Warranty vs Maintenance Plan

[Jchan11hk]

Couple of friends have bought new vehicles this year, BMW X1 and Subaru Forrester and Alfa Stelvio.
I think the concept of warranty and maintenance plan are not very clear with them and to the general public as well.

The following is what I see how they should be defined.
Warranty covers the entire vehicle, from mechanical to electrical
Maintenance plan covers wear and tear items of the vehicle

So say the new Audi Q3, one year warranty and 5 years maintenance plan
Hence, if in Yr 3, your head gasket blew, your warranty will not cover that, and your maintenance plan also not cover that. As head gasket is not a wear and tear item, so you will sit with a huge bill. If your gearbox also fails, this would be the same situation as well.

Do you guys see it that way as well? All my friends told me the maintenance plan will cover everything, which I said BS.

 

[nazmo]

As far as I know, and having owned 2 x VW's and an Audi. a comprehensive maintenance plan is ALSO a warranty. each of the 3 vehicles (A1, owned 6 yrs and 100k kms, Polo gti, 5yrs with 85000kms and now a Tiguan) we took out full maintenance plan, as the cost was a fraction of the vehicle cost at purchase. like R8k to upgrade the Tiguan to a full 5yr plan..

or am i confusing with a "motorplan" but as far as i know, thats what BMW calls theirs.

Either way. warranty only covers mechanical failure. no consumables, no servicing.

A service plan only covers some consumables in servicising, but not always long term items like disks, clutches etc... whereas a full maintenance plan covers everything except Fuel, Tires and on the road consumables.

 

[Jchan11hk]

As far as I know, and having owned 2 x VW's and an Audi. a comprehensive maintenance plan is ALSO a warranty. each of the 3 vehicles (A1, owned 6 yrs and 100k kms, Polo gti, 5yrs with 85000kms and now a Tiguan) we took out full maintenance plan, as the cost was a fraction of the vehicle cost at purchase. like R8k to upgrade the Tiguan to a full 5yr plan..

or am i confusing with a "motorplan" but as far as i know, thats what BMW calls theirs.

Either way. warranty only covers mechanical failure. no consumables, no servicing.

A service plan only covers some consumables in servicising, but not always long term items like disks, clutches etc... whereas a full maintenance plan covers everything except Fuel, Tires and on the road consumables.

So you saying that if you have any mechanical component failure, your maintenance plan will covers that? Then my logic is wrong. However, then why would they specific the warranty is shorter than the maintenance plan if they are the same thing

 

[Gtx Gaming]

Maintenance plan is everything, you only pay for tyres.

 

[nazmo]

So you saying that if you have any mechanical component failure, your maintenance plan will covers that? Then my logic is wrong. However, then why would they specific the warranty is shorter than the maintenance plan if they are the same thing

Correct. my 3rd piston my polo gti being replaced after the standard 60 000kms warranty confirms this.

 

[nazmo]

So you saying that if you have any mechanical component failure, your maintenance plan will covers that? Then my logic is wrong. However, then why would they specific the warranty is shorter than the maintenance plan if they are the same thing

I never seen the 2 combined (warranty and maintenance). its usually warranty + service plan. where service plan is exactly that, a lame as service plan that covers some stuff.

 

[Neuk_]

Warranty - Covers pretty much everything but will have time based exclusions in particular on wear and tear items such as a clutch and will only cover failure.
Service Plan - Covers a limited number of service items such as fluids and filters.
Maintenance Plan - Covers just about everything excluding tyres.

 

[Neuk_]

So you saying that if you have any mechanical component failure, your maintenance plan will covers that? Then my logic is wrong. However, then why would they specific the warranty is shorter than the maintenance plan if they are the same thing

Yes, maintenance plan covers failures as well as wear and tear items such as brake pads/discs within allowable limits. Most manufacturers will first try claim failures from warranty if possible and if not able to will then claim from the maintenance plan.

 

[chrisc]

Honda service plan covers maintenance only. No consumables, no brake pads, no lamps. For 5 years I have been offered replacement windscreen wiper blades at R950 a set as they try and squeeze the maximum amount of money from customers

Wonderful cars but indifferent agents

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Always extend your warranty to the maximum, because that is what covers mechanical failures. It's cheap too, normally less than R10k.

From a cost perspective it's usually better to go with a service plan + warranty. Maintenance plans are far more costly to extend, and not worth the additional wear and tear cover. You can pay for the globes, wipers and brake pads yourself and still save a lot...

 

[Neuk_]

Honda service plan covers maintenance only. No consumables, no brake pads, no lamps. For 5 years I have been offered replacement windscreen wiper blades at R950 a set as they try and squeeze the maximum amount of money from customers

Wonderful cars but indifferent agents

Surely they cover service only? Brake pads, lamps, etc. are maintenance items and not service items.

 

[nazmo]

Always extend your warranty to the maximum, because that is what covers mechanical failures. It's cheap too, normally less than R10k.

From a cost perspective it's usually better to go with a service plan + warranty. Maintenance plans are far more costly to extend, and not worth the additional wear and tear cover. You can pay for the globes, wipers and brake pads yourself and still save a lot...

yes and no. Some brands are very affordable. VW charged R8k to upgrade to full 5yrs plan. then after 5 yrs. they quoted R18k to extend a full plan on a gti. thats not bad considering mileage, and costs around that age for that car. Audi on the other hand quoted R30k to extend an A1 (which had polo bits) for one year.

So some brands its a no brainer, full plan ftw. others, take your chances or just go for warranty.

 

[Neuk_]

Always extend your warranty to the maximum, because that is what covers mechanical failures. It's cheap too, normally less than R10k.

From a cost perspective it's usually better to go with a service plan + warranty. Maintenance plans are far more costly to extend, and not worth the additional wear and tear cover. You can pay for the globes, wipers and brake pads yourself and still save a lot...

Maintenance plans are costlier to extend for a reason, they cover all maintenance items whereas service plan and warranty don't, they don't even come close.

 

[nazmo]

Maintenance plans are costlier to extend for a reason, they cover all maintenance items whereas service plan and warranty don't, they don't even come close.

Exactly. and it does depend on the car, its mileage, age and some possibly very expensive maintenance that might be due, where an extention is the only logical choice

 

[Neuk_]

yes and no. Some brands are very affordable. VW charged R8k to upgrade to full 5yrs plan. then after 5 yrs. they quoted R18k to extend a full plan on a gti. thats not bad considering mileage, and costs around that age for that car. Audi on the other hand quoted R30k to extend an A1 (which had polo bits) for one year.

So some brands its a no brainer, full plan ftw. others, take your chances or just go for warranty.

You have to understand the difference between a maintenance plan and a warranty, essentially warranty covers nothing until something breaks, maintenance plan covers everything including if something breaks.

 

[Geoff.D]

What put me off the full maintenance plan I had on my last vehicle, was the extreme difficulty one has if you try and do "pre-emptive" maintenance.

For example, I was going on a long, planned off-road trip, far away from access to service outlets. (8 000 km in total or thereabouts). I wanted to undertake a full "C service" before the trip, but the scheduled service was only a "B" and it was still 1200 km too early.
The agent and their Car Medical Aid refused to undertake the service. I was also told that If I get a service done by anyone other than an approved agency while on the long trip, it would then be in violation of the maintenance plan.
I was also told that IF I miss the planned "C service" which I would have done by about 2000 km if everything on the trip ran to schedule (which it did not, extended by almost another 2 000 odd km), that that too would be in violation of the mantenance plan.

There was no way I was going to change my plans to fit in with the schedule.
In the end, I paid for the "C service out of my own pocket and STILL ended up with an endorsement on the maintenance plan. So as soon as the plan expired, I just stopped dealing with the agent all together for anything, except true OEM parts .
Conclusion, the warranty, extended warranty and the maintenance plans are mostly just a complete rip-off.

 

[nazmo]

What put me off the full maintenance plan I had on my last vehicle, was the extreme difficulty one has if you try and do "pre-emptive" maintenance.

For example, I was going on a long, planned off-road trip, far away from access to service outlets. (8 00km in total or thereabouts. I wanted to undertake a full "C service before the trip, but the scheduled service was only a "B" and it was still 1200 km too early.
The agent and their Car Medical Aid refused to undertake the service. I was also told that If I get a service done by anyone other than an approved agency while on the long trip, it would then be in violation of the maintenance plan.
I was also told that IF I miss the planned "C service) I would have done by about 2000 km if everything on the trip ran to schedule, that that too would be in violation of the mantenance plan.

There was no way I was going to change my plans to fit in with the schedule.
In the end, I paid for the "C service out of my own pocket and STILL ended up with an endorsement on the maintenance plan. So as soon as the plan expired, I just stopped dealing with the agent all together for anything, except true OEM parts .
Conclusion, the warranty, extended warranty and the maintenance plans are mostly just a complete rip-off.

Its like insurance. most of the time you lose. until you dont. I had a total of R90k in repairs and servicing done on a car that otherwise would have had nothing at the time. Imagine I didnt have a full plan for 5 yrs. the factory warranty would have been up already.

personally, piece of mind is its weight in gold. especially in context of the total cost of the car.

 

[Jchan11hk]

I never seen the 2 combined (warranty and maintenance). its usually warranty + service plan. where service plan is exactly that, a lame as service plan that covers some stuff.

Actually the Subaru (5 years warranty and 5 years maintenance plan) and the Alfa (3 years warranty and 6 year maintenance plan), they specifically told me that, when I go with them to collect the cars. So I think they are different. The BMW X1, my friend told me she only know it is 5 years maintenance plan, but I have heard they only come with a 2 years unlimited warranty

 

[Neuk_]

Actually the Subaru (5 years warranty and 5 years maintenance plan) and the Alfa (3 years warranty and 6 year maintenance plan), they specifically told me that, when I go with them to collect the cars. So I think they are different. The BMW X1, my friend told me she only know it is 5 years maintenance plan, but I have heard they only come with a 2 years unlimited warranty

All new cars come with a warranty, then some come with a service plan and some with a maintenance plan.

 

[Neuk_]

What put me off the full maintenance plan I had on my last vehicle, was the extreme difficulty one has if you try and do "pre-emptive" maintenance.

For example, I was going on a long, planned off-road trip, far away from access to service outlets. (8 000 km in total or thereabouts). I wanted to undertake a full "C service" before the trip, but the scheduled service was only a "B" and it was still 1200 km too early.
The agent and their Car Medical Aid refused to undertake the service. I was also told that If I get a service done by anyone other than an approved agency while on the long trip, it would then be in violation of the maintenance plan.
I was also told that IF I miss the planned "C service" which I would have done by about 2000 km if everything on the trip ran to schedule (which it did not, extended by almost another 2 000 odd km), that that too would be in violation of the mantenance plan.

There was no way I was going to change my plans to fit in with the schedule.
In the end, I paid for the "C service out of my own pocket and STILL ended up with an endorsement on the maintenance plan. So as soon as the plan expired, I just stopped dealing with the agent all together for anything, except true OEM parts .
Conclusion, the warranty, extended warranty and the maintenance plans are mostly just a complete rip-off.

Unfortunately underwriters of warranties/service/maintenance plans are too rigid in situations like this.