Service plan or maintenance plan

tRoN

tRoN

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Hi

I am purchasing a Nissan NV200 panel van for light commercial use. Self driven.

The vehicle has a 3 year/100k warranty.

There is an option to purchase a service plan for 5year/60k for 8k and a full maintenance plan for 17k for the same duration and mileage.

Is it worth getting these. Which one?
 
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DanH

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A service is going to be in the R1500 to R2000 range.

You are going to have to service once a year even though you only doing 10 000km/year.

The maintenance plan over the service plan will only really be covering brake pads as shocks and batteries and other wear items are not going to need replacing in that time period. The waranty would cover non-wear items for the first 3 years.

I would just pay for each service as it's needed and extend the waranty when the factory one comes to an end.

If you want to sell or the car gets written off, you loose out on the additional service/motor plan.

Also, test drive a Chev Ute 1.8 club/sport if you are going to be driving it yourself.
 
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FlashSA

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Quantum Theory said:
That is low. Assuming 15000km intervals, I would say neither. In 5 years, you would only need 3 services... That should be less than R8k.
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Negative, as already stated: warranty dictates a minimum of an annual service or every 15k whichever comes first.

OP - I am a fixed cost kind of guy and would bolt on the service plan. You will get the 5 services due to your low annual mileage and if you happen to sell your car privately before the 5 yrs is up, the balance of service plan will make the resale value more attractive to the buyer.
 
Quantum Theory

Quantum Theory

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FlashSA said:
Negative, as already stated: warranty dictates a minimum of an annual service or every 15k whichever comes first.

OP - I am a fixed cost kind of guy and would bolt on the service plan. You will get the 5 services due to your low annual mileage and if you happen to sell your car privately before the 5 yrs is up, the balance of service plan will make the resale value more attractive to the buyer.
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Yeah. Had a bit of a brain bubble. Forgot about annual servicing. Maintenance plan is definitely not worth it however.
 
tRoN

tRoN

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DanH said:
A service is going to be in the R1500 to R2000 range.

You are going to have to service once a year even though you only doing 10 000km/year.

The maintenance plan over the service plan will only really be covering brake pads as shocks and batteries and other wear items are not going to need replacing in that time period. The waranty would cover non-wear items for the first 3 years.

I would just pay for each service as it's needed and extend the waranty when the factory one comes to an end.

If you want to sell or the car gets written off, you loose out on the additional service/motor plan.

Also, test drive a Chev Ute 1.8 club/sport if you are going to be driving it yourself.
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What about the cost of services in 4 years time. At least with this "upfront" payment you try and beat inflation. No?
 
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DanH

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tRoN said:
What about the cost of services in 4 years time. At least with this "upfront" payment you try and beat inflation. No?
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Well, no....

If you wanted to beat inflation take that service plan money. Invest it instead and pay your services from it.

Why would you give the manufacturer a loan?

Bolt on service plans are meant for people who will not beable to afford the one month shock of R1500 to R2000 servicing costs. The cost is therefore conveniently built into the purchase price so that it can be absorbed over the duration of the repayments.

Client is happy as cost is fixed, no stressing over servicing costs.

Dealer and manufacturer are happy as extra commission, guaranteed future servicing, and you have given them a loan.

If you are paying off the car you will be paying interest on that service plan, so it's almost as if you granting the manufacturer a loan and you are paying the interest for them on the loan you have granted them.

I can guarantee you that actuaries have spent time tweeking those service plans so that the manufacturers can F their clients as hard as possible while maintaining the smiles upon their faces.
 
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DanH

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FlashSA said:
Dan, OP is getting a NV200 PANEL VAN, not a NP200 bakkie
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Damn. I assumed it was the bakkie fitted with a huge windowless tall canopy that comes up and over the cab.

OP is going to enjoy that Porsche so much more after steping out of this.
 
ahoudet

ahoudet

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tRoN said:
You the underdog here. Maybe some insight?
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Nissan parts are not cheap... For 17k you have that extra piece of mind.

For example, a single hubcap costs R1k on an X-Trail. Now I know that's not covered by MP but it gives you an idea of the costs of parts
 
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Milano

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There must also surely be something to be said for a vehicle re-sold with a maintenance plan? The driver will enjoy the benefits of the maintenance plan, then by selling before the maintenance plan lapses, the resale value of the vehicle must be enhanced by the re-sold vehicle being covered by some remaining maintenance plan?

With regards to the maintenance plan dying if the vehicle is written off or stolen: vehicle manufacturers may offer a credit of a certain percentage provided certain conditions are met. Unsure what Nissan offers, however VW maintenance plans offer a credit system in their T&C's.
 
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