In December 2016, I bought a 2015 Vary Rover Sport with 10,800 miles. On the time, I had been driving a Honda Match however sought a bigger automobile as my spouse was anticipating in early 2017.

Throughout the buy, the choice to amass an prolonged automotive guarantee was offered, providing protection for seven years or as much as 100,000 miles, whichever got here first. The price for the prolonged guarantee with no deductible was $4,500, whereas choosing a $1,000 deductible diminished the fee to roughly $2,500.

I selected to not put money into the prolonged automotive guarantee because the automobile had solely accrued 10,800 miles and was nonetheless beneath the unique producer’s guarantee, offering protection for 4 years or as much as 50,000 miles till July 2019. Now that the automotive might be 9 years outdated in July 2024, let’s evaluation the upkeep prices incurred.

The Vary Rover Sport serves as an attention-grabbing case research, significantly on account of Land Rover’s persistently low reliability rankings. Given these rankings, an prolonged guarantee would doubtlessly maintain extra worth in mild of the model’s historic reliability challenges.

How A lot I Spent Sustaining My Used Vary Rover Sport

In late 2019, I incurred a $700 expense to interchange my fan, an unlucky price that stemmed from a delicate clicking sound I had seen simply earlier than the unique guarantee expired. It took a number of months for the press to accentuate, prompting me to have the automotive inspected.

In June 2023, I confronted one other restore, spending $1,200 to interchange a leaking water pump. The service additionally concerned a flush of my coolant system. Notably, water pump points are a prevalent concern for European vehicles.

An important takeaway from this expertise is the significance of utilizing the proper sort of coolant throughout substitute. It is important to decide on both the orange or inexperienced coolant and keep away from mixing the 2, as their mixture triggers a chemical response resulting in coolant congealing.

On January 11, 2024, I needed to spend $1,050 to interchange my vacuum pump and a PCV valve after my verify engine mild got here on. Initially planning for a routine $212 oil change, this sudden expense was a bit disappointing. However it’s important to incorporate it for a extra correct and balanced illustration of latest upkeep prices.

Complete upkeep bills, excluding oil modifications, tires, and breaks: $2,950. $2,950 is after seven years and two months of possession. The automotive has about 50,000 miles.

Affordable Upkeep Bills

To me $2,950 in upkeep bills appears fairly cheap after such a time period. After changing the water pump, vacuum pump, and PCV worth, these ought to hopefully maintain up for one more 40,000 – 50,000 miles.

There’s additionally a very good probability this could possibly be the final of my upkeep bills for at the least two years, bringing the potential 10-year upkeep price to $2,950.

If I had been to incorporate the price of altering tires, brake pads, and brake rotors since possession, I might add one other $3,500.

Evaluating Upkeep Value To Prolonged Guarantee Value

$2,950 in upkeep price is cheaper than a $4,500 guarantee price with $0 deductible.

$2,950 in upkeep price can also be cheaper than the $2,500 warrant price with a $1,000 deductible.

The essential level is that each warranties would have expired on the seven-year mark, in July 2022. There might need been a chance to handle the water pump problem, because it occurred in June 2022. Nonetheless, the substitute of the vacuum pump and PCV valve for $1,050 occurred in January 2024.

In less complicated phrases, if I had opted for the no-deductible guarantee, I’d have paid $4,500 plus $1,050, totaling $5,550 in upkeep and guarantee prices. Alternatively, with the $1,000 deductible guarantee, the bills would come with $2,500, $700 for the fan, $1,000 deductible for the water pump, and $1,050 for the vacuum pump, amounting to a complete of $5,250.

Inconvenience Issue Of Fixing The Automotive At The Supplier

The choice to not go for the prolonged guarantee additionally stems from the inconvenience related to having the automotive repaired on the Land Rover vendor. The restore store will not be in shut proximity to my residence, making it impractical for me. If I had been to take the automotive to the Land Rover vendor, I might must depend on Uber for transportation to and from the store.

I desire the extra handy possibility of getting my automotive repaired at a extra reasonably priced non-Land Rover vendor that occurs to be inside strolling distance from my residence. That is exactly what I did for my final two repairs.

I dropped off my automotive on the restore store after driving my son to high school, then walked the mile again residence. When it was time to retrieve the automotive, I walked to the restore store and picked up my son from faculty. This not solely resulted in important time financial savings but in addition allowed me to keep away from the extra expense of utilizing Uber.

Get The Prolonged Guarantee Or No?

Primarily based on my 20-year expertise proudly owning two used Land Rovers (LR3 and RRS), I’ve concluded that buying an prolonged guarantee will not be the optimum monetary resolution. A more practical method includes conducting an intensive inspection earlier than shopping for the automotive and securing an reasonably priced and dependable mechanic.

Whereas the peace of thoughts offered by an prolonged guarantee is effective, particularly in main incidents like an engine failure, such occurrences are comparatively uncommon. The vast majority of points are usually related to regular put on and tear, which could be adequately budgeted for.

For people, like myself, preferring to hold their vehicles for 10 years or extra, an prolonged guarantee may appear interesting. Nonetheless, prolonged warranties not often prolong past 10 years. The finance consultants within the prolonged guarantee division have calculated the optimum period and mileage to cowl the automotive whereas maximizing earnings.

Subsequently, I’d forego an prolonged guarantee.

The probably worst-case situation is breaking even and paying out of pocket what the prolonged guarantee would have price. Extra probably, you’ll find yourself spending much less on out-of-pocket upkeep than the price of the prolonged guarantee. That mentioned, a minority of individuals will get unfortunate and find yourself paying far more out of pocket than in the event that they obtained the prolonged guarantee.

Keep in mind, the automotive sellers are providing prolonged warranties as a result of they’re worthwhile. In the event that they weren’t worthwhile, they would not supply them or they’d cost a value excessive sufficient to make them worthwhile.

When To Promote The Automotive

As my automotive approaches its ninth yr in 2024, the concept of buying one other automobile throughout the subsequent three years is turning into more and more interesting. I am primarily trying to drive a secure and enjoyable automotive to move my household round.

Nonetheless, now that I’ve spent one other $1,050 on upkeep, these components ought to final one other 30,000+ miles at the least. With my common driving distance of about 6,000 miles a yr, my automotive ought to final for one more 5 years with none main upkeep bills. Nonetheless, as identified by my auto mechanic, put on and tear on a automotive will not be solely decided by mileage however can also be influenced by time.

Contemplating these components, my plan is prone to contain buying a brand new automotive in 2027, when my present automobile reaches 12 years outdated. This resolution permits me to benefit from the cash spent on repairs in 2023 and 2024 for a further three years. Furthermore, the intention is to promote the automotive earlier than going through one other substantial expense exceeding $1,000.

It is time to begin saving up in my automotive fund!

Reader Questions

Do you assume an prolonged automotive guarantee is value it? If that’s the case, what sort of protection did you get and the way a lot did it price? Has your prolonged guarantee ever lined something extraordinarily costly?

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