Router issues

My Saegem router from Verizon just kicked the bucket on me!

I still have a year left on my contract (it runs through December 2015, so the hardware is technically under warranty), but when I gave them a call, they had the audacity to suggest that if I didn't physically break it myself, they’d offer me a new router at a "discounted" rate—provided I cancel my current agreement and sign on for another two years. It is absolute highway robbery and complete nonsense.

Since there is zero chance I am extending my commitment to them, can anyone recommend a decent, budget-friendly router so I can finally cut ties with these people? Ideally, I’d like to pick something up from Best Buy, as that’s the only shop in my neck of the woods.
What specific specs or details should I be looking out for when buying one?

I mean, you should probably find someone who actually knows their way around this stuff, but I guess any router would work... you just plug in the cables and call it a day.

With the routers provided by Verizon, if one happens to kick the bucket, they just hand you a new one for free without making you jump through hoops to sign a brand-new contract!
What you’re saying about this whole situation is spot on—it's basically just a way for them to line their pockets even more, isn't it?

Jack James65 said:Look, you should probably find someone who actually knows their way around this stuff, but if I had to guess, any router will do... you just plug in the cables and you're good to go.

That’s not how it works!

I'm pretty sure Verizon uses an Annex to a transit agency setup, so you better double-check that before you buy anything!

What is wrong with the router? My brother has one just like it, and it’s incredibly sensitive to power surges. For instance, when there's utility work happening nearby and the power goes out, once it kicks back on, the thing refuses to function properly. He constantly has to power cycle it—turn it off, wait a few seconds, turn it back on—and even then, it keeps flickering.
Sometimes it just glitches on its own, rebooting repeatedly, or he has to perform a software reset through the browser to get it stable again. The customer service reps at Comcast are always polite, but if this thing dies completely, I’d tell them they need to ship a replacement or fix the old one immediately while the contract is still active.
If they refuse, you just switch providers once the contract ends. It’s either a rude policy or a rude representative.
This is about my brother and me; high-speed internet is a necessity. I always keep an old spare router on hand—it’s ancient, and I haven't tested it on this current network, but I'm 99% sure it will work. Most of these older models are similar and run fine on ADSL.
I can see the technical difference. The Xfinity router, or whatever model it is, allows for software configuration regarding whether the connection is via internal wiring or coaxial cable, whereas the old one lacks those options. That isn't an issue for me.
Was it perhaps overheating near a heater or something? Then again, sometimes electronics just fail for no reason. Quality control these days is subpar.