn't mean a price increase has hit while I wasn't paying
attention...

--
Don Bruder -
- New Email policy in effect as of Feb. 21, 2004.
Short form: I'm trashing EVERY E-mail that doesn't contain a password in the
subject unless it comes from a "whitelisted" (pre-approved by me) address.
See <http://www.sonic.net/~dakidd/main/contact.html> for full details.
  #19  
Old May 25th 05, 01:23 AM
Don Bruder
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Posts: n/a
Default

In article
>,
"ameijers" > wrote:

> > wrote in message
> ...
> > I'm wondering if it is worth it to buy a AAA membership for the roadside
> > assistance. I have a Citibank Mastercard, and they have something called
> > "MC ASSIST", which provides just about the same services that AAA

> offers --
> > jump-starts, towing, gas delivery, and tire changes (not sure if they

> offer
> > locksmithing).
> >
> > So has anyone ever relied on their credit card's roadside assistance? Is

> it
> > as good as AAA's? If my credit card's is as good as AAA's, then there's

> no
> > reason for me to pay an extra $60/year for a AAA membership.
> >

> Keep your car in good shape, carry a little cash+plastic, maybe a cell phone
> (even a 'dead' one from a garage sale) to call 911, and who needs an auto
> club? It's like an extended warranty on an appliance- what are the odds you
> will ever use it enough to counter the upfront cost?


The odds are <thinks a bit> Let's see... I've had the card for about 4-5
years now... I've used it to get the car dragged home after catastrphic
failure of some sort or otherwise "rescued" by an expensive ($60 and up
around here) towtruck call on at least 9 occasions I can think of - So I
guess that would be "9 to 1 in favor of needing it in my case. Last time
was the clutch-disk grenading due to a muffed downshift coming off the
freeway - Even *I* don't carry enough gear and materials to fix THAT "on
the side of the road" - which would have cost $170 to get it home if I
were paying for the tow. That *ONE* tow paid for close enough to three
years of having the card, even if I'd never used the thing again. But I
have and DO use it more than just that single tow. Ever have a frozen
lug combined with a flat tire and being out in the middle of BFE where
cell-phone reception is only a rumour, and not one that the locals put
much belief in? - As in "frozen enough your lug wrench splits"? It truly
sucks to have to call a towtruck to get it busted loose (by putting a
ten foot long cheater bar on the lug and then walking out to the end of
it and bouncing up and down several times before g3etting it to break
loose...) so you can finish changing a tire. But it sucks even more to
have to pay the towtruck driver $80 and change for coming to the rescue.
Thankfully, there was my AAA card again... Paying for another year worth
of having it. And the list could go on.

For my nickel, anybody who's too cheap to spring the 70-ish bucks to get
a AAA card is either an idiot, or has led such a sheltered automotive
"life" that words can't begin to describe it.

--
Don Bruder - - New Email policy in effect as of Feb. 21, 2004.
Short form: I'm trashing EVERY E-mail that doesn't contain a password in the
subject unless it comes from a "whitelisted" (pre-approved by me) address.
See <http://www.sonic.net/~dakidd/main/contact.html> for full details.
  #20  
Old May 25th 05, 01:33 AM
Rod Slow
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Posts: n/a
Default

Rod Speed wrote:
> The Real Bev > wrote in
> message ...
>
>>SoCalMike wrote
>>
>>>The Real Bev wrote

>
>
>>>>Possibly at $7/mile, according to a towtruck operator I chatted with.
>>>>AAA also gives you fairly significant discounts at a number of places.
>>>>And maps. I love maps. I got a closetful of 'em. Really.

>
>
>>>nice to have, and i used to have to get a new thomas bros
>>>guide yearly... but ive found mapsonus, google maps,
>>>mapquest, etc work pretty damn good almost all the time.

>
>
>>Functionally nice, but nothing beats a real paper map and a magnifying glass!

>
>
> Bull****. A decent GPS with mapping function leaves that for dead, dinosaur.
>
>
>>Google maps are especially nice, but I wish the satellite photos provided
>>the same magnification as the original terraserver or globexplorer.

>
>
> Too many used those to perve at those nude sunbaking in their backyards.
>
>



The word projection comes to mind.
 




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