My dealership discontinues loaners!!
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From: Illinois
'04 Mars Red C230K 6 sp.
My dealership discontinues loaners!!
They got bought out by a neighboring dealer and now we get to ride our bicycles to work while our Benzes are in the shop. (And mine is in the shop often!!)
So now the only, and I mean ONLY service perks to driving a Benz are a free cup of institutional-grade coffee and a metal folding chair to sit on while you wait six hours for your car to get "fixed". Fixed is a generous term in the case of this dealer. I wouldn't trust them to fix a sandwich, but, unfortunately, they are the only ones within a two-hour radius of me.
So now the only, and I mean ONLY service perks to driving a Benz are a free cup of institutional-grade coffee and a metal folding chair to sit on while you wait six hours for your car to get "fixed". Fixed is a generous term in the case of this dealer. I wouldn't trust them to fix a sandwich, but, unfortunately, they are the only ones within a two-hour radius of me.
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From: Illinois
'04 Mars Red C230K 6 sp.
Originally posted by tifosiv122
Ouch, 2 hours. Honestly, I would not have bought a car from a manufacturer if I didn't trust the service dept. and it was my only option.
Erik
Ouch, 2 hours. Honestly, I would not have bought a car from a manufacturer if I didn't trust the service dept. and it was my only option.
Erik
And how can you predict that a dealership will get bought out a couple of years down the road?
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From: Laguna Niguel, CA
When I first moved here 20 years ago I bought a Toyota from a Toyota dealer, a few years later the dealer turned into a Volvo dealer so we got a Volvo, then they became an Acura dealer so we bought an Acura and now he's a Saab dealer, I have to draw the line somewhere! Imagine the fun of knowing that not only did your dealer get bought out but changed brands too.
The sad thing is, calling MB probably won't help, it's not written anywhere that I can find that MB dealers have to provide service loaners, it's just something most dealers do, like free car washes. I can't even imagine owning an MB without the loaners, they are just not reliable enough. What's even sadder is many dealers require you to buy a car from them or they won't give you a loaner so going to another dealer may be a bust. Your best bet is cut your losses and get rid of it. I would never, ever own an MB without the percs, what's the point?
Infiniti advertises the loan car program but even then, only through participating dealers. Lexus guarantees you a loaner but only if the repair takes over 8 hours and for maximum of 5 days (imagine some of the people here that had their car out for over 30 days).
The reality is if you bought a more reliable car to begin with you wouldn't need a loaner. Most dealers of other brands do provide rental cars at a nominal fee and the courtesy shuttles that most provide is reasonably good.
Worst comes to worst, at least on the C-Coupe, there is a folding bicycle accesory that fits nicely in the hatch area....
The sad thing is, calling MB probably won't help, it's not written anywhere that I can find that MB dealers have to provide service loaners, it's just something most dealers do, like free car washes. I can't even imagine owning an MB without the loaners, they are just not reliable enough. What's even sadder is many dealers require you to buy a car from them or they won't give you a loaner so going to another dealer may be a bust. Your best bet is cut your losses and get rid of it. I would never, ever own an MB without the percs, what's the point?
Infiniti advertises the loan car program but even then, only through participating dealers. Lexus guarantees you a loaner but only if the repair takes over 8 hours and for maximum of 5 days (imagine some of the people here that had their car out for over 30 days).
The reality is if you bought a more reliable car to begin with you wouldn't need a loaner. Most dealers of other brands do provide rental cars at a nominal fee and the courtesy shuttles that most provide is reasonably good.
Worst comes to worst, at least on the C-Coupe, there is a folding bicycle accesory that fits nicely in the hatch area....
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'06 Lexus GS300 RWD, '07 Camry SE V6 auto, '91 190E 2.6 auto
The reality is if you bought a more reliable car to begin with you wouldn't need a loaner.
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From: Illinois
'04 Mars Red C230K 6 sp.
Originally posted by Buellwinkle
. I would never, ever own an MB without the percs, what's the point?
Worst comes to worst, at least on the C-Coupe, there is a folding bicycle accesory that fits nicely in the hatch area....
. I would never, ever own an MB without the percs, what's the point?
Worst comes to worst, at least on the C-Coupe, there is a folding bicycle accesory that fits nicely in the hatch area....
I will indeed take my bicycle with me to the dealer Monday!
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From: GA
'06 Lexus GS300 RWD, '07 Camry SE V6 auto, '91 190E 2.6 auto
Yep - I agree on the perks. I might as well drive a VW or something.
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Actually I nowadays wouldn't buy from a dealer if they didn't provide loaners. My work schedule is such that the dealership is only open to me after I get off work. Therefore it would be a pain in the a$$ if they only gave me a ride home and I would have to get a ride in the a.m. to work and then again in the p.m. to the dealer. Plus what about those days where the will need it for more than a day?
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Re: My dealership discontinues loaners!!
Originally posted by RedC230K
They got bought out by a neighboring dealer and now we get to ride our bicycles to work while our Benzes are in the shop. (And mine is in the shop often!!)
So now the only, and I mean ONLY service perks to driving a Benz are a free cup of institutional-grade coffee and a metal folding chair to sit on while you wait six hours for your car to get "fixed". Fixed is a generous term in the case of this dealer. I wouldn't trust them to fix a sandwich, but, unfortunately, they are the only ones within a two-hour radius of me.
They got bought out by a neighboring dealer and now we get to ride our bicycles to work while our Benzes are in the shop. (And mine is in the shop often!!)
So now the only, and I mean ONLY service perks to driving a Benz are a free cup of institutional-grade coffee and a metal folding chair to sit on while you wait six hours for your car to get "fixed". Fixed is a generous term in the case of this dealer. I wouldn't trust them to fix a sandwich, but, unfortunately, they are the only ones within a two-hour radius of me.
that sucks. find a different dealer to service your mb that can drive a loaner to you and take your car when you need service.
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From: Illinois
'04 Mars Red C230K 6 sp.
Re: Re: My dealership discontinues loaners!!
Originally posted by moomeh
that sucks. find a different dealer to service your mb that can drive a loaner to you and take your car when you need service.
that sucks. find a different dealer to service your mb that can drive a loaner to you and take your car when you need service.
And I depend on my car during the work day. I am on call and have to respond whenever there is a disaster, fire, accident, or emergency.
That's hard to do on a bicycle. Loaners are not a "perk" to me, they're a necessity. That's part of why I bought an MB.
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From: New Jersey
SLS AMG | S65 AMG | GL550
Originally posted by RedC230K
How do you know that ahead of time?
And how can you predict that a dealership will get bought out a couple of years down the road?
How do you know that ahead of time?
And how can you predict that a dealership will get bought out a couple of years down the road?
I might be different, but I have no problems walking up to a complete stranger and ask them about their car. That is how I found my current dealer. After two bad dealerships I started noticing the badges of a third. I spoke to a few people and everyone seemed happy. For the '03, I made the switch and have been very happy.
I make all my dealerships sign in the contract that they will provide loaners for service. If they won't sign, I don't buy the car, and trust me, they always sign.
My Nissan dealer gave me loaners...as did Mazda. Just ask and you shall recieve.
Just as much research as you should put into buying a car, you should put into finding the right dealer (this is not directed toward you, just a general notice). It can't hurt to ask people how the dealership is, and it could save you hours of headaches.
Erik
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From: GA
'06 Lexus GS300 RWD, '07 Camry SE V6 auto, '91 190E 2.6 auto
And I depend on my car during the work day. I am on call and have to respond whenever there is a disaster, fire, accident, or emergency.
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From: Illinois
'04 Mars Red C230K 6 sp.
Good points are being raised here all around. Thanks, gents.
Peet - It's Sud's. They bought Midtown Imports.
It used to be the lesser of two evils... now it's evil on top of evil.
Peet - It's Sud's. They bought Midtown Imports.
It used to be the lesser of two evils... now it's evil on top of evil.
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From: stix of florida
Honda Grom
I got it in writing that I would be provided a loaner for the full length of my 100K warranty 
. I will ge dam*ed if I don't get a loaner, especially when dealer is 1.5 hours away.
. I will ge dam*ed if I don't get a loaner, especially when dealer is 1.5 hours away.
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From: Midwest
2002 C240
Re: My dealership discontinues loaners!!
Originally posted by RedC230K
They got bought out by a neighboring dealer and now we get to ride our bicycles to work while our Benzes are in the shop. (And mine is in the shop often!!)
So now the only, and I mean ONLY service perks to driving a Benz are a free cup of institutional-grade coffee and a metal folding chair to sit on while you wait six hours for your car to get "fixed". Fixed is a generous term in the case of this dealer. I wouldn't trust them to fix a sandwich, but, unfortunately, they are the only ones within a two-hour radius of me.
They got bought out by a neighboring dealer and now we get to ride our bicycles to work while our Benzes are in the shop. (And mine is in the shop often!!)
So now the only, and I mean ONLY service perks to driving a Benz are a free cup of institutional-grade coffee and a metal folding chair to sit on while you wait six hours for your car to get "fixed". Fixed is a generous term in the case of this dealer. I wouldn't trust them to fix a sandwich, but, unfortunately, they are the only ones within a two-hour radius of me.
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From: Chicagoland, IL
09 C63
What'sa suds? Sounds like a chain of some sort by the other posting... can you go downtown to Loeber?
Sorry to hear about this though. I couldn't stand having to wait around or arrange rides.
Good luck!
P
Sorry to hear about this though. I couldn't stand having to wait around or arrange rides.
Good luck!
P
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From: Illinois
'04 Mars Red C230K 6 sp.
Originally posted by peet
What'sa suds? Sounds like a chain of some sort by the other posting... can you go downtown to Loeber?
Sorry to hear about this though. I couldn't stand having to wait around or arrange rides.
Good luck!
P
What'sa suds? Sounds like a chain of some sort by the other posting... can you go downtown to Loeber?
Sorry to hear about this though. I couldn't stand having to wait around or arrange rides.
Good luck!
P
I'm in Peoria, so Chicago dealers are a bit of a haul for me.
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From: Chicagoland, IL
09 C63
Sorry - for some reason Mid Town Motors sounded like something in Chicago I am in the burbs myself, but Peoria sounds like you'd have a hard time picking and choosing a different dealer! My feelings go out to you.
P
I am in the burbs myself, but Peoria sounds like you'd have a hard time picking and choosing a different dealer! My feelings go out to you.P
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From: Peoria IL
2003 MB C230 coupe
josh, i saw this thread when it was first posted but didn't realize it was you who was posting it so i just disregarded it. but when i called midtown this morning to schedule my first service A, i was shocked when linda told me that they don't have loaners anymore. that sucks. guess i'll be getting up early with my wife from now on so i can drop her off at work and drive her car when my needs service. was their new owner a hyundai dealership owner at one time or something? 
EDIT: i just noticed you said SUDS bought midtown. well that's just great. i had no idea that SUDS doesn't offer loaners. do they still wash your car for ya when ya bring it in? i hope so.
yup, it sure sucks that we don't have dealership choices in our area.
EDIT: i just noticed you said SUDS bought midtown. well that's just great.
i had no idea that SUDS doesn't offer loaners. do they still wash your car for ya when ya bring it in? i hope so.yup, it sure sucks that we don't have dealership choices in our area.
Last edited by truelove; Aug 5, 2003 at 12:36 PM.
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From: The blue white rock, third out.
2002 C230 Coupe(M111)
Originally posted by truelove
EDIT: i just noticed you said SUDS bought midtown. well that's just great. i had no idea that SUDS doesn't offer loaners. do they still wash your car for ya when ya bring it in? i hope so.
yup, it sure sucks that we don't have dealership choices in our area.
EDIT: i just noticed you said SUDS bought midtown. well that's just great.
i had no idea that SUDS doesn't offer loaners. do they still wash your car for ya when ya bring it in? i hope so.yup, it sure sucks that we don't have dealership choices in our area.
That's just bull****. I don't think the car is so unreliable like Buellwinkle claims, but frankly given the profit margins on these cars, they SHOULD provide loaners, period. For that matter, any dealer should have to. You bought a car that you expected to be in service, if its not during warranty, then the dealer can eat that or charge MB back for the use of another car.
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From: Illinois
'04 Mars Red C230K 6 sp.
I called MB and they said that they don't require a dealer to provide loaners or any other perk, for that matter.
Benz doesn't really care about individual problems people have. When the Area Executive heard I was having many chronic problems and wanted to pursue an amicable buyback, he said "We'll see about THAT!"
Adam, I dunno about car washes. I never got them anyway!
Benz doesn't really care about individual problems people have. When the Area Executive heard I was having many chronic problems and wanted to pursue an amicable buyback, he said "We'll see about THAT!"
Adam, I dunno about car washes. I never got them anyway!
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From: Houston,TX-moving to The Woodlands,TX SOON!!!
Toyota Tacoma & Lexus IS250
Originally posted by Jim Banville
And how is that? There isn't a carmaker in existence that makes 100% relaible cars. Lexus and Infiniti offer loaners since they average over 1 repair a year.
And how is that? There isn't a carmaker in existence that makes 100% relaible cars. Lexus and Infiniti offer loaners since they average over 1 repair a year.
