Warranty vs Maintenance Plan

[nazmo]

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

Ok thats confusing. I only know VAG.

With my renault. I asked for a full maintenance plan and they quoted R70k. I laughed at them. So there I have a 5yr 150 000kms warranty, and a lame service plan. I can live with that as at least failures are covered.

 

[Geoff.D]

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.

Each to his own risk assessments. I took the plan because it was an off-road vehicle which I fully intended to use for that purpose, assessing the risk as being higher than normal. But, in the end, I did not need the plan, and as soon as the lease agreement period lapsed and the vehicle became mine not the banks, I just walked away.

 

[nazmo]

Each to his own risk assessments. I took the plan because it was an off-road vehicle which I fully intended to use for that purpose, assessing the risk as being higher than normal. But, in the end, I did not need the plan, and as soon as the lease agreement period lapsed and the vehicle became mine not the banks, I just walked away.

my approach/attitude might also be different if I had a Hilux, more relaxed. but owning german and french, there's no denial that there's a bigger risk.

 

[droidx]

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.

Just to add here, Audi recently revamped their maintenance plan offering on extensions. After June this year if I remember correctly.

The prices to extend are now much better.
When I bought my audi last year, I got a quote of around R20k per annum to extend (no mileage), now I can extend for 5 years for R29k also without additional mileage which I would need if I extend for that long.

Cost for extending mileage can be expensive but has also come down.

Example a quote on a 5 year 50000km extension was R60k for my car. Previously this would have been the cost for 2 years and 20 000km extension.

 

[Jchan11hk]

Just to add here, Audi recently revamped their maintenance plan offering on extensions. After June this year if I remember correctly.

The prices to extend are now much better.
When I bought my audi last year, I got a quote of around R20k per annum to extend (no mileage), now I can extend for 5 years for R29k also without additional mileage which I would need if I extend for that long.

Cost for extending mileage can be expensive but has also come down.

Example a quote on a 5 year 50000km extension was R60k for my car. Previously this would have been the cost for 2 years and 20 000km extension.

I think I have seen advert saying 10 years if you get a Q7 from Audi Hatfield

 

[UrBaN963]

Just bought a new car.

Warranty covers mechanical. Maintenance plan covers wear and tear items (brakes for example).

Things like window winder handles, interior cloth etc are not covered as far as I know.

So with my 3 year, 60,000km service plan & 5 year, 90,000km maintenance plan, all I’m liable for is tyres and fuel.

 

[Neuk_]

Just bought a new car.

Warranty covers mechanical. Maintenance plan covers wear and tear items (brakes for example).

Things like window winder handles, interior cloth etc are not covered as far as I know.

So with my 3 year, 60,000km service plan & 5 year, 90,000km maintenance plan, all I’m liable for is tyres and fuel.

Warranty covers just about everything on the car, including paint defects, maintenance plan covers service items, maintenance items and some but not all failures that are not related to wear and tear. Things like window winder handles and interior cloth will only be covered under a warranty for some sort of unforeseen failure. And you can't have a service and maintenance plan at the same time, service plans are upgraded to maintenance plans.

 

[Jchan11hk]

Warranty covers just about everything on the car, including paint defects, maintenance plan covers service items, maintenance items and some but not all failures that are not related to wear and tear. Things like window winder handles and interior cloth will only be covered under a warranty for some sort of unforeseen failure. And you can't have a service and maintenance plan at the same time, service plans are upgraded to maintenance plans.

Yup, that's how I see it as well, but that tiny bit of "some but not all failures" makes me think.

 

[Neuk_]

Yup, that's how I see it as well, but that tiny bit of "some but not all failures" makes me think.

Unfortunately, there are always exclusions, always.

 

[Jchan11hk]

Unfortunately, there are always exclusions, always.

True, kind of defeating the whole mentality of having peace of mind with brand new car

 

[Neuk_]

True, kind of defeating the whole mentality of having peace of mind with brand new car

'Peace of mind' with any car is a fallacy, even if whatever happens is covered financially by some warranty or plan or insurance, sitting on the side of the road waiting for a tow, dealing with a dealership or repair shop or being without a car for even a short period of time is a pain.

 

[Dolby]

Bringing up this thread again :

I understand wear & tear items isn’t covered - but surely there must be something like premature wear & tear? How can a manufacturer hide behind ‘wear & tear’ if something fails prematurely?

Although not affecting me, I see a number of people moaning that their Chery light bulbs are failing early with a few having had two replacements in 18 months.

The dealer tells them they’re on their own because ‘light bulbs fail.

I had a clutch fail prematurely many, many years ago and the dealer came to the party with a 50% discount on the new clutch. In other words they identified prematurely failure and assisted

 

[nazmo]

Bringing up this thread again :

I understand wear & tear items isn’t covered - but surely there must be something like premature wear & tear? How can a manufacturer hide behind ‘wear & tear’ if something fails prematurely?

Although not affecting me, I see a number of people moaning that their Chery light bulbs are failing early with a few having had two replacements in 18 months.

The dealer tells them they’re on their own because ‘light bulbs fail.

I had a clutch fail prematurely many, many years ago and the dealer came to the party with a 50% discount on the new clutch. In other words they identified prematurely failure and assisted

Yes there is premature wear and tear clause. And all times will have a spec. So if your brakes wear prematurely, they will have a defined mileage/age. or they will look for an excuse (like driver abuse). but yes, items that wear can fall under warranty if its out of spec.

In terms of the Chery lightbulb. There probably is some silly spec. one could argue that its a defecient product and needs a recall, good luck with that.

 

[Dolby]

There probably is some silly spec. one could argue that its a defecient product and needs a recall, good luck with that.

Thanks - yea that's where I was going.

One of the workshop managers joined the same Facebook group and said that no manufactruer would replace it - but I really don't feed that's true and probably handled on a case-by-case basis.

Perhaps that's a more premium brand does that Chery could learn from. If I had one of the cars & was paying R1.3k each time for a bulb, I don't think I'd get another

 

[Neuk_]

Thanks - yea that's where I was going.

One of the workshop managers joined the same Facebook group and said that no manufactruer would replace it - but I really don't feed that's true and probably handled on a case-by-case basis.

Perhaps that's a more premium brand does that Chery could learn from. If I had one of the cars & was paying R1.3k each time for a bulb, I don't think I'd get another

I would like to think that any car brand wouldn't be so stupid to possibly tarnish whatever public image they have due to light bulbs...

 

[Dolby]

I would like to think that any car brand wouldn't be so stupid to possibly tarnish whatever public image they have due to light bulbs...

Agreed!

It makes me wonder what else is excluded or how much that 10 year engine warranty is actually worth

 

[chrisc]

Wife's Honda went for its final maintenance plan service. Got a bill for R7280,00
Brake pads front and rear
Windscreen washer pump and bottle (plastic bottle and bracket cost R1900, pump R2300)
Drain plug nut and washer for oil, same for CV fluid
Only the oil filter, air filter, oil, CV fluid is covered

 

[Neuk_]

Agreed!

It makes me wonder what else is excluded or how much that 10 year engine warranty is actually worth

I see you say R1.3k for a light bulb, must be an LED unit then? I would challenge them not replacing an LED unit partly due to the cost but mostly due to LED's generally having a life span that is magnitudes of hours more than traditional filament bulbs. We are not talking about even a double contact/filament bulb that my MkI Golf uses which compared to other bulbs is 'expensive'...

 

[Neuk_]

Wife's Honda went for its final maintenance plan service. Got a bill for R7280,00
Brake pads front and rear
Windscreen washer pump and bottle (plastic bottle cost R1900, pump R2300)
Drain plug nut and washer for oil, same for CV fluid
Only the oil filter, air filter, oil, CV fluid is covered

That sounds like a service plan...

 

[Dolby]

I see you say R1.3k for a light bulb, must be an LED unit then?

Yea they're LED

I would challenge them not replacing an LED unit partly due to the cost but mostly due to LED's generally having a life span that is magnitudes of hours more than traditional filament bulbs.

I've been driving for 25 years and all sorts of cars - I've never ever replaced a light bulb. So yea, I do agree with you that something doesn't add up and it points to a defective bulb (or car wiring) from the start. I'm not going to fight with them because it hasn't happened to me - but the amount of times I've read shows a big issue.