Best Roadside Assistance Membership?

[flyrite]

Finally thinking about getting signed up for a roadside assistance program like AAA. I was wondering what everyobody else uses or what they have experience with. While AAA seems like the most popular I have never used it and just because it's popular doesn't make it a good service.
So if you have any ideas please give me some input.
Thanks
Flyrite

[elwesso]

We have AAA, and its a great thing!!

We locked our keys in the car one time and they were out there <very> promptly...

They also have a credit card that you can use as points toward getting stuff there, like airplane tickets, luggage, and whatever else they have there... They make complimentary copies of the keys there that are just door keys (plastic)..... Very handy if you lock your keys in.....

[brougham]

Well usually when something like AAA is popular it does mean it's good

We all have CAA which is the Canadian version.

[flyrite]

thanks for the replies.
debating between AAA and Costco.
what to do? what to do?

[banstyle]

If your cell phone is with T-Mobile, they offer roadside assistance on your bill for $2.99 a month. I'm with it, haven't used it yet, but it seems like it offers just as much as AAA and it's cheaper.

[inmycadillac]

Originally Posted by flyrite

thanks for the replies.
debating between AAA and Costco.
what to do? what to do?

I have AAA and it is awesome. I would check into the max # of times u can use it, between cosco and AAA. I know AAA the max is 8 calls a year for a dual membership(husband and wife). She chronically locked the keys in the car. Our membership fees are $80/year. If u use the service twice a year it pays for itself. Let us know what u decide.

[flyrite]

Hey guys, thanks for all the input. I did my research and both prgrams looked really similar except that AAA has that name recognition and seems to be universally accepted as the number one roadside assistance program. the biggest factor for me was the fact that the cost of membership with Road America which is the provider for Costco is nearly half of that of AAA and has the exact same benefits.
I am also a trusting member of Costco and have never had any problems with other costco services and I am hoping that this bears out equally to this service.
I guess we'll see. And for $29.99 it could be considered a cheap experiment, unless of course the service endsup being a complete nightmare. [crossing fingers]

and thanks for all the help
flyrite

[c5 rv]

I've been a AAA member for 29 years. I've used the towing service less than 5 times. The latest time was today when my son's tie rod broke. I called them from home and then left since they said they'd be at the car in 30 minutes. They called 10 minutes later, waiting for me at the car. The tow was 7 miles, 2 over the 5 free miles, with a cost of $7.

I would get AAA maps regularly when I used to travel for business (before Mapquest). It was always convenient to have good maps before leaving.

[Stoneage_Caddy]

AAA is really great , been with them since 96 , at that time i had a sentra that was less than reliable , i was towed so many times the dispacter and truck driver in my area knew me by name ....hated that car

if you got the cash go with AAA Plus membership ...esp if you like rebuilt alternators and trannys (stupid sentra)

[elwesso]

Whats this about rebuilt alternators and trannys???

[Stoneage_Caddy]

the sentras alternator blew out its oem unit , replaced it with a reman fromt he store , i went thru 13 of them before i gave up and went to nissan and got a NOS alternator

actualy the tranny never went out on its own , i should have damned jiffy lube too , the wrong fluid was placed in it (atf in a 5 speed nissan unit) , the car had its own problems due to the high mileage , 187k , so really it wasnt the sentras fault , it was a good little car but the parts i got ti were a headache

the tranny deal was 3 junkyard rebuilt takeout trannys before i got a good one 2 worong ones that bolt all the way up till the side tranny mount and 1 bad pressure plate and one bad throwout bearing from napa making a total of 7 tranny removal and replacements , had those down to a 2 hour job in the end before everything was right

nevertheless to say im a sentra tranny expert

out of the 3 nissans i owned it was the only one to leave me stranded numerous times

[DaveSmed]

I'm looking at AAA Plus because of the towing distance. That gives you 100 mi, and Englishtown is only about 50 mi away.