customer care programme

[Ohidunno]

Hi, I have just bought a 2003 S3 and am being offered the Audi Customer care programme. This basically includes a leather protection treatment and bodywork (anti stone chip?) protection, plus a load of other guff. But the main attraction is Guaranteed asset protection. Essentially this means that if the car is written off and my insurer pays me market value - this programme will pay the difference between market value and what I actually paid for the car.
Does anyone have any experience of this programme. The cost is about 700 pounds and the cover would last 3 years. Its a lot of money but I suppose it can save me thousands if the car is stolen in 2 or 3 years time.
[img]images/graemlins/s3addict.gif[/img]

[Jon]

700 is very expensive, on my last S3 I paid 400. and when it got nicked the GAP paid out 4000 between what the insurance paid, and what I paid originally. that was only after 13 months of ownership so you can see it is worthwhile!

[Golich]

Hang on a minute, How come the insurance company didn't pay the correct value for the car - assuming you didn't pay over the odds?

I've experienced fecking insurance company practices on this before. They always initially offer a low value. Twice now I have told them the policy says a direct replacement or the market value of the car. I always had to hold out and argue the case that if they can get a direct replacement for the money offered then by all means go ahead.

On one occasion I had to hold out for 4 months. I just kept sending then clips from Auto trader and newspaper advertisements until they gave me the fair price for my written off car.

[img]images/graemlins/rant.gif[/img]

[Joshie]

Hang on a minute, How come the insurance company didn't pay the correct value for the car - assuming you didn't pay over the odds?

I've experienced fecking insurance company practices on this before. They always initially offer a low value. Twice now I have told them the policy says a direct replacement or the market value of the car. I always had to hold out and argue the case that if they can get a direct replacement for the money offered then by all means go ahead.

On one occasion I had to hold out for 4 months. I just kept sending then clips from Auto trader and newspaper advertisements until they gave me the fair price for my written off car.

[img]images/graemlins/rant.gif[/img]

Think what Ohidunno is talking about is insurance which covers the difference between what he paid for the car and current market value (say after 2 years) - I am assuming that there is a factor for depreciation built into the cover (?).

But I know what you mean - insurance companies try and get away with screaming blue murder

[Jon]

what I meant was I bought it for x amount and 13 months later I got the full market value when it was stolen. the difference was a couple or three thousand. The GAP insurance paid that and I had exactly enough to buy a new car!

[Golich]

Aaaaaa I see now.. Hhmm 700 poonds is not cheap for a payout of 3-4K if something happens. Hhmm it's a tricky one. £400 is certainly more like it.

Looking at it in a different light, it's like the Audi warranty for an S4 i.e. approx £700 you could be looking at a bill of 3K for turbo replacement.

[Jon]

The warranty would be worth it as it pays for most things, GAP only works if the car is a write off, which should be a much rarer occurance (hopefully).