Vantage Toyota Service Plan

[nsp24]

I have just purchased a 2006 Rav4 2.2 and they have offered me a 3 year service plan. This includes free MOT’S.

Total cost is £885.86 and i can pay monthly interest free at £31.68.

is this good value or a rip off, anyone else used this sort of plan or am I better off getting it serviced at a local independent.

The main plus point I can see is I would be getting a main dealer service and hopefully no large unexpected bills.

[Davrav]

I have just purchased a 2006 Rav4 2.2 and they have offered me a 3 year service plan. This includes free MOT’S.

Total cost is £885.86 and i can pay monthly interest free at £31.68.

is this good value or a rip off, anyone else used this sort of plan or am I better off getting it serviced at a local independent.

The main plus point I can see is I would be getting a main dealer service and hopefully no large unexpected bills.

If you knock off the price of three MOTs @ circa £50 each that goes down to £735.86.

What mileage has the car done? You need to get a rough idea of which services will need doing over the next three years and get prices for these separately to get a true idea of value. Does the deal include all oils and fluids? If so, you have protection against oil price increases over the period.

I use a similar plan [payments made over two years - you will be making 28 payments] covering about 15K miles a year. When I worked it out using the projected service requirements and prices at the time of purchase it was about the same when allowing for the cost of oils. I look at it as a way of spreading the cost

Disadvantage is that you cannot shop around for the best service deal as you are tied in.

Hope that helps

[nsp24]

I have just purchased a 2006 Rav4 2.2 and they have offered me a 3 year service plan. This includes free MOT’S.

Total cost is £885.86 and i can pay monthly interest free at £31.68.

is this good value or a rip off, anyone else used this sort of plan or am I better off getting it serviced at a local independent.

The main plus point I can see is I would be getting a main dealer service and hopefully no large unexpected bills.

If you knock off the price of three MOTs @ circa £50 each that goes down to £735.86.

What mileage has the car done? You need to get a rough idea of which services will need doing over the next three years and get prices for these separately to get a true idea of value. Does the deal include all oils and fluids? If so, you have protection against oil price increases over the period.

I use a similar plan [payments made over two years - you will be making 28 payments] covering about 15K miles a year. When I worked it out using the projected service requirements and prices at the time of purchase it was about the same when allowing for the cost of oils. I look at it as a way of spreading the cost

Disadvantage is that you cannot shop around for the best service deal as you are tied in.

Hope that helps

Hi thanks for your reply,

From what I can tell it includes all oil and fluids but not normal wear and tear items tyres, brake pads etc. it has done 31k so it will be 40,50,60k or yearly as I don’t do 10k a year.

So according to my service book it will be 2 full and one intermediate.

Like you said it does spread the cost.

[anchorman]

Find out if it includes brake fluid and cabin filters, handbrake adjust etc. If not find out the seperate cost of the three services because unless I'm missing something they add up to more. Also, unless you are paying in bits you are making one heck of a deposit into somebody's bank account.

Usually the best incentive they can give for that level of investment is that you won't pay for any additional oil costs if it goes up but I don't think it will go up that much (£100s) and ask them what they will knock off it comes down - let me guess.............bggr all.

What if for some reason you sell it?

[nsp24]

Find out if it includes brake fluid and cabin filters, handbrake adjust etc. If not find out the seperate cost of the three services because unless I'm missing something they add up to more. Also, unless you are paying in bits you are making one heck of a deposit into somebody's bank account.

Usually the best incentive they can give for that level of investment is that you won't pay for any additional oil costs if it goes up but I don't think it will go up that much (£100s) and ask them what they will knock off it comes down - let me guess.............bggr all.

What if for some reason you sell it?

It includes the complete cost of standard services, and mentions that it does brake fluid so I guess filters are included as well. The handbrake would probably be extra.

If I sell I can transfer the plan to my new car, sell the plan to the new owner or get a refund.

[three5]

Find out if it includes brake fluid and cabin filters, handbrake adjust etc. If not find out the seperate cost of the three services because unless I'm missing something they add up to more. Also, unless you are paying in bits you are making one heck of a deposit into somebody's bank account.

Usually the best incentive they can give for that level of investment is that you won't pay for any additional oil costs if it goes up but I don't think it will go up that much (£100s) and ask them what they will knock off it comes down - let me guess.............bggr all.

What if for some reason you sell it?

It includes the complete cost of standard services, and mentions that it does brake fluid so I guess filters are included as well. The handbrake would probably be extra.

If I sell I can transfer the plan to my new car, sell the plan to the new owner or get a refund.

It sounds to me as though the dealer is doing himself a real favour. His cashflow is significantly improved, he has tied the customer to him for three years and he has given little if any discount on the standard costs. The dealer that I purchased mine from rings up before each yearly service is due and the discussion on the phone turns into a price negotiation. I reckon I've saved about 30% by being a bit "brass necked" about it. I also suspect that if the dealer goes bust, you would only have the same rights as the other creditors - i.e. not many! Sorry if this sounds very negetive but I was subject to some pressure from my dealer to do the same as you are being asked when the car was new and I have saved money by NOT doing it. Put the money in a tin or maybe an ISA and spread the cost that way.

[local hero]

I have just purchased a 2006 Rav4 2.2 and they have offered me a 3 year service plan. This includes free MOTS.

Total cost is £885.86 and i can pay monthly interest free at £31.68.

is this good value or a rip off, anyone else used this sort of plan or am I better off getting it serviced at a local independent.

The main plus point I can see is I would be getting a main dealer service and hopefully no large unexpected bills.

My Rav is now 3yrs old + has just had its 3rd service + obviously the last one included MOT I have the 3 reciepts in front of me as i write 1st service..£131.74 inc vat Engine oil was 5.9 ltrs £42.78 + vat (this is included in the £131.74)

2nd service major..£190.82p this includes engine oil 5.9ltrs£38.65 (so its gone down)gearbox oil75/90 gearbox oil80/90 brake fluid + pollen filter..

3rd service Inc mot £158.99 inc 5.9ltr £42.93 (so back up again) incidently they only charged me £40 for the Mot..So on this basis 2major services 1 intermediate + 3 mots would cost roughly £621 this is 2x majors + mot @ £231=£462 +1x small inc mot £159 tot £621 hope this helps Stew

I have to say all carried out very efficiently by Lindop Toyota at Queensferry + included courtesy car..Which on these occasions I didn't need but was available to me..