You make a solid point about older cars—my trusty '92 Subaru wouldn't have a clue either. I've found defensive driving courses to be a pretty reliable...

Totally agree with the patience and persistence angle. When something similar happened to me, I found it helpful to document every step—dates, times, ...

Yeah, totally agree with upgrading coverage if you're often driving in remote spots. Manufacturer assistance is usually decent at first, but once it e...