Is the Aston 3 year warranty “ worst in class”?
Is the Aston 3 year warranty “ worst in class”?
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GreasyHands

Original Poster:

153 posts

60 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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Is the 3 year warranty “ worst in class”?

The Aston 3 year warranty is a joke. With Stroll constantly crowing about how Aston is the leading “ultra-luxury” car brand how can Aston continue with “GM quality” warranty?

If Stroll wants to go upmarket and increase margins, he needs to do more than just talk. First step should be to increase warranty and included service. He wants Aston to be “all things Ferrari” but not willing to step up with something that would really make ownership a more pleasant experience.

He can diddle around with the logo, create more bs marketing copy like “ Intensity. Driven.” support his losing F1 team and claim F1 is the greatest marketing but when it comes to doing something truly supportive to the brand like a better ownership experience he is nowhere.

I’ve already mentioned in other threads how my experience with the Timeless Warranty was exceptionally substandard compared to something as pedestrian as Porsche or BMW CPO, but even the terms of the initial warranty are pretty poor for a product seeking “ ultra-luxury” placement.

As far as I am concerned, Stroll and his “new” Aston is all show and no go. Both on and off the Grand Prix circuit..

bogie

17,062 posts

301 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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What's wrong with the original 3yr warranty then ? I never had a problem claiming anything on it on my first Vantage in 2007.

The Timeless is just an aftermarket insurance, pretty much the same as many other manufacturers offer and does not 100% match cover with the original 3 year warranty. I can understand people being dissatisfied with that, mostly down to expectations not being met.

GreasyHands

Original Poster:

153 posts

60 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
quotequote all
Mercedes, Porsche, BMW, Audi…4 years

Maybe luxury to some people doesn’t mean fewer headaches, less hassle. Ok, so maybe some of the higher ends brands to do have less coverage rather than more. Still seems like a place where Aston could show some actual leadership.

Edited by GreasyHands on Thursday 21st July 15:10

bogie

17,062 posts

301 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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Ah, I see, the length of warranty. Didn't realise other manufacturers had lengthened their warranties. Agreed, Aston Martin will need to increase cover to match the market.

Would be interesting to see the details of Ferrari cover, if there are mileage limits etc. I cant imagine its unlimited mileage.....mind you, ive rarely seen a Ferrari thats done more than a couple of thousands miles per year so a 7 year warranty could just be up to 20k miles when its just about run in wink



GreasyHands

Original Poster:

153 posts

60 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
quotequote all
That was my mistake. I think the 7 year Ferrari warranty is an optional extra. It’s seven years service, not power train. Anyway, my point is 3 years sucks for a luxury product in the modern world.

I just held my nose, and ordered a Lotus with three year warranty. Can’t say it didn’t make me think a little more favorable of my German friends. ( I know..Lotus doesn’t compete with Aston.)

Ninja59

3,691 posts

141 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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In honesty, mine has been fine under manufacturer's warranty, there is certain things that my previous BMW under manufacturers warranty they refused to do or denied.

Regarding extended warranties the dealer plays a big factor in how well the plead the case, the evidence and disagreeing with the warranty provider. Now the BMW one I had more arguments over a timing chain issue than I care to remember with the car visiting a record 7 times, 2 dealers, BMW UK technical involvement and one visit from the technical UK guy before I got an apology and it resolved. For me ALL parties were at fault for that farce.

Ultimately there are so many factors, but the dealership input plays a huge part of that process. I know in your case it was the warranty provider in the US that caused some if not most of the issues. But reality is that in my experience, the dealerships are sometimes to blame, whilst others are much better at the "process". Equally in certain cases the warranty provider can get a bit silly in evidence of claim - Allianz (essentially) underwrite BMW's extended insurance warranty, but BMW started asking for videos of the fault occurring, not pictures or a written documentation videos of the fault or diag code. How the hell can you even prove some of that, it is total nonsense.

alscar

9,647 posts

242 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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Standard Porsche and Audi warranty from new ( UK ) is 3 years with the last Lotus I bought new in 2019 being 2 years. Don’t know what MB offer but think the same ?
All 3 manufacturers offer then an extended warranty which you pay for.
I sold the Lotus before 2 years old but was faintly irritated that I would have to pay to extend - by its first service I had claimed 3 times !
Can’t say that I’ve ever been too irritated at buying extended warranties on any Aston as my choice.

GreasyHands

Original Poster:

153 posts

60 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
quotequote all
ItI does seem warranty coverage in the US is typically longer than in many places for some makes.

In addition to the brands mentioned above, Lexus also offers 4 years basic coverage. In fact, I’ve bought German cars for so long I thought 4 years was the de facto standard. Then one day I decided to be a good American and check out Ford. When I found out warranty coverage was three years I was shocked. Left a really bad impression on me. I thought it was a cheapskate outlier and subsequently found out 3 years is pretty common for run of the mill brands.

On the downside I think servicing Astons in the US vs the UK is substantially more expensive.


Ninja59

3,691 posts

141 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
quotequote all
GreasyHands said:
ItI does seem warranty coverage in the US is typically longer than in many places for some makes.

In addition to the brands mentioned above, Lexus also offers 4 years basic coverage. In fact, I’ve bought German cars for so long I thought 4 years was the de facto standard. Then one day I decided to be a good American and check out Ford. When I found out warranty coverage was three years I was shocked. Left a really bad impression on me. I thought it was a cheapskate outlier and subsequently found out 3 years is pretty common for run of the mill brands.

On the downside I think servicing Astons in the US vs the UK is substantially more expensive.
Buy any Toyota or Lexus now you can simply get it serviced by them get 12 months warranty up until 100k or 10 years, not sure if that is global thing, but it is impressive.

3 years I think for most in the UK is fairly typical, beyond that there is a number that go above that but usually there might be a few exclusions.

Edited by Ninja59 on Thursday 21st July 17:26

Dewi 2

1,926 posts

94 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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No complaints from me about the warranty.
Was given a 1 year warranty with purchase. No claims.
Never renewed.
Now £23,000 better off.

Unless you are very unlucky, we don't hear too much about faults (which a warranty would cover), so the cars appear to be generally reliable. Not having a warranty, might be the best strategy.





nathwraith1

534 posts

176 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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Oh no, what haven’t they done for you?

I’ve found the warranty to be excellent and necessary in my DBX. Covered things that aren’t usually a warranty claim as good will too.


andymadmak

15,619 posts

299 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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My experience of the Timeless warranty via the main dealer (Nottingham) has been nothing short of excellent and comprehensive

LTP

3,083 posts

141 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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GreasyHands said:
Is the 3 year warranty “ worst in class”?

The Aston 3 year warranty is a joke.
<snip>
I was curious, so I did a little light Googling on USA warranties (as OP says he's in the US). I wasn't using a VPN so some of the searches could have produced results for my location (UK) without me realising:
  • Ferrari - 3 years, unlimited mileage
  • Maserati - 4 years, 50,000 miles (updated: did say 3yr/unlimited)
  • Lamborghini - 3 years, unlimited mileage
  • Land Rover - 4 years, 50,000 miles
  • Bentley - 3 years, unlimited mileage
  • Rolls-Royce - 4 years, unlimited mileage
  • Lotus - 3 years, 36,000 miles
  • Porsche - 4 years, 50,000 miles
  • Aston Martin - 3 years, unlimited mileage
I didn't look at what was or wasn't covered as most manufacturers' warranties are "bumper to bumper". Nor did I check paintwork and/or corrosion, nor on any extended warranties on offer.

So, in answer to GreasyHands question. No, the Aston Martin warranty does not appear to be "worst in class" or "a joke"

There are longer vehicle warranties available (Kia is one of the most well-known with its 100,000 mile, 7 year warranty) but many of these are partially marketing initiatives to overcome customer resistance to the brand - the zombie MG brand under Chinese ownership is notable as one of these.


Maserati line updated in line with GreasyHands feedback, below



Edited by LTP on Friday 22 July 20:38

GreasyHands

Original Poster:

153 posts

60 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
quotequote all
Well, as long as we are Googling, I looked up Maserati in the US and it’s actually 4yr/50k…( fyi…same as Alfa Romeo warranty here.)

Seems like it’s the less expensive cars that offer three years, the mid tier go to four years and then the higher end cars are back to three years, with the exception of the Germans who still seem to go the four years.






Edited by GreasyHands on Friday 22 July 01:07

ds666

3,157 posts

208 months

Thursday 21st July 2022
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GreasyHands said:
Well, as long as we are Googling, I looked up Maserati in the US and it’s actually 4yr/50k…( fyi…same as Alpha Romeo warranty here.)

Seems like it’s the less expensive cars that offer three years, the mid tier go to four years and then the higher end cars are back to three years, with the exception of the Germans who still seem to go the four years.
One can’t afford an Aston if one can’t afford to breakdown

Jon39

14,911 posts

172 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
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LTP said:
- the zombie MG brand under Chinese ownership is notable as one of these.

As an aside - I was amazed when I recently noticed the UK sales figures for MG.
'Wind in your hair' is now SUV, but the way their sales are increasing, perhaps the UK motor industry ought to worry.


LTP

3,083 posts

141 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
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Jon39 said:

As an aside - I was amazed when I recently noticed the UK sales figures for MG.
'Wind in your hair' is now SUV, but the way their sales are increasing, perhaps the UK motor industry ought to worry.
I noticed that. The early Chinese MG cars were total dross with NCAP ratings that should have had buyers running for the hills but, like many things Chinese, they seem to be getting their act together. I wonder if they've still got the small UK team of engineers based near Longbridge that were trying to localise and polish those early turds while managing the KD operations or, having picked their brains as the Chinese are also wont, their services have now been dispensed with.

Having a soft-spot for the old MG marque, even though it was devalued when ARG started plastering it on Montegos and Maestros and totally debased when they slapped it on a Metro (which the management said they'd never do), I found it hilarious when Nanjing acquired the ruins from the implosion and ignominy of the Phoenix Four and tried to reinvent it by claiming it stood for "Modern Gentleman" rolleyes. I think the recent resurgence is due to the influence of the much more professional SIAC

Edited by LTP on Friday 22 July 11:00

macdeb

8,757 posts

284 months

Friday 22nd July 2022
quotequote all
LTP said:
Jon39 said:

As an aside - I was amazed when I recently noticed the UK sales figures for MG.
'Wind in your hair' is now SUV, but the way their sales are increasing, perhaps the UK motor industry ought to worry.
I noticed that. The early Chinese MG cars were total dross with NCAP ratings that should have had buyers running for the hills but, like many things Chinese, they seem to be getting their act together. I wonder if they've still got the small UK team of engineers based near Longbridge that were trying to localise and polish those early turds while managing the KD operations or, having picked their brains as the Chinese are also wont, their services have now been dispensed with.

Having a soft-spot for the old MG marque, even though it was devalued when ARG started plastering it on Montegos and Maestros and totally debased when they slapped it on a Metro (which the management said they'd never do), I found it hilarious when Nanjing acquired the ruins from the implosion and ignominy of the Phoenix Four and tried to reinvent it by claiming it stood for "Modern Gentleman" rolleyes. I think the recent resurgence is due to the influence of the much more professional SIAC

Edited by LTP on Friday 22 July 11:00
Well for me, nobody should be buying MG's as they are today.