Courtesy cars - what standard do you expect?
Discussion
As posted in the technical forum, my 13 month and 14900 mile old Volvo has major electrical gremlins. It's a V60, decent spec so not a cheap car, and Volvo like to portray themselves as a premium brand.
Current guess from dealer is that I might get it back middle of next week, but they've no idea what's wrong, so I'm not sure how they know when it'll be fixed... So they've loaned me a Citroen C1 until it's sorted. To me that's hardly an adequate replacement, I barely fit in the thing for a start and there's no chance of my dog fitting in the boot.
Is it jus me that would expect slightly more in the way of a loan car during major warranty work?
Current guess from dealer is that I might get it back middle of next week, but they've no idea what's wrong, so I'm not sure how they know when it'll be fixed... So they've loaned me a Citroen C1 until it's sorted. To me that's hardly an adequate replacement, I barely fit in the thing for a start and there's no chance of my dog fitting in the boot.
Is it jus me that would expect slightly more in the way of a loan car during major warranty work?
You have been given a perfectly adequate car to keep you mobile, particularly as you have probably just dumped your car on them i.e. I assume you car going into the garage to have this problem rectified wasn't booked a few weeks in advance, it sounds to me that the garage are doing more than enough to accommodate you.
Out of interest did you purchase your Volvo form the same garage?
Out of interest did you purchase your Volvo form the same garage?
I can see both sides of the coin here.
Yes, you should be happy you're not on the bus but I do feel that some garages may be overlooking something here.
My wife runs our S Class Merc. It's 10 years old now and gets serviced at a well respected indy.
They give her and old C Class for the day. It's ok, nothing special and I wouldn't expect anything else.
However, it's also been into the Merc main dealer for bodywork twice when she's been hit.
They gave her a nasty old A Class. Something to run about in? Sure. Her opinion? This is s
t.
Had they loaned her a decent E Class or Newer S Class, what do you think her opinion would be?
Almost certainly, "this is lovely, I want to trade in for a model like this"
The car would sell itself.
Yes, you should be happy you're not on the bus but I do feel that some garages may be overlooking something here.
My wife runs our S Class Merc. It's 10 years old now and gets serviced at a well respected indy.
They give her and old C Class for the day. It's ok, nothing special and I wouldn't expect anything else.
However, it's also been into the Merc main dealer for bodywork twice when she's been hit.
They gave her a nasty old A Class. Something to run about in? Sure. Her opinion? This is s
t.Had they loaned her a decent E Class or Newer S Class, what do you think her opinion would be?
Almost certainly, "this is lovely, I want to trade in for a model like this"
The car would sell itself.
HTP99 said:
You have been given a perfectly adequate car to keep you mobile, particularly as you have probably just dumped your car on them i.e. I assume you car going into the garage to have this problem rectified wasn't booked a few weeks in advance, it sounds to me that the garage are doing more than enough to accommodate you.
Out of interest did you purchase your Volvo form the same garage?
Bought it from them. They've had it since Tuesday and are no nearer a repair, but my 3 day rental provided under Volvo Assist (decent spec Zafira) ended today. Not like they didn't have warning I would need something. Out of interest did you purchase your Volvo form the same garage?
Reasonably modern, reasonably practical, in roadworthy condition and not filthy.
Have had all sorts over the years, smallest and most basic was a base-model Suzuki Alto. Which got me and a bootful (and back seat-ful) of tools and gear to site and back much more comfortably than, for example, a bus!
Have had all sorts over the years, smallest and most basic was a base-model Suzuki Alto. Which got me and a bootful (and back seat-ful) of tools and gear to site and back much more comfortably than, for example, a bus!
Slightly off topic as it was insurance courtesy car but the 'like for like' replacement for my old MK2 MX5 was discussed at great lengths, they wanted to know what size of car, engine size, aspiration, gearbox etc I wanted. A nice petrol manual said I...
The surprise I got when a brand new insignia SXi/GSi something was delivered! 2litre turbo diesel automatic barge, which in all honesty was a damn good car. Just seemed so odd that they asked so much what I wanted, then have me the total opposite
The surprise I got when a brand new insignia SXi/GSi something was delivered! 2litre turbo diesel automatic barge, which in all honesty was a damn good car. Just seemed so odd that they asked so much what I wanted, then have me the total opposite
We've had quite a bit of servicing and warranty work done on our 5 series over the last 6 months or so. We've got a 1 year old so the local main dealer has always scheduled work so they can give us a 3 series rather than a mini or 1 series; they usually manage to get the touring for us too. Each of the ones we've received has been 'poverty spec', with no options and usually a 318i or d model and my wife is always very happy to hand it back.
That's the minimum I expect from a franchised dealer.
However, the most recent fault necessitated the replacement of the gearbox, and as it was going to take an indeterminate amount of time (it ended up being 6 weeks*), they hired us a pretty well specced 320d M-sport tourer from Enterprise, which was genuinely nice to drive and we were a bit gutted to give back - consequently options for a new 3 series are on the table whereas previously they definitely weren't. If we'd had a new 5 series then I can well imagine we'd already have done a deal.
* despite the fact we thought we'd had good service and certainly hadn't complained, we also got a bottle of champagne and box of choccies to apologise for how long it took as a Christmas present from BMW customer service.
That's the minimum I expect from a franchised dealer.
However, the most recent fault necessitated the replacement of the gearbox, and as it was going to take an indeterminate amount of time (it ended up being 6 weeks*), they hired us a pretty well specced 320d M-sport tourer from Enterprise, which was genuinely nice to drive and we were a bit gutted to give back - consequently options for a new 3 series are on the table whereas previously they definitely weren't. If we'd had a new 5 series then I can well imagine we'd already have done a deal.
* despite the fact we thought we'd had good service and certainly hadn't complained, we also got a bottle of champagne and box of choccies to apologise for how long it took as a Christmas present from BMW customer service.
When my marble floored VW dealer wanted my car for a morning and nearly £300 for a glorified oil change I didn't appreciate the dirty base spec Polo with glowing fuel light they gave me to biff about in.
At the next service I asked if they might have 'something a little nicer' and they gave me a zero mile top spec MK7 Golf which impressed me so much I recommended it to three friends, two of whom ended up purchasing one.
At the next service I asked if they might have 'something a little nicer' and they gave me a zero mile top spec MK7 Golf which impressed me so much I recommended it to three friends, two of whom ended up purchasing one.
Assuming it's from a franchised dealer I would expect a clean vehicle no more than a couple of years old from the same manufacturer but probably the entry level. For example a C1 in a citroen dealer and a À class from a merc dealer.
It would also like to be offered the option of a auto.
If the car was hired then it would be a lottery what I'd recieve.
It would also like to be offered the option of a auto.
If the car was hired then it would be a lottery what I'd recieve.
I'm afraid dealers do not have an endless supply of cars available to hand out as courtesy cars.
We have 4 cars that we use (all brand new Subaru) when they run out we have an old V reg Saab that we use as a drop car and if a customers just needs wheels then they are more than welcome it it.
We have 4 cars that we use (all brand new Subaru) when they run out we have an old V reg Saab that we use as a drop car and if a customers just needs wheels then they are more than welcome it it.
Look at it from another angle.
I own a garage and had a couple of courtesy cars, they were good three year old cars but people would have them and when I got them back various damage would have been done, (people would lie till red in the face it wasn't them, that was there before etc), the worst was people would use them to fill up the back with garden waste and go to the tip. Also silly things like, damaging wheels, running fuel till litterally empty, parcel shelf goes missing, speeding tickets and customers swear blind it's not them, the list goes on.
I now have one old but reliable car, and make customers insure it themselves, there is no real winner to lending someone else a car that they really don't care about and as the saying goes, a hire/courtesy car is the fastest on the road.
A £7000 Citroen c1 is still free wheels and does what it's meant to but as it's the lower end of the car spectrum it's less likely to be damaged/raced etc. Main dealers and there demos etc are all well and good but indys like myself just can't cut it and afford it.
Carl
I own a garage and had a couple of courtesy cars, they were good three year old cars but people would have them and when I got them back various damage would have been done, (people would lie till red in the face it wasn't them, that was there before etc), the worst was people would use them to fill up the back with garden waste and go to the tip. Also silly things like, damaging wheels, running fuel till litterally empty, parcel shelf goes missing, speeding tickets and customers swear blind it's not them, the list goes on.
I now have one old but reliable car, and make customers insure it themselves, there is no real winner to lending someone else a car that they really don't care about and as the saying goes, a hire/courtesy car is the fastest on the road.
A £7000 Citroen c1 is still free wheels and does what it's meant to but as it's the lower end of the car spectrum it's less likely to be damaged/raced etc. Main dealers and there demos etc are all well and good but indys like myself just can't cut it and afford it.
Carl
Edited by C. Grimsley on Friday 3rd January 20:28
Edited by C. Grimsley on Friday 3rd January 20:29
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