Extended Factory Warranty for the 07 Puma crowd

[Scallops]

Distinguished Colleagues,

After going through the process of researching the options available to extend the original factory warranty on 2007 Puma Defenders, I have the following points to share....

1) Dealers now do offer extension to factory warranty - apparently, when I bought my Defender in October 2007, they didn't.

2) Dealers will offer one of 2 policies...

i) A 4 year National Warranty Company underwritten policy, or
ii) A 3 year Allianz underwritten policy.

3) Both need to be taken out prior to the original factory warranty expiry date.

4) Both require the owner to maintain scheduled servicing - doesn't have to be done by a dealer in either case.

5) Details of the National Warranty Company offer - 4 years (or 120,000km) costs $2695.00. The dealers who sell this product will tell you it includes road side assist - but it isn't the same as the original Land Rover RSA - there are km restrictions imposed. 50 km in the county, 20 km in the city. So if you break down on the French Line you pay big bucks to be recovered. No mention of rental reimbursement, travel/accommodation expenses or locksmith services etc. You need to send NWC receipts of all non dealer servicing to prove your upkeep - within 1 week of servicing. Doesn't cover interior items or panel/paint issues. Can be transfered to new owners - cost of doing so - $100.00. Approved Warranty work done only by approved repairers - LR dealerships. Monetary limit per claim up to vehicle's market value. Has some fine print that worries me - such as NWC can reject any claim at their discretion.

6) Details of Allianz policy - 3 years (or 60,000km) costs $2393.00. Has limited towing costs covered (up to $150.00 for any one claim), rental reimbursement, accommodation / travel expenses and locksmith services included. Need to maintain scheduled servicing - don't need owner to send receipts of servicing work, but keep records in the event of a claim. Covers interior items. Can be transferred to new owner at no charge. No monetary limit to claim payout. Warranty work done by approved repairers - but MR Automotive, for example, can do my warranty work under this policy. Has no dodgy fine print.

7) Land Rover themselves offer extensions to their Australia wide Road Side Assist program for up to the time the vehicle is 10 years old - currently costs $140.00 per year for the Oz wide no exceptions recovery (called Premium cover) which may be renewed on a yearly basis.

I hope this info might be of help to those of us who will be facing a choice soon - do we take it out? If so, with whom?

[scott oz]

Scallops,

May be totally wrong but the last time I looked at one of these non-manufacture extended warranties it had a number of significant exclusions in relation to the work that was covered.

It was a few years ago but the limitation I found most miss-leading was there was a max value any one claim. So if your motor was to blow and was covered there was a limit of $2,000 “per claim”. So you footed the bill for the difference. And this was on top of any deductable.

The other thing I hated was that "consumables" e.g. gaskets, seals etc were at your cost. So if you had a claim for a head repair you would be up for the head gasket.

Not sure if this is still the case.

[solmanic]

I think based on that summary I would choose the Allianz policy. Some of the defects I have had with my vehicle have been interior (seat base, dash fit issues, A/C). That also raises the question of what air conditioning is classed as - interior or not depending on which bit fails? I reckon after six years of ownership, if something hasn't gone bang by then, it probably never will - and if it does it's probably my fault anyway. I would rather have the extra $300 in my pocket and keep RACQ roadside assist.

But then again, 60,000km to 120,000km is a big difference for those who plan on traveling extensively.

[Scallops]

Extra clarification in light of these comments - the maximum payout for any one claim with NWC is limited to the vehicle's current market value - so this would be much greater than $2,000.00 for a Puma over the next 3 or 4 years - more like around $35,000.00 say per claim. Can't see anyone being out of pocket. However, the Allianz policy has no maximum payout.

Both policies will only cover things like gaskets if they have to be replaced to fix the original issue. Both policies also take wear and tear and current mileage into account when analyzing claims, but from talking with MR - the Allianz policy has always paid out fully and reasonably in their experience. And to be fair, according to Austral - so has the NWC policy.

I too am leaning toward the Allianz policy issued through Southern Cross Toowoomba. RACQ offer nothing like the genuine Land Rover Assist I have quoted - Premium RACQ cover still has km restrictions and is $250.00 per annum.

[scott oz]

Scallops,

Much better than the ones I looked at years ago.

[Scallops]

Scallops,

Much better than the ones I looked at years ago.

Yes, I think they are good policies - they are both designed to cover what the original warranty would have but it would appear that the Allianz policy is truly a 3 year extension of the original warranty - interior items are covered, for example. Everyone needs to do their own research here - I'm just trying to help out with a starting point, but have pretty much decided which one I shall take out. A search of people's experiences with Allianz versus National Warranty Company policies is also a useful exercise to undertake. And I'll definitely be extending my genuine LR Road Side Assist program - it's a bargain.

[Frenchie]

Is it possible to sign up for the roadside assist if you haven't had it before?

I went the National way with mine, when 5th gear went they made me take it to a non-LR specialist and I'm convinced they stuffed it up (gearbox self destructed a few months later) but I couldn't prove it was their fault.

When the head went they would only pay $500 because the head is an "ancillary".

Mine cost $1800 and I paid for it with pre-tax dollars through a novated leases arrangement so effectively $1000. It worked for me but only because I went through a gearbox (they didn't pay for the 2nd repair) a fuel pump and an engine.

I wouldn't pay $2500.

[Scallops]

Is it possible to sign up for the roadside assist if you haven't had it before?

I went the National way with mine, when 5th gear went they made me take it to a non-LR specialist and I'm convinced they stuffed it up (gearbox self destructed a few months later) but I couldn't prove it was their fault.

When the head went they would only pay $500 because the head is an "ancillary".

Mine cost $1800 and I paid for it with pre-tax dollars through a novated leases arrangement so effectively $1000. It worked for me but only because I went through a gearbox (they didn't pay for the 2nd repair) a fuel pump and an engine.

I wouldn't pay $2500.

In regard to your first question, I think the RSA as I have quoted is only available if one is continuing cover after the initial 3 year period, but just call Land Rover customer care (1800 819 181) and get this confirmed.

In regard to your warranty cover story, I have heard similar tales regarding NWC - but only good things about Allianz (as in, I can't find a single example of anyone who hasn't had their claims paid out in full), hence my current preference for this option. Not that this offers any conclusive proof - we all need to do the research and work out what suits.

[scott oz]

Allianz are a major global insurer with a good credit rating.

While none of this says much in today's market you do get comfort with a "big" company.

Don't know who "National" are in real life?

[Scallops]

Allianz are a major global insurer with a good credit rating.

While none of this says much in today's market you do get comfort with a "big" company.

Don't know who "National" are in real life?

National Warranty Company Pty Ltd, ABN 66 087 662 771, Suite 4 Level 1, 13 Kay Street Traralgon Victoria 3844, PO Box 9091 Traralgon Vic 3844.

That's all they tell you.

And another clarification - although the NWC policy has a maximum payout limited to the vehicle's market value, there is no limit with the Allianz policy.

And be aware people - you are free to buy your extended warranty from any dealer you choose - often this will be based on which policy you prefer and who offers that product.