Car Service Plan a good idea?

Thomas99

Took my car in for a 30,000 mile service today (only done 24k), and was offered a 3 year service plan. It was at the Lexus dealer, but is offered through EMAC. You pay for 30k service @ £200 (should be £240), then £35 x 20 months for the next two service points, 40k and 50k. You get money back if you sell the car (unused credit) or can transfer it to next Lexus. With plan, labour for extra work is charged at £75, instead of £90 an hour and any parts are offered at 10% discount.
Costs are fixed today, for next three years.
Only draw back i can see is if EMAC go broke, you would lose the money.
Would i be better off going with someone like Ford to do my service?

Any one use a service plan like this?

[Deleted User]

This means you would be tied in to getting all your services done at the same dealer. Also any repair work to take advantage of the discount.

I'd rather shop around when the time comes for services and/or repairs.

Foxy-Stoat_3

So your paying £700 for a service at 40 and then at 50K. If the cambelt/water pump falls within these 2 services it may be ok but could you not put £35 a month into a savings account yourself and use that when your car needs a service instead.

Call up Vauxhall and find out how much these 2 services would cost you first.

forgotmyname

Extra work is charged at £75 an hour and not £90 but if you shop around i bet you can find plenty
of places that charge £50 or less.

Also see the smallprint about taking in for a service when the service is not due.

£700 for 2 services sounds mad to me, But i do like a bargain.

Hintza

Foxy-Stoat wrote: »

Call up Vauxhall and find out how much these 2 services would cost you first.

Why Vauxhall?

gilbert_and_sullivan

If you have a proper car like a low mileage Lexus, why would you consider getting it serviced by Ford or anyone else, about the only place apart from the Lexus dealer i would entrust such a new car would be a good Toyota dealer if more convenient.

flashg67

I have one for my Hyundai - mainly attracted by the monthly 'interest free' part, and the fact that I'm rubbish at saving for services! I don't regret buying it anyway - I do want to look after my fast depreciating asset, that I'm still paying for!

You do lose the advantage of shopping round, but as my dealer is 1m from work, I'd only ever use them anyway (presuming they don't go bust...)

With the way labour rates have gone up at dealers over the years, if you're the kind of person who likes some security (cost wise), it seems like a good option - horses for courses though I suppose