Will need a bit more analysis methinks. I have extended the warranty twice since the three year one ran out and have had the car serviced at a Suzuki dealer albeit the last one was at a much cheaper one a bit further away. Mine's due in June again.

 

My suggestion is that you seek legal advice - all you can get on a forum is an opinion from a stranger who may or may not know what he/she is talking about. Warranty, even the manufacturer's warranty, differs from one country to the next, laws governing how warranty coverage is handled differ from country to country, dealership service plans differ from one dealership to the next.

When you were offered the service plan, you should have been given a document outlining what you were being offered, and once you purchase it, there should have been a legally binding contract stipulating what you were getting.

Auto dealerships the world over are known for fast talking sales people who, in many cases will tell you what you want to hear, in order to get you to sign "on the dotted line", and the onus is on you to read the fine print before signing, to make sure that what you were told is what you're actually signing up for, and if you have questions at that point, you get the answers in writing.

 

Can't really comment on the service plan or warranty. There are a number of Suzuki dealers offering their own 10 year / 100000 mile warranty from the date of registration of a new Suzuki. These warranties have some conditions and are somewhat restrictive - they require signing up to an ongoing maintenance contract with the dealer. (see example below but note that conditions can vary between different dealers schemes). I guess your 7 year warranty arises because the car is three years old. Interestingly my local Suzuki dealer withdrew the scheme soon after implementing. It seems that Suzuki have this week approved a 7 year warranty scheme. If this is as good as it appears (including transferability) it's at least as good as anything offered by other manufacturers and a huge step forward for Suzuki ownership!!

Suzuki launches 7-year warranty deal

Suzuki’s new Service Activated Warranty scheme extends the warranty up to seven years – for those who visit the dealer network for service.

www.motoringresearch.com

I would suggest collecting together and reviewing all the documentation you have - then discussing further with the dealer - talk to the dealer principal rather than the service manager. If you're not happy - make a formal complaint through the scheme operated by the Motor Ombudsman - they are independent and will investigate and adjudicate. If you feel that the dealer is hoodwinking you in some way - talk to your local Trading Standards.

In terms of monthly payments, £310 / annum seems about OK for the Suzuki defined servicing regime since there is large variation in future individual service charges. Check the annual mileage in the servicing contract. If a high mileage has been assumed (possibly wrongly), this may well involve more than one service per year which will push up the contract price significantly. You may need to revise your estimated annual mileage. If the dealer has sold you his own service plan then it's reasonable to expect this to be comparable to Suzuki's own plan. If it's some sort of inferior oil change only plan as you suggest then Suzuki would be interested - franchise holders are bound by agreements with Suzuki.

Suzuki Dealer | Eastbourne | Eastbourne Motoring Centre Suzuki

Visit Eastbourne Motoring Centre Suzuki in Eastbourne, established dealership and servicing specialist. Explore the website and browse through our full range of offers.

www.emcgroup.co.uk

 

Thank you for your replies and advice. I do have a contract with the dealer for the service plan. It refers to "service specification" with the dealer retaining the right to decide service intervals and operations. However the checklist I received after the August 2022 service is a Suzuki one with every item ticked under the 37500 column.

Some things just do not ring true about what the Service Manager told me. For example, the Dealer's own web page for the 7 year warranty has in the middle of it a promotion for the dealer's own service plan. Similarly their web page for the service plan has mention of the new warranty in it. It would make no sense to show these connections if the service wasn't acceptable under the warranty. Clearly it is acceptable in the first three years so why not in years 4 to 7?

I definitely need to speak to someone other than this particular Service Manager although it is early days for the new warranty so maybe they aren't yet clear on exact requirements. I'll try another dealership in the same group and also see what Suzuki customer services have to say about it.

 

I would be contacting regional suzuki directly. Sounds suspiciously like a dealer based one, not a factory one.

Our vehicles here get 5 years factory warranty, except for the jimny, that gets 2 years as its expected to get seriously off road. Some dealers here even offer free servicing for that 5 year period apart from batteries tyres and brakes.

 

You have the Internet - do some searching - don't be scared of what you might find, because it's your money they want.

 

Dealers gonna deal.

 

No, try "Dealers gonna steal"

 

Thinking a bit more about the servicing situation...............
The warranty extension is triggered at 3 years provided that Suzuki service requirements have been met. In this particular case the car servicing requirement has been met (last service August 2022) so the extended warranty would begin in June 2023 (expiration of the normal 3 year warranty). When the car is next serviced (August 2023) this would trigger the warranty for a further 12 months / 12500 miles.

The issue I believe is that this is a high mileage car and servicing is out of step with the age. Essentially the service in August 2022 (described as a 37500 mile service) is only a minor service (essentially an oil change + selected safety checks) and possibly the dealer believes this need to be major service to qualify. I can understand that Suzuki will want to avoid the situation where individuals attempt to get 12 months warranty on an used vehicle just by getting a minor service carried out. Hopefully this just requires a debate between the OP and the dealer to clarify without further cost being incurred.

In terms of the servicing contract.......... The last service in August 2022 was priced at £246. This was a minor 37500 mile service and £246 seems correct. The next service is a 50000 mile service which is probably around £400 not £258 as quoted by the dealer. The annual contract price of around £300 is therefore correct. I don't know about Suzuki but it would be most unusual for a dealer to quote a price for a contract service on a customer invoice. There is no cost to the customer and the workshop would simply be reimbursed for the work by internal transfer.

 

Thank you for taking the time to offer your further thoughts on my service/warranty situation. Now I know that the 4 year (50k) service costs around £400 I can see that the service plan costs make sense at around £300 a year. I now think that the service manager in quoting £258 has actually based this on the age of the car rather than the mileage. When I bought the car in August 2021 the first owner had done 25k in 14 months. My thinking was that my lower mileage would correct matters to bring the mileage back to the average annual mileage over a few years. In fact I have almost achieved this as my current mileage is 38k two months away from the car reaching three years old. Presumably it will still need the 50k service next especially if it is left until August.

As far as the invoice is concerned I was surprised to be given one with so much detail. This was certainly not the case with a previous Honda service plan when I was just given the checklist. Like you I would have just thought the dealer to have sorted it out with the administrators of the scheme, EMAC.

 

You haven't really provided the detail to properly analyse - i.e. service record, when and mileage, and the actual service contract terms.

When I bought my car the service contracts on offer from dealers varied in price. The Cheltenham dealer which supplied mine had high service charges and an accordingly high service contract price. So instead I took out a UK Suzuki service plan direct having checked with the dealer this would be OK - and it was. The other advantage of doing this was that I wasn't then tied to that dealer for servicing - I could go anywhere. However in the end I used the Cheltenham one three times. It's all detailed in another post - Servicing Cost - New Ignis.
This worked out around the median of dealer charges, so if I'd gone to the Coleford dealer instead for services I'd have lost money on the deal.

After the three year contract finished I went to the Coleford dealer (https://www.motorhousecoleford.co.uk/suzuki/) for the 4 year service since they were a lot cheaper than the Cheltenham one (now moved closer to Gloucester - New And Used Suzuki Vehicles At Completely Motoring - Suzuki In Gloucester Gloucestershire). This is detailed in a post - 2018 Ignis SZ5 - an analysis of what are the costs of a... and the following entry shows the wider range of servicing prices I encountered when looking. Unfortunately I don't think standard servicing prices are now available on the internet - so it makes this sort of comparison harder to fathom.

Reading that post shows that there is considerable doubt as to what IS and what IS NOT included in the services for each year. It will be interesting to find out what's included in the forthcoming service in June - spark plugs or not! The Gloucester dealer isn't quoting any service costs at their website. The Coleford dealer is quoting the following vague statement: Service: £189 Interim / £219 Main / £339 Major plus an extra £40 for an MoT (£22.50 last year at ProTyre).

Extending the AA cover for two years after the initial year free cost a very reasonable £133 for two years! I've paid twice since for an extended warranty and AA cover - it's very reasonable. It was £228.40 in 2021 and £209.36 when I removed the unlimited mileage option I didn't realise I had! Of course since the car's been totally reliable I've not had to claim for anything under warranty or extended warranty, and have never had to call the AA out either!

 

I've been looking into this new warranty - the relevant webpage is Suzuki Warranty | Suzuki Cars UK


SUZUKI WARRANTY AND SERVICE ACTIVATED WARRANTY

You’re covered from the moment you take delivery of your new Suzuki. Every new Suzuki comes with a warranty that covers you for the first 3 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Older than 3 years? Don’t worry, service with us and we'll give you a Service Activated Warranty through to your following scheduled service*, up until you car turns 7 years old or reaches 100,000 miles.
*Terms and conditions apply

Check out the explanatory video at

HOW TO GET YOUR SERVICE ACTIVATED WARRANTY

When you next bring your car in for a service at Suzuki, you’ll receive your unique code – don’t lose it! To claim your additional warranty all you need to do is scan the QR code and enter your details. It’s easy peasy, simple and free!

SUZUKI GENUINE PARTS WARRANTY

Our warranty guarantee also covers Suzuki Genuine Parts.

All Suzuki Genuine Parts fitted to cars are covered by a warranty guarantee. This guarantee lasts for the remainder of the original vehicle warranty, up to three years or 60,000 miles. If your car is outside of warranty, any genuine parts fitted will be covered by a 12-month warranty.

Suzuki Genuine Parts are engineered to exact product quality standards. Our qualified aftersales staff will make sure they source the right part for the job and that it’s fitted correctly by our highly trained experts.

No mention there of AA cover so that would need to be factored in.

 

Here's a report showing it also applies to motorbikes! Pity I've got a Yamaha!

Suzuki launches 7-year warranty deal

Suzuki’s new Service Activated Warranty scheme extends the warranty up to seven years – for those who visit the dealer network for service.

www.motoringresearch.com

Suzuki launches 7-year warranty deal

Suzuki’s new Service Activated Warranty scheme extends its new car warranty up to seven years – for those who visit the dealer network for service.
March 29, 2023

Suzuki has introduced a new ‘Service Activated Warranty’ scheme that extends its three-year, 60,000-mile new car warranty up to seven years and 100,000 miles – for customers who service their car within the Suzuki retailer network.

The standard warranty is extended each time an owner has their car serviced by a Suzuki dealer. It remains in place until the next qualifying service, up to a maximum vehicle age of seven years or 100,000 miles.

Each Suzuki warranty extension is free.
The idea is to retain customers within Suzuki’s highly-rated retailer network beyond the standard three-year warranty period.
“At Suzuki, customer experience and retention are paramount,” said its aftersales director Denis Houston.

The new Service Activated Warranty will “ensure our customers get the best levels of service, fitment of genuine parts and the expertise of our dealer network, rather than going to a non-franchised repairer once their manufacturer warranty expires.”

It’s not just Suzuki car customers who can benefit, either – Suzuki motorcycle owners can also access the seven-year extended warranty package.

All major components are included, and customers who sell their vehicle between services, and within the seven-year qualifying period, can transfer the warranty to the next owner.

This is also free of charge, and may provide a boost to the retained values of used Suzukis.

Used Suzukis – and motorcycles

It’s not just new Suzukis that are included, either. Used vehicles that have been purchased privately, or have a gap in their dealer service history, can also benefit from Suzuki Activated Warranty – so long as they pass an official Suzuki Vehicle Health Check first.

The new Suzuki warranty package will officially launch to customers on 3 April 2023.

Suzuki Service Activated Warranty will rank among the most generous new car warranties, equalling Kia’s comprehensive seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

Fast-growing value brand MG also offers a seven-year warranty, valid for 80,000 miles.

Toyota and Lexus offer one of the most comprehensive new car warranties, with up to 10 years’ cover for new and used vehicles.

Like the Suzuki package, an extra year’s cover is added each time a Toyota or Lexus is serviced at an official dealer.

 

In case you missed it about here's the link to the T+Cs

https://cars.suzuki.co.uk/media/23175/20651-suzuki-saw-t-cs-brandingv2.pdf

COVERED COMPONENTS
Electrical and mechanical factory-fitted components are covered
against electrical or mechanical failure;
Other than:
● Filters, fuses, spark plugs, worn/warped clutches, brake
shoes, pads, drums, discs and cables, oil, fluids, coolant,
wiper blades and arms, drive belts (except camshaft drive
belt, provided it has been replaced in accordance with the
manufacturer’s specification), pipes and hoses, lamps and
bulbs, fuses, high tension leads, wheels and tyres, batteries
and exhaust systems. Infortainment systems.
● General oil leaks (except where the removal of the engine or
gearbox is necessary in order to rectify the oil leak).
● Bodywork of any kind, sheet metal, body panels, bodywork
or glass sealants or bondings, paintwork, glass and mirrors
(except in the case where they suffer an electrical or
mechanical failure), upholstery, carpets, interior and
exterior trim, all weather strips and seals, channels and
guides, locks, hinges, handles, check straps, antenna and
cosmetic items. For the avoidance of doubt, the general
corrosion warranty will remain in place.
● Parts not approved by or equivalent in quality or design to
parts supplied by Suzuki.
● Damage or defects as a result of consequential damage
caused by non-Suzuki genuine accessories or special
equipment.
● Parts replaced under normal maintenance procedures or
replaced as a result of normal wear and tear, adjustments,
reprogramming or loading of software.
● Covered components with existing defect at time of policy
commencement.

So it's a limited warranty dealing with mechanical and electrical compoents and even then there are exclusions - I must compare it to the similar listing in my present extended warranty - there were, I think, three levels of cover available and I went for the highest, I think.

 

The AA Lite breakdown cover which Suzuki, at present, give with a service provides very limited cover. It will only recover a car to a dealer up to 10 miles distance for instance. I bought Start Rescue comprehensive cover for about £30 a year which is a lot cheaper than upgrading the AA Lite cover plus Start Rescue consistently get higher customer reviews than most competitors including AA and RAC.
I do like the idea of the service activated warranty and Suzuki dealer servicing seems cheaper than most makes in my experience.

 

Thanks for that, I'll have a look at Start Rescue as in the last two years I've had to pay the AA £50 each time to upgrade from the basic complimentary cover to full cover.

 

I’m liking the sound of this 7 year ongoing warranty too. Whenever I’ve had a car from new I always get it serviced at the main dealer. Might be different if I’d bought something second hand. Of course the cynical me thinks it’s different from say Kia’s offering in that it might be available this year and next year and then quietly disappear. Sounds better than nothing though. M

 

The table below shows the labour hours for each service on the Ignis 2WD. Since the labour charge is the most significant element of servicing - the chart gives some idea of the relative cost of each service. Essentially it's a two year cycle with a minor or major service each year / 12500 miles

 

Unless I'm reading it wrong the new Suzuki extended warranty only requires the car to have "a service" so I could have a "minor" service carried out even though the car was due a "major" service or had not been serviced for several years.

 

Interesting point. It's not clear but I'm guessing that the last service would need to be the correct one in the schedule. Cars that have service gaps etc need to have an "official health check" before entering the warranty scheme and any defects found would need to be remedied. No doubt that there would be a charge for the health check.

 

The conditions seem quite clear to me - and there are several statements - my highlighting:

SUMMARY OF COVER
IMPORTANT: if you fail to have the covered vehicle serviced
correctly in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications
during the Period of Service Activated Warranty, or you are
unable to produce proof of such servicing if we request it, then
this may invalidate the Service Activated Warranty or we will
not pay all or any part of a claim you make
...
HOW THIS SERVICE ACTIVATED WARRANTY WORKS
Upon completion of the last scheduled service with a Suzuki
Dealer/Service Centre and subject to any rectification work
to any component identified and carried out, we will provide
you with an additional 12-month warranty.
...
SERVICING REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR SUZUKI
Servicing must be carried out in accordance with vehicle
manufacturer recommendations. Genuine Suzuki parts must be
used. Oils and other fluids must be of correct specification and
supplied by a Suzuki Dealer/Service Centre.
...
Please ensure that the Suzuki Dealer/Service Centre completes
the service record for the covered vehicle and that you keep all
service receipts as proof of servicing.
...
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The Suzuki Service Activated Warranty is a warranty which,
subject to these terms, is activated on completion of the last
scheduled service by a Suzuki Dealer/Service Centre. By
maintaining the vehicle’s recommended service schedule,
customers can gain an additional 12-months or 9,000/12,500*
miles (whichever occurs first) Service Activated Warranty
from the date of each service, until the 7-year/100,000 miles
(whichever occurs first) limit is reached
...

 

Thanks for your various replies and attachments in response to my post. I'm sorry I didn't post as much information as you would have liked but I was conscious of the length of my post. Sometimes if one is too lengthy it can be a bit of a turn off so I just tried to include enough to get opinions on the level of service needed and whether the service plan one was sufficient. The car car does have a full Suzuki service history with them carried out at the correct intervals.

I had seen some of the web pages you've attached and am now working my way through the rest. I do think I need to go back to Suzuki, either dealer or customer services to get precise details regarding the service required as I feel that at £399 the service should be more than sufficient.

 

I agree i wouldn't want to put it to the test.
However, the terms and conditions appear to contradict the the "headline" print on the Suzuki website.
The terms and conditions mention maintaining the service schedule which is normal for any warranty yet the "headline" quote says "No service history, no problem.Even if your Suzuki does not have a full service history, you're still eligible for the warranty.
The extended warranty can only help resale values and could prove a bonus for owners selling privately.

 

As I was in the area I called into another of the dealerships in the group to which my usual dealer belongs. Fortunately I got to chat to someone who appeared knowledgeable about both the 7 year warranty and service plans. Apparently there used to be a service plan offered which was oil change only and he thought the service manager I spoke to last week might have assumed that was what I had. He did confirm that my service plan, although provided by the dealer, was at Suzuki standard pricing. As such it offers the same specification required by Suzuki and is perfectly acceptable for warranty purposes. He did suggest that I forget about the warranty and service for now, have the MOT in June followed by the service in August which will then entitle me to the warranty, the only issue being the gap in cover.

Thank you to all who have commented on my original post and supplied further information.

 

Suzuki need to think this one through. Many owners of Suzuki vehicles will be out of step with servicing when the vehicle is three years old and it's neither fair or logical that there should be a warranty gap until the next service. If the vehicle has been serviced to schedule then the service initiated warranty should commence when the normal 3yr warranty expires. At the next scheduled service, the warranty should be renewed for a further 12 months (subject to the vehicle being serviced before 12 months if annual mileage exceeds 12500 miles).

 

I bought my Ignis with a 12 month Suzuki extended warranty (comprehensive) which will be fine but is nothing as good as the new Service Initiated Warranty. The extended warranty doesn't cover, handbrake cables, exhaust, clutch, rubber gaiters, coolant hoses to name a few. Biggest worry is that it doesn't cover failures resulting from overheating. So the new SIW is a big step forward if you use the Suzuki dealer for servicing. It's not as good as the 7 year schemes from the likes of Kia and MG.

Other than warranties that come with a car, in the last 25 years I've never purchased a warranty and I've always had cars well serviced and maintained by an independent garage and never the dealer except warranty claims. I've kept detailed records of actual maintenance costs vs dealer costs for the same jobs, cost of failures which would otherwise be covered by some sort of warranty and avoided costs of warranties. Aggregate savings in 2023 money is well over £8000 which would more than cover any eventuality.

In terms of breakdown cover , I pay around £65yr for self and wife, any car to Home - AutoAid Breakdown. This included roadside assist, home start, relay, trailers and accommodation. On the odd occasion I've used the service over 20 years or so, it's been excellent!

Obviously my take on high quality minimum cost car ownership, others may think differently. Not for the risk averse.

 

...
I bought my Ignis with a 12 month Suzuki extended warranty (comprehensive) which will be fine but is nothing as good as the new Service Initiated Warranty. The extended warranty doesn't cover, handbrake cables, exhaust, clutch, rubber gaiters, coolant hoses to name a few. Biggest worry is that it doesn't cover failures resulting from overheating. So the new SIW is a big step forward if you use the Suzuki dealer for servicing.
...

Sorry but I think you've read the T+Cs wrongly.

The Service Activated Warranty does NOT cover (from your listing):

handbrake cables, exhaust, ["worn/warped"] clutch, ... coolant hoses ["pipes and hoses"]

It appears it DOES cover (from your listing):

rubber gaiters, [if not coming under the "normal wear and tear" designation]

The relevant clause reads - and note the "Other than:" wording there:

COVERED COMPONENTS
Electrical and mechanical factory-fitted components are covered
against electrical or mechanical failure;
Other than:
● Filters, fuses, spark plugs, worn/warped clutches, brake
shoes, pads, drums, discs and cables, oil, fluids, coolant,
wiper blades and arms, drive belts (except camshaft drive
belt, provided it has been replaced in accordance with the
manufacturer’s specification), pipes and hoses, lamps and
bulbs, fuses, high tension leads, wheels and tyres, batteries
and exhaust systems. Infortainment [sic] systems.
● General oil leaks (except where the removal of the engine or
gearbox is necessary in order to rectify the oil leak).
● Bodywork of any kind, sheet metal, body panels, bodywork
or glass sealants or bondings, paintwork, glass and mirrors
(except in the case where they suffer an electrical or
mechanical failure), upholstery, carpets, interior and
exterior trim, all weather strips and seals, channels and
guides, locks, hinges, handles, check straps, antenna and
cosmetic items. For the avoidance of doubt, the general
corrosion warranty will remain in place.
● Parts not approved by or equivalent in quality or design to
parts supplied by Suzuki.
● Damage or defects as a result of consequential damage
caused by non-Suzuki genuine accessories or special
equipment.
● Parts replaced under normal maintenance procedures or
replaced as a result of normal wear and tear, adjustments,
reprogramming or loading of software.
● Covered components with existing defect at time of policy
commencement.

There is admittedly no mention of overheating.

 

Suzuki customer services replied almost by return to my email and also quickly to a follow up enquiry I sent. Unfortunately there is no way to extend the warranty to bridge the gap between the original warranty running out and the service falling due. The only way round it is to have the service done before the warranty expires. The example I was given was that if the service was done two weeks before the warranty end date you would then get two weeks of original warranty followed by 50 weeks of the service activated warranty.

 

A disappointing response from Suzuki. The issue concerns those coming towards the end of the three year warranty. If, for some reason, your last service was beyond the 2nd year anniversary you may need to service the car early to continue warranty cover, or accept a gap in cover until the car is serviced. In the latter case you may be classed as lapsed so there may be a further month warranty gap after servicing.

I’m not sure I understand the logic in the dealers example. I would have thought that the aim was to get the car serviced as close as possible to the 3 year anniversary. Having got over the initial hurdle, there should be no issue in future years as long as the car is serviced within 250 miles / 14 days of the scheduled requirement.

 

The Ignis earlier mentioned that in UK and EC countries you can use non franchised dealers to carry out servicing without warranty implications.
Please be aware if you purchase a car using a PCP deal check the small print in the agreement. If you choose to return the car at the end of the term rather than pay the "balloon" some companies make a charge if the car has not been main dealer serviced. My grandaughter was warned of this when she recently got a new Audi.

 

Very true - a good point raised. You don’t actually own a vehicle on PCP until the ballon payment is made. Therefore the owner who supplies the car is able to lay down any conditions he wishes in terms of care of the car. The regulations only apply to new car warranties. The provider can impose any conditions he wishes on extended warranties, purchased warranties and service initiated warranties.

 

Based on what's noted above I've taken out Personal Cover with AutoAid, and my car is being serviced on Friday - I've checked they'll provide the extended warranty.

 

I was with AutoAid previously and the only time I required them, they sent the breakdown vehicle to a village 25 miles away. Since then have been with Green Flag who are very reasonable.

 

It's always difficult to draw a conclusion based on a single data point. AutoAid are in the top 4 "Best Breakdown Providers for 2023" recently published by Which? I and other family members have subscribed to AutoAid and Gem for a number of years and on the rare occasions that they've been used - there's been no issue. At one time it was necessary to recover incurred costs from the breakdown service. This was certainly a negative but the service is now on a no charge basis.