EV from non-main dealer - would you?
Discussion
Coming to the end of a 3 year deal on ID.3, purchased from a main dealer as a cautious toe in the water. Its been great as a not-particularly-interesting-but-effective everyday car. I'm going to buy another EV to replace this one.
Various EV groups I belong to can be summarised as "they don't go wrong particularly often but when they do it costs a fortune to fix them, therefore go for main dealer and manufacturer's extended warranty".
I don't really like buying new or nearly new cars because of the depreciation being the biggest cost. Traditionally I buy older but exciting cars but I have knowledge to avoid disasters and a man who can fix these if i get it wrong.
TLDR: Would you buy a 5 year old / 40k miles EV from a national car supermarket or dealer chain? How about from a gravel and Portacabin independent?
What about aftermarket warranties?
Thanks
Various EV groups I belong to can be summarised as "they don't go wrong particularly often but when they do it costs a fortune to fix them, therefore go for main dealer and manufacturer's extended warranty".
I don't really like buying new or nearly new cars because of the depreciation being the biggest cost. Traditionally I buy older but exciting cars but I have knowledge to avoid disasters and a man who can fix these if i get it wrong.
TLDR: Would you buy a 5 year old / 40k miles EV from a national car supermarket or dealer chain? How about from a gravel and Portacabin independent?
What about aftermarket warranties?
Thanks
I bought a Kia Soul First edition (my first and so far only EV) last Feb from a local car sales place, not Kia dealer. Car was 4 years old, now 5 years old and on 50K miles. I have added 10k miles to it and apart from a relpacement 12 volt battery (cost me £83 and fitted myself) it has not had any issues at all. It has a full service history but 2 are from none Kia dealers but the warranty is still active with Kia so I have another 2 years manufaturer waranty cover.
In a nutshell yes I would and I did.
In a nutshell yes I would and I did.
Trevor555 said:
Duke Caboom said:
What about aftermarket warranties?
Interested to know whether these aftermarket warrnties will cover the batteries.
plfrench said:
Trevor555 said:
Duke Caboom said:
What about aftermarket warranties?
Interested to know whether these aftermarket warrnties will cover the batteries.
What if the EV had missed an inspection?
Invalidating the 8 year warranty?
Would aftermarket cover the battery?
Manufacturer warranties on the battery seem comprehensive and transfer between owners. Since it requires no servicing (perhaps a coolant change), there is no oil to be missed out or other moving wearing parts to allow for going pop. Why not ask customer services at Kia, Ford, Stellantis etc by email?
If its similar to corrosion warranties in the past that were 7 - 10 years or more, their get-out was not having the annual 'inspection' which is really wasn't before they'd honour it.
I haven't read about any battery warranty refusals for non dealer history and the anti-EV press would jump on one if it had.
If its similar to corrosion warranties in the past that were 7 - 10 years or more, their get-out was not having the annual 'inspection' which is really wasn't before they'd honour it.
I haven't read about any battery warranty refusals for non dealer history and the anti-EV press would jump on one if it had.Duke Caboom said:
Coming to the end of a 3 year deal on ID.3, purchased from a main dealer as a cautious toe in the water. Its been great as a not-particularly-interesting-but-effective everyday car. I'm going to buy another EV to replace this one.
Various EV groups I belong to can be summarised as "they don't go wrong particularly often but when they do it costs a fortune to fix them, therefore go for main dealer and manufacturer's extended warranty".
I don't really like buying new or nearly new cars because of the depreciation being the biggest cost. Traditionally I buy older but exciting cars but I have knowledge to avoid disasters and a man who can fix these if i get it wrong.
TLDR: Would you buy a 5 year old / 40k miles EV from a national car supermarket or dealer chain? How about from a gravel and Portacabin independent?
What about aftermarket warranties?
Thanks
Why not stick with what you've got? Are you changing just for changes sake?Various EV groups I belong to can be summarised as "they don't go wrong particularly often but when they do it costs a fortune to fix them, therefore go for main dealer and manufacturer's extended warranty".
I don't really like buying new or nearly new cars because of the depreciation being the biggest cost. Traditionally I buy older but exciting cars but I have knowledge to avoid disasters and a man who can fix these if i get it wrong.
TLDR: Would you buy a 5 year old / 40k miles EV from a national car supermarket or dealer chain? How about from a gravel and Portacabin independent?
What about aftermarket warranties?
Thanks
Trevor555 said:
My question still stands.
What if the EV had missed an inspection?
Invalidating the 8 year warranty?
Would aftermarket cover the battery?
What happens if an ICE car missed a service?What if the EV had missed an inspection?
Invalidating the 8 year warranty?
Would aftermarket cover the battery?
Would that invalidate the warranty?
Would an aftermarket warranty then cover that vehicle?
I highly suspect the answers would be the same and situations like that are well documented.
Warranty providers (OEM and aftermarket) will state in their T+C's that manufacturers schedules must be followed and that would be regardless of drivetrain.
Only difference will be what those schedules actually are.
I bought a 5 year-old id.3 from a main dealer for a good price. I took (and promptly paid off) the finance to get 2 years approved-used warranty and bought a 3rd year of VW warranty for about £400.
You don’t necessarily pay a premium for a main dealer car, and the add-ons like warranty can add a lot of value.
You don’t necessarily pay a premium for a main dealer car, and the add-ons like warranty can add a lot of value.
Evanivitch said:
Trevor555 said:
My question still stands.
What if the EV had missed an inspection?
Invalidating the 8 year warranty?
Would aftermarket cover the battery?
Seems a broad question on a broad market...What if the EV had missed an inspection?
Invalidating the 8 year warranty?
Would aftermarket cover the battery?
But the OP is asking if he's safe to buy a used EV from a non main dealer, who'll put an aftermarket warranty on the car.
I recently collected a Kona EV that hadn't been inspected as per the book, and the Hyundai main dealer couldn't retail that car, so it went to an independent used car dealer.
Used car warranties are put on a used car at the point they're sold, often regardless of previous histories.
So OP needs to ask if these aftermarket warranties will cover the batteries if the manufaturer won't.
Panamax said:
Agreed, it's such an obvious question.
It's on a PCP and not worth anything like the agreed final payment. I could well end up with something very similar though. I have read about people using trackers to let their car go through the system and then buy it back when it appears on a forecourt, which I am considering, but I think it would be too old / high mileage to reappear at a main dealer. Duke Caboom said:
It's on a PCP and not worth anything like the agreed final payment. I could well end up with something very similar though. I have read about people using trackers to let their car go through the system and then buy it back when it appears on a forecourt, which I am considering, but I think it would be too old / high mileage to reappear at a main dealer.
But as you know the car and service history, no real risk buying it from anywhere it turns up?We bought from an independent back in March. £22.5k for a 3 year old etron 55 sportback, FSH, 35k miles. Put an official Audi used warranty on it immediately that covers everything other than the battery and saved £4-5k on AUC prices.
Most EV's come with 8 year 100k battery warranties anyway so not something to worry about.
Most EV's come with 8 year 100k battery warranties anyway so not something to worry about.
In general, I would definitely buy a used EV from a non-franchised dealer. It'd have a warranty period to claim on if I found anything wrong.
I like to think that I research the hell out of big purchases like cars, so would only be interested in models known for long-lasting quality and reliability - sorry i-Pace, Stellantis and Tesla.
I like to think that I research the hell out of big purchases like cars, so would only be interested in models known for long-lasting quality and reliability - sorry i-Pace, Stellantis and Tesla.
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