Discussion
One of the most important things that people say when you're about to buy a TVR is "has it got a warranty"?
When I had my Griff, the engine went kaboom after 22,000 miles.
Warranty holdings refused to pay up,
even though the car was maintained perfectly and in the end TVR and I shared the costs of the rebuild.
What are everyone's experiences with warranties, are they worth it? And also how much is a warranty for a 3/4 year old car, does it vary between TVR models?
When I had my Griff, the engine went kaboom after 22,000 miles.


What are everyone's experiences with warranties, are they worth it? And also how much is a warranty for a 3/4 year old car, does it vary between TVR models?
My experience of warranties is that they are a massive waste of time.
For starters most of what you would like to be covered isn't as they claim the failures are down to wear and tear. For example gearbox synchros.
Secondly if something is covered then it actually has to fail for it to be fixed. In my case this was a driveshaft which needed to have actually collapsed to be fixed. I suggested that for this to be the case the car would be undriveable and that the cost and inconvenience of getting the car to the garage would outweigh the benefits of getting the component fixed under the warranty.
Thirdly if something fails and it takes something else the cances are that the something else won't be covered. For example, I had a head gasket go and the warranty company paid for the gasket to be replaced but not the head to be pressure tested (a wise precaution but in my case it was fine) and they wouldn't pay for the engine to be flushed of the oil/water mixture.
Lastly, sod's law dictates that if you do have a genuine claim then it will happen the day after the warranty expires irrespective of the length of the term of the warranty.
Instead of buying from a dealer and getting a warranty I would tend to buy privately and get a very comprehensive ispection done by an independant. Chances are that the inspection will catch all the stuff that would be covered by the warranty and a fair bit of the stuff that is about to wear out that is not covered by the warranty.
Still, that's just me.
>> Edited by mhibbins on Friday 5th July 15:48
For starters most of what you would like to be covered isn't as they claim the failures are down to wear and tear. For example gearbox synchros.
Secondly if something is covered then it actually has to fail for it to be fixed. In my case this was a driveshaft which needed to have actually collapsed to be fixed. I suggested that for this to be the case the car would be undriveable and that the cost and inconvenience of getting the car to the garage would outweigh the benefits of getting the component fixed under the warranty.
Thirdly if something fails and it takes something else the cances are that the something else won't be covered. For example, I had a head gasket go and the warranty company paid for the gasket to be replaced but not the head to be pressure tested (a wise precaution but in my case it was fine) and they wouldn't pay for the engine to be flushed of the oil/water mixture.
Lastly, sod's law dictates that if you do have a genuine claim then it will happen the day after the warranty expires irrespective of the length of the term of the warranty.
Instead of buying from a dealer and getting a warranty I would tend to buy privately and get a very comprehensive ispection done by an independant. Chances are that the inspection will catch all the stuff that would be covered by the warranty and a fair bit of the stuff that is about to wear out that is not covered by the warranty.
Still, that's just me.
>> Edited by mhibbins on Friday 5th July 15:48
I prefer to employ a small number of midget mechanics. They demand smaller wage packets than you average dealer and the substantially reduced size means they can do a lot of work without having to take the the engine out, head off etc.
They recently did the valve seats for me without removing the top of the egnine. All for the cost of a few action man scuba outfits (Put them in the fuel take and wait for them to swim down the fuel line).
As an aside there small enough that I can carry 14 fully qualified TVR technicians in that space normally reserved for the fuse box, meaning that I don't need to belong to the AA / RAC etc..
Friday afternoon drinkin, don't ya love it.
They recently did the valve seats for me without removing the top of the egnine. All for the cost of a few action man scuba outfits (Put them in the fuel take and wait for them to swim down the fuel line).
As an aside there small enough that I can carry 14 fully qualified TVR technicians in that space normally reserved for the fuse box, meaning that I don't need to belong to the AA / RAC etc..

I would say most extended warenties are a waste of time, and I do not just mean cars, those ones to cover your TV/VCR etc are just a major cash generator for the industry. In most thigs the principle is simple if it does not go wrong in the first couple of weeks then it is not likly to.
I must admit that cars can be a bit different, but if you look at the small print on a lot of them, a great many things are excluded.
I say save the cash you would have paid to maintain the object you have.
David M5 TVR
I must admit that cars can be a bit different, but if you look at the small print on a lot of them, a great many things are excluded.
I say save the cash you would have paid to maintain the object you have.
David M5 TVR
I bought a 2-year warranty direct from Warranty Holdings for £465 (Fernhursts wanted £1250 for the same thing - same insurer, same booklet - (for a V-plate Chimaera 500). This is their 'Spirit Total' plan which purports to cover absolutely everything.
Now I'm sure that they would weasel out of lots of things, but they've already paid with no hassle for a boot lock, boot release solenoid and handbrake mechanism plus all labour. So I'm probably already ahead and happy.
Now I'm sure that they would weasel out of lots of things, but they've already paid with no hassle for a boot lock, boot release solenoid and handbrake mechanism plus all labour. So I'm probably already ahead and happy.
Ditto, I have the Spirit warranty from WH. 1st year came free with the car, second year cost me a few hundred quid. I've had a starter motor, couple of heater control valves, radiator recore, and a few other things. that were minor and I've forgotten.
No quibbles about paying up, and as I paid the few hundred quid whe I first bought the car, I've had a couple of years worth of reassurance. Keeps the financial planning easy too. I'm probably just ahead now, in terms of parts and labour costs.
On my 7 series BMW, though, the warranty was an undoubted godsend. I had thousands and thousands (no, really) of pounds worth of bits and pieces out of that warranty. 1st year free, second year 800 quid. Won bigtime.
>> Edited by Marshy on Friday 5th July 23:59
No quibbles about paying up, and as I paid the few hundred quid whe I first bought the car, I've had a couple of years worth of reassurance. Keeps the financial planning easy too. I'm probably just ahead now, in terms of parts and labour costs.
On my 7 series BMW, though, the warranty was an undoubted godsend. I had thousands and thousands (no, really) of pounds worth of bits and pieces out of that warranty. 1st year free, second year 800 quid. Won bigtime.
>> Edited by Marshy on Friday 5th July 23:59
New cars have to be sold with warranties or no-one would buy them (probably legal requirement too). At least they do seem to cover everything no matter how trivial. However remember that 'aftermarket' warranties are sold to make money, both by the dealer who sells them (commission) and the company that issues them. Like all insurance companies, they make the money needed to keep hundreds of staff in nice warm offices by getting in as much money as possible and paying out as little as possible. Like the Lottery, anything that's designed to make money for someone else is probably going to lose it for you. Personally wild horses would not persuade me to buy from a dealer or pay extra for a warranty. IMHO, unless you're very unlucky, the money you save should cover the cost of anything that goes wrong - and if it doesn't, you win!
In my experience, BMW warranties are excellent. I had 2 wings replaced on a 6 year old car (2 months past the 6 year corrosion warranty and 18 months later had a new exhaust manifold replaced due to a small crack.
The only problem I had with them was the replacement of a leaky shock - I suggested I should get two replacements, not one to ensure the handling was balanced - they refused, but agreed to fit the other shock for free if I paid for it.
Not much help on this forum, but usefull to know for you existing/potential second car owners
>> Edited by douglasr on Saturday 6th July 16:38
The only problem I had with them was the replacement of a leaky shock - I suggested I should get two replacements, not one to ensure the handling was balanced - they refused, but agreed to fit the other shock for free if I paid for it.
Not much help on this forum, but usefull to know for you existing/potential second car owners
>> Edited by douglasr on Saturday 6th July 16:38
quote:
Like the Lottery, anything that's designed to make money for someone else is probably going to lose it for you.
I don't think this is necessarily true in the case of a warranty on a TVR. Insurance works on the basis of pooling risk to spread the cost. If you own a vehicle such as a TVR, where there is a high risk of things going expensively wrong, your claims will be funded by the many people paying for extended warranties on vehicles less likely to incur claims. Both you and the insurance company should be able to come out in front. A lot of insurers actually make a loss, or at best a very small profit, on the underwriting, but generate the profit from investing the cash received from premiums. The problem with extended warranties is the markup that dealers charge (200%+ in some cases) which then make their value more marginal.
I bought the AA warranty for my 98 Chim this year, it's the top level one and cost just under 500. I've already had the alarm system totally changed which probably covers that one payment (parts and labour ~ 600 I reckon).
Beware - I had a Rover Coupe from a dealer and when I claimed under the warranty for an alternator they mysteriously had to issue me with an "updated" warranty - meaning they took the money at time of purchase and "forgot" to pass this on (hence pocketing the cash if I didn't claim!)
IMHO - it's worth it for peace of mind as long as you read and discuss all the contents of said warranty.
>> Edited by robkola on Monday 8th July 11:34
Beware - I had a Rover Coupe from a dealer and when I claimed under the warranty for an alternator they mysteriously had to issue me with an "updated" warranty - meaning they took the money at time of purchase and "forgot" to pass this on (hence pocketing the cash if I didn't claim!)
IMHO - it's worth it for peace of mind as long as you read and discuss all the contents of said warranty.
>> Edited by robkola on Monday 8th July 11:34
Gullibly, i assumed the Spirit Warranty with my 95 Chimaera would cover everything as it came from a TVR dealer. When a few things went wrong they would only cover up to a certain cost because of the cars age. I guess I got some of the Dealer Oncosts/Warranty money back but would consider private now having driven the car for 18 months, and save myself a few £££. Still, going to the Dealer saved me a few £££ in petrol looking around the country at various no hopers.
I've got a WH spirit total warranty. £485 for two years on a 4 year old Griff 500. So far I've had a gearbox, alternator, 3 batteries and various other little bits and pieces with no problem what so ever.
It boils down to the relationship that your dealer/garage has with the warranty company. I've used Bauer Millets for the gearbox and team Pro-active in B'ham for everything else. They seem to have no problem what so ever with WH, yet I have friends who've used other dealers and had to fight tooth and nail for everything.
They are definately worth the money in my view. The gearbox would have been the best part of £2k alone.
At least you have a shot at getting your expenses covered, and for £500 that was a price I was prepared to pay.
It boils down to the relationship that your dealer/garage has with the warranty company. I've used Bauer Millets for the gearbox and team Pro-active in B'ham for everything else. They seem to have no problem what so ever with WH, yet I have friends who've used other dealers and had to fight tooth and nail for everything.
They are definately worth the money in my view. The gearbox would have been the best part of £2k alone.
At least you have a shot at getting your expenses covered, and for £500 that was a price I was prepared to pay.
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