So I just bought a 2009 Holden Captiva second hand from Pickles fixed price sale. I get the months statutory dealer warranty but they are offering a 5 year warranty on top of that for another $750.
Looking over the contract, apparently there's no excess on warranty claims but the maximum they will cover for most types of repairs is only up to $2000.
Anyone know of these warranty deals are worth it? Or are they a scam like the extra warranty deals offered to you when you buy consumer electronics?
Buying additional warranty for a second hand car
LHugoHugo on 08/12/2013 - 21:10
Comments
They wouldn't be offering these 'warranties' unless they know they will make a profit out of it, so chances are the car won't have any issues and they know it… best off saving your coin.
I got one of these warranties thrown in when i bought my car and from my exp.. here is what i had to deal with.
1) Check the exclusions, most of the time things that would actually go wrong are excluded (master cylinders, Bushes, radiator, etc etc)
2) you MUST service every 10,000KMS or 6 months which ever comes first, and being 5kms over or 3 days past voids the warranty.
3) you have to call them when u make a claim, which is a problem cause usually ur car is at a mechanic when you call and they will tell you "where to take the car for repair" meaning u have to tell your own mechanic to stop work and then move your car to their chosen location.I have tried to clam on mine three times and every time i am told "thats excluded" or " thats not covered under the wear and tear exclusion" so yeah.. if its free take it.. but i wouldn't pay for it at all.
Up to you.. read the terms.. u have a 14-30 day cooling off period usually so yeah.
I wouldn't bother, its a waste of money. Go and read the terms and conditions for yourself.
Generally you have to do exactly what you are told by the dealership you purchased the car from.
If they say replace a part, you have to. If they say service x km and x months, you have to.
In addition, if you read the fine print, there are normally massive restrictions and small value claims. eg if the motor goes bang, they will pay, say $500, towards a $10000 repair.
I have found that it is cheaper to take the chance, find an honest service guy (not a car dealer). It has always been significantly cheaper.
better off spending the money on a comprehensive service (transmission/oil, all filters, brakes/pads) and even tyers… It might come to more than the warranty but i know which i would choose…
PS: some JAX sell a service card thats worth buying, it will save you heaps FYI.. call & ask if your store has them for around $100. You pay for parts only with the card
& tyers can be done as a tyer/mag package and paid off over 12 months too
shopper dockets can save you too, keep an eye out on the back of reciepts
Awesome! Thank you so much for the responses!! I had a feeling it wasn't worth it especially when I noticed the 10,000km/6 month servicing requirement.. that was enough to ring alarm bells.
Although…
http://www.productreview.com.au/p/holden-captiva-2006-presen…
Seems to be called the 'Holden CRAPtiva'. If your worried about warranties and such I'd probably recommend looking at another model.
Thanks for the heads up on that one… i'm buying it for my dad to replace a 1998 Toyota that doesn't have airbags and is leaking oil. He seems to be enamored by it for.some reason. If it does end up living up to its Craptiva reputation I guess I'm due for another trip to the car yard next year.. :/
I wouldn't normally buy an extended warranty but I suggest that you should on a Captiva. I've heard good things about Allianz but I think that's dealer only.
Read the fine print and read it again and again. If it's too cheap to be true, it probably is. Even when purchasing a new car, the extended warranty ain't as cheap as $750/5years.
Also on the Captiva…my opinion on is not to buy it. Looks for something else. I've read stories online and had a friend went through the whole ordeal of engine cutting out plus a few minor issues (brand new, top of the line model too).
Anything post 2005 will be a huge upgrade over 1998 Toyota. But choose something more reliable than a Captiva is all I'm saying.
When I looked at it a few years ago, there was a lot of red tape (e.g. servicing records etc) that if you stuffed up voided the warranty. So being a week late with a service or losing the service receipt 6 months into your 5yr warranty invalidated it.
There also seemed to be a bunch of conditions around making claims.
I concluded it wasn't worth it.