Warranty Direct - Finally!

[eddtheduck]

I called Warranty Direct a couple of months ago to see if they'd ever cover the 911 and they said no but it was likely they may do so in the future.

Last week they called me and quoted about £900 for a years cover.

Clearly it's early days but the cover looked pretty good. I was a customer of theirs for 8 years and they were a good company to claim from as long as you followed their rules.

I live in a part of the world that has lost it's OPC with the nearest over 100 miles away and I have a 2005 C2S with 30k on the clock. I hate the restrictive nature of the OPC warranty and so am thinking of coming out of the OPC "system" and using my local independent who is well respected.

So, as long as I have major warranty cover for the big events we know can happen in a 911, I feel happier. As long as the car remains well looked after such a move wouldn't affect it's value badly? I'd be interested to know your views.

 

[garyw]

Its about the same sort of costs as the OPC version...

However from what you are saying about location etc... it may well be worthwhile you you.
I too don't like the restrictive nature of the dealers warranty but will still with it..

What are the major points on the warranty direct one?

garyw

 

[Porrohman]

I am in a similar position with my nearest OPC a 4 hour return trip away.

However I would be reluctant to go for an independent warranty when the savings are not huge and part of the cost of the Porsche warranty includes recovery and assistance.

I have had my C2 for 3 years and in that time have had 2 engine out oil leak repairs (the first by my then local OPC who closed down 3 weeks later), a new handbrake, 3 x new temperature sensors and it now needs to go in for some significant work on the gearbox. I also had a free loan of a new Jaguar for 2 days when my car had to be taken on a low loader for a new battery.

With the Porsche warranty there has never been any problems getting the work authorised and done. I worry that it may not be so easy with an independent warranty. I certainly think I may have struggled to have the second oil leak done under warranty but possibly had no recourse against the first garage as they had closed down had it not all been under the Porsche umbrella.

It is all about peace of mind and for me that comes from the Porsche warranty.

 

[paulmichele]

I'm no expert (as this is based on my personal experience of buying just two Porkers) but to attempt to answer the question about value....

I don't think having a car maintained by a non OPC specialist will affect the car's resale value at all once you get past four or five years of age. That comes with a "but", that the car is serviced by a well known/respected garage that is a Porsche specialist (Autofarm, Strasse types) and not just a "stamp in the book".

With services every two years it's the care between the official services that matter and if a local indy provides an easier way of getting work done and you collect a good wodge of bills over time, then that consistent history is likely to be more powerful than a car that has four different OPC stamps say.

As I said, my personal opinion rather than anything based on hard evidence!

 

[berty987]

I've had a warranty direct policy for about 3 years , as the porsche warranty wasn't as comprehensive and the recovery (which is RAC anyway) was already provided as part of my household membership. The porsche warranty is now supposedly a fuller cover, though stifling in what accessories or parts can be fitted that will not invalidate it. The OPC servicing costs are about double those of an indie and when taking this into consideration along with the items which are not covered by porsche (suspension/ shock absorbers etc) which are covered by warranty direct , I feel the warranty direct policy offers very good value. The porsche loan car when yours is being repaired is a "nice to have" and there is nothing to stop you having the car repaired at Porsche anyway. The only proviso is that the reapairs are authorised in advance of work starting and that you the customer , pay the invoice and then claim back from warranty direct. I'm not sure how the policy works with porsche , I suspect no money changes hands ?
Certainly I had no issues in Europe getting my car repaired at a porsche main agent with a warranty direct policy.

 

[eddtheduck]

It comes down to a personal choice. I reckon WD may reduce their premium as it is so close to the OPC one. My experience with them is that their premiums are often negotiable depending on your relationship with them - they do seem to reward loyalty.

This isn't a no-brainer - the 'older' car market of cars 5-10 years old needs a comfort zone so that those of us who like to use our cars as an every day transport and as our fun car can maintain the car as they wish, either indy or OPC (or both) without the enforced tether that exists, but still have cover for the unpredictables in life to keep costs sensible.

I was fully aware when I entered 911 ownership it would cost more than previous marques I have owned and am fully prepared for it. I have always wanted a major mechanical warranty of sorts but am happy to tinker around the edges myself where it is safe and sensible to do so (which nowadays is almost never!). WD and others make you get the car serviced properly with a good indy or at an OPC which is only right and proper. It annoys me that Porsche UK won't even allow me to take my 911 to a fantastic local company to get a bluetooth kit/iPod thingy fitted.

Never mind, I've got a few months OPC warranty/ball and chain to go and will have a couple of things to discuss with WD over that time. As for the details of the WD policy I have few for you except the hourly labour rate was unlimited so that means that if your engine decided to let go you could still get it replaced by an OPC.

The other major warranty player is Warranty Wise - apart from pestering emails has anyone got any experience?

 

[snarf]

No experience of either other than their emails, but coincidentally this dropped in my inbox today. The promotional code may be of interest to anyone considering warrantywise:-

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TWO WARRANTY ADDITIONS
&
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To take advantage of this fabulous offer, please call us immediately on 0800 001 4997 and quote the reference:

JUN2010

This will entitle you to not one, but two free additions on your next extended car warranty with Warrantywise and an additional one month's cover when you take out 1, 2 or 3 years cover.


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