15 year old car comes with AA warranty - any good?
Discussion
2006 MX-5 Mk3, priced ~4k. First time I'm buying a used car in the UK so I asked the dealer what he could tell me to reassure that the car is free of faults - it is 15 years old, after all.
He says 3 months AA warranty, 12 months AA breakdown cover, and option to extend the warranty for £24/mth for another 12 months.
I've never dealt with AA before. But then I read reports on the internet and the feedback on them seems to be pretty terrible.
I'd like to buy with some kind of warranty/protection. These are sports cars which previous owners may have abused... What are my options? Can I ask the dealer to consider providing warranty from another provider? Or are AA not that bad after all?
He says 3 months AA warranty, 12 months AA breakdown cover, and option to extend the warranty for £24/mth for another 12 months.
I've never dealt with AA before. But then I read reports on the internet and the feedback on them seems to be pretty terrible.
I'd like to buy with some kind of warranty/protection. These are sports cars which previous owners may have abused... What are my options? Can I ask the dealer to consider providing warranty from another provider? Or are AA not that bad after all?
I had an AA warranty a good few years ago now. It wasn't great to be honest and I.would never pay for it myself at any amount per.month.
The issue you.have is that ultimately you are.buying what is a 14-15 year old car, everything will pretty much be wear and tear on a warranty claim and very little qould be paid out on. My opinion forget warranty on this type of car.
That said the Mk3 MX-5 is a pretty solid car mechanically as are all MX5's as a rule. The big thing with them is rust, always has been for some reason, look everywhere for it on the bodywork, arches, sills, door bottoms etc. Thats your main issue and no warranty will cover that.
For their faults with rust I still love MX5's.
The issue you.have is that ultimately you are.buying what is a 14-15 year old car, everything will pretty much be wear and tear on a warranty claim and very little qould be paid out on. My opinion forget warranty on this type of car.
That said the Mk3 MX-5 is a pretty solid car mechanically as are all MX5's as a rule. The big thing with them is rust, always has been for some reason, look everywhere for it on the bodywork, arches, sills, door bottoms etc. Thats your main issue and no warranty will cover that.
For their faults with rust I still love MX5's.
Ask for the warranty documents. There will be loads of exclusions on a 15 year old car or even one over 60,000 miles.
IME, they will probably cover a fuse blowing and little else. ( Although they won't cover this because it will be under the minimum claim value, then you need to worry about the maximum claim value which is less than what the policy will cost you!
)
Naively, I bought a warranty on an older car 20 years ago. I then sat down and read what it actually covered...... it wasn't worth the paper it was written on, more fool me.
So, I now never bother unless buying from a main dealer, which can still be hit and miss dependent upon the manufacturer.
Just buy without, or buy a cheaper one with a slush fund for repairs.
IME, they will probably cover a fuse blowing and little else. ( Although they won't cover this because it will be under the minimum claim value, then you need to worry about the maximum claim value which is less than what the policy will cost you!
)Naively, I bought a warranty on an older car 20 years ago. I then sat down and read what it actually covered...... it wasn't worth the paper it was written on, more fool me.
So, I now never bother unless buying from a main dealer, which can still be hit and miss dependent upon the manufacturer.
Just buy without, or buy a cheaper one with a slush fund for repairs.
Edited by mike9009 on Wednesday 23 December 18:42
bigandclever said:
Your best bet is to have a decent inspection done and then, assuming what you find out is acceptable, put money aside to cover the inevitable fixes. IMO a warranty at this price & age is worthless.
I’m assuming you’re recommending I get an independent inspection done, and not rely on the “86 point” AA inspection that the dealer provides?ldn_mx5 said:
I’m assuming you’re recommending I get an independent inspection done, and not rely on the “86 point” AA inspection that the dealer provides?
Well, I would, yes. Your opening post is about ‘free of faults’... it won’t be. But better an mx5 specialist inspection than a generic AA-type inspection. Of course, you’ll probably have to pay for that.bigandclever said:
Well, I would, yes. Your opening post is about ‘free of faults’... it won’t be. But better an mx5 specialist inspection than a generic AA-type inspection. Of course, you’ll probably have to pay for that.
Well these things routenily do 100k miles with no major faults, the one I’m looking at is 60k.. I’m only buying it for 12 months or so, I’ll be upgrading the car then. So yeah, was hoping I could do 5000 miles or so and 1 year of driving without major issues... What would you class as a major fault?
It's 15 years old, beyond its design life. At this age lower mileage isn't always necessarily a good thing.
Buying a car at this age / budget means you need to expect higher than normal running costs.
As already recommended your focus would best be aimed on a proper and thorough independent inspection, plus an approx £1,000 slush fund to cover a good chunk of any significant mechanical failures.
It's 15 years old, beyond its design life. At this age lower mileage isn't always necessarily a good thing.
Buying a car at this age / budget means you need to expect higher than normal running costs.
As already recommended your focus would best be aimed on a proper and thorough independent inspection, plus an approx £1,000 slush fund to cover a good chunk of any significant mechanical failures.
silver1011 said:
What would you class as a major fault?
It's 15 years old, beyond its design life. At this age lower mileage isn't always necessarily a good thing.
Buying a car at this age / budget means you need to expect higher than normal running costs.
As already recommended your focus would best be aimed on a proper and thorough independent inspection, plus an approx £1,000 slush fund to cover a good chunk of any significant mechanical failures.
It does sound like these warranties aren’t worth the paper they’re written on, so I’ll pass on those. Slush fund - got it. It's 15 years old, beyond its design life. At this age lower mileage isn't always necessarily a good thing.
Buying a car at this age / budget means you need to expect higher than normal running costs.
As already recommended your focus would best be aimed on a proper and thorough independent inspection, plus an approx £1,000 slush fund to cover a good chunk of any significant mechanical failures.
So as regards independent inspection, what’s the process? Google specialist Mazda / mx-5 workshop near the dealer, then persuade the dealer to drop off the car there for an inspection (that I’ll obvs be paying for)?
If you have no mechanically minded friends or family, either read a couple of buyers guides and check yourself. Or you might find a friendly member on an owners club/ forum// Facebook group who would do it for petrol/ beer money.
Have a look at the MOT history (you only need the registration plate number) https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history - this will highlight any pending structural rust issues.
Again, at this price point, an inspection will only check obvious stuff but cannot warrant the engine won't go pop after 100 miles.
Whereabout are you??
Have a look at the MOT history (you only need the registration plate number) https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history - this will highlight any pending structural rust issues.
Again, at this price point, an inspection will only check obvious stuff but cannot warrant the engine won't go pop after 100 miles.
Whereabout are you??
ldn_mx5 said:
So as regards independent inspection, what’s the process? Google specialist Mazda / mx-5 workshop near the dealer, then persuade the dealer to drop off the car there for an inspection (that I’ll obvs be paying for)?
Yup. Maybe ask an MX-5 owners' club for a recommendation near the dealer. Main thing is to get it up on a ramp and have a good look for rust, by someone who knows where they go. I did just this with a Merc I was looking at recently, local Merc specialist inspected it for £80, very helpful.You'd be v unlucky to have major failure like blown engine on a 60k MX-5. Conversely, things like dampers, clutch, suspension bushings (arms) will go at that age and just have to be budgeted for as part of running an older car. Finding a good garage near you is the best thing for ongoing maintenance.
mike9009 said:
If you have no mechanically minded friends or family, either read a couple of buyers guides and check yourself. Or you might find a friendly member on an owners club/ forum// Facebook group who would do it for petrol/ beer money.
Have a look at the MOT history (you only need the registration plate number) https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history - this will highlight any pending structural rust issues.
Again, at this price point, an inspection will only check obvious stuff but cannot warrant the engine won't go pop after 100 miles.
Whereabout are you??
Thanks. I’m in London and the dealer is just outside M25, north-west. Is it worth asking on the Mazda forum here for Mazda specialist workshops in the area? There must be some, it’s London/ south east, after all. Have a look at the MOT history (you only need the registration plate number) https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-history - this will highlight any pending structural rust issues.
Again, at this price point, an inspection will only check obvious stuff but cannot warrant the engine won't go pop after 100 miles.
Whereabout are you??
Will the dealer normally agree for me to take the car there for an inspection? Is this how it works with used car buying in the UK?
Edit: checked the MOT.. 3 were done in 2020, with no mileage between them. First failed. Second pass but issues with “arm pin or bush”, brake pads, “ Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint has slight play both rear” highlighted. 3rd one passed, but monitor “ Various areas of surface corrosion under vehicle”...
I guess this doesn’t sound too good - will pass..
Edited by ldn_mx5 on Thursday 24th December 12:14
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