I get your point about AAA's response times slipping a bit lately, but honestly, I think it's more of a general trend across the industry rather than just AAA. I've been looking into roadside assistance options recently (first-time insurance buyer here, so I've been extra cautious), and it seems like most providers have similar complaints—especially post-pandemic with staffing shortages and all.
That said, I totally agree on having your own emergency gear. A portable jump starter is definitely on my list now, thanks for mentioning that. But I'm still leaning towards AAA because their network coverage is pretty extensive compared to some smaller providers. Even if they're slower sometimes, I'd rather wait a bit longer knowing help will eventually come than risk being stranded somewhere remote with limited service options.
I guess it's about balancing expectations... AAA might not be perfect anymore, but they're still reliable enough for me to feel comfortable as a backup plan.
"Even if they're slower sometimes, I'd rather wait a bit longer knowing help will eventually come than risk being stranded somewhere remote with limited service options."
That's exactly how I feel about it too. AAA might've slipped a bit lately, but honestly, it's still reassuring to know they're out there if things go sideways. I've had friends try smaller providers and end up waiting forever in rural areas... not fun. Definitely second the portable jump starter though—saved me more than once already.
Same here, honestly. AAA isn't perfect, but have you ever tried calling some random local tow at 2am in the middle of nowhere? Good luck with that... Also, portable jump starters—why didn't I get one sooner? Lifesaver.
Fair points, but honestly, AAA's reliability really depends on your area. I've had better luck with local tow services—some smaller companies actually pick up faster at odd hours because they're hungry for business. Also, portable jump starters are great, but they're not foolproof. Had one fail on me in freezing temps... battery drained way quicker than advertised. Always good to have a backup plan.
Good points about the jump starters—I had a similar experience last winter. A portable starter died on me halfway through a road trip in Colorado... temps were brutal, battery drained super fast. Ended up relying on a small local tow company that showed up quicker than AAA ever has. Since then I've kept numbers for a couple local services handy—just in case. AAA is decent overall, but yeah, definitely can't count on them alone.
