Warranties

Sirrel Squirrel · 21 Jul 2015 at 22:43

I'm looking to buy a warranty for my Range Rover Sport, any recommendations?

I was considering Warranty Direct but read a horror story on an owner's forum (http://www.rrsport.co.uk/forum/topic40485.html) of them not paying out for an engine replacement after the turbos failed and took out the engine leaving the owner with nearly a £10k bill of which WD only covered £2.5k for the turbos.

I would have just got for an LR one but you can't get one after the initial manufacturer one runs out (or bought used from an LR dealer).

crinkleshoes · 22 Jul 2015 at 01:21

Interesting... first one like that I have seen about Warranty Direct... I was considering going with them over Porsche direct warranty due to the price difference and modification limitation within the UK.

I'm going to go with Porsche Germany Warranty as they're actually cheaper than WD (Porche UK want £1300 for warranty + £200 for pre-warranty check, WD want £867 and Porsche Germany want £550 + 165 for pre-warranty check)... but I did quite a bit of reading around and WD seem to be one of the best aftermarket warranty companies around... this appears to be a rare occurrence.

I read through that thread and the OP doesn't mention any independent reports from engineers that oppose the conclusions of WD's engineer? He may well need that to take it forward.

When it comes to aftermarket warranties, what I have learned is that in the end... they will be forced to honour what they have given you in writing.

The problem I have noticed is that with most, given any large or significant failure like this one you have linked to... you will have to drag them through the court system to get your money back. People tend to win and force them to honour their deals... but they seem to be trying to make money off people taking them at their word and not knowing or willing to take it further.

From my searching, WD seem to be the best ones to go with... despite the link you have posted.

Just know, if you were ever to experience anything like the guy in the thread you have linked to... you must get a full report done by at least one other mechanic (although ideally two) that back up your claim. These costs can then be reclaimed in the claim procedure.

It's not as ideal as manufacturer warranty... but it seems to be the best around at the moment... unless someone else can point us in a better direction?

Bear · 22 Jul 2015 at 06:53

Sirrel Squirrel said:
I would have just got for an LR one but you can't get one after the initial manufacturer one runs out (or bought used from an LR dealer).

I'm not sure what you are talking about here, there is nothing stopping you getting an extended warranty unless the car wasn't serviced as it should. :confused:

Sirrel Squirrel · 22 Jul 2015 at 07:24

Bear said:
I'm not sure what you are talking about here, there is nothing stopping you getting an extended warranty unless the car wasn't serviced as it should.

Not sure where I read that now, I'm sure I saw it on their website but can't find it now, this was after the online quote said it couldn't find any matching products. Will call them instead.

thekhalida1 · 22 Jul 2015 at 09:40

stay away from warrantydirect really bad experience with them

HEADRAT · 22 Jul 2015 at 10:08

I had a "Warranty Direct" policy on my old Z4, never had any problems with claims.

One of them was for over £1000 as it needed a new hood motor.

Bear · 22 Jul 2015 at 12:17

Sirrel Squirrel said:
Not sure where I read that now, I'm sure I saw it on their website but can't find it now, this was after the online quote said it couldn't find any matching products. Will call them instead.

I renewed the extended warranty on my Jaguar so I cant see your RR being any different as they are part of the same company.

xs2man · 22 Jul 2015 at 14:48

Bear said:
I renewed the extended warranty on my Jaguar so I cant see your RR being any different as they are part of the same company.

Sure, but it sounds like this vehicle has dropped out of the manufacturers warranty system. So at a minimum I guess it would need taken to LR for a pre-warranty inspection, where they will pick out every single fault, so they don't need to pay out for it under warranty. That's if they are willing to do this.

I was in recently asking about warranties and it's £1500 for the Range Rover. I suspect the Sport will be similar. Not cheap for sure, but not sure I'd want a reasonably new one without it.

HEADRAT · 22 Jul 2015 at 14:59

Most warranties just stipulate that the car have been services to "manufacturers standards" at at VAT qualify garage, I've never heard of "pre-warranty inspections"

Probably worth just getting on the phone and asking LR, how many miles has your Sport done?

xs2man · 22 Jul 2015 at 16:11

I did ask:

If you buy a vehicle outwith the Land Rover approved used scheme a warranty can be purchased after a full check of the vehicle by a Land Rover dealer, which costs £216inc vat, any issues raised from the check must be rectified prior to the warranty being registered.

You are thinking of continuation of a warranty beyond it's current length, which, with no break in warranty, means any potential claims are covered. However, if the vehicle falls outwith manufacturers warranty, or their extended warranty, there could be any number of potential claims present in advance of taking the warranty. It should be pretty obvious that LR, or any provider for that matter, would want to check the car over before applying a warranty in case there is £10k worth of work to do to it.