Ok heres the thing... I dont have a dealership remotely close to where I live so me going to get service is a LONG drive (3 hours). Is there a rental car program that dealerships have so if you turn your car in for service (warranty or not) you get a loaner for the duration? I know mercedes does, I know BMW does, does MINI? Is it up to the dealer?

I just find it hard to believe that me driving 3 hours for service and them saying "Oh yea you have to stay here for the entire day then drive 3 hours home" without allowing you to go get lunch or dinner or go shopping.

Also would this program also require a compareable car in exchange for a mini... this dodge neon I am currently driving is CRAP and is worth HALF or less of what I paid for my car...

now that I am done bitching anyone have some input?

-Josh

 

Depends on the dealer.

My dealership gives loaners and I am soooooo thankful. When I took my car just for the day for an oil change they shuttled me too and from work but when it stays overnight, I get a rental. It's not worth the effort of all the paperwork just to drive straight to and from my office.

Most that I have heard of do give loaners or rentals.

 

I'm sure it is up to the dealer. Just a note because of your location. You may visit the same dealer as I did for service. Nashville. I was told by my SA that their rentals are for BMW customers. Not MINI's. They do offer a shuttle service though. It paid off one time when I was able to do some Christmas shopping at the mall while the MINI was in for its service.

 

so there is no MINI program? just dealer?

-Josh

 

Loaner cars are at the discretion of the dealer. Your MINI warranty has no provisions for loaners.

 

well that stinks

 

be thankful you get a neon, it's better then a pinto

Pinto Go BOOM, when hit in it's rear. No spankings for it, when it's bad.

 

you're much more likely to get a loaner from the dealer where you bought the car.

 

MINI does actually have one program that will give everyone a free rental car for up to 5 days.

Look up the trip interruption benefits in your warranty book. If your MINI breaks down and requires warranty repairs and you are far enough away from home, you qualify for a rental car for 5 days plus meals, lodging, etc.

You just have to make sure that your MINI breaks down far enough away from home to take advantage of it.

 

I got the extended warrantee with my MINI from private party. When I took mine to Snottsdale, the rental (dark silver Ford Turdus) was part of the deal. Good thing, clutch was replaced!

 

I looked into that but my clutch was not covered... and since I was over 100 miles from home I am pretty sure I would have qualified.

-Josh

 

My dealer doesn't have an "official" rental car program but does offer one for people who live a distance from the dealer (like myself). Believe me, that was something I checked on!

Cheers

 

It also depends upon where you bought your car. If your going back to where you bought it, they probably will provide a car, not necessarily true elsewhere

BUT, and this might be a BUT for you. If you are under 25, they probably will NOT give you a car if they use a national car company (like avis or whatever) because usually they dont rent to ppl under 25 ... I think.

 

My dealer will give a loaner for routine service but it has to be scheduled way in advance dur to availability. Friend of mine got a loaner (garish gold MCC) while his MC was in for warranty work.

 

Ours gives it if more than a day.Shuttle if less than day.

 

Seems to be totally up to the dealer :( Same with BMW but more BMW dealers seem to offer it vs MINI. Not buying the car somewhere has never had an effect on whether or not we get loaners, it just depended on whether they offer it at all and if we made an appt in advance for one (with the rare exception of a loaner being available w/o the advance planning).

I think it stinks that fewer MINI dealers would offer loaners, especially considering that there are fewer of them and therefore more further away/more difficult to take to service. It is esp offensive when MINI service doesn't have it when part of a BMW franchise that does (like SF BMW). Doesn't matter which car I bring in, my money is the same (or the money they get from warranty work) and the prices on the MINI service is in the same cost league as other BMW made cars.

Battle Cattle, do you have rental coverage with your insurance? Maybe they can help you out :/

 

Usually rental only covers collision damage.Dont know any that cover maintenance excursions.

 

Yeah, but it can't hurt to ask if something could be done for when the car is in the shop. Perhaps they can at least get him the low insurance rates - you never know.

 

Believe me, if you ***** enough, they will give you a loaner...and I live only about 20 miles from the dealership....
I bought my car used, Took it in for service.. first time waited three hours, (they didn't have the part...windshield wiper motor)..Following week, I made an early 8:00 am appt, waited around for 5 hours, the SA, (who was very nice) continuously checked up on me and offered me a 330i loaner..(2006 fully loaded and a damn nice car).. Customer satisfaction is important to some of these dealers, I wrote a nice letter to MINI USA praising the dealership and the SA..
It makes sense to give you a loaner, after my experience in the 330, I am considering getting one for my wife...(So I can Drive That too ) I think its good marketing kinda like an extended test drive....

 

Yes if you ***** enough you get a car... especially if you threaten to sleep in the dealership.

 

Ok that pisses me off... you live 20miles away... you could EASILY have a friend or family member pick you up and bring you home.... but instead you take a rental so a person like myself... 200+ miles away can't have one...

GJ at being an @$$hole

-Josh

 

Ouch! Down Josh! Unless there is a case of X number of rentals and they were all taken, it's irrelevant. Since that's not the case with your dealership (nor necessarily Darko's) why go off?

My dealership (MINI of Mt. View) does provide loaners, but recently switched from Bimmers from next door (Z4, 330i) to Enterprise down the street.(Chevy Colorado)

It's crappy that yours doesn't, but it's not something that should be a surprise, unless they changed their policy recently. If they don't you just have to factor in that cost for every service when you buy the car. It still sucks, but that's how it is sometimes.

 

ITs an expense for any dealer to give rentals for service customers,less in a large market with multiple dealers,in rural market with one dealer there is no incentive.Imagine his cost to provide a car for a week under warranty at 400 miles per day plus depeciation on loaner.If there is no direct competition there is no incentive especially if the dealers are doing their #,s

 

Wow, I hope you were just being sarcastic...its not his fault your dealer may or may not offer loaners, and its also not his fault that you live 200+ miles away from your nearest dealer, that is your choice. You also could have inquired of the loaner issue when you bought your MINI. You've implied that there is one rental car out there for all MINI owners to battle for. Calm down, its the holidays for goodness sake.

 

Quick! Somebody get a fire extinquisher!