Went to Northwest MINI in Fife, WA today to test drive an '06 MCSa and MCS. Since they have a 10-12 month wait right now, I told them I was buying from a different dealer. Well, they told me that if I didn't buy from them, then they wouldn't give me a loaner if I ever had to bring my car in for service.

Is this normal? It seems pretty shady to me! Do they treat people who move from out of state this badly? I mean, just because someone didn't buy their car from you doesn't mean that they couldn't be a future customer. I could very well want to buy a new car, and I wouldn't do that from a dealership that treats me like a second class citizen. It doesn't reflect well on the dealership or the brand.

Unfortunately, I don't really have another option. The closest dealer other than Northwest MINI is in Portland, which would be QUITE the trip. Going to Fife is bad enough.

 

MINI USA does not provide loaners. The individual dealerships provide loaners as an incentive to buy cars from them.

 

The policy varies by dealer - some don't offer loaners for Minis at all, even if you bought them there, yet others will have loaners no matter where you purchased it. Sounds like your dealer is getting away with whatever they can as there is no competition service wise.

 

Pancakex, get used to it. NWMINI is the shadiest MINI dealer there is. I have had horrible experiences with them and have heard the same with others. They are goldiggers and dont really seem to care. I have heard good things about Rasmussen in PDX.

 

I wouldn't call it shady (although I know nothing about them in general).

It certainly costs them money to provide a loaner; they're using the loaner as an incentive to buy from them.....

 

Well obviously Minitor has delt with them and had bad dealings so I guess he has more of a reason to call them shady. Being that you havent delt with them why would you defend them in any way?

 

If going to other dealers are do-able for you then why not check around? You may find better perks elsewhere...most certainly you'll be able to get your MINI sooner! Lots and lots of folks here bought from other dealers or even out-of-state and have seemed quite pleased...even enthusiastic...with their buying experience.

The dealer I've gotten all my service done at provides certain types of deals if you bought from them, and they have always provided a rental. Not sure about the other deals because I didn't buy from them. Why? Because they weren't even open yet when I ordered my Cooper. It always comes up...but but I haven't gone w/o at all.

Sounds like he was just (very clumsily) trying get the deal.

 

I have dealt with NW MINI for 4 years. I have had nothing but great service and been treated with respect from them. I bought two MINIs from them and I have gotten a loaner when needed. Yes, it is a perk of buying from them. Also, NW MINI has supported the PSMINI with raffle items for MINI events over the past two years. They also offer the group discounts on parts and gear.
Each dealer has its own reason for providing loaners. I have been at NW MINI when an owner who had a problem that was caused by the owner got upset by the dealer because they would not cover the damage under warranty.
Itreat them with respect and in return they treat with me respect.

 

I don't need to deal with them to defend a policy. To me, it's not an unreasonable or shady policy.....

 

I just have to say that I have Jeep and it is still under warranty and the dealer WILL NOT give me loaner and never has and I paid as much for it as I did my MINI. I purchased the JEEP fron the local dealer and thought to me is too bad we do not provide loaners.

 

Why would you think that ANY dealer of any brand car "owes" you a loaner? Every dealer is different and has different policies. The ones that give a free loaner to people who buy from them do it a a courtesy, a gesture of good will to customers.

It would be nice if they extended the same courtesy who anyone who just dropped in but its not "shady", its business.

If your nice to them they might loan a car for a day and give you a discount on a rental.

 

Having read many posts like this about MINI dealers it really makes me appreciate Checkered Flag MINI here in Virginia Beach. So far they have been really good to me with the buying process, loaners when in for maintenance, etc.

 

Only 10-12 month wait at NW MINI? I remember a day when it stretched nearly 2 years. Seriously tho a major western US metro area like Seattle really needs another d'ship, much like Denver (there are rumors that either CO Sprs or Boulder might get one) or Phoenix/Tucson. Oh well this is what we get living in the GAW, eh? JB

 

I am refering to Mintors use of the term Shady which was used in the post previous to your's. If you were refering to a another poster I am sorry.

 

So far, my experience has been great with NW MINI. Granted I have not picked up my car yet, but I have absolutely nothing to complain about.

 

The last time I had my car in for warranty service at Towson, they provided be a loaner car. I didnt care what it was, as long as it had 4 wheels and an engine. I got a MCSCa. It was stated to me that their policy is to provide a loaner if the work was to take longer than a couple hours (I forgot the actual time) and the car in for service was originally bought from them. Otherwise, they will provide a rental for a very reasonable price if the car was not purchased from them. Fair enough IMO. My only regret was that I had this very cool loaner car in the winter.

 

The second paragraph of the original post uses the term shady. I supported its use.

 

And I was supporting your use

 

That would be nice. I always treated them with respect and they screwed me over in multiple ways. I still treated them respectfully hoping for a solution and they offered me no solutions, just big bills and damages. I never stopped treating them with respect and they never responded to any of my emails or letters. That is when I stopped treating them with respect. I am not saying that they should let everyone use a loaner, even if they didnt buy it from them, I am just supporting the original statement that they are shady, and to get used to it.

I think they probably do treat those who buy from them, or who they are trying to sell, better than others, which is understandable I guess. This doesnt give them the right to screw others though. Jerks.

 

Oh, cool, I was confused.

 

I don't know how you guys do it really, as much as I love our Mini I would not buy one if we'd be stuck at the mercy of a single dealer. It is not the loaner thing at all, but the fact that every dealer service dept seems to have different knowledge, experience and abilities - with the BMWs we have had different results from different dealers in the past and it has helped to have the option. Then there is service timelines and parts stock with only one dealer, how do they manage recalls I wonder? Anyway - I admire your dedication to the Mini and hope you get some additional dealers up there soon.

 

I'm solving the lack of respectful dealership a different way. I'm moving. OK so not because of NWMINI, but that is a big plus to the move.

 

I feel your frustration with this issue. At the Miami dealers, they barely give you a 2nd look. BMW owners-that's a different story. I outright told them we all knew that. I had to force them to rent me a car when they couldn't fix my old Cooper after 5 tries. They another time reluctantly loaned me a 3 series BMW. Boy did they make sure I knew how lucky I was!!! I told them I was unimpressed with it and would sooner buy a Yugo ; ).

My wife's MCC recently went in for roof repairs at Lauderdale MINI. They gave her a PT Cruiser loaner, and called back in a couple days to let us know we could switch it out for a MINI loaner. It was a dark silver 2006 MCS, leather interior, fully loaded. Worth the hour+ drive from home. I wasn't in a hurry to give that one back.

Ken

 

I purchased mine from another dealer 3 hours away and when I had an issue about the loaner come up I called them and they told me to kindly remind the service folks that it is MINI policy to provide a rental if no loaner is available.

I would verify that if I were you.

chris

 

That's good to hear about Lauderdale Mini. I live in Stuart and was wondering if I should go to Braman Mini in West Palm or Lauderdale Mini when that time comes, as I bought my 06 MCSC from neither one of them. I have heard a lot of good things about Lauderdale on this site.