Third-Party Warranty - Good Idea?
Discussion
Anyone used a third-party warranty company to cover their Porsche?
I've just had a quick look on-line and am seeing some wildly different quotes. The example car I used was a 1998 Boxster 2.5 with air con, 20-30K miles on the clock doing under 30K per year.
www.warrantydirect.co.uk quote £261.25 per year
www.easycover.com quote between £787.50 and £976.50 (depending on cover)
www.warrantywise.co.uk quote £311.00
There are obviously going to be differences in what each company covers, and I really haven't looked into this in detail. (Warranty Direct limit any single claim to £5,000; how much can go wrong with a Boxster that's gonna cost more than £5,000?)
I read somewhere (don't recall where) that although Boxster's (and Porsche's in general) are reliable, if they do go wrong, you want to make sure that someone else is paying.
So, anyone use such a warranty? A good idea or a waste of money?
Ian.
I've just had a quick look on-line and am seeing some wildly different quotes. The example car I used was a 1998 Boxster 2.5 with air con, 20-30K miles on the clock doing under 30K per year.
www.warrantydirect.co.uk quote £261.25 per year
www.easycover.com quote between £787.50 and £976.50 (depending on cover)
www.warrantywise.co.uk quote £311.00
There are obviously going to be differences in what each company covers, and I really haven't looked into this in detail. (Warranty Direct limit any single claim to £5,000; how much can go wrong with a Boxster that's gonna cost more than £5,000?)
I read somewhere (don't recall where) that although Boxster's (and Porsche's in general) are reliable, if they do go wrong, you want to make sure that someone else is paying.
So, anyone use such a warranty? A good idea or a waste of money?
Ian.
It is not quite *so* important that your warranty is watertight/in existence if the Porsche is a 'common' one, because:
1) most-expensive bits will be engine and box, and these will be available at breakers quite readily (ie Scottster quoted 3k for a varioram 993 engine which is a bargain) - Douglas Valley breakers have tons of Porshce parts
2) there are lots of servicing specialists, so rebuilds of engines etc may be cheaper than for more exclusive marques
3) there are many factor parts available for Porsches - if your headlamps go on a 944 for example, you can get Bosch VW Golf headlights of same spec for much less money - a broken Ferrari headlight unit (for example) would be much steeper.
That said, for under 300 quid a year, that is pretty damn good whatever the car.
Rgds
Domster
>> Edited by domster on Wednesday 10th April 17:12
1) most-expensive bits will be engine and box, and these will be available at breakers quite readily (ie Scottster quoted 3k for a varioram 993 engine which is a bargain) - Douglas Valley breakers have tons of Porshce parts
2) there are lots of servicing specialists, so rebuilds of engines etc may be cheaper than for more exclusive marques
3) there are many factor parts available for Porsches - if your headlamps go on a 944 for example, you can get Bosch VW Golf headlights of same spec for much less money - a broken Ferrari headlight unit (for example) would be much steeper.
That said, for under 300 quid a year, that is pretty damn good whatever the car.
Rgds
Domster
>> Edited by domster on Wednesday 10th April 17:12
only problem with third party warranty is that they do not cover items that are damaged as a consequence of use. Which in turn usually results in disallowing any claims for anything that is damaged as a consequence of another item that is damaged through use. I think that warrantydirect have removed this clause from the policy so should be okay, but generally everyone I spoke to from the motor trade reckon that third party warranties are not worthwhile. But for £300.00 you could find out for yourself and lose very little if they do end up being useless (assuming you ever need to make a claim). £300 isn't alot of money for the lesson you'll learn anyhow!
Not too late at all UV. I've yet to buy the Boxster described above. I'm in research mode. (I'm hoping for a July purchase, although it may be October - depending on available funds.)
On the subject of inspections (I guess we're talking the AA/RAC kind), has anyone used them? I can imagine a scenario where I go look at a (private sale) car, like what I see and call up to book an inspection. "The first slot we have is two weeks on Tuesday, sir. Can I take your credit card number?" Needless to say, the seller isn't going to be keen to hang around. Or are they actually quite swift?
>> Edited by ianpicknell on Thursday 11th April 08:48
(I'm hoping for a July purchase, although it may be October - depending on available funds.) On the subject of inspections (I guess we're talking the AA/RAC kind), has anyone used them? I can imagine a scenario where I go look at a (private sale) car, like what I see and call up to book an inspection. "The first slot we have is two weeks on Tuesday, sir. Can I take your credit card number?" Needless to say, the seller isn't going to be keen to hang around. Or are they actually quite swift?
>> Edited by ianpicknell on Thursday 11th April 08:48
Ian, if the seller isn't prepared to wait for an indepedent inspection, then it should ring alarm bells quite quickly, and walk away.
If you lose the car, then you'll get over it. There's plenty more fish in the sea, unless you want a particular colour/trim combo (as per the missus who wanted Arctic with red leather - luckily we didn't have to wait long)
If you lose the car, then you'll get over it. There's plenty more fish in the sea, unless you want a particular colour/trim combo (as per the missus who wanted Arctic with red leather - luckily we didn't have to wait long)
I wouldn't use the AA/RAC I would use a Porsche specific one. There are a few advertised in 911 & Porsche world.
I really can't advise these strongly enough. They always pay for themselves many times over. I would always use one for a private sale and also if buying from an independent garage. Independents never service the car until they have a buyer and then they only do obvious stuff or things that you have pointed out.
And what’s the worst that can happen, you spend £300 to find there is nothing wrong with the car at all. How about that for value for money
I really can't advise these strongly enough. They always pay for themselves many times over. I would always use one for a private sale and also if buying from an independent garage. Independents never service the car until they have a buyer and then they only do obvious stuff or things that you have pointed out.
And what’s the worst that can happen, you spend £300 to find there is nothing wrong with the car at all. How about that for value for money
quote:
I wouldn't use the AA/RAC I would use a Porsche specific one. There are a few advertised in 911 & Porsche world.
That makes sense, thanks for the tip.
I've just back-ordered Issue 92 (Nov 2001) which, in addition to hopefully having the ads you mention, includes "The Boxster Challenge" article. ("Peter Morgan, himself the owner of a 1999 2.5-litre model, joined Official Porsche Centre AFN for a morning at the wheel of all the current Boxsters - and, in the passenger seat next to racer Tommy Erdos, the ride of his life"). Sounds fun.
Gotta agree with UV here, don't touch the AA/RAC inspections (wouldn't use one for a Fiesta let alone a Porker) - they are crap, and don't understand what's 'really' important to look out for on a Porsche.
Exapmle: A friend of mine at work bought a Ford Focus (trid to talk her out of it, but hey, some people just can't be educated) and she had the AA inspection. They didn't even pick up on the fact that it had panels changed because they had been done properly by an official garage.....I'm sorry to disagree but I'd like to know if my cars had an accident even if the bloody thing was flown back to Deutschland and bolted back together by Ferdinand himself!!
Exapmle: A friend of mine at work bought a Ford Focus (trid to talk her out of it, but hey, some people just can't be educated) and she had the AA inspection. They didn't even pick up on the fact that it had panels changed because they had been done properly by an official garage.....I'm sorry to disagree but I'd like to know if my cars had an accident even if the bloody thing was flown back to Deutschland and bolted back together by Ferdinand himself!!
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