MB Dealer loaner philosophy
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 47
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From: San Clemente, CA
2004 CLK320
When did we start expecting everything for free?
Does anyone remember the days where NO ONE offered a loan car to you when you took your car in for service? And you had to figure out a way to get someone to drop you off and pick you up?
We all know that servicing your car is just a part of life, so the fact that ANY dealer offers a free loan car is pretty terrific. So be appreciative of the ones that do, or put your money where your mouth is and fork out $100 to rent a car that lives up to your standards if you don't like the free "crappy" ones they give to you.
We all know that servicing your car is just a part of life, so the fact that ANY dealer offers a free loan car is pretty terrific. So be appreciative of the ones that do, or put your money where your mouth is and fork out $100 to rent a car that lives up to your standards if you don't like the free "crappy" ones they give to you.
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Joined: Mar 2002
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From: NYC
2002 ML320
Originally Posted by SoCalBenzLover
Does anyone remember the days where NO ONE offered a loan car to you when you took your car in for service? And you had to figure out a way to get someone to drop you off and pick you up?
.
Originally Posted by SoCalBenzLover
We all know that servicing your car is just a part of life, so the fact that ANY dealer offers a free loan car is pretty terrific. So be appreciative of the ones that do, or put your money where your mouth is and fork out $100 to rent a car that lives up to your standards if you don't like the free "crappy" ones they give to you.
Friend just got a new E500 -- same two month waiting list to get a Corolla CE loaner. Lexus is so, so far ahead of MB in the dealer part that there's just no comparison. Even regular Toyota dealers around here are far better than MB -- they're held to a standard - there are consequences if the owner survey responses go down from excellent to anything else. MB, on the other hand, seems to encourage horrible service.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,309
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From: Cave Creek, AZ and Newport Beach
'22 G 63 AMG, '21 GLE 53 AMG, '20 NSX
Fletcher Jones in Newport Beach always gives us a C or ML when cars are in for service and if their out my wife's gotten an SL and CL. No mileage or charge.
Porsche dealer, it depends if its a warrranty issue then maybe you get a loaner from Enterprise but mostly you pay for the loaner.
BMW dealer forget it. My neighbors new 750il goes in for warrantee and they give him a 94 Buick, which doesn't make it down the street; they make it up to him by letting him take a GMC pickup (used car trade in)and tell him they'll be no charge. And, if you didn't buy your BMW from the servicing dealer your on your own.
My MB dealer makes is so easy, I'm hesitant to go to other makes.
Porsche dealer, it depends if its a warrranty issue then maybe you get a loaner from Enterprise but mostly you pay for the loaner.
BMW dealer forget it. My neighbors new 750il goes in for warrantee and they give him a 94 Buick, which doesn't make it down the street; they make it up to him by letting him take a GMC pickup (used car trade in)and tell him they'll be no charge. And, if you didn't buy your BMW from the servicing dealer your on your own.
My MB dealer makes is so easy, I'm hesitant to go to other makes.
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Anchorage
2003 c240 wagon
MB of Anchorage gets my vote.
I bought a CPO (2003 c240 wagon) from MB of Anchorage. I had an appointment set for Nov. 1st. Right before I went in, one of the teachers at my daughters daycare backed into the door of my car. MB of Anchorage took my car for my appointment, then drove my car across town to the auto shop to get it fixed and then brought it back to finish the appointment.
The only catch was that parts have had to be ordered and reordered to complete the original service request and it has taken almost two months to complete. MB of Anchorage has provided me with a c240 wagon during the whole duration of my car and me being apart.
Having a loaner for close to 60 days is going above and beyond in my opinion so I'm staying put with MB of Anchorage. Toby and Dave are great and I really appreciate their taking care of the customer.
The only catch was that parts have had to be ordered and reordered to complete the original service request and it has taken almost two months to complete. MB of Anchorage has provided me with a c240 wagon during the whole duration of my car and me being apart.
Having a loaner for close to 60 days is going above and beyond in my opinion so I'm staying put with MB of Anchorage. Toby and Dave are great and I really appreciate their taking care of the customer.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: San Clemente, CA
2004 CLK320
Wish I was a dealer!
Originally Posted by abakshi
Heh - sounds awefully like MB dealers on LI today .
Yeah, here that pretty much means switch from MB to Toyota/Lexus or anything else.
Friend just got a new E500 -- same two month waiting list to get a Corolla CE loaner. Lexus is so, so far ahead of MB in the dealer part that there's just no comparison. Even regular Toyota dealers around here are far better than MB -- they're held to a standard - there are consequences if the owner survey responses go down from excellent to anything else. MB, on the other hand, seems to encourage horrible service.
.Yeah, here that pretty much means switch from MB to Toyota/Lexus or anything else.
Friend just got a new E500 -- same two month waiting list to get a Corolla CE loaner. Lexus is so, so far ahead of MB in the dealer part that there's just no comparison. Even regular Toyota dealers around here are far better than MB -- they're held to a standard - there are consequences if the owner survey responses go down from excellent to anything else. MB, on the other hand, seems to encourage horrible service.
I stand by what I said, and sounds like there's at least a few of us who agree...any free car is better than none. And I especially laugh at the people who complain about getting a lowly C-Class. What, are they supposed to have a supply of EVERY model to make sure that you have the exact same car to drive when you bring your car in?
If you can't step down from your car into lowly C'Class loaner, then I assume you must have plenty of extra cars in your driveway to drive, so stop complaining
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 575
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From: Ramsey, NJ
2007 M5, 2004 X3 3.0i
Originally Posted by SoCalBenzLover
If I was a dealer, I'd be sipping Mai Tai's in Hawaii right now, but I'm at work just like the rest of us working stiffs!
I stand by what I said, and sounds like there's at least a few of us who agree...any free car is better than none. And I especially laugh at the people who complain about getting a lowly C-Class. What, are they supposed to have a supply of EVERY model to make sure that you have the exact same car to drive when you bring your car in?
If you can't step down from your car into lowly C'Class loaner, then I assume you must have plenty of extra cars in your driveway to drive, so stop complaining
I stand by what I said, and sounds like there's at least a few of us who agree...any free car is better than none. And I especially laugh at the people who complain about getting a lowly C-Class. What, are they supposed to have a supply of EVERY model to make sure that you have the exact same car to drive when you bring your car in?
If you can't step down from your car into lowly C'Class loaner, then I assume you must have plenty of extra cars in your driveway to drive, so stop complaining
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,394
Likes: 6
From: San Diego
2015 S212
Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
08 E63
MBSD is been fine with loaner cars, no requirement to fill up with gas when you return and they never have an issue if you do not stick to the 100 mile radius, NO Mexico. They only give Enterprise when they are out of their loaners and if you book very first thing in the morning or late in afternoon you pretty much get a MB vehicle.
The deal is most of the dealerships are independent and depending on their profiibility they have to make changes and of the quickest and has a hefty cost is loaner program.
The deal is most of the dealerships are independent and depending on their profiibility they have to make changes and of the quickest and has a hefty cost is loaner program.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,042
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From: So.Ca.
E55
I get that at Walters with no insider help plus I get to chose whaterv car i want outof the ones available...Last week I had a 2007 C230,with 201 miles on it.Nice to get a clean non smoking car that is brand new for a loaner.Bad part is merging into traffic in a C230...LOL
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 13,394
Likes: 6
From: San Diego
2015 S212
I used to love my hook up at Hoehn. He'd let me pick almost any car off the used lot. lets see, i ended up with an S500, an E55, and an '06ML500 at one time or another. On top of that, he gave me slamming deals without having to play the game. i miss him lots. Maybe I can figure out where he went!!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,083
Likes: 88
At Smythe in San Jose they always have MB loaners. The list is C, E, and ML class cars. The last time I got a new C350 with only 40 miles on it. Ususally if they don't have an E class they apologize and try to put me in the next nicest car. Seems like the AMG car owners are treated a bit nicer or maybe it is just the person in the rental dept who maybe knows something about the AMG and how nice they are. The service there is great and the sales team (Goran from Germany) of what I have experienced has been incredible.
