RAC warranty - any views or experience?

[Ari]

Looked at a used car today, asked about warranty, told it came with six months RAC warranty. Was told that this meant I could take the car to any VAT registered garage with any problems and the warranty would pay out. Including main dealer (Mercedes).

Asked about extending it, told £500 to take it to 2 years (ie 18 months on top of 6 months that came with car).

Only just got home and not read the leaflet yet, but £500 to extend the warranty to 2 years and can take it to main dealer, seems too good to be true. A Mercedes warranty is about £900 for one year!

Anyone got any thoughts or had any experience of RAC warranties?

[Ari]

Oh dear, really? That sounds a bit concerning...

[Ari]

The strange thing is, I had a look on the RAC web site to try and find out more but can't find mention of it...

[Ari]

The Mercedes Tier One warranty is excellent. No quibble, it's just like having a new car.

This RAC one sounds worrying though...

[Ari]

Just having a look through the leaflet for this.

Seems convertible roofs aren't covered, a pretty fundamental part of an SLK! Also audio systems only covered up to £100 and sat nav systems not covered at all, so guess I'd be on my own if the COMAND unit failed!

Incidentally, the provider is The Warranty Group Services, Isle of Man and the administrator is TWG Services Ltd, Mitcheldean, Gloucestershire.

Having said all that, presumably buying a car from a dealer, I'd have some rights against them if the roof failed a month after buying the car, warranty or no warranty?

[Ari]

That's interesting. Reading the conditions it says cylinder block is covered, if damaged by breakdown/failure of an included part.

So not if they just go of their own accord then.

[Ari]

Looks like I'm going to have to factor in a Mercedes Teir One warranty, at which point this starts to get too dear...

Ah well, back to the search.