extended warranties?
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Discussion

Fidgits

Original Poster:

17,202 posts

260 months

Friday 7th March 2008
quotequote all
Having looked at the 111R as they have the Toyota engine, I am somewhat dissapointed to hear about a couple letting go... and the huge expense of fixing them!

How likely is this to happen? Or just another one of those web things where you always hear about the one or two that go?

Also, can you extend the Lotus warranty? Or get a 3rd party one? Has anyone got any reccomendations?

S9AJE

240 posts

239 months

Friday 7th March 2008
quotequote all
yes you can extend the lotus warranty - i just have, decided to take the plunge thinking its a bit like my insurance probably won't ever need / use it but its better to have it than not.

and spread over 3yrs IMO it was worth while. each to their own tho

marcpardoe

50 posts

260 months

Friday 7th March 2008
quotequote all
What kind of price are you looking at fro a 3yr warranty??
I've got an Exige S and my cover ends july this year...


Beachbum

2,610 posts

262 months

Friday 7th March 2008
quotequote all
Be wary of extended warranties. One person on here has been in the fortunate position of have the extended warranty and the unfortunate luck to have the engine go. The warranty did not cover the work required. Something to do with oil starvation being the users fault, not a mechanical one.
I'm sure he'll be a long in a bit to explain further......Calling Gooby

Fidgits

Original Poster:

17,202 posts

260 months

Friday 7th March 2008
quotequote all
S9AJE said:
yes you can extend the lotus warranty - i just have, decided to take the plunge thinking its a bit like my insurance probably won't ever need / use it but its better to have it than not.

and spread over 3yrs IMO it was worth while. each to their own tho
yeah, how much did that cost?

andykirk

197 posts

309 months

Friday 7th March 2008
quotequote all
I've taken out the AA policy that covers you for £500 towards the work if needed.

Mainly due to having a k-series in my 135R smile

Gooby

9,269 posts

265 months

Friday 7th March 2008
quotequote all
The style of failure experienced with a yota engine will not be covered by the extended warranty.

What has been proven is that a series of high G, high speed turns can cavitate the oil and lead to starvation of #1 main engine bearing. This will happen if there is 25% or less oil.

Warranty companies will payout if there is a mechanical failure but not in the case of oil starvation, they state that a mechanical failure of main bearings due to oil starvation is a owner fault and are not liable. Too bad.

Fidgits

Original Poster:

17,202 posts

260 months

Friday 7th March 2008
quotequote all
I still think £660 for 3 years is a bit of a bargin though!

And I guess the idea with the oil is to keep it topped up? (what oil does it take?) and if your tracking it much, get one of those pump-things?

justnotsure

403 posts

248 months

Friday 7th March 2008
quotequote all
Fidgits said:
I still think £660 for 3 years is a bit of a bargin though!

And I guess the idea with the oil is to keep it topped up? (what oil does it take?) and if your tracking it much, get one of those pump-things?
Compared to £850+ per annum for a 911 then yes it's a bargain.

dom180

1,180 posts

295 months

Saturday 8th March 2008
quotequote all
I think I'd opt for the extended warrenty if I were to buy a new Elise SC and keep it for 3/4 years - the lack of an intercooler and increased stress on the Toyota engine would be in the back of my mind.

I've heard of more than a few toyota engines having issues if they are over-reved on downchanges and these are also not covered by the warrenty.

Fidgits

Original Poster:

17,202 posts

260 months

Saturday 8th March 2008
quotequote all
dom180 said:
I think I'd opt for the extended warrenty if I were to buy a new Elise SC and keep it for 3/4 years - the lack of an intercooler and increased stress on the Toyota engine would be in the back of my mind.

I've heard of more than a few toyota engines having issues if they are over-reved on downchanges and these are also not covered by the warrenty.
rofl

Engine in damaged by overrevving shock rolleyes

dom180

1,180 posts

295 months

Saturday 8th March 2008
quotequote all
Sure. I think they are prone to it though as there is possibly less tolerance for abuse than in other engines, and also the need to keep them on-cam which encourages people to change down too early.

S9AJE

240 posts

239 months

Saturday 8th March 2008
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Yep - as you now know £660 for 3yrs Lotus Warranty is right.

S Works

10,166 posts

281 months

Saturday 8th March 2008
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Check the wording of any warranty very carefully - I'm not sure the extended warranty helped in some cases, as the failure wasn't covered.

AFAIK allegedly there was a problem with the earlier engines where oil cavitation could potentially occur under some circumstances, that would cause catastrophic engine failure.

Fidgits

Original Poster:

17,202 posts

260 months

Saturday 8th March 2008
quotequote all
S Works said:
Check the wording of any warranty very carefully - I'm not sure the extended warranty helped in some cases, as the failure wasn't covered.

AFAIK allegedly there was a problem with the earlier engines where oil cavitation could potentially occur under some circumstances, that would cause catastrophic engine failure.
when you say earlier - do you mean they resolved this in later versions?

S Works

10,166 posts

281 months

Sunday 9th March 2008
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Apparently so. Re-read Gooby's post above, if anyone knows about the problems that can occur on that front, he does.