CafeRacer87

Ha! The cab might be safer

thefisch

Exactly how I felt when I picked up my E class today. On the 20 minute drive to the dealer I put the C250 to the test for fun. Power delivery was inconsistent with some lag at times but it handled well at 90mph on the highway. Had a lot more fun on the ride home in my E550. Although I will say that looking at the speedo display on my 2010 after that 2014 was like going back in time. I guess I found one thing I liked.

Guess I should ask next time to see if they have anything more interesting. A CLS would have been awesome by comparison. However, they are sometimes so busy in service I doubt I would get my pick.

Arrie

I think the gauges in the 2010 and alike look awesome. They don't have colors but after a while those colors become annoying in my opinion. It's like with the hype of the digital watches. Who still wears one?


And the layout with the 5 "barrels" beats the new ones with only 3. Just my opinion.

And the C250 is a total joke for a car to be called Mercedes.

El Cid

My dealer provides a "C" as standard for all, but did get an "E" once. Be thankful you get a car at all without having to pay for it. Have had "loaners" from other makes that were actually the cheapest car Enterprise had on the lot and a real hassle to get it and turn it in.
Remember, YOU are paying for the loaner even when it is "free." Either in original price of car or costs of service.
Really that bad to drive a different type vehicle for a day or two? Actually I enjoy driving the "C" class cars. Confirms I made the right decision in getting an "E".

Quadcammer

my god, what a bunch of whiners.

instantfob

I drive a smart car so my standards are pretty low.

pamiboy

My service due in 30 days message is coming up. I will see if they offer any loaners at all. This will be the first service (10,000 mikes) of the car BTW. Any idea how long does it take. I mean is it a half an hour job or much longer?

noka

What he said!

LSkrabut

I have had 3 service appointments so far, minor new car issues, service A & B. for the 1st 2 appointments, '14 ML350 and then a '14 E350. The last service B appointment, made the appointment in advance, got there on time, but the loaner vehicle was not available, last person who had the scheduled vehicle, still had it out, late in returning it.

So the SA offered another loaner, '13 SMART for Two with dealer advertisements all over it. Well I thought, it will get me home, 20 miles of interstate @70 mph posted limits.

For sure it is not an "E" ride, . But that is not what got me slightly upset, having TPMS alarm and CEL lights did. I was able to correct the TPMS alarm, just by adding air, 10-15lbs low on all tires. The CEL light was a transmission error per the owners manual. The car got me back to the dealer and I let the SA know I did not appreciate a vehicle with issues and I had to travel over 40 miles with it. Worst part, the SA knew about the CEL light and merely explain the TPMS alarm. I stated that vehicle should not of been given out with known issues. I also let the 2 email service responses known I was not satisfied with the vehicle that was issued as a loaner since it had issues. I been in the dealer twice now afterward, not for an appointment, but to the SA, nothing more has been stated to me about the loaner vehicle that I got to drive home with. Still I am glad my dealer does offer one, after all, it is just to get home with or to work with if needed.

noka

Dissatisfaction totally understandable! Hopefully, they will take it to heart and learn from that mistake.

Live Oak

A SMART????!!

I wouldn't drive a SMART in our neighborhood, much less on the Interstate! Can you imagine what a Kia or a Fiat 500 or a Mini could do to a SMART in an accident??!! Then think about a SMART under a semi!

Offered that as a loaner, I'd call a rental agency and pay for a car --- and from then on do my routine service business with a third party, not the dealer, and let him know it.

Or if the timing was right, just drive out of the lot.

screw991le

I have a C300 for a loaner right now also. I miss my car

Trancebolt

MBZ Valencia i just called in for future plans of my Service B. (coming in sooner x2) They told me they have a fleet of loaners as well, no charge. Which is a nice feel.

Now hopefully I can find a dealer with service guys who know wtf theyre talking about, and actualyl want to answer your questions. These guys make no money by making you happy or explaining stuff in depth. They want you in and out like supercuts: on the phone or the chair.

Thats my major concern over a rental car being freely offerred, and not being a Kia Rio or a PT Cruiser.

El Cid

My dealer takes hours for either A or B. When I ask, it's always 3-4 hours probably, so I always get a loaner just to drive home and back. Live 45 minutes away so no courtesy transportation. Guess because I have the loaner, it is usually 5-6 hours before they call to say mine is ready.
Ironically the loaner sits in my garage the whole time. Although I have made stops a couple of times for shopping, etc.
When I call to make the appointment, I speak to same SA and note that I need a loaner. No problems when I get there. Takes about 10 minutes to check in and then 10 to sign for loaner and him to get it and bring it to me.

HAILERS2

I love sitting outdoors in the area of my dealership where people drive up in their cars and get out to hand the keys to the porter. You'll see E550's, CL550's, SL550'S and S550's all in a line.............then a guy comes in and parks in that line of cars with his Smart car. Quite the scene. I find it humorous.

Oh, and the guy who gets out of the Smart car, has his AF uniform on which is of a pilot in the USAF. Probably drives a F-16 in the sky and a Smart car on the road.

5634MG

I've gotten an ML350, E350, and a GLK350 a few times. Usually get a C350 coupe or when it's really busy, C250 sedan/coupe or B250. Gotten a B250 quite a few times. Tried to ask for the SLS for an extended test drive as a loaner but they said no

Live Oak

He likes a tight cockpit.

Alex.currie44

I don't know what US dealer practice is but I have had dealers in Toronto, Burlington and Nanaimo all provide me loaner cars going back to 1987 when I got my first W124.
Never have I had a car like my own or a newer version of my E class cars or my CLK.
My current dealer is also a Subaru dealer so sometimes I get a Subaru which is at least a year old.
If they have a high demand for loaners they will rent me a mid size car for the day or however long my service takes.
The worst car was a Smart car - I took it because they had to arrange a rental because the customer with the loaner scheduled for me did not return it on time - which in my view is junk.
The CVT system sucks big time. They pull off the power to shift it and the front dives. I can't tell you why they would try to simulate a shift in a CVT but it definitely did. When questioned my Service Manager said they all do that to some degree.
In next Tuesday. Maybe they will give me CLA 45 4Matic to play with for the day.

Alex.currie44

Driving other cars makes our E's much appreciated.

Russ103

This is true! The E-350 is my wife's car that I dropped off for A service and got a '15 C-300 as a loaner. Since I drive over 120 miles a day I figured I may as well get a loaner to see what the new C is like.

Have to say, getting back into the E after spending all day in the C felt like going from coach to first class. Will hopefully step up to the S one day for the ultimate luxury car experience.

schorert1

My wife drives the the C class for a day and calls it a little POS. If they were smart they'd send her an S550...

Alex.currie44

I fully agree.
What are we talking about here?
If you get any car for free what does it matter? Surely we all plan service when it doesn't interfere with us driving our cars for pleasure instead of to work or to a train or bus commuter station.
We have to appreciate that even if they use decent trade in cars as many of the cars I have had over the nearly 30 yr of MB ownership have been, they still have to insure them, service them and make sure they are safe to drive. There is a cost to that so why would anyone expect them to turn a brand new car into a used car just to provide the service departments with comparable cars to customer's cars? Imagine the mix of inventory to manage that. My dealer has a 6 bay shop. My dealer in Burlington Ontario had an 18 bay shop!
I live about 40 minutes away from my dealer and my services can take 2-4 hr depending on how busy they are and the work to be done. They also wash my car,
I don't want to hang around half the day waiting for it and their valet service will not take me home. It is too far.
Accordingly I appreciate any safe set of wheels at no cost to me. Brand and model are not an issue except for a Smart car which is not so smart.
I can get on with my day and return the loaner later in the day or first thing the following day. Works well for me.

schorert1

It doesn't matter, my wife loves the valet service to her office, she drives the C class for a day and dislikes that vehicle. I give them an "A" for this service.

My point was if they, just once, sent an S Class...she would like then be unhappy with her E and trade it in. She'd be an easy up-sell.

Alex.currie44

So you are happy she doesn't get an S eh? Good thinking!

schorert1

I don't care either way, I think the E 4matic is the perfect sedan, I don't drive it often, so every two weeks or so when I get in it I'm still impressed by it. She's not a "car person", she needs an executive level sedan so to her this fills a need.
Next time she has service scheduled, I might actually call our salesmen and suggest instead of a C loaner they send over an S550 or cls 4matic out of their inventory. I'm just surprised nobody in sales cross references with service and says "this car is hitting $40k, this customer might be thinking new car".

Make a phonecall "mrs jones, I see your car is coming in for 40kmi service, I don't know if you're looking for a new vehicle, but I'd be happy to send you a CLS demo"...it would be like shooting fish in a barrell.