wow, a B200? the little one?
I had to google that one, lol......
at least it's a Mercedes....
how are those things anyway??

 

The B200 is stricktly transportation. Things could be worse if they decide that is too expensive and start giving us Smart cars.

 

haha, I'd feel safer riding in a rik-shaw...or just as safe as a smart car...or however you spell it......
those things are so tiny!

 

I like the benefit of a loaner, but I wouldn't want to buy one after it being subjected to 10-15K miles of inattentive or unhappy service customer hard driven miles. I take care of loaners, but have seen them driven about as hard as rental cars. The "don't own it, don't care" mentality is probably why more and more dealers limit their fleet availability.

 

I don't disagree...but its too convenient of a solution for a MB dealer to not worry about its customers loaner car experience. For the amount of money and prestigue that MB likes to portray and the cost for services/warranties of our vehicles, there is no excuse why our dealerships can't eat into their profits to provide us with loaners.

If I dropped off my MB because of an issue with my car or for required service, my expectations are for my service station to take care of me.

I compare this with my Lexus dealership of my previous car. That Lexus dealer always had new ES350 or RS350 vehicles offered as loaners. All loaners cost $1 and you did not have to worry about filling the tank upon return. When you dropped your car off, they took care of you from beginning to end, had your loaner washed, pulled up, running and ready for you. Needless to say, they were a highly rated customer service dealership in the area. It made turning my car in for service a pleasant experience.

Yes, I wouldn't expect a dealer to provide you with a similar vehicle as the one that you're turning in for service because I wouldn't expect them to have a full inventory of models readily available in their loaner fleet.... However, offering new vehicles as loaners is a good marketing opportunity for the dealer. When I turned in my then 6-7 year old Lexus and drove off with a new ES350, my friends and family talked about my loaner....we were impressed with the newer model and discussed buying a new Lexus.

So I really don't understand MB's business model...they seem like a company that makes enough profit to treat their customers better...offer good quality vehicles and services....maybe the economy is really hitting the industry hard nowadays

Just my rant....since I wasn't a fan of the Hyundai

 

welcome bjweston, and you made some great points about the service care...the lexus place sounds nice....
when I go there are several people that seem like they're just standing around doing nothing.....when they could be doing something helpful or useful...
not having to fill the car back up would be a nice courtesy, but I understand....
I treat them well too...don't beat up on them...
and yeah, letting 'us' drive new vehicles is good advertising.....I was the 2011 ml350
poster boy for a short time while traveling to and from the dealer...lol...

 

Acura used to pick up my Legends and NSX and loan me their latest whatever until they return the car washed and vacuumed.

Mercedes dealers: I complained they didnt detail it and refused to have the car washed since they Scratched the wax so I gave the wash person Mothers Carnuba and a general Grant and an extra bucket and wash mitt.

The dealer gave me a Pacifica for a loaner. Little do they know the game they have entered! I don't want a mb with the dealer vinyl advertising on the side because the gendarmes always pull you over. I guess I look more like a car thief than a car salesman.

 

my feeling exactly....I don't even let those cats wash my cars anymore, the swirl marks on my 550 (black) are friggin' terrible.....
what's the besy way to get rid of that anyway?
I even took the dealers plate frame off......no advertising from me!

 

+1 on the Lexus service/loaner car experience...my dad has a Lexus and they always give fully loaded RX as loaners, not some stripped IS and that would be the equivalent of what MB does, but I found Lexus service costs to be much more than MB

 

A good buff then wax/polish will remove all those swirls. Recently had mine done to perfection by a local detail shop.

 

Porsche dealer here on Long Island gives us a Cayenne for a Cayenne (much appreciated) or sometimes an Audi A4. Besides that it's the usual C300 for S/E Class service, etc...

 

very true. I've had a few mobile detailers over, just so I don't have to take the car out, find a ride home, go back pick it up, etc....
and plus you can watch the dude/s......pick up some tips....
but I have not been really blown away by any of the washes yet.....
there's certainly a craft to it....

 

I deal with two different dealerships. The one that I have been dealing with for a long time always gives me c 4matics, which are fine. The new dealership actually gave me an Altima hybrid with 50,000 miles and an odor of goats in mating season. Needles to say, I really appreciate those c class loaners. Regards. Ned.

 

LOL You have to love new dealerships, always cutting costs! Too funny Ned.

 

But you're still driving a MB right? That's why. Apparently they don't have to do better. Buy, yeah, I never figured some of these dealers out. VW around here is the worst in that regard.

 

I get escalade whenever they are available... if not, C300

Nice to have friends in car business world.

 

Nice! I got a 2012 GLK350 for my 2010 GL the other day.

 

Last time I took my S550 in for service, I came out with a KIA RIO..... Seriously!!

 

that is seriously the worst one I have heard yet...........

unbelieveable!!! a kia for a S..........

 

My MB Dealer is strictly an MB dealership. It is not one of those Hyundai-Volvo-KIA-John Deere-Toro-MB dealerships.

 

LOL, me too...........

 

I'm currently, today only hopefully, driving a jeep patriot from Enterprise. Took "My Benz" to an indy shop for some work and they do not offer loaners. No frills Jeep, cloth seats, no radio controls on the steering wheel, of course no Ipod or Bluetooth.

I can relate to the previous post about not worrying how or where to park, as I was driving to work this morning I was actually thinking about this same thing. Do I park this thing where I normally park or do I just put it in a random spot and forget it?

Many sides to this, if I put it in a random spot what does that say about my attitude. A lot of people would love to have this Patriot but I park it like its nothing? Or, do I put it in the same spot I normally park which says I respect it as well.

I thought about when colleagues have rentals or loaners, some park as usual and others could care less if were on the curb. I feel like the ones who lack respect for what they are driving are that way in life too. It's better to park the rental just like you would your own, as it says better about yourself as well.

 

You're overthinking it. Just be reasonable. I don't think it is incumbent on you to be OCD about where you park a rental just pull into a parking space with reasonable room. No one expect you to treat the a rental like a MB, and no one will think the less of you for it. Seriously.

 

It would be great if you came out with an upgrade. Look at it this way, if they upgrade you, there is a higher probablity you will like it and upgrade to one at some point.

 

my thinking as well seems basic eh?