Maintenance Plan vs Service Plan

V

veron1996

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Hi,

I need advise please... It may sound stupid to some, but I am a bit (actually more than a bit) mechanically challenged.

I recently bought a second hand 2012 Chevrolet Aveo LS (Financed) which is still under the the Manufacturer's Warranty which is 5 years or 120 000km, and coupled with this I took out an extended warranty of 2 years).

At the point of sale I opted not to take out a Service Plan as it sounded a bit useless (i derived from the info the consultant gave me that I would in any case have to pay for any major things that would go wrong)... Now Liquid Capital called me to get me to take out a Service Plan with them.

But I started reading up and it seems to take out a Maintenance Plan would be much better to take out.

Please advise what would be the better plan of the 2 to take out.

Thanking everyone in advance for their expert advice.

Much appreciated,
V
 
It comes down to cost vs benefit.
Maintenance Plan generally always includes a Service Plan, but not vice versa.

A warranty covers manfacturer/factory defects, not any wear-and-tear/expected maintenance that arises from driving.

A service plan covers regular servicing, the standard amounts at pre-defined intervals (usually around 15000km/1 year)

A maintenance plan covers all maintenance that one would do (including changing brakes, pads, windscreen wipers etc. etc.) which wouldn't be done as part of a service though would always need to be changed

Therefore the maintenance plan is always the full 'peace of mind' option.
 
Google is my friend yes russel0 :)

I have looked at the two and was certain a maintenance plan is more beneficial... Until the consultant from Liquid Capital spoke to me... After that I was pretty confused :cry:
 
IMHO I wouldn't take the maintenance plan if your car has a full warranty - since the overlap between them is huge, why pay twice for the same thing?
Of course, this depends on the price difference between service plan and maintenance plan.
 
I think warranty is just for factory faults etc... the price difference between the two would come to roughly about R100 with the maintenance plan being the pricier option of the 2
 
veron1996 said:
I think warranty is just for factory faults etc... the price difference between the two would come to roughly about R100 with the maintenance plan being the pricier option of the 2
Click to expand...

R100? In total?
 
Dean said:
Therefore the maintenance plan is always the full 'peace of mind' option.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your input Dean!

Maintenance Plan it would then have to be :) However just 1 final question (forgive my ignorance)...

If I opt to take out the maintenance plan, would my compulsory servicing of the vehicle (for example at every 15 000kms) be covered hereunder?
 
Nope... The Maintenance plan would be about R100 more per month (at least that is what they quoted me on)... The Service Plan come to about R150 per month.

I think I should just now consider calling Chevrolet and getting them to quote me on a maintenance plan as well...
 
veron1996 said:
If I opt to take out the maintenance plan, would my compulsory servicing of the vehicle (for example at every 15 000kms) be covered hereunder?
Click to expand...

Usually, yes, but check with your specific contract/offer.. It may be different.
 
Sinbad said:
IMHO I wouldn't take the maintenance plan if your car has a full warranty - since the overlap between them is huge, why pay twice for the same thing?
Of course, this depends on the price difference between service plan and maintenance plan.
Click to expand...

Warranty = manufacturing defect

Maintenance plan = wear and tear


You're not likely to ever make a successful warranty claim on a motor vehicle unless you had immediate failure else they would claim it was due to wear and tear.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
Warranty = manufacturing defect

Maintenance plan = wear and tear


You're not likely to ever make a successful warranty claim on a motor vehicle unless you had immediate failure else they would claim it was due to wear and tear.
Click to expand...

My plan took over where my warranty ended. Had a 3 year 90000km warranty with a 5 year 120k full maintenance plan. When stuff broke in the first 3 years, the warranty covered it. When stuff broke after the first three years, the MPlan covered it.
Wipers and brakes were the only non-failure-related things ever claimed on my maintenance plan.
 
When I get my car I took the maintenance plan. Just for the peace of mind. All I ever pay for is tyres.
 
Sinbad said:
My plan took over where my warranty ended. Had a 3 year 90000km warranty with a 5 year 120k full maintenance plan. When stuff broke in the first 3 years, the warranty covered it. When stuff broke after the first three years, the MPlan covered it.
Wipers and brakes were the only non-failure-related things ever claimed on my maintenance plan.
Click to expand...

But the problem with warranty is its often so limited (like yours at only 90K km) that you will only find a fault outside the period. I worked out that if I drove my car (an i10) 100'000km in the 5yrs my maintenance plan covered it, then just through normal wear services it would pay itself off. At that stage the car did not even come with a service plan.
 
veron1996 said:
Google is my friend yes russel0 :)

I have looked at the two and was certain a maintenance plan is more beneficial... Until the consultant from Liquid Capital spoke to me... After that I was pretty confused :cry:
Click to expand...

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be a dick. I should have rather said the car manufacturers service plans and maintenance plans are probably all different and people here can only really comment on their experience so it would be best to check your cars manufacturers explanations.

I myself have a maintenance plan. I was told the service plan only covered the services labour costs but the maintenance plan covered the service labour costs AND all the parts. So I've had 3 services on my previous i20 and 1 on my new accent and I haven't paid a single thing. Hyundai is the dogs bollocks. For a 5 year or 90 000km maintenance plan on the accent it is only R9k. At that price I don't mind an overlap (if there is) because equivalent cars are more than twice that price -polo maintenance plan is R22k!
 
It still amazes me that people get all excited about a Warranty, and completely forget that the car has to be Maintained!!

Warranty is like your Guarantee against major defects, and if you have a problem, it's usually too much hassle to even think of claiming!

A MAINTENANCE plan looks after everything - you will NOT have to pay for servicing or anything related to the service for the duration of the plan. All you are expected to pay for are tyres and your own fuel - the rest is covered. Their only stipulation is that the car is serviced at the correct intervals, which won't cost you anything any way.

A Service plan simply looks after service costs, but you WILL pay for anything over and above the service - need new wipers, or brake pads, you will pay, unlike Maintenance where this is covered.

The guy who tried to sell you the plan is an idiot if he confused you - it is one of the simplest things to explain!
 
Service plans are not bad, I never paid a cent for services of my Corsa in the first three years.
 
Dean said:
It comes down to cost vs benefit.
Maintenance Plan generally always includes a Service Plan, but not vice versa.

A warranty covers manfacturer/factory defects, not any wear-and-tear/expected maintenance that arises from driving.

A service plan covers regular servicing, the standard amounts at pre-defined intervals (usually around 15000km/1 year)

A maintenance plan covers all maintenance that one would do (including changing brakes, pads, windscreen wipers etc. etc.) which wouldn't be done as part of a service though would always need to be changed

Therefore the maintenance plan is always the full 'peace of mind' option.
Click to expand...

And this covers your clutch, cam belt etc. It is indeed for a full peace of mind :whistle:
 
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