Warranties - specifically Warranty Direct and AA Gold

[OllyHill]

Afternoon,

Looking to get back in to a Porsche next year and was after opinions on the warranties offered by Warranty Direct and the AA Gold Warranty.
I know the best option is to have an OPC warranty but the cars I would be looking at are approaching being 10 years old and I will probably buy outside the OPC Network.
I've tried the search function and found differing opinions. Some people seem happy with these warranties and the fact that both seem to cover possible problems such as bores and the IMS, but others say they aren't worth the paper they are written on.
The factor that concerns me is that both cover the cars against 'sudden breakdown' - which it wouldn't be with bore scoring would it? Just worried that they would manage to avoid paying in that circumstance. Has anyone had much experience with after market warranties?

I've had 2 Boxsters in the past and never had an issue with either of them, but the more research I've done the more engine issues there seem to be with these cars.

I've had a good read of some of the maintenance plans on here but I live way down in Cornwall, so a long long way from the garages that run these plans.

Any help or opinions would be great!

[PR36]

I looked into warranties some time ago for my cayman and came to the conclusion it's better to put the money you would have spent into a pot. Others may have a different view but I had little confidence any would pay out in the event of bore scoring or ims or rms etc as this can fall under wear and tear. Then there was the nitemare of understanding all the ins and outs of the fine print and where I could and couldn't have it repaired, caps on labour charges etc. couldn't be done with it in the end.

[Trev450]

In the absence of an OPC warranty just keep an emergency fund. I don't have any personal experience of either warranty that you refer to, but I've read enough to save my money.

[OllyHill]

I suppose putting some money to one side each year is an option - but then if the engine goes in year 2 there's still going to be a big bill for a rebuild?
Is it still under 10k for a full rebuild or much over?

[mollytherocker]

OllyHill said:

I suppose putting some money to one side each year is an option - but then if the engine goes in year 2 there's still going to be a big bill for a rebuild?
Is it still under 10k for a full rebuild or much over?

You are assuming that these policies would pay up. They wont.

[tjlees]

warranty direct will payout if covered. unsure about aa gold.

However if you have not followed the policy to the letter on the servicing or the part is classed as worn, they will not pay out.

If something major like the engine goes, they will insist on an engineers report. additionally if you do not have wear and tear on the policy, you get something deducted for betterment.

personally I'd put the monies away for a rainy day...

[SeanyD]

Don't know about AA gold, but the AA parts and labour is worth every penny, and has paid up 10 times what it has cost, just make sure for any issue, you call them out first to register a 'breakdown'

[thegoose]

SeanyD said:

Don't know about AA gold, but the AA parts and labour is worth every penny, and has paid up 10 times what it has cost, just make sure for any issue, you call them out first to register a 'breakdown'

It would be useful if you could provide a bit more info on what car and what's been paid for? I wouldn't be surprised if it'd coughed up for things like starter/alternator/water pump etc but if you have had a successful claim for a worn engine (scored bores, cylinder ovality etc) I'd be very interested to hear about it.

[SeanyD]

thegoose said:

It would be useful if you could provide a bit more info on what car and what's been paid for? I wouldn't be surprised if it'd coughed up for things like starter/alternator/water pump etc but if you have had a successful claim for a worn engine (scored bores, cylinder ovality etc) I'd be very interested to hear about it.

2 x alloy radiators, £600 a go
1 x throttle body, £1,000
1 x alternator, £200
And half a dozen smaller bits n bobs

All for a couple of Elises

[tr7v8]

I assume this is Breakdown Repair cover? This is around £79 PA & gives 5 repairs of £500 max with a £35 excess. The car has to be recovered by the AA to a VAT registered garage. I've had them pay out twice, once on callipers & brake pipes for the Jeep & for the water pump on the Boxster. Over 3 cars & 3 years I'm well ahead!

[Boxstercol]

mollytherocker said:

You are assuming that these policies would pay up. They wont.

That's a very sweeping statement. Any experience of this or just scaremongering?

[mollytherocker]

Boxstercol said:

mollytherocker said:

You are assuming that these policies would pay up. They wont.

That's a very sweeping statement. Any experience of this or just scaremongering?

No personal experience, just many posts on here relating to M96/97 engines where claims were rejected, usually citing wear and tear.

[thegoose]

SeanyD said:

thegoose said:

It would be useful if you could provide a bit more info on what car and what's been paid for? I wouldn't be surprised if it'd coughed up for things like starter/alternator/water pump etc but if you have had a successful claim for a worn engine (scored bores, cylinder ovality etc) I'd be very interested to hear about it.

2 x alloy radiators, £600 a go
1 x throttle body, £1,000
1 x alternator, £200
And half a dozen smaller bits n bobs

All for a couple of Elises

Thanks for the response. I can see how it worked out well for you but those repairs are in line with what I wrote about auxiliary items. That's quite different to a successful claim for a £5000-£9000 engine rebuild for scored bores etc, which is the main risk people are interested in covering on 9x6 and 9x7 cars.

[SeanyD]

thegoose said:

Thanks for the response. I can see how it worked out well for you but those repairs are in line with what I wrote about auxiliary items. That's quite different to a successful claim for a £5000-£9000 engine rebuild for scored bores etc, which is the main risk people are interested in covering on 9x6 and 9x7 cars.

Absolutely, for my car of choice it doesn't tend to be engine rebuilds (HGF aside on the earlier k series), but rather as you say, auxiliary's, so tends to be a no brainer for just ~£80 pa. Also as mentioned it is limited to 5 x £500 claims a year, so if you're wanting cover for bigger stuff, then it might not be the best solution.

[jakesmith]

As is always the case, the internet is full of people's grief and bad stories, and 'experts' that regurgitate what they feel like remembering on the day. Don't listen to inexperienced people to form your opinions.

Here are my experiences of warranty cover so far on my cars:

2.7 987 Boxster, Tesco Warranty for £350, no claims made
2.7 987 Boxster, warranty from WarrantyWise in 2009, warranty cost £400, gear linkage cable sheared at gearbox, warranty paid out claim of approx £400
997 C4S WMS Group warranty that came with car, then extended for £1100 for an additional 2 years. Has so far paid for new ignition barrel, 5 new coil packs, new PSE diverter valve, plus fitting. Refused claim for worn synchros on gearbox costing me £4k fora new box but the OPC policy doesn't cover that anyway.

Add all that up, then add up what I've saved by not having to service the car and use stupidly priced Porsche parts and I'm happy

The garage that sold me the car, Northway, is reputable, they said the warranty pays out for IMS failure but not bore scoring.

Given that I paid about £5k less for the car that OPC price, I can't see any justification for going to the OPC route and am happy that my warranty company is fair and decent

[tjlees]

... and here's my experience on warrantywise - it does what it says on the tin.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...