GuyinUAE

Exactly, personally I'd pay the extra to have new and get as much full coverage as possible, or at a push a low mileage demonstrator if it was significantly cheaper, but even then, you don't know who's driven it over here. The biggest issue is people strap themselves up buying a car without budgeting (although it is difficult to plan exactly how much) for unforeseen repairs that may be needed along the way. How many people here would buy a car with an automatic gearbox and no warranty, knowing that if it broke they would have to pay 40 to 50k for a new one at a dealer, or even 10K for a specialist repairer?

GuyinUAE

They can be grey areas, for instance if you leave the lights on and it goes flat, your fault. If you only drive 2km a day and it goes flat because more power is being taken out than put in by the alternator, then again, your on your own. It has to be a defined manufacturing defect. Oh, and beware, some cars will actually tell the dealer why the battery went flat, so you can tell them you didn't leave the lights on all you like, they will know.

Millhouse

you sound like the guy I was dealing with. There is also clause in the guarantee that if they charge it, and it works but then dies straight away...that is your risk.

The green test patch on mine was ok, but the car wouldn't start - he tried to tell me it was a problem with the engine - despite me jump starting it in front of him.

for the record... we left an interior light on, car started ok(ish) for a week, then died. It was having long runs in between. It was the misses fault, but I expect more from a 6 month old battery - I got it replaced.

GuyinUAE

Batteries have a bloody hard life over here, always in traffic, AC on, electric cooling fan on, electric fuel pump, on board monitor and so on. 6 months is a bit short, but even a manufacturers battery can start being troublesome after 2 years.

kittycat1

The car tells the dealer what went wrong? I'm after a car not Kit from Knightrider....

Spugsy

yup missus had a problem and opened up and battery had green foam coming out of it, she hadn't had it serviced in 12,000 miles or so and the guy had a go at her in the garage and told her off, heh.

benzonar

Kitty,

I still think you should go for one of these

GuyinUAE

I want one, wrong colour, but I want one!

busybee2

batteries dont last more than 1 year for us in this place

benzonar

I had the same initial thought, but in the flesh Summit White is stunning. Did consider Cyber Grey but white looks good. Easy to keep clean as well.

GuyinUAE

Black with Black, or something retro like white with lime green stripes or orange with white stripes please....

Millhouse

what on earth do you do to them?

busybee2

well i use them duh, am driving up and down the road a lot, driving in wacky races and dodging the flashers, sorry am i not meant to be driving my car?

commander

i dont imagine you do any more or less than anyone else, and most other peoples batteries last a lot more than a year.

We had 3 years out of our Prado's battery.

kittycat1

would love one of these- witha a parasol and everything!