Extended Warranty .... worthwhile?

[911Time]

The grille situation is a good example and this disparity in approach, is one of the things I fail to understand.

I'm somewhat surprised Porsche don't offer an extensive range of official 'upgrades', to give owners of pre-owned vehicles the opportunity to modify their cars, using Porsche approved parts - whether electronic, aesthetic or performance enhancing.

If it's feasible to retrofit the 'factory' Power-Kit engine option at an OPC, then why stop there??

Such a solution would mean personalisation wasn't restricted only to the factory spec sheet and suitably engineered modifications wouldn't then preclude owners from having warranty cover.

Porsche have a long history of modifying vehicles to suit customer tastes, so why not expand the range of post-sale options?

More profit for Porsche, more business for the OPCs and more official options for those owners who wish to personalise their cars - rather than actively encouraging them towards the after-market and independent service agents - which is what the restrictions within the extended warranty currently does.

 

[ralphmusic]

Mark,

Have you seen the tequipment catalogue? There is a wide range of accessories from road and steering wheels, seats and power upgrades, to key rings, decals and trinkets. The prices are of course eye-watering but reduced by 10% with your Club membership. Pricing reflects their need to provide margin for Centres over factory build configurator pricing and brand positioning (the "Porsche tax")

To get round the pricing and a wider choice, one goes to eBay, third-party manufacturers and blow the warranty.

Model certification rules run to thousands of pages and each configuration (not deviated stitching colours though) requires certification. TuV in Germany require all standard or TuV approved parts. In Portugal, the Club there does not allow members with modified cars (so said their Chairman when I had a few beers with him at the Estoril circuit with my 3.8L Cayman 4 years ago). In the USA they celebrate modifications.

Changing the Cayman engine for a Carrera 3.8L let me sing the Who song "I'm Free"

...but not forever....


Ralph

 

[911Time]

Hi Ralph, thanks - yes I've seen the range but it still seems quite limited.

Many aftermarket manufacturers navigate the TUV without too much concern and it's not as if Porsche would need to prove there's a market, the proof is that other companies, with lesser RnD facilities can still find a business case.

As a serial modder (40 years), the 991 is to date my least modified car (just the trim and aesthetic changes mentioned previously) and although the stock car ticks a lot of boxes, I'd still like to do a few mechanical mods, such as the Girodisc floating disc upgrade, braided hoses, EBC pads and Tractive DDA dampers & top mounts. All of which could be reverted to stock, if a future owner wanted to.

Who knows, maybe if I get a no regarding the extended warranty, I'll self-insure and scratch that itch.

 

[JohnCRS]

In days of 5 and 7 year warranties, 7 year servicing deals etc. it does seem odd to be discussing circa £1300 a year to cover our 'quality' cars. (although I think many go wrong because they are used so infrequently

I guess the insurers view is that those people who might change something on a Porsche, might be the ones most likely to claim - higher risk.
A long way from when I was told by an insurer that my Exige was cheap to insure because owners tended to be enthusiasts and look after them better!

 

[alastairp]

Only if you need to make a claim and it is successful.
You may be lucky enough not to need to make a claim.
You may be unlucky and need to make a claim.
You may be even more unlucky and your claim will not be covered under the warranty because you are not using the right screenwash.

 

[Motorhead]

Back in 2009 when I purchased my Cayman (this was pre-VAG) Porsches came with only 2-years factory warranty and I took out the Extended Warranty for a couple of years. I seem to recall that when reviewing the T&Cs there was a significant disparity between what was and wasn’t covered by the policy … very much in favour of what wasn’t covered of course!

Jeff

 

[911Time]

In days of 5 and 7 year warranties, 7 year servicing deals etc. it does seem odd to be discussing circa £1300 a year to cover our 'quality' cars. (although I think many go wrong because they are used so infrequently

Agreed and given Porsche's engineering capability: Obviously in comparison to say a crossover from one of the Korean brands, a Porsche sportscar is a very complex vehicle but one that's engineered from the start, with considerable Motorsport derived legacy. Based on which, it should be under-stressed during most day to day driving and only really begin to stretch its capability, under hard use on the track.

It does seem reasonable to expect a little more confidence in the way of a longer factory warranty, especially for major components - given the cost of the vehicle, servicing costs and bearing in mind the widely reported Porsche profit margin.

 

[Peter_Bull]

I have had the Porsche warranty together with the assistance package on my last 3 cars and I certainly would recommend anyone to stay with this.

For me its peace of mind that to have a fall back should anything adverse should happen.

It’s the same for house insurance, (bloody expensive!!) and gas boiler insurance, but I know many people who are living on a wing and a prayer, with fingers crossed, that nothing goes wrong at their home.

I cannot live like that and neither could I drive my Porsche knowing that if the PDK went bust I would have to find £12k to fix it. Ouch!!!

Last year I sold my beautiful 981 Cayman and it had 6 months of the Porsche Warranty left on it. I think thats what swayed the lady to buy it and she was thankful that some months later she had to call on the warranty to get it repaired.

It’s a no brainer for me. Get the Porsche Warranty.

 

[keneccles]

I am in a similar position - 991/1 C4S 2013 manual with 18k miles owned by me for just short of 3 years. Since I picked it up it has been back at Porsche on several occasions. Whilst all were relatively small issues, i.e. two COV failures, brake pedal sticking, variocam lifter, AWD system shut down and yesterday, parking brake fault, they still meant the car going back into workshop. All were faults they had come across before but were fixed under warranty and fairly quickly. I dread to think what this could have cost had I not got one or worse still, if something major went on the car. I also had a sport exhaust actuator problem that was sorted out during recent major service. In short, I simply would not run a Porsche (well a 911 anyway) without a warranty. Yes, I fully understand that this may be deemed by many as being overly cautious, but each to their own. Porsche advised me that the engineering in these cars whilst high tech etc, remains quite complex and often this can lead to the car throwing a warning light on even a slight sensor detection....which if course means back to Porsche again to sort it out. They also mentioned that under use is also a contributory factor and quite typical in the problems they see. From the outset I have built the warranty costs into my annual running costs for the car. Yes, this does hike things up considerably but I just would not risk running without it.

 

[rjs993]

Great discussion. Thanks everyone. Clearly this is an emotional / risk appetite question which means the answer will be different for different people. The debate was very helpful nonetheless.

Many thanks.
Cheers All

 

[Maverick1]

Love your 993 Robert maybe one day in the future my very last of the Naturally Aspirated 991GTS might also be held in such High Esteem .... Who knows

 

[adrianb]

Extended Warranty always makes for a good debate. I favour piece of mind especially with European assistance for annual road trips !
I did however get caught out with small print last year when I came to buy 2 rear tyres. I guess you all know that you need N rated tyres, but the same rating front & rear ?
Pirelli/ Porsche changed the spec since I purchased 2 fronts so I had to buy 4 even though the fronts had 7mm remaining. No previous stock was available! Interesting that the new tyres only came with 7mm instead of the usual 8mm.
As a comparison a mate of mine pays 5k per annum for his Ferrari warranty! Must say something about their repair costs.
Adrian.

 

[rjs993]

It is a fabulous car! I keep thinking I should sell it (I must have had it about15 years) but then I get in it again and go for a drive! Nothing like it!

Best
Robert

 

[train125]

how much is it to have an extended warranty for my 981 boxster ?

 

[Fixedgear]

how much is it to have an extended warranty for my 981 boxster ?

The 911 warranty is now £1840 for 24 months. Cayman/Boxster is less I believe but can't confirm, probably best to give Porsche a call?

 

[Fixedgear]

how much is it to have an extended warranty for my 981 boxster ?

£1270 for 2 years