Main Dealer Courtesy Car of a Different Brand: Own Goal?
Discussion
Now then.
I've just dropped my car off at the local BMW/Mini dealer for yet another bout of its Little-and-Often variable servicing regime.
The first time I went there they had a Mini Countryman as their courtesy/drop-off vehicle, all logoed up with the dealership name.
The last 2 times they've seeming swapped over to a fleet of unbranded Ford Fiestas.
This seems a strange move, as it is saying to punters "Minis and 1-series are too expensive for us to run". I have been impressed by the Fiesta, especially the 3-cyl ecoboost I got a lift in today. I'd also discounted the well reviewed Fiesta ST as being too small, but having sat in the car they actually are a decent size with plenty of rear room, so it's back on the list for my next car.
I suspect, sadly, that I'm the only customer that would consider a Ford after a BMW so they've nothing much to lose in having an off-brand fleet.
I've just dropped my car off at the local BMW/Mini dealer for yet another bout of its Little-and-Often variable servicing regime.
The first time I went there they had a Mini Countryman as their courtesy/drop-off vehicle, all logoed up with the dealership name.
The last 2 times they've seeming swapped over to a fleet of unbranded Ford Fiestas.
This seems a strange move, as it is saying to punters "Minis and 1-series are too expensive for us to run". I have been impressed by the Fiesta, especially the 3-cyl ecoboost I got a lift in today. I'd also discounted the well reviewed Fiesta ST as being too small, but having sat in the car they actually are a decent size with plenty of rear room, so it's back on the list for my next car.
I suspect, sadly, that I'm the only customer that would consider a Ford after a BMW so they've nothing much to lose in having an off-brand fleet.
I agree entirely. Regarding your last point, I doubt you're alone, no; imagine all the people advising partners and family on cars, either new or secondhand: you're more likely to recommend a Fiesta than a MINI now, and surely that's bad for business?
As far as I understand it, dealerships are franchises and the courtesy car fleets are obtained by service managers, who will be largely driven by cost with no real regard or knowledge of sales, or indeed any reason to care. The solution to the problem would be for the parent car company, in this case BMW, to issue rules for courtesy cars, and ensure that dealerships have the money to fund them. I personally would rather do away with the fancy leather chairs, huge glass showrooms and coffee and gain a 1 series courtesy car instead of a Fiesta.
Caterham used to give me a Supersport R 7 and it not only sold that model to me, but the extras it has too; plus lots of my family and friends saw the car too and had rides in it. I always thought Lotus were missing a trick giving me a Corsa, but in their own words it is indeed the costs involved with running a fleet of Lotuses rather than Vauxhalls.
As far as I understand it, dealerships are franchises and the courtesy car fleets are obtained by service managers, who will be largely driven by cost with no real regard or knowledge of sales, or indeed any reason to care. The solution to the problem would be for the parent car company, in this case BMW, to issue rules for courtesy cars, and ensure that dealerships have the money to fund them. I personally would rather do away with the fancy leather chairs, huge glass showrooms and coffee and gain a 1 series courtesy car instead of a Fiesta.
Caterham used to give me a Supersport R 7 and it not only sold that model to me, but the extras it has too; plus lots of my family and friends saw the car too and had rides in it. I always thought Lotus were missing a trick giving me a Corsa, but in their own words it is indeed the costs involved with running a fleet of Lotuses rather than Vauxhalls.
When I put my FFRR in for servicing, I get given some seriously horrible Japanese thing as a courtesy car - I can't even remember what it is. Completely reliable, hideous plastic interior, bland driving etc etc.
I have always assumed that loaning one was the garage's not so subtle way of reminding me what I was missing and making the eventual bill more palatable! It certainly works with me...
Peter
I have always assumed that loaning one was the garage's not so subtle way of reminding me what I was missing and making the eventual bill more palatable! It certainly works with me...
Peter
I remember in the late 90's, early 2000, our local BM dealer had a fleet of rover 45's as courtesy cars. So many customers complained apparently that for a time when you asked for a courtesy car, you were asked if it had to be a BM.
I quite liked the velouryness of the 45's. I think the pick of the crop was a 2.0 litre auto. A nice contrast to the BM's we had at the time.
and now a great shed option...
I quite liked the velouryness of the 45's. I think the pick of the crop was a 2.0 litre auto. A nice contrast to the BM's we had at the time.
and now a great shed option...
I suppose it's a balance between keepnig service costs low, so pleasing customers on a budget, and selling cars and aftermarket extras. Whilst I'd love to be given an Elise whilst my 2-Eleven is in for a service, I'd probably rather pay £50 less for the service and have a FWD hatchback 
Back when Lexus was a new brand in the uk I bought one, first service and when I turned up they tried to give me a crappy little Mazda thing, I went straight back I to complain and the service centre manager actually got a brand new Lexus from inside the showroom and threw me the keys, I wonder if Lexus still have that sort of great service
I was a regular visitor to the Jag main dealer as my Jag was so s
te. I never had a Jag once as a loaner. I guess the logic was that as I hadn't spanked £60K+ on a brand new Jag, I didn't qualify - I never asked.
Most of the loaners were Seats from the dealer's "sister" company - they were fairly horrid, but they were transport I suppose. I guess they kept on giving me them cos I didn't complain - I wasn't really too worried, and I certainly wasn't going to buy a Seat on the experience :-)
te. I never had a Jag once as a loaner. I guess the logic was that as I hadn't spanked £60K+ on a brand new Jag, I didn't qualify - I never asked.Most of the loaners were Seats from the dealer's "sister" company - they were fairly horrid, but they were transport I suppose. I guess they kept on giving me them cos I didn't complain - I wasn't really too worried, and I certainly wasn't going to buy a Seat on the experience :-)
kambites said:
I wouldn't have thought a BMW dealer could buy Fiestas cheaper than MINIs, though?
Maybe if they're part of a larger group with a Ford dealership within the group?Still seems odd, we have a Vauxhall franchise and Corsas are cheaper than Clios but we would be mad to put our own customers in competitor cars!!
RobM77 said:
I I always thought Lotus were missing a trick giving me a Corsa, but in their own words it is indeed the costs involved with running a fleet of Lotuses rather than Vauxhalls.
The crucial difference is - you are not going to go out looking to buy another Lotus and then change your mind and buy a Corsa instead. Whereas it sounds like the OP may well now consider swapping their Mini for a Fiesta, with MINI/BMW giving him the opportunity Ford would have loved to, and broken his brand perception.
Own goal, as said.
V8forweekends said:
I was a regular visitor to the Jag main dealer as my Jag was so ste. I never had a Jag once as a loaner. I guess the logic was that as I hadn't spanked £60K+ on a brand new Jag, I didn't qualify - I never asked.
Most of the loaners were Seats from the dealer's "sister" company - they were fairly horrid, but they were transport I suppose. I guess they kept on giving me them cos I didn't complain - I wasn't really too worried, and I certainly wasn't going to buy a Seat on the experience :-)
I've always been given a XF when my XKR has been in. I don't think it matters whether you buy new or used - the dealers need to sell both therefore giving you a cheaper product from a different manufacturer is a wasted opportunity in my view. te. I never had a Jag once as a loaner. I guess the logic was that as I hadn't spanked £60K+ on a brand new Jag, I didn't qualify - I never asked.Most of the loaners were Seats from the dealer's "sister" company - they were fairly horrid, but they were transport I suppose. I guess they kept on giving me them cos I didn't complain - I wasn't really too worried, and I certainly wasn't going to buy a Seat on the experience :-)
kambites said:
Butter Face said:
kambites said:
I wouldn't have thought a BMW dealer could buy Fiestas cheaper than MINIs, though?
Maybe if they're part of a larger group with a Ford dealership within the group?As a bit of background for that, BMW were said to have actually lost money on the first few thousand MINIs sold, and although obviously they corrected that embaressing error as quickly as they could, that shows you the slim margins they operate by. Ford on the other hand are well known for having a huge mark up on each car - I've heard quite a few figures for Ford and Vauxhall from major hire car companies like Avis and Hertz and the customer RRP is very high indeed compared to the volume sales figures. I've always assumed that this is why hire cars are so often Vauxhalls but never Toyotas, MINIs etc - just look at the quality different between similarly priced Fords and Toyotas; you don't even need the figures to see it.
My Skoda dealer also sold Suzuki and when they were still around SAAB , I much preferred to have the latter than the former as a courtesy car.
They would occasionally give me something half decent and often got a sale further on down the road on the strength of it but to be really honest I don't care what the courtesy car is as long as it has a wheel in each corner its fine with me.
They would occasionally give me something half decent and often got a sale further on down the road on the strength of it but to be really honest I don't care what the courtesy car is as long as it has a wheel in each corner its fine with me.
snotrag said:
RobM77 said:
I I always thought Lotus were missing a trick giving me a Corsa, but in their own words it is indeed the costs involved with running a fleet of Lotuses rather than Vauxhalls.
The crucial difference is - you are not going to go out looking to buy another Lotus and then change your mind and buy a Corsa instead. Whereas it sounds like the OP may well now consider swapping their Mini for a Fiesta, with MINI/BMW giving him the opportunity Ford would have loved to, and broken his brand perception.
Own goal, as said.
tintopracer said:
I remember in the late 90's, early 2000, our local BM dealer had a fleet of rover 45's as courtesy cars. So many customers complained apparently that for a time when you asked for a courtesy car, you were asked if it had to be a BM.
I quite liked the velouryness of the 45's. I think the pick of the crop was a 2.0 litre auto. A nice contrast to the BM's we had at the time.
and now a great shed option...
That might have been a 2.0 KV6, which was a lovely thing.I quite liked the velouryness of the 45's. I think the pick of the crop was a 2.0 litre auto. A nice contrast to the BM's we had at the time.
and now a great shed option...
The trick is to have the other manufacturers car be the crappiest one possible.
I worked for a Chrysler/Jeep dealer when it first opened and were still gathering stock etc so for the first few months rather than Jeeps all our loan cars were rented VW Polos in the crappiest spec possible which even made a PT Cruiser an appealing thought.
It is always nice when you get a good loaner though. I used to take my Impreza STI to one dealership who would always give me a bloody Justy as a loan car. Switched to another dealer and they gave a me a new STI
I worked for a Chrysler/Jeep dealer when it first opened and were still gathering stock etc so for the first few months rather than Jeeps all our loan cars were rented VW Polos in the crappiest spec possible which even made a PT Cruiser an appealing thought.
It is always nice when you get a good loaner though. I used to take my Impreza STI to one dealership who would always give me a bloody Justy as a loan car. Switched to another dealer and they gave a me a new STI
Mr Tom said:
Once my father had a Jag XF when his Merc went in for new injectors under warranty work. Seemed a bit odd....
Wouldn't have been an E-class diesel a few years back perchance? Apparently that got so bad that the hire company that had the contract to provide equivalent Mercs ran out of them.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff