Extended warranty - do I or don't I?

[smiffy555]

I had a lovely letter waiting for me yesterday to let me know that my current extended warranty is set to expire on the 5/03/2013. In order to extend this I need to have a 111 point inspection (circa £180 + VAT) and then an on-going extension warranty for 12 months is Circa £850. Total £1066.

Now my quandary is thus - in the last year I've had to have two new front suspension lower control arms replaced, and these were not covered by the warranty due to the fact that they fell in to the clause of, "normal wear and tear" and so I had to pay the full price of £230 each side!! So £460 (maths was always my strong point!!).

Question - Should I keep the £1066 in my pocket and just pay for repairs if and when necessary or stump up the £1066 and run the risk of having all future repairs rejected by the OPC using their beautiful get out clause again??

My head is spinning at the moment and all advice would be gratefully received.

 

[rob.kellock]

Yes - R18's Jamie Wilson has the same dilemma and mine is due in May if I don't fall for the charms of a 981. If you can afford not to insure your car breaking down, you don't need to renew the warranty. Porsche warranty is probably the best on the market but ties you in to OPC servicing and doesn't permit any modifications to the car. I would not want to be paying the £180 inspection fee and if you have a good relationship with your OPC that may well be "negotiable". With a 2007 Cayman S, I personally would want the cover. Whilst remote, that engine has a possibility of premature failure and if it happens to you without a warranty it is not a pleasant experience. Ask me how I know [] At 6/7 years old, there is also a reasonable chance that something else mechanical may just need fixing too. Alternatively, put the money in youy pocket and take your chances!

 

[Motorhead]

Dan, I'll be in the same position in September and I agree totally with Rob's comments. If you don't need to call on the warranty it might seem to be a waste of money but small repairs can turn out to be quite expensive even if you use an Indy to carry out the work. Your 10% Club discount on parts always comes in useful too. If the warranty renewal corresponds to a service, I'd certainly be asking the PC to discount or waive the inspection fee since many of the items on the list will be covered by the service. Jeff

 

[Nick_USA]

Agree with the 111 check costs being negotiable these can either be waived directly or it is also possible to get these done for free at a service clinic (regularly advertised in Post Porsche). As for the warranty fee itself don't forget you can also drop the breakdown (RAC) cover; useful if you have cover elsewhere.

 

[Dylan1]

i didnt take out extended warranty on my cayman s when the standard warranty expired )at 2yrs old[]) yes i saved a bit over the ensuing 18 months i had the car as nothing went wrong but was perpetually anxious in case something did!!! for peace of mind with the boxster s i did take out 2 yr extended warranty for about £1650 (for 2 yrs) and have felt much more relaxed!!! also i have had sensors replaced(which wouldve costapprox £900 and it is going in for a potenetial ngine problem for a month in 3 weeks time)God knows how much the hire of the new cayenne for a month alone would be and if at the end of that it needs anew engine or something less i will be Very pleased i took out the warranty you pays your money and you takes your choice personally my nerves couldnt take it again[]

 

[smiffy555]

Thank you all for your replies - the consensus is suggesting I go with the Porsche warranty. Another input just received from a friend of mine who drives a BMW 335i - he has extended warranty with 'Warranty Direct' and he recently had to make a claim. He fought tooth and nail over a clause which states 'reasonable diagnostics time' as they will only cover a set amount of time e.g. 1 hour! He had fuel pump issues and the dealer needed the car for a couple of days as the fault was intermittent. They paid out in the end. Plus there is an excess in place for £75 on every claim but ‘wear and tear’ items are covered which is where the Porsche warranty is leaving me a bit negative - as I had to pay out for the suspension control arms! Anyone ever used Warranty Direct themselves on their Porsche’s?

 

[daly747]

Hi Dan If you go to the Club's website you will see that one of our business partners is "Used Vehicle Warranty" UVW, I have just taken out a warranty with them and after much horse trading I have managed to secure an excellent deal for Club Members. I have paid £798.51 for a 24 month warranty on my 997 C2S, which includes: unlimited claims, up to the current market value of the vehicle, with main dealer repairs and a free initial inspection. Having resourced many other offers I can say that this the best deal going. Warmest regards Brendan Daly RO6 Operations Director Motorsport Director PCGB.

 

[smiffy555]

ORIGINAL: daly 747 Hi Dan If you go to the Club's website you will see that one of our business partners is "Used Vehicle Warranty" UVW, I have just taken out a warranty with them and after much horse trading I have managed to secure an excellent deal for Club Members. I have paid £798.51 for a 24 month warranty on my 997 C2S, which includes: unlimited claims, up to the current market value of the vehicle, with main dealer repairs and a free initial inspection. Having resourced many other offers I can say that this the best deal going. Warmest regards Brendan Daly RO6 Operations Director Motorsport Director PCGB.

Brendan - brilliant - I shall have look! Thanks very much.

 

[smiffy555]

ORIGINAL: daly 747 Hi Dan If you go to the Club's website you will see that one of our business partners is "Used Vehicle Warranty" UVW, I have just taken out a warranty with them and after much horse trading I have managed to secure an excellent deal for Club Members. I have paid £798.51 for a 24 month warranty on my 997 C2S, which includes: unlimited claims, up to the current market value of the vehicle, with main dealer repairs and a free initial inspection. Having resourced many other offers I can say that this the best deal going. Warmest regards Brendan Daly RO6 Operations Director Motorsport Director PCGB.

Just read the policy and sure enough everything does seem to covered. 3 questions:- 1. Have you tried to make a claim yet? 2. My quote is coming up with £503 per annum - how did you negociate a club discount? 3. Has anyone else used this company?

 

[Buddy]

I've not used that company as I stick with the Porsche Warranty and renew every two years so missing an annual 111 point check ( £180 or thereabouts ) and also the renewal is at a lower rate than the first premium which drops it around £200 over the two years. I did have to call Porsche Assist once a couple of years ago when I was glad that I had just renewed the cover and nearly didn't! It happened that my Chrono Pack blew and disabled all of the column switches, the car was still driveable but had no indicators etc. Since I was going away on a job for a few days they collected it and although the parts were special order from Stuttgart, the car was returned the day after I returned, parts were around £500, plus labour, recovery and delivery so I was glad it was all covered. An additional cover supplied by Porsche Assist is breakdown across Europe and so if you plan any long distance work across the continent you may feel the need to factor in something for that level of cover.

 

[smiffy555]

The Porsche warranty is expensive - add in the fact that they still use the 'wear and tear' clause on items, I beleive, that should be covered, makes their cover seem a little over priced and not as comprehensive as you'd like, for that price! I would like to know more about Brendan's experience of this other warranty provider and also what 'other' Porsche owners think towards it. Porsche warranty also 'binds' you in to OPC servicing and original equipement too. Not that I'm thinking of going 'chav'...... Maybe I should just stop being tight and cough up - but I do like value for money and knowing I've researched all avenues.

 

[Peter_Bull]

ORIGINAL: smiffy555 Just read the policy and sure enough everything does seem to covered. 3 questions:- 1. Have you tried to make a claim yet? 2. My quote is coming up with £503 per annum - how did you negociate a club discount? 3. Has anyone else used this company?

Hi I called the UVW that Brendan has told you about and got the same quote to. I used the code from the PCGB website and without any negotiating it came out the same. As an aside I also asked if this covered the Sat Nav and OPC servicing and it did. It is cheaper if you don’t want OPC repairs. If you go to the clubs website and click the homepage link it will send you to the page where you can get the discount code It well worth a look.

 

[smiffy555]

Thanks Peter! So are you chaps recommending this warranty over the Porsche warranty? I'm not really interested in having a spanking new Cayenne or having a chocolate tiffin whilst I wait for my car to be fixed whilst listening to the latest 'pan pipe' album, I'm after value for money and this UVW option may be worth pursuing. I already have European breakdown cover as part of my bank account (Barclay Additions plus), so the Porsche assist is not wanted. I'll also try getting a quote from Porsche if they can do cover without assist.

 

[spyderman]

If you only ever needed the "menu items" on the regular services, being tied into the OPC warranty, and thus OPC servicing, wouldn't be such a bad thing. But its when other stuff wears out or breaks that their prices begin to enter 2nd mortgage territory and you start wishing you could take it to an indy instead. Of course you could be slightly sneaky and have things like brakes and bushes replaced by an indy using Porsche parts - and if questioned you could fib and say you had it done at another OPC. If they ask where, you could always respond "sorry - can't tell you - data protection act"! Chris.

 

[daly747]

Hi Dan No I have not made a claim yet as I have only recently taken out this warranty. If you pay for 18months they will give you 24months, which makes it £753 for 2 years. If you dont want OPC repairs, it is cheaper. If you opt for the £1000 per claim rather than the current market value, it is also cheaper. rgds Brendan Ops Director Director Motorsport

 

[smiffy555]

ORIGINAL: daly 747 Hi Dan No I have not made a claim yet as I have only recently taken out this warranty. If you pay for 18months they will give you 24months, which makes it £753 for 2 years. If you dont want OPC repairs, it is cheaper. If you opt for the £1000 per claim rather than the current market value, it is also cheaper. rgds Brendan Ops Director Director Motorsport

Great, thanks very much Brendan.

 

[uknick]

ORIGINAL: smiffy555 Porsche warranty also 'binds' you in to OPC servicing...

No, it does not. They changed the cover terms a year or so ago. You can get it maintained wherever you want as long as it is to Porsche schedules/standards. But, they will not cover any work done by non OPC if that goes wrong. But, I do not think that is unreasonable.

 

[kitchens]

Searched for this code ..does anyone have a note of it and also the companies contact details.I took a warranty out way back in 2008 for the 987 and never had a claim .So have never taken out one since in the last 3 years I get the car serviced at the Local OPC in Glasgow and thankfully never had a issue apart from servicing costs and new discs and pads which i bought from them at a incredible discount and got an indy to fit for £100 .. Brian

 

[Nick_USA]

ORIGINAL: uknick

ORIGINAL: smiffy555 Porsche warranty also 'binds' you in to OPC servicing...

No, it does not. They changed the cover terms a year or so ago. You can get it maintained wherever you want as long as it is to Porsche schedules/standards. But, they will not cover any work done by non OPC if that goes wrong. But, I do not think that is unreasonable.

Correct the Porsche warranty does not bind you to OPC servicing (only Porsche parts). I accept the 111 point check (the search for non-approved parts) winds everyone up. But even this can be 'carefully' managed if you are into 'after-market toys'; yes you remove them before the inspection and refit them afterwards. Re: removing breakdown cover; Porsche do not advertise this and you will have to push for this, (lowers the salesman commission) but it can be done.

 

[Nick_USA]

ORIGINAL: daly 747 Hi Dan If you opt for the £1000 per claim rather than the current market value, it is also cheaper.

Don't think I would ever opt for a £1000 per claim limit as this wouldn't cover the labour cost to replace an engine let alone the parts. I would also add that 'up to the market value of the car' could also preclude an engine replacement on some older cars whereas the OPC warranty may still (10 age limit applies).