MINI…. a premium brand, boy was I wrong
Discussion
Our late 2014 Mini Cooper S has been off the road since 3rd April, a warning message was displayed requesting me to call Mini Assistance. The part they required replacing is on back order and will be with us April at the earliest.
I was provided with a loan car (3 series) via Enterprise, very smooth process much like I had experienced with BMW in previous years.
My wife as a result of serious RTC years ago is an incredibly nervous driver, appreciate this is not particularly normal but before she drives a car we get her some lessons with an experienced instructor to try and make the situation as smooth as it can be. She will not drive cars she has not carried out this process with.
I myself have a problem with my back, very boring but means supportive seats are essential for me. The Cooper S is ok for me to drive, but my normal daily is an A7. Since the breakdown my wife has been using my car, and I have been in the courtesy car, situation fine as we wait for a part.
The dealer have been brilliant and couldn’t have done any more to help me. They called me yesterday to advise me that MINI were delivering a Cooper D next week for me to change into, they are aware of the situation so advised me to call MINI customer services to get this changed into something else.
Just got off the phone to customer services and quite frankly I am amazed at how poor the response has been, they are telling me that the Cooper D is the same as the Cooper S, I would be curious to see how the marketing team would reply to this
Now am I being unreasonable to ask for a car that is the equivalent or better than that which is broken. I keep being told the policy is to provide a car that is the equivalent and that a Cooper D is…..
With this being our first MINI the customer services seem seriously appalling and I am majorly hacked off, am I being unreasonable?
Apologies for typos and grammar in advance!
I was provided with a loan car (3 series) via Enterprise, very smooth process much like I had experienced with BMW in previous years.
My wife as a result of serious RTC years ago is an incredibly nervous driver, appreciate this is not particularly normal but before she drives a car we get her some lessons with an experienced instructor to try and make the situation as smooth as it can be. She will not drive cars she has not carried out this process with.
I myself have a problem with my back, very boring but means supportive seats are essential for me. The Cooper S is ok for me to drive, but my normal daily is an A7. Since the breakdown my wife has been using my car, and I have been in the courtesy car, situation fine as we wait for a part.
The dealer have been brilliant and couldn’t have done any more to help me. They called me yesterday to advise me that MINI were delivering a Cooper D next week for me to change into, they are aware of the situation so advised me to call MINI customer services to get this changed into something else.
Just got off the phone to customer services and quite frankly I am amazed at how poor the response has been, they are telling me that the Cooper D is the same as the Cooper S, I would be curious to see how the marketing team would reply to this
Now am I being unreasonable to ask for a car that is the equivalent or better than that which is broken. I keep being told the policy is to provide a car that is the equivalent and that a Cooper D is…..
With this being our first MINI the customer services seem seriously appalling and I am majorly hacked off, am I being unreasonable?
Apologies for typos and grammar in advance!
Personally, I don't think it's that bad - at least it's the same size / brand just a different model. I'm guessing that they have more Cooper / Cooper D's in their demo fleet that they can use for such instances.
The other thing to bear in ind is that the new reg is out, so they are (or at least were) slightly short on demo type cars (I struggled to get an extended test in a Cooper this month due to the dealer waiting for new cars to turn up).
The other thing to bear in ind is that the new reg is out, so they are (or at least were) slightly short on demo type cars (I struggled to get an extended test in a Cooper this month due to the dealer waiting for new cars to turn up).
It's difficult when you're involved to step back sometimes and look at something from a neutral standpoint. From an outsiders point it looks like you're being unreasonable to the point of being irrational. I appreciate you have personal issues, but the problem is you probably didn't personalise your MINI after-care around those personal issues. From MINI's point of view, they're fulfilling their end of the deal.
I've been to some dealers where the courtesy car offered was whatever they had the keys to. If you didn't like it, no matter how "s
t" it was, you walked home 
I've been to some dealers where the courtesy car offered was whatever they had the keys to. If you didn't like it, no matter how "s
t" it was, you walked home So what is the massive difference then, for the uneducated? I'm guessing diesel rather than petrol but what else as I can't see that being a deal breaker?
I've voting unreasonable at the moment and unless the Cooper D comes with a massive butt plug instead of a seat, I can't see that changing.
I've voting unreasonable at the moment and unless the Cooper D comes with a massive butt plug instead of a seat, I can't see that changing.
Am I missing something here?
You had to drive the 3 series because your wife isn't comfortable to drive it, ok fine.
Now you have a Mini D on the way your wife can now drive that and you can get back in your A7. Therefore she is fully comfortable driving a Mini, and you get your comfy seats in your A7 for your back problem. Problem solved.
What are you actually complaining about? the fact the D has a different engine or options to your S? You don't have an issue with your back as you are back in your A7, and your wife can comfortably drive the Mini, so what's the problem?
You had to drive the 3 series because your wife isn't comfortable to drive it, ok fine.
Now you have a Mini D on the way your wife can now drive that and you can get back in your A7. Therefore she is fully comfortable driving a Mini, and you get your comfy seats in your A7 for your back problem. Problem solved.
What are you actually complaining about? the fact the D has a different engine or options to your S? You don't have an issue with your back as you are back in your A7, and your wife can comfortably drive the Mini, so what's the problem?
When I read the opening message I thought, "b*gger me, that is bad, if it's been with the dealer since April 2014"
Then I realised it was just a little moan about not being given a Cooper S as a stop-gap for a couple of weeks.
That is unreasonable.
If I were the dealer I'd make sure you now got a Mini One instead, you ungrateful turd!
Then I realised it was just a little moan about not being given a Cooper S as a stop-gap for a couple of weeks.
That is unreasonable.
If I were the dealer I'd make sure you now got a Mini One instead, you ungrateful turd!
Fill it with petrol and when it starts making funny noises, phone them up saying they told you it was the same thing.
Obviously if you have to keep it,don't do this. But you should be writing a cheque to them for the fact the fuel has cost you less than if you were using your actual car.
Obviously if you have to keep it,don't do this. But you should be writing a cheque to them for the fact the fuel has cost you less than if you were using your actual car.
Edited by talksthetorque on Friday 20th March 13:23
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