Do kit car warranties exist (warranty direct type)

Do kit car warranties exist (warranty direct type)

Author
Discussion

bitsilly

Original Poster:

278 posts

216 months

Monday 11th December 2017
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Does anyone know if there are any companies who sell warranties for factory built kit cars.
Most web site based ones don't cater.
Cheers

Justin S

3,657 posts

268 months

Monday 11th December 2017
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After the experiences with Warranty Direct for my normal car , I would use any kind of that type of company again. As for kit cars, I doubt it , but thats half the reason for a kitcar, in a way by tinkering and keeping it working. Most manufacturers wont give more than a years warranty anyway on a factory built car.

downsman

1,099 posts

163 months

Monday 11th December 2017
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The great thing about kits is that they are usually very cheap to run as long as you DIY and don't catch upgraditis smile

Most warranties don't seem to be worth the paper they are written on, as anything that has a service life ie, clutches don't seem to be covered.

bitsilly

Original Poster:

278 posts

216 months

Thursday 14th December 2017
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Cheers gents, all good points!

I wonder if Caterham offer any warranty. I guess it depends on confidence in your product.



Ed

downsman

1,099 posts

163 months

Saturday 16th December 2017
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Caterham used to offer a one year warranty on new cars.
With my kit, I noticed the warranty ran from the day the kit was delivered! But I understand they have changed that.

CanAm

10,059 posts

279 months

Monday 18th December 2017
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downsman said:
Caterham used to offer a one year warranty on new cars.
With my kit, I noticed the warranty ran from the day the kit was delivered! But I understand they have changed that.
And on selected used cars too!

Flat-6

2,344 posts

177 months

Tuesday 19th December 2017
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"Factory built kit cars" ?

surely that's... a car

anonymous-user

61 months

Wednesday 27th December 2017
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Caterham do offer a warranty on owner built kits and are pretty flexible with it too, IME.


Fury1630

393 posts

234 months

Thursday 11th January 2018
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I think you might be looking at this the wrong way round. What is there to go wrong with a "normal" kit?
Brakes are generally non-servo (this is a good thing) so unless the hydraulics leak there's nothing to do. Because the car is generally much lighter than the one the brakes came from, the friction surfaces last forever(ish).
Steering & suspension, apart from wear issues & things like rubber boots getting old & cracking, there's nothing to do.
Cooling, a lot of kits don't have heaters, so there is only a few hoses & a radiator, a lot of kits use the Golf / Polo rad which is about £30 for a new one, there's nothing to do.
Transmission - again because kits are generally lighter, the drive-line is less stressed (unless you fit far more power than it was designed for). All the usual gearboxes & axles are readily available second hand or can be refurbed by specialists.
Engine, the engines found in most kits are not exotic, if they do break they are easy to fix, but often easier & cheaper to just buy another one.

What I'm saying here is that unless you buy something with unusual or exotic components whatever goes wrong will cost less than a warranty policy to put right. There's generally an owner's club full of folk only too keen to help out / do it for you in return for bacon sandwiches.