I am thinking of purchasing a Cooper in the next month or so. However, I still have question regarding the loaner system. I am thinking of purchasing the car from a dealer that is about 300 miles away from where I live. The local dealer in my city said that if I buy my Cooper from another dealer, he wont be able to provide me with a loaner whenever my car is on service (maintenance or all the other kinds). I was wondering if yall can give me an advice on whether to stay with the local dealer or should I just go ahead and buy it from the other dealer. I just want to know how necessary it is to have the loaner option. I am so clueless. Any help would be appreciated.

 

What utter cr*p. I would ask MiniUSA about that policy. Seems to me if you're bringing it in under warranty, it's doesn't matter where you bought it. Maybe MiniUSA has a car rental option they can provide.

 

It sounds like you are geting "spun" by the dealer about loaners. You should ask them to put the loaner availability in writing signed by the business manager of the dealership. (Don't hold your breath for that to actually happen....) If they actually do give you a written guarantee regarding availability of a loaner car, go to the dealer that is 300 miles away and see if they will match the offer. If they will, then you have your answer.

 

We purchased our S at P&W in Pittsburgh and have it serviced at MAG in Columbus. We have not had any problems getting loaners at MAG. We have not only had MINIS but some high dollat BMW's. I guess it depends on the Dealer.

 

When I got my last Mini loaner, they asked that I replace the gas I used and not drive more than 200 miles a day. if ypu're going to have to drive more than 300 miles EACH WAY to get there and back, that might be an issue.

What I would do is order the car and have it delivered to your local dealer. It takes longer that way, and believe me, I feel that pain- I personally couldn't wait for a special order... but I blame it on "not wanting to lose the summer season with my convertable... hey, the wife bought that argument anyway If you order, you get exactly the car you want and you don't have to drive 5-6 hours each way to get it.

 

Loaners are handled on a dealership by dealership basis. At least one dealership out here in Southern California (Long Beach) handles it the same way - you have to buy your car from them to get a loaner. Others don't seem to care, but sometimes you have to make service appointments a month in advance and ask for a loaner then to be able to get a loaner (South Bay MINI for instance has a month long wait for a service appointment with a loaner).

However, the dealers all seem to have a shuttle system of some sort, and all of the ones I've been to also have onsite Entrerprise Rent-a-car at reasonable rates if you can't get a loaner and need to get a car while yours is in the shop.

 

Sounds like that local dealer is trying to hold your sale hostage. Never heard of a dealer who only gives loaners to the people who bought from them. What if you're from out of town on vacation. Would he not give a loaner to them for a day or so? I think he would. Like the other person says give miniusa a call, but I'm not sure it'll help because there's nothing that says a dealer has to give loaners at all.

 

MINIUSA won't do anything. Their policy doesn't require the dealers give loaners. Therefore the dealer is not obligated to give you a loaner and can make their own policies.

It sucks, but not unheard of. Find out what the local dealers shuttle service range is. If it will at least get you to work for the day or home for another car, then go ahead and get the car anywhere you want.

 

That is not true at all ...

The policy for handing out loaner cars free is entirely up to the dealership. We have three dealerships around here. One is pretty open with loaners. Not the others ... you dont buy their, you dont get a free car

Forget about MINIUSA, they have nothing to do with it

If your worried about a loaner, buy local.

 

I wasn't talking about MiniUSA giving out loaners. I was suggesting they might have an arrangement with a rental agency for warranty repairs.

 

What they are saying is, MINI's policy is not like buying a BMW or Lexus where you expect a loaner as part of your service. MINI policy is like ford or honda or subaru, when you take your car in for service, they'll give you a ride, or you need to arrange a rental. Since MINI dealers are mostly also BMW dealers, they have a loaner program set up for that and are willing to provide the loaner as a service to their customers. But, because they are offering it as a service, they don't have to give it to someone who is really not their customer.

My dealer here is like that, when I threatened to go elsewhere originally, they told me no rentals, They are close to me and ended meeting the other deal, so I was happy, but it is their choice

Paul

 

Their loss really.......Go ahead and get your car where you can get the best deal.......When it comes time for service, explain politely that they have an oppertunity to earn your buisness for future purchases by demonstrating that they are willing to serve the customer. If they just dont get it.....Then it's really no big deal its just more of a hassle.....Its up to them if they want to sell the next car to you

 

Paul, not always the case. I brought my mom's 540I in for service, a car that was about $60,000.00 new and there was no loaner to be had. They had to give me a ride. I was bummed because I had some stuff to do before work and I was un-able to get it taken care of.

 

I bought mine at Tate in Annapolis and get it serviced at Crown in Richmond....no issues getting a loaner. So far they have always given me 3 series vehicles to drive while mine gets worked on

 

I first shopped at MINI N Scottsdale... during the process I was told specifically they do not do loaners when your MINI is in for service. So it really made no difference that I wound up buying near my folks in Denver - no MINI loaner here either way and I get the car two months earlier!

 

in what, 3-4 years? you are talking about having just bought a car, and trying to use the angle of "I might buy my next car here, IF"....what did they just lose? loaners are provided as a courtesy based on dealer discretion. How much money could you possibly save on a MINI to drive really far to get it? A couple hundred bucks?
Anyone that has ever worked at a car dealership will tell you, buy it where you plan to take it. If you ever need a loaner or some type of assistance beyond standard warranty issues, your selling dealer is the only one that is likely to go the extra mile. The "extra" money spent to buy it local tends to pay off if you also foster a good relationship with the people you are dealing with.
MOTOR ON!

 

Warranty service is not denied from any dealership but loaners is a different matter.

loaners offered for customers is a common practice amongst many makes here in the u.s.

Loaners would apply in your case since you have to drive to the dealership to leave the car. You'd need a loaner to get aorund in the meanwhile dont you? This should be a factor for consideration... nuff said.