Monday 14th June 2004

AA to dish out Courtesy Cars

Smart move?

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The AA is to offer its members a new service designed to keep you on the move. They've got themselves a fleet of 180 AA branded Smart cars that they'll be able to give to people who's cars they can't fix.

So confident in the ability of its patrol force to repair broken-down vehicles that it is now making a unique breakdown promise to its personal members – "to fix your car by the road or get you another one".

AA personal members could be offered one of 180 specially AA-branded smart cars located around the country, or the choice of another similar-sized car with the opportunity to upgrade to a larger vehicle if required.

Kerry Richardson, Director of AA Road Services says: "On those occasions where we can’t fix their faulty cars, we are determined to keep our members on the move. Providing personal members with a replacement vehicle will go a long way to removing the terrible stress and inconvenience that breaking down can bring .

"In around 8 out of 10 of the 3.9 million breakdowns we attend each year, we are able to get our members on the road and moving again thanks to the resourcefulness of our highly-skilled patrol force. This new benefit will come to the rescue of those for whom a quick repair might not always be possible ."

AA personal members will be offered this flexible 24-hour service if their cars cannot be fixed, allowing them to either collect a courtesy car following a breakdown, or within 72 hours, at their convenience. During normal working hours the attending patrol will recover the member to the nearest Europcar depot to collect the courtesy car. Outside these hours members will have to make their own way to the nearest Europcar depot.

[ultimasimon]

An un-named Journo said:

So confident in the ability of its patrol force to repair broken-down vehicles that it is now making a unique breakdown promise to its personal members – "to fix your car by the road or get you another one".

So confident that the AA can repair your vehicle by the side of the road they have just ordered 180 vehicles in case they can't. Doesn't sound like it instils confidence to me.

May be if they spent the money on another 50 recovery trucks, they might get a thumbs up for providing a better service, and shorter response times, rather than spending the money on a marketing gimmick.

Also it gives the road side mechanic an excuse for not getting on with it, e.g. if it was pouring down with rain.

What if you had two passengers? Why didn't they buy a proper car with 4 seats like a base Fiesta/Nova/Panda.

I thought the whole idea of logistics with a recovery business would be to have as many transporters as possible for your given amount of customers and not to add a huge extra cost which does nothing to help with response times - bearing in mind that you still have to wait for the roadside mech's opinion before you get the car.

Are they going to have enough resources to keep the their customers and the Smart cars on the road, or will they end up calling the RAC to keep their fleet of 'Smarts' going

Sorry, I think its deeply flawed. And as for 'Smart', whoever thought up the name for that should be shot. They should have called it 'Short' or 'Skimpy' or 'Eco-Tin'

[InRong Ghia]

Wonder how well their Smart would tow over a tonne of covered trailer and Westy ?????

[laner]

Excuse the pun but what a “smart” move!! Who needs further encouragement to keep their vehicles well serviced and maintained……..you get made to drive a Smart if you don’t!

[mike s]

ultimasimon said:

Sorry, I think its deeply flawed. And as for 'Smart', whoever thought up the name for that should be shot. They should have called it 'Short' or 'Skimpy' or 'Eco-Tin'

And they should have called "Ultimas" something like "Regulars"

Always someone having a go at Smarts for nothing....

[ultimasimon]

mike sensitive said:

"Always someone having a go at Smarts for nothing...."

Ok, it was taken out of context, and out of context I admit it could come across as a little harsh, but to use a 'Smart' as transportation in a breakdown scenario where families would regularly need to be ferried about ie with two children does not seem like a very smart idea. Thats the reason behind the 'go' at 'Smarts' as you say.

Surely the concept behind using courtesy vehicles is that it removes the necessity of having the recovery vehicle tied up when being used as an alternative transport solution for its members. If the vehicle supplied had four seats it would make more sense.

I stand by my original opinion on the name; that Mercedes could have thought up something more original than 'Smart'. Don't let it get to you, its just a bit of fun.

After all why listen to me, I just drive a Regular
At least Ultima don't carry out 'Red Rose' conversions

Chill out maaan it's not all in the name

[woof]

i love the AA !

just last week I spent 4hrs waiting for them to pick me up off the M25 after my bike had broken down

Hello AA, I've broken down - yr be here in 45mins - excellent
Hour 1 - Figured OK they'll be here soon
Hour 2 - 4 phone calls later - contract collection truck stuck in traffic should be with you shortly
Hour 3 - started ranting and screaming at traffic
Hour 4 - total despair - started collecting road kill and making will.

Excuse - driver was stuck in traffic - BS !!



>> Edited by woof on Monday 14th June 20:43

[agent006]

ultimasimon said:

What if you had two passengers?

Yes, but something like 60%+ of journeys involve 1 person in a car.

[dontlift]

Hang on one cotton pickin minute...

The AA Scam said:

AA personal members could be offered one of 180 specially AA-branded smart cars located around the country, or the choice of another similar-sized car with the opportunity to upgrade to a larger vehicle if required.

Notice a smart only has 2 seats for anyone with a case or kids or anything else in the car - they are basically forced to upgrade, no doubt at some extortionate cost

[stainless_steve]

If i ever break down in my car, there is NO WAY i would drive a smart car

[ultimasimon]

Thats a seriously good looking Wedge Steve

[mcflurry]

ultimasimon said:

Sorry, I think its deeply flawed. And as for 'Smart', whoever thought up the name for that should be shot. They should have called it 'Short' or 'Skimpy' or 'Eco-Tin'

It stands for Swatch Mercedes ART.. An apt name IMHO.

The smart may have 700 bhp less than your lovely looking machine, but then the design brief was for a city car. It does what it says on the packet, as can be seen in Paris, Rome and 101 other european city centres

[mike s]

mcflurry said:

It stands for Swatch Mercedes ART.. An apt name IMHO. The smart may have 700 bhp less than your lovely looking machine, but then the design brief was for a city car. It does what it says on the packet, as can be seen in Paris, Rome and 101 other european city centres

And they're not kit cars

[ultimasimon]

mcflurry said:

It stands for Swatch Mercedes ART.. An apt name IMHO. The smart may have 700 bhp less than your lovely looking machine, but then the design brief was for a city car. It does what it says on the packet, as can be seen in Paris, Rome and 101 other european city centres

Ah thanks mcflurry for the explanation - so the name is an acronim. You learn something new everyday Why are you comparing it to the Ultima? I didn't, and it has nothing to do with it. Read the posts again. I merely stated that I didn't think it was a suitable vehicle for the AA to use, as did others on here.

mike sensitive said:

And they're not kit cars

Neither is an Ultima. A kit car by definition is 'a car requiring used parts from a donor vehicle', like an Escort or Cortina etc.

An Ultima is built from new parts off the shelf, just like your 'Smart'. The factory don't liken it to being a kit car as they classify it as a 'Component Supercar', which it is. You pick the performance package you want off the shelf. Half the fun is building it, which I am yet to do.

The Ultima I bought was a factory built car. The interior was trimmed by Martin, Lee Nobles top trimmer. I can't really understand why you seem to be getting a kick from slating it, but I would be pi$$ed off too if I had paid £1700 to insure a 'Smart'. Smart that isn't

If your going to have a dig at me, please do but at least get your facts right. Now if you have finished slating, why don't you do something usefull and go and pollish your dad's Tiv, theres a good boy

[mike s]

ultimasimon said:

mcflurry said: It stands for Swatch Mercedes ART.. An apt name IMHO. The smart may have 700 bhp less than your lovely looking machine, but then the design brief was for a city car. It does what it says on the packet, as can be seen in Paris, Rome and 101 other european city centres Ah thanks mcflurry for the explanation - so the name is an acronim. You learn something new everyday Why are you comparing it to the Ultima? I didn't, and it has nothing to do with it. Read the posts again. I merely stated that I didn't think it was a suitable vehicle for the AA to use, as did others on here. mike sensitive said: And they're not kit cars Neither is an Ultima. A kit car by definition is 'a car requiring used parts from a donor vehicle', like an Escort or Cortina etc. An Ultima is built from new parts off the shelf, just like your 'Smart'. The factory don't liken it to being a kit car as they classify it as a 'Component Supercar', which it is. You pick the performance package you want off the shelf. Half the fun is building it, which I am yet to do. The Ultima I bought was a factory built car. The interior was trimmed by Martin, Lee Nobles top trimmer. I can't really understand why you seem to be getting a kick from slating it, but I would be pi$$ed off too if I had paid £1700 to insure a 'Smart'. Smart that isn't If your going to have a dig at me, please do but at least get your facts right. Now if you have finished slating, why don't you do something usefull and go and pollish your dad's Tiv, theres a good boy

I must have touched a raw nurve there, I didn't even quote you yet you seem to think it was at you.... Funny that
Oh and that was one of the cheapest quotes I had on a car as Insurance is abit dearer than 2 and 8 these days my old Kit Car mag reading friend

[Pies]

According to the AA's own figs 780,000 cars per year can not be fixed there and then.

That equates to approx 2100 breakdowns per day,so is 180 smarts going to be enough

[stainless_steve]

ultimasimon said:

Thats a seriously good looking Wedge Steve

do you want to swap