Your views on optional maintenance plan in new automatic car

[HapticSimian]

Always been at most a Service Plan and never a Maint Plan...

Right, because you worked in VW dealerships for 6 years, when the Golf Vs were on the market. No... wait, I did. Again not going to devote a huge amount of energy to it, but here's a corroborating post off our very own MyBB, as well as some specs off a site I've never before heard of.

 

[ToxicBunny]

If you worked there for 6 years then you should remember

I looked at the Golf V more than a few times when I was going to buy a new vehicle, and it was always a Service Plan, never a Maint Plan.. that was reserved for the Audi's...

Granted I may be wrong, but every time I've ever looked at VW's they've never ever had Maint Plans as standard.

 

[HapticSimian]

If you worked there for 6 years then you should remember

I looked at the Golf V more than a few times when I was going to buy a new vehicle, and it was always a Service Plan, never a Maint Plan.. that was reserved for the Audi's...

Granted I may be wrong, but every time I've ever looked at VW's they've never ever had Maint Plans as standard.

I only raised the point because I do distinctly remember the Golf and Jetta V having a 60,000km maintenance plan when I was working with 'em. What I'm not sure about is whether the change to a 90,000km service plan came with the model change to the VI or during the V's tenure, as I had left by then.

As an aside, the higher model ranges - Passats, Touaregs and the like - have always had 5yr/100,000km maintenance plans.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I only raised the point because I do distinctly remember the Golf and Jetta V having a 60,000km maintenance plan when I was working with 'em. What I'm not sure about is whether the change to a 90,000km service plan came with the model change to the VI or during the V's tenure, as I had left by then.

As an aside, the higher model ranges - Passats, Touaregs and the like - have always had 5yr/100,000km maintenance plans.

Strange... may have been a Maint plan, but I distinctly remember it being a Service Plan with a Maint Plan as an optional extra, even on the Golf V....

Those other models were too expensive for me to even look at, so I avoided them.. plus I was young, so a sedan like a Passat? *spit*

 

[Shoaybd]

Most of the answers here are I what I would tell you before my latest experiences. The are so many exceptions and terms and conditions in the warranty and service plan that for them to cover anything is a huge fight. I have the Kia Rio Sedan 1.4 Tec manual. The front brake pads on the 1st service is R2,500 and thats without labour. Service plan only covers labour for the service not fitting of brake pads. YES this was shocking to me because they are already working on the car. Thats only the start, my car has been for 2 services and cost me already about R10k in the laast 2 years. Just get the maint plan trust me.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Most of the answers here are I what I would tell you before my latest experiences. The are so many exceptions and terms and conditions in the warranty and service plan that for them to cover anything is a huge fight. I have the Kia Rio Sedan 1.4 Tec manual. The front brake pads on the 1st service is R2,500 and thats without labour. Service plan only covers labour for the service not fitting of brake pads. YES this was shocking to me because they are already working on the car. Thats only the start, my car has been for 2 services and cost me already about R10k in the laast 2 years. Just get the maint plan trust me.

Brake pads on the first service? Another one who got taken for a ride. Either that or you're driving that car like an animal...

 

[TehStranger]

Most of the answers here are I what I would tell you before my latest experiences. The are so many exceptions and terms and conditions in the warranty and service plan that for them to cover anything is a huge fight. I have the Kia Rio Sedan 1.4 Tec manual. The front brake pads on the 1st service is R2,500 and thats without labour. Service plan only covers labour for the service not fitting of brake pads. YES this was shocking to me because they are already working on the car. Thats only the start, my car has been for 2 services and cost me already about R10k in the laast 2 years. Just get the maint plan trust me.

Wait, R2,500 for brake pads? You sure it wasn't pads and discs? And this was at your first service? What mileage? R10k on a two year old car with a service plan? What a pile of ****.

 

[HapticSimian]

Most of the answers here are I what I would tell you before my latest experiences. The are so many exceptions and terms and conditions in the warranty and service plan that for them to cover anything is a huge fight. I have the Kia Rio Sedan 1.4 Tec manual. The front brake pads on the 1st service is R2,500 and thats without labour. Service plan only covers labour for the service not fitting of brake pads. YES this was shocking to me because they are already working on the car. Thats only the start, my car has been for 2 services and cost me already about R10k in the laast 2 years. Just get the maint plan trust me.

You misunderstand the concept then. A service plan covers scheduled fluid services & associated parts and labour, and nothing else. Not brake pads. Not clutches. Not anything. Also, brake pads shouldn't be near worn by the first service.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Most of the answers here are I what I would tell you before my latest experiences. The are so many exceptions and terms and conditions in the warranty and service plan that for them to cover anything is a huge fight. I have the Kia Rio Sedan 1.4 Tec manual. The front brake pads on the 1st service is R2,500 and thats without labour. Service plan only covers labour for the service not fitting of brake pads. YES this was shocking to me because they are already working on the car. Thats only the start, my car has been for 2 services and cost me already about R10k in the laast 2 years. Just get the maint plan trust me.

Front brakes on the first service?!?!

What the hell are you doing to the car?

 

[Colin62]

Wait, R2,500 for brake pads? You sure it wasn't pads and discs? And this was at your first service? What mileage? R10k on a two year old car with a service plan? What a pile of ****.

I agree that at R2500 it sounds like discs too. And at the first service, that's a warranty issue, not a maintenance plan issue.

 

[Shoaybd]

I know it was surprising to me, I definitely dont drive like an animal. At that time my car was used for very short runs and most of the 15,000kms was done from Jhb to Dbn as I had went to Dbn about 7 times in 6 months. Yes I don't know much about cars and I work very hard so no time to argue with dealers, if they say that brake pads are gone then I think about my families safety and tell them to do it. For a person like me who has not much time to fight with dealers, I should have taken the maintenance plan.

Some feedback on Kia:
I really like my car as it serves me well, it has not given me any hassles and the boot space is huge compared to my ST. The boot takes more than a 3 series and IX35 and I can fit my sons bike in there. I really have been sold on Kia's and really think it was a good buy but I am moving on to 2 wheels now so looking to buy 1 car for my wife and me. I like the Duster but does not come in auto for my wife.

 

[IzZzy]

./snip

It's not a particularly difficult job to check how much life your brakes have left. And it would have probably saved you tonnes of cash.

When my car went for it's first service (my Giulietta's service interval is 2 years / 35 000 kms), Alfa changed my brake pads and only then phoned me to say they have done it, and it was R3500. I laughed at them, and said you better change it back because I didn't authorise that.

Fast forward 6 months and only then did they need replacing. I bought the original parts from Alfa (which is just rebranded ferodos) and changed em myself (after checking that that did not void the warranty / service plan). Saved me quite a few bob.

 

[Colin62]

What bugged me was the agents asking for an hour's labour (30 min per wheel) to change my brake pads, as part of a service. The service requires them to jack the car up and remove the wheels, and it does not take an extra 30 minutes per wheel to change the pads. Like IzZzy, I took them home and did them myself when they actually needed it, and even with having to jack the car manually, it took me twenty minutes a wheel, and I'd never done the job before. I reckon the mechanic can change them in under 5 minutes, given that the car is already on the hoist.

R2500 for pads still seems bloody expensive. The genuine part from Merc for my car is under a grand.

 

[IzZzy]

What bugged me was the agents asking for an hour's labour (30 min per wheel) to change my brake pads, as part of a service. The service requires them to jack the car up and remove the wheels, and it does not take an extra 30 minutes per wheel to change the pads. Like IzZzy, I took them home and did them myself when they actually needed it, and even with having to jack the car manually, it took me twenty minutes a wheel, and I'd never done the job before. I reckon the mechanic can change them in under 5 minutes, given that the car is already on the hoist.

R2500 for pads still seems bloody expensive. The genuine part from Merc for my car is under a grand.

I paid that for my pads. They are some big ass serious pads that just don't slip in but you have to take the whole calliper out and seat these pads in, because they come with two metal struts. See the picture over here http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/images/77365490-4109-1-800.jpg

I got a quote from Midas for the pads, and AFAIK they were R2000 (R500 cheaper) but would take 3 weeks for them to import. Alfa were R2500 and had stock. Chose the latter.

EDIT: I may push paper for a living, but I'm grateful my Father taught me basic skills (he was a carpenter).

 

[DanH]

Brake pads are changed at dealerships if they are not going to last till the next scheduled service. Not when they reach the end of their life span. Just like they change the batteries in the remotes at services so that you are not inconvenienced when they need changing.

It's always cheaper to fit pads elsewhere. Even if you go to Speady rather. It takes 15min per wheel if you know what you doing and the pads slot in without removing the caliper on most cars.

 

[DanH]

And alot of dealerships charge labour for fitting wiper blades too. They are a business after all.

 

[rainbow84]

Thanks all. I read every single post (including bickerings ).

I am now 90% convinced to not get the optional MP, seeing that the car will not be used extensively , about 850-1000km a month.
The other 10% is mainly because I am not that clued up with car parts so I am putting that responsiblity on hubby.

Not wanting to create another thread but, what other "extras" should I consider? Option of

Tracker for R80 a month

RenewTech (scratches, minor dents, chips, tar removal, windscreen damage, wheel rims and mags, interior maintenance and restoration ) for R100 a month

Mechanical Warranty Booster (Boosts the cover under the manufacturer warranty for failure of major components such as engine, differential, gearbox for R50 a month)


Platinum Adcover R175 (filling the gap between the outstanding balance owed to the Finance Company that financed your vehicle and the pay out received from your comprehensive insurance company when your insured vehicle is stolen or hijacked and not recovered, or written off. As an optional extension you can also insure the deposit for a replacement vehicle – also known as Platinum Adcover and Deposit Cover, of which will be an additional R54 on the abovementioned repayments. The Deposit cover pays out 10% of the sum insured.

This is our first brand new car - those we had were all second hands, so I really appreciate all your input / views.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Off all those "extra's" I personally wouldn't have any of them...

Tracker, I don't WANT my car back if its stolen.. and it doesn't decrease your insurance premium by R80 a month so its an extra cost for no reason.
Renewtech, you will more than likely NEVER use it, and the exclusions etc on those policies are ridiculous.
Warranty Booster, the car has a x year warranty. Anything that is covered under the warranty on day 1 is covered under the warranty on the last day of the warranty, barring some wear and tear items. At R50 per month, you're looking at R3000 over the term of the finance.. not sure if you will ever see the need to use it to be honest.

Platinum AdCover, would avoid like the plague, especially at R175 per month. And the extra cover I'd avoid as well. The vehicle should always be insured for its replacement value, which should come very close to, or be more than the amount outstanding on the loan.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Rather try to extend your manufacturer's warranty if possible, to the maximum amount of time/km allowed. It's not that expensive either, I paid around R6,000 to do so...

 

[DanH]

I wouldn't add any of those things either.