Why all the hard feeings toward matt? I expect outstanding service as well. If I had to shell out for towing to the dealership, which is part of your service agreement(MINI Roadside), why would it be unreasonable to expect them to tow it back and drop it off to you? Their covering it to the dealer, why not the return if they didn't tow it to the dealer? Whichever direction they tow it it's the same cost.

24hrs is very unreasonable to be waiting for a tow to the dealer. I don't see why MINI wouldn't deliver it back.

Alas, the days of businesses valuing their customers has long since vanished.

 

Sorry, but I totally disagree with this advice. YELLING at the Service Advisor, Service Manager and further up the chain may get the problem solved that one time, but don't expect them to go to bat for you in the future (say when your warranty runs out). Personally, if you yelled at me or my staff and it was not our policy to provide rental cars, I'm not sure I would bother to provide one in that case.

I've always found that being calm and rational in situations that could spin in the other direction gets me much better service (and rarely have I not received what I've wanted by using that tactic).

 

He didn't HAVE to shell out to tow to the dealer...it was his choice not to wait. Granted 24 hours is unreasonable to wait, but why wait 24 hours in the first place...call them back until the truck shows up or you get a firm answer as to when it is going to show (it doesn't show...call back).

Was it after hours, or over a holiday or a weekend...if so, I don't think it is unreasonable to wait in that situation. And hey, I'm one of the most impatient people I know and don't wait well for anything or anyone .

 

i can almost understand matt's frustration--until the decision is made to have the car towed in on his own. 24 hours and no tow truck is mung--but i'd be on the phone with roadside assistance every hour or more asking where and when and going up the chain of command to get the problem resolved.

you made a choice to go outside the bounds of what roadside assistance covers (even if the service was way below par), time to move on...

 

Because it is NOT part of the warranty or coverage, period. Just because you have the opinion that something is 'reasonable' doesn't mean it should be expected.

It's no different than saying - "I think it's reasonalb ethat they should pick me up via private helicopter from my front lawn, send me to a day spa because the the incurred stress of having my car in the shop, and give me a $500 debit card as restitution for the inconvenience."

It's unbelieveable how people expect things for free, or beyond what they ageed to and paid for.

 

I asked my dealer about this. Westchester MINI does not have loaners. They claim they will put up some money toward renting a car if you break down, however.

As for the original post: I have to say, given the warrantee, I would not have bought a MINI if I were prohibitively far from dealer service.

 

Have you asked them to pick you up so you can get the car and drive it back?

Its best for your to check it over while still at the dealer anyway in my opinion.

 

Wow! You're not going to DRIVE your MINI back? I look for every possible opportunity or excuse to drive my MINI

Having owned other brands of cars in the past, I found it pretty amazing that MINI would tow a car 100 miles, one way, to get it fixed. If I recall, there are limitations on how far GM would tow their cars under warranty. Also the wrangling I have to do with some GM dealerships who initially charge me for work that's supposed to be covered under warranty.

Sorry to hear about your disappointment...but I've seen worse.

You could be owning something else....

 

Lemme ask you this, did you go WITH the car to the dealership when it was towed? or just let joe bob take your car down there by himself? First off..if you didnt go with the car to the dealership, how do you expect them to get a rental to you? drive it 100miles out to your farm for you? I took my mini in for service at the dealer which is 70miles from my house..and I was givin a rental on the spot. if you DID go with the car..and they DIDNT give you a rental..why would you not ask for one? (and how did you get home lol)

MORAL OF THE STORY! yay. Expecting to sit on your *** and have a rental delivered to you and your car fixed, is just plain retarded. You bought a $24k or less car...if you want service like that, anty up and go buy yourself like..I dunno a space man car.

(I hope my insults arent "thinly veiled")

 

That might be a generational issue. Me Me Me. All about me.

"Things easily attained have little value"

Anon.

 

I dont think ANYONE expressed hard feelings to matt. Rather, IMHO, they are expressing their thoughts on unreasonable expectations. Sometimes people dont read warranties (or owner manuals) very closely.

 

OUCH!

 

It's been interesting to watch this thread fester over the last day and to come back and read all these responses. Many of the harsh and negative responses are based on a lack of information or bad assumptions on the part of the poster. I suppose I could have supplied more information, but as some have said I was simply venting at the time.

To be honest, it's more the way the situation was handled than the lack of a tow back that upset me. But since a variety of points have been brought up let me attempt to clarify a few things.

I have moved to a different city since purchasing my car so this is not the dealer I purchased from and I am now farther away from the nearest dealer.

Also, I never yelled at anybody to get my way. I wouldn't want to be treated that way and I understand that most of the people involved are powerless functionaries. (Part of the frustration at times, nobody is empowered to act.)

I did not go with the car to the dealership because I had to work. I think most people here have to do that as well, unless i'm mistaken.

The service guy at the dealer said they didn't do rentals, but I didn't press at the time because he said that Mini Roadside would take care of the tow back. Now I realize that he was simply ignorant of the facts, but I didn't bother to check it out myself because I made the assumption based on that conversation that there would be no problem.

I also talked to Mini Roadside 3 separate times the first day when awaiting them to take care of the tow and once the next day before deciding that I was getting nowhere with them and taking it into my own hands.

I think my real point here is that warranty service shouldn't be such an off-putting ordeal. The constant runaround and miscommunications do nothing but alienate the customer, who is already in a tight spot. I realize many of you are more fortunate as far as that is concerned. But a major electrical issue at 7000 miles (the had to replace the alternator and assorted wiring in the engine bay), trim pieces falling off, and numerous squeeks and rattles simply don't inspire me to a feeling of quality. It's unfortunate, because I love driving the Mini.

[sarcasm] I suppose I should know better than to expect great quality and great service in these modern times, but I guess i've been spoiled by my Audi's and Honda. Lesson learned. Next time I move away from the local dealer i'll sell the car for something with local support. Regardless of whether the car is practically new. [/sarcasm]

 

"I suppose I should know better than to expect great quality and great service in these modern times, but I guess i've been spoiled by my Audi's and Honda. Lesson learned. Next time I move away from the local dealer i'll sell the car for something with local support. Regardless of whether the car is practically new".


SNL church lady tone: Well now...that's a thread killer.

 

So, per my previous post, did you ask if they would pick you up and take you to the dealer to get your car? Wondering if that is an option you have orif they denied that