Aftermarket Maintenance Plan

[Larry_Fisherman]

Hi,

I'm looking at buying a 2nd hand German car. The manufacturer's maintainence plan expired 3 months ago so there's no way I can extend it with them. I called a few companies and they all seem to offer service plans and extended warranties, which honestly seems like a waste of money.


Does anyone have any recommendations for any company's that offer extended maintenance plans, or should I keep looking for something that still in plan and just extend with the manufacturer (as that seems to be the safest and best option).

Thanks,

 

[chickenbeef]

What car is it?

 

[Larry_Fisherman]

What car is it?

Audi A4 40 TFSI

 

[RonSwanson]

From what I have seen, 3rd party warranties have far too many exclusions and terms to be of any useful value. Without a warranty (or a savings plan), there's simply far too much that can go wrong, and the 4 ringed marque isn't exactly known for cheap parts, or services for that matter. If you cannot afford one that has any plan / warranty left, and you don't have approximately R80-120K in a rainy day fund ring-fenced for repairs, then consider something different.
Personally, I'd pass on the opportunity.

 

[maxxis]

Walk away and buy something with a factory warranty you can extend for another 2 years.

In those 2 years start a savings account and dump as much as you can into that if you don't plan on selling after 2 years

German luxury cars will hurt you plenty in the maintenance and repairs department.

 

[Larry_Fisherman]

From what I have seen, 3rd party warranties have far too many exclusions and terms to be of any useful value. Without a warranty (or a savings plan), there's simply far too much that can go wrong, and the 4 ringed marque isn't exactly known for cheap parts, or services for that matter. If you cannot afford one that has any plan / warranty left, and you don't have approximately R80-120K in a rainy day fund ring-fenced for repairs, then consider something different.
Personally, I'd pass on the opportunity.

I completely agree with you.

Most of the Audi's on the road are poverty spec (which is understandable considering new car prices), it's so difficult to find one with decent features that is still under OEM maintenance plan.

I've recently just bought a house and I don't want to fork out a ton on cash on either a brand new car or repair bills on a used car, so I was just weighing all options.

 

[Larry_Fisherman]

Walk away and buy something with a factory warranty you can extend for another 2 years.

In those 2 years start a savings account and dump as much as you can into that if you don't plan on selling after 2 years

German luxury cars will hurt you plenty in the maintenance and repairs department.

Audi's share a lot of parts with VW (VAG = Volkswagen Audi Group), I'm sure it can't be that bad. I'm still too paranoid to own any car out of OEM plan.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Audi's share a lot of parts with VW (VAG = Volkswagen Audi Group), I'm sure it can't be that bad. I'm still too paranoid to own any car out of OEM plan.

They do.

Doesn’t make it any cheaper when the DSG shits the bed or the turbo pops.

Still there only happens in 1% of cases but when it does you want it to be covered.

But I happily bought a VW with turbo and DSG at 98,000km and drove it past 200,000km without any major surprises.

 

[RiaX]

I was also looking for an aftermarket warranty for my Merc. Merc quoted R150 000 for extension of the plan ... so obviously im not renewing it.

Dont want to sell the car either I like it and theres nothing wrong with it atm.

 

[RonSwanson]

Audi's share a lot of parts with VW (VAG = Volkswagen Audi Group), I'm sure it can't be that bad. I'm still too paranoid to own any car out of OEM plan.

True, they do.
But consider this, I have an associate that 6 months ago needed to have the throttle body replaced on a 3.5 year old Polo, they were quoted around R45K. Apparently it was a "fluke" according to the dealer, first time ever that they had to replace it. 45K nonetheless for a piece of die-cast metal.

 

[RonSwanson]

I was also looking for an aftermarket warranty for my Merc. Merc quoted R150 000 for extension of the plan ... so obviously im not renewing it.

Dont want to sell the car either I like it and theres nothing wrong with it atm.

Take 80-100K and put it in a Tymebank goalsave account. Congratulate yourself for getting at least a 33% discount, having the goolies to take some of the risk yourself, and most important of all, the common sense to self-insure where the actuarial model does not make provision for your treatment of the vehicle.

 

[TheChamp]

True, they do.
But consider this, I have an associate that 6 months ago needed to have the throttle body replaced on a 3.5 year old Polo, they were quoted around R45K. Apparently it was a "fluke" according to the dealer, first time ever that they had to replace it. 45K nonetheless for a piece of die-cast metal.

I bet a lot of these horror stories are just dealerships scamming people, that's what drives the paranoia that the car is going to fall apart after warranty, you'll go there for a simple sensor that has gone bad and they will add a whole lot of stuff to make it worth their while.

I honestly cannot think of any reason why a metal throttle body would need replacing on a 3.5yo car.

 

[RonSwanson]

I completely agree with you.

Most of the Audi's on the road are poverty spec (which is understandable considering new car prices), it's so difficult to find one with decent features that is still under OEM maintenance plan.

I've recently just bought a house and I don't want to fork out a ton on cash on either a brand new car or repair bills on a used car, so I was just weighing all options.

Sure, and that's good. So is the house BTW, congratulations, it will bless you in times to come, long after the lingering memories of the German luxury car have faded.

 

[RonSwanson]

I bet a lot of these horror stories are just dealerships scamming people, that's what drives the paranoia that the car is going to fall apart after warranty, you'll go there for a simple sensor that has gone bad and they will add a whole lot of stuff to make it worth their while.

I honestly cannot think of any reason why a metal throttle body would need replacing on a 3.5yo car.

You are correct, neither did I. Your theory is quite possible, but if so then there are more than just the dealership that are complicit.
It was escalated very quickly to directorship level at a very prominent group of motor vehicle companies. End story, the one that was told to us, is that the manufacturer eventually made an unprecedented decision to "absorb" the expense, but the spare was not in stock (because "fluke") and had to be specially ordered from across the water, and the customer ended up paying for labour only, after 10 days without a vehicle (no courtesy vehicle provided).

 

[maxxis]

Audi's share a lot of parts with VW (VAG = Volkswagen Audi Group), I'm sure it can't be that bad. I'm still too paranoid to own any car out of OEM plan.

Look up the cost of fixing a gearbox. It will sink your battleship. The **** that breaks is that bad.

 

[Larry_Fisherman]

I honestly cannot think of any reason why a metal throttle body would need replacing on a 3.5yo car.

Mass production...

 

[TheChamp]

Mass production...

Still, not like it's a precision part that works on very precise tolerances, it's a throttle body, a metal one for that matter, it was plastic I would be open to the possibility. I just think some gasket, or sensor on it failed and they just replaced all of it since it's more money like that.

Or maybe the whole thing was designed like that, not to be serviceable.

 

[rietrot]

I bet a lot of these horror stories are just dealerships scamming people, that's what drives the paranoia that the car is going to fall apart after warranty, you'll go there for a simple sensor that has gone bad and they will add a whole lot of stuff to make it worth their while.

I honestly cannot think of any reason why a metal throttle body would need replacing on a 3.5yo car.

People going to a dealership for spares should not even be allowed to give car advice.

 

[Neuk_]

I have never found any aftermarket service plans or warranties to be worth the paper they are written on, most have sometimes ridiculous exclusions combined with financial limits on certain parts, so I have never been interested in them. All my cars once the manufacturer warranty/service plan/maintenance plane runs out never see the manufacturer backed dealer again, I do some work myself and have various friends and contacts for more serious work if I need it.

 

[Neuk_]

True, they do.
But consider this, I have an associate that 6 months ago needed to have the throttle body replaced on a 3.5 year old Polo, they were quoted around R45K. Apparently it was a "fluke" according to the dealer, first time ever that they had to replace it. 45K nonetheless for a piece of die-cast metal.

R45k for a throttle body? Even at dealership pricing and it potentially having DBW and a MAF sensor, I call complete and utter BS or your associate was quoted on much more than simply a throttle body?