Courtesy car lead time at main dealer
Discussion
What's your experience? Was booking my car in for warranty work today. They could see the car at the end of this week if I could drop it in, but the wait for a courtesy car is a month!
The way the conversation went though, I'm not sure the delay is strictly because of car availability. When I mentioned I needed a car the service advisor told me it was a month wait and said the choice was mine, I said I needed a car, so he immediately said okay you are booked in for the 17th August.
There was no delay on the phone for checking books/paperwork etc. I thought he may have to check availability on a booking sheet etc but apparently not...
The way the conversation went though, I'm not sure the delay is strictly because of car availability. When I mentioned I needed a car the service advisor told me it was a month wait and said the choice was mine, I said I needed a car, so he immediately said okay you are booked in for the 17th August.
There was no delay on the phone for checking books/paperwork etc. I thought he may have to check availability on a booking sheet etc but apparently not...
Unfortunately, popular to contrary belief, dealers don't have huge fleets of courtesy cars;1 for each service customer of the day and 2 more just hanging around because well you never know, courtesy cars aren't cheap to run so the fleet will be the bare minimum as dictated by the manufacturer.
At our place you will be looking at a 3-4 week lead time, that's just the way it is and is generally the norm, unless Lexus I believe, there is another dealer of the same manufacturer near us who don't run courtesy cars, we don't actually have to have them but we do, to offer a better service.
And as for the op stating the service advisor didn't consult some sort of rota or diary regarding courtesy car availability; how about he just knew, or the information was right in front of him?
At our place you will be looking at a 3-4 week lead time, that's just the way it is and is generally the norm, unless Lexus I believe, there is another dealer of the same manufacturer near us who don't run courtesy cars, we don't actually have to have them but we do, to offer a better service.
And as for the op stating the service advisor didn't consult some sort of rota or diary regarding courtesy car availability; how about he just knew, or the information was right in front of him?
I've found this, however if the car is in for warranty or recall then they will always have a car - or MB in Leeds do anyway.
I've actually stopped bothering with them for servicing - I borrow my dads electric fold up bike, lob it in the boot and off I go. It's actually faster than driving as I work in Leeds centre.
I've actually stopped bothering with them for servicing - I borrow my dads electric fold up bike, lob it in the boot and off I go. It's actually faster than driving as I work in Leeds centre.
Not strictly speaking 'service' work but had a problem with my 2 day old 'new to me' car, phoned the dealer, and went in the next morning, they had 30 minutes trying to fix it while I had a coffee, failed and a C Class Merc appears instantly for me to use for the next 2 days while they sort it. 
As a contrast, my Merc gets very well looked after by a local independant specialist. He keeps a fleet of old VW Passat's as courtesy cars.
I typically phone up at the start of a week to book a service and they schedule it for the end of that week / beginning of the next.
The courtesy car is always available - just replace the fuel that you use.
It used to be that the main dealers provided the 'best' service................
I typically phone up at the start of a week to book a service and they schedule it for the end of that week / beginning of the next.
The courtesy car is always available - just replace the fuel that you use.
It used to be that the main dealers provided the 'best' service................
HTP99 said:
And as for the op stating the service advisor didn't consult some sort of rota or diary regarding courtesy car availability; how about he just knew, or the information was right in front of him?
Yeah I just found it a bit odd. So, they have availability in the service workshop starting on Thursday (only three days into the future). When I booked it in for a service the other week, lead time was only a week. All of which suggests they are not totally stacked with bookings for the next month.
So to be given exactly one calendar month booking date in the future feels more like policy than actual car availability. Iyswim.
HTP99 said:
And as for the op stating the service advisor didn't consult some sort of rota or diary regarding courtesy car availability; how about he just knew, or the information was right in front of him?
If only dealers had invested in modern technology that would give service advisors instant computerised access to booking diaries for service work and courtesy car availability...................langtounlad said:
As a contrast, my Merc gets very well looked after by a local independant specialist. He keeps a fleet of old VW Passat's as courtesy cars.
I typically phone up at the start of a week to book a service and they schedule it for the end of that week / beginning of the next.
The courtesy car is always available - just replace the fuel that you use.
It used to be that the main dealers provided the 'best' service................
Indeed. Last time at Lexus I was asked to shell out extra to cover insurance for the courtesy car. I typically phone up at the start of a week to book a service and they schedule it for the end of that week / beginning of the next.
The courtesy car is always available - just replace the fuel that you use.
It used to be that the main dealers provided the 'best' service................
When I had my old Lexus GS300, that went in for services/repairs 3 times with only about a weeks notice. Always had a courtesy car, twice was a brand new IS300H but different one both times. 3rd time was a NX300H but due to my car not being repaired in time for the weekend and them needing the car back for an event that weekend they brought me back in and I left in another IS300H. Can't fault them at all, apart from the repair costs!
TBH I have found Vauxhall to be quite good, 2 cars I have had off them both within a week or so, 1 was warranty work 1 was service.
A few years back I took my fiesta to fords with a blown turbo, blue smoke billowing out the back, I was 18 at the time. Got to the reception and they asked what the problem was, mechanic came out to look over it an confirmed turbo, then laughed that it blew at the right time (59470 miles) Went back in and asked for a curtsey car, none available for 2 weeks but I would have to pay a £19 a day charge, I said no just fix it, 2 week wait for parts (typical) ended up walking for 2 weeks but got it covered under warranty, If I drove it another 2 weeks would have been way over the 60k
A few years back I took my fiesta to fords with a blown turbo, blue smoke billowing out the back, I was 18 at the time. Got to the reception and they asked what the problem was, mechanic came out to look over it an confirmed turbo, then laughed that it blew at the right time (59470 miles) Went back in and asked for a curtsey car, none available for 2 weeks but I would have to pay a £19 a day charge, I said no just fix it, 2 week wait for parts (typical) ended up walking for 2 weeks but got it covered under warranty, If I drove it another 2 weeks would have been way over the 60k
My Honda dealer have always had a courtesy car available, I've only had to test that theory out twice so far however. It was about a week in advance both times I booked in, once for warranty work and once for servicing.
They are also quite clever to give you a brand new Honda Jazz because it makes getting back into my Civic feel like I am driving a Rolls Royce in comparison. As they are so horrible to drive it also ensures that people do not hold onto them for a minute longer than they have to.
They are also quite clever to give you a brand new Honda Jazz because it makes getting back into my Civic feel like I am driving a Rolls Royce in comparison. As they are so horrible to drive it also ensures that people do not hold onto them for a minute longer than they have to.
Al U said:
My Honda dealer have always had a courtesy car available, I've only had to test that theory out twice so far however. It was about a week in advance both times I booked in, once for warranty work and once for servicing.
They are also quite clever to give you a brand new Honda Jazz because it makes getting back into my Civic feel like I am driving a Rolls Royce in comparison. As they are so horrible to drive it also ensures that people do not hold onto them for a minute longer than they have to.
The Jazz is meant to be a great wee car? I thought manufacturers liked to give you the marque up to encourage you to trade in. They are also quite clever to give you a brand new Honda Jazz because it makes getting back into my Civic feel like I am driving a Rolls Royce in comparison. As they are so horrible to drive it also ensures that people do not hold onto them for a minute longer than they have to.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff