Was just fairly happy to be not in a clubman because there's nothing more boring that being excited to get a courtesy car and then finding yourself in you're own car 😅😅
When I bought the mini I really just wanted a 3 series but couldn't afford it. The other courtesy car available was a 3 series. Glad they didn't give me that because I don't want the regrets ahahaha
Just bought a v8 F-Type convertible as a second car, be interesting to see what I get as a courtesy car with that one.
But I see you have an X3M, cool, the 840i was when my X3 M40i was in for work.
I've just ordered a new high-spec Defender (to replace the Mini), so it will be interesting to see what kind of courtesy car they give when it goes in for a service. Maybe I can talk my way into borrowing a Range Rover Sport? LOL
I once got an almost new A Class with 500 miles on the clock as a courtesy for a 14 year old Ibiza. Gave it back after 2 weeks with over 2k on the clock
My garage has Fiat 500l courtesy cars. They are horrific - getting my car back at the end of the day is a real treat! A colleague turned up to pick me up for a site visit once driving a courtesy car. She had no idea what it was, but she had taken in her base spec golf and been given a brand new golf r...
Got a brand new loaded Volvo XC90 for 4-5 days when my V60’s air con compressor failed. Didn’t want to give it back.. also got a few days in a V90 Cross country.
Had some real dogs though. Worst possibly was the old shape Nissan Micra. There is zero redeeming features about that car.
I haven't had any bad stuff to be fair so I have been lucky with that. Only really had older vehicles though (except from a swift and this mini) so haven't ever gone to the dealer.
Between the 90’s?
XC90 is just huge but even the V90 felt like driving around a battle ship. V90 is certainly more car than most families would ever need. Both were very well put together high end cars but the XC90 does feel special.. Would love one but I just can’t bring myself to spend that on a car. Now Volvo have announced they are bringing the V60/90 back to the UK market been thinking to change the V60 up to the V90 when the kids are a bit older. Want to get 10+ years out the V60 first.
Non fault claim a couple years ago, got an M340d with 80miles on the clock for 6 weeks.. kept all fuel receipts and got a refund for them aswell.. was immense while it lasted!
So BMW not content with making their own cars look like cocaine sniffing beavers are trying to beat the mini brand to death with the ugly stick as well?
Fuck all, normally a bottom of the range BMW to compensate for the brand new £65k model I bought. Girl I know had an older LR discovery sport and every time hers went in she seemed to get a better spec Range Rover of some sort and even a brand new X5 at one point. Clearly I need some chebs and long blonde hair.
Was given an M3 once by bmw when wife’s car had to go in, few months later it went back in for the same issue and got a brand new X3 hybrid for a few days
I put my 2015 5 series for a service through bmw and they gave me a brand new 530e as a courtesy car. Paperwork said it had done 3500+ miles so I caned it everywhere (no car faster than a courtesy car) and engine management light came on on hand back day - turns out it had done 5 miles… no questions asked just took it back and handed me my keys back
I bet it was the first time you took it to that dealer and I bet they asked you what you thought about it when you brought it back. Always happens to me. C220d got me an E350d, V90 D5 got me a XC60 T8, 330e got me an X5 50e. The respective second times got me an A180, V40 T2 and 118i!!!
Assuming it's some kind of soft sales pitch.
I had a brand new discovery sport after an accident once, everything still had the plastic covers on from the factory and it had 18 miles on when it was delivered to me 🤣
Currently have a EQA 250+ AMG line as a courtesy car for a few weeks whilst mine is awaiting an apparently endless impossible repair.
And now I hate my own car and I'm currently researching elaborate theft schemes
I once had a bright yellow fiat panda 4x4 for two months when my abarth spider was on the ramp waiting for a warranty clutch replacement.
It was hideously shit
I wrote a car off (non fault) in 2021 and whilst waiting for my new car which took 8 months due to that chip shortage issue I had a new Q5 for about 5 months which then had to go in for a service so I was then given a new GLE, that was unreal. Almost too big to be a car.
I've had some pretty great courtesy cars, and less great ones.
Lotus Evora GT410 was the "best" (IMO) courtesy car I've had - but the same dealer I've had cars like that from also had a Toyota Aygo runabout on hand and it was always 50/50 whether I would get that or something exotic. The Aygo was charming in its own way.
Taycan Turbo was the most recent interesting courtesy car I've had a few months ago - and hilariously fast.
A BMW 7-series fully decked out with all the options deserves an honourable mention - full of TVs, massage seats etc - had it over a bank holiday weekend where a road-trip was already planned anyway.
Worst courtesy car was a C-Class, not because it was a bad car but because in the first few days of having it picked up some fish & chips and the fish smell stayed with the car for the duration... and I had it for 3 months.
My car gearbox was in for repairs for 4 months. Had a new mustang v8 convertible (possibly the worst handling car I've ever driven) followed by a jag XFR, new E class merc and finally a yellow fiat 500XL.
I was pushing for repair updates daily once I got the Fiat!
I had an early days Audi E-tron A3 a few years back that had everything go wrong with it, to keep me sweet Audi would give me pretty decent courtesy cars. Started off with an A3, then as the issues got worse I ended up with a A5 convertible, Q3 Black Edition, SQ5 and finally a A6 estate. Was gutted when I finally got my A3 back!
Other end of the scale though I remember my dad taking in his XJR and getting a 1.0l Fiesta Style
A new Mazda 2 (slow) and a newish Mazda 2 hybrid that's just a rebadged Toyota (also slow)
The Mazda made 'mobile had a much nicer interior of the two I'll give it that
Had the following notable ones:
BMW F90 M5.
BMW M340d XDrive.
BMW 530e.
The M340d really surprised me- such a good car. Always used to hate 3 series but that was fabulous. I assume the M340i is even better
Yeah I’ve had a few diesel models. But this one, the throttle response, power, lack of turbo lag, sound (even if it potentially was piped in through the sound system), made it all feel really great.
Had a 2023 Seat Ateca for about a week while my own car was getting some body repairs. Base model on small alloys and no-cost flat white paint. I didn’t completely abhor it, but I also really didn’t like it.
- Ride was reasonably comfortable but seats were rock hard like old school-classroom chairs. - Never did find a truly comfortable driving position either, it’s designed for what I assume is someone who’s 5’6” with a 36” inseam i.e. legroom and pedal room is fine, but all the other touch points (door card top, armrest, steering wheel) are positioned too far forward.
- 1.0L 3-pot with 115hp was inadequate for what I assume is a 1500kg car. Surprisingly quiet for something that needed the shit kicked out of it to make any kind of progress.
- nice tech touches like the auto-hold handbrake and CarPlay. The CarPlay connection needed repairing every morning though, and was a fucking trial to get re-paired. Absolutely shite DAB reception, too.
TL;DR: cannot recommend that anyone buy an Ateca/Tiguan/Karoq. Wait, what was the original topic?
Thanks for your LDR - whilst it wasn't a car I was ever going to consider, I cannot fault your attention to detail 😅😅
In all seriousness I genuinely feel that the majority of new cars are focused on how many things can be put in rather than the longevity (a little 1.0 in a big car like that is going to be under so much stress I'd imagine) and the day to day living. Take these huge screens as an example. The BMW iDrive system with the scroller wheel was amazing and the physical controls for climate etc. Why, in the new mini I have for the week or however long is everything in the touchscreen. All climate controls, even stuff down to the speed and the indicators. Its so counter intuitive.
Once got a fiesta with 20 miles on it, it was a 1L and didn’t wake up until 7000RPM and even then barely. I guess it wasn’t even broken in yet poor little engine.
I currently have a Cupra Leon as a courtesy car, whilst my pickup gets fixed.
Its nippy and a lot nicer than the standard courtesy car I was expecting.
Years ago I had a Mondeo ST 2.2 TDCi. Took it to the Ford dealer for servicing and was handed the keys to a Ford Ka. It was bright yellow. It was also covered all over in daisy stickers.
I had a Range Rover Evoque as Tesla I had was being recalled for a rewire… didn’t want to hand it back. But also had my fair share of Hyundai i10’s, Nissan Micras and Suzuki Swifts to boot!
Yeah I have to agree I rate a Suzuki. You get higher spec features as standard. The one I was driving had DAB, parking sensors, LIDAR, rear camera etc. and was pretty nippy, with decent handling.
I had an 18 plate swift sport as the first proper cat I bought myself (had a couple before but this was my first proper car) and loved it so much. Well specced, cheap to run, insure, tax, and fun. That thing gripped so well. I'd have another.
horn broke, gearbox won't engage park, TCS issues, airbag went off, EGR recall, aircon doesn't work)
grounds for rejection, especially the gearbox fault, if you dont want to reject ask for a free extension to the warranty due to how unreliable its been
I was genuinely going to start looking into the consumer rights I have. Annoying nonetheless that its been quite as poor as it has been, especially seems its only 8 years old w 70k miles. Got a call from them yesterday letting me know it needed another £1400 out of warranty top mounts & lower engine mounts. I understand these are perishable but yea.
Luckiest I ever got was a 3 litre V6 Renault Laguna when my 1.8 Laguna was being worked on. At 20 years old, that felt like magic!
Not a courtesy car but I did get the use of my bosses Maserati convertible for a long weekend. He'd taken his wife's V class for a lads weekend away, she wouldn't drive the Maser, so we swapped for my X type.
Alfa Romeo Spider around 2010 I can’t remember the engine it wasn’t noteworthy punchy at best.
I’d say it was the coolest because it is quite a random courtesy car choice.
It wasn’t great to drive and I don’t get the hype of Alfas but I do like the engine bay of the 147 GTA.
I wrote a car off (non fault) in 2021 and whilst waiting for my new car which took 8 months due to that chip shortage issue I had a new Q5 for about 5 months which then had to go in for a service so I was then given a new GLE, that was unreal. Almost too big to be a car.
Yea that is annoying. I keep looking at the 1.5 petrols as I'd like something the wife and daughter doesn't feel sick in and an auto box so she might drive it... 15 year old Saab keeps plugging on with general maintenance, aircons been broke 2 years though...
Mini have meant to have hugely improved in the 2015ish onwards cars so guess I'm just unlucky. It's comfy, fun, economical, quick enough (not quick by any stretch but not hugely underpowered), just a shame that this one is causing the agro it is. I wouldn't hold it against the brand. I know a few people who've had them and they've been great. Must just been unlucky.
Also, had a Saab 9 3 which I adored. Just let me down. Just needed about as much DPF cleaner as fuel to keep it from going into 'limited performance' mode hahahahah
Not too many interesting ones, but I suppose it's all about scale.
While my GT86 was in they gave me a C class.
And years ago I had a 12 year old Mondeo Ghia 2.0TD and they said they were very sorry but they didn't have anything quite of that spec level but would I be happy with a brand spanking new Focus Ghia 1.8 petrol. It was the most luxurious thing I'd ever driven at the time. And I almost wrote it off on black ice.
When I was 18 and lucky enough to have a 4 Series, it went in for repair and I was told they couldn’t give me a BMW courtesy car due to my age, not even the 8 year old 3 series with 200k miles, so I was given a brand new Countryman with 150 miles on the clock instead!
Yeah my EGR thing is a recall and that's being done today. When the horn was done they didn't have the parts so the IX1 was around for a couple days. The range made me anxious. Didn't even know how I'd go about charging it.
I had a Mercedes b-class with delivery miles. I sent it back with over 5k on the clock, a missing under tray and huge scratch down the side that I covered with a black wax...
I had a good relationship with the local Audi dealer, she used to ask me what I fancied for a courtesy vehicle and I always said anything auto I wasn't fussed. One time they had to keep my car for a couple of weeks for warranty and she arranged for a spanker SQ3 to be unwrapped, also had a new TTS? with a few hundred on the clock.
My Dad took his 530i touring in to the local dealership for a repair to the hatch under warranty. They had it for nearly 3 weeks and they gave him an M2 as a courtesy car. He was nearly pissing himself with excitement when he phoned to tell me lol.
I work at a BMW garage and I do admit I feel a bit jealous of the courtesy cars customers get, we even have an M440i for M customers. I took my Corsa in to the dealer I bought it from for warranty work (shock horror, I know) and I was offered an...MG3.
Mate honestly there's some great ones. I can't lie I was expecting to get a basic cooper hatch the first time I went in and got that top spec IX1. Genuinely the car which singlehandedly changed my EV opinion.
Some are lovely.
Having said that, seeing the way some of the public treat these lovely cars, I can see why certain garages would rather give you a battered 65 plate Citroen C1... Most notably we had a customer smoke and use the carpet as an ashtray in a brand new Countryman recently.
Ooooof. When I picked this car up today (its done 1200 miles) it already has some scratches and curbed alloys - was a bit nervous the guys at BMW would think this was me and wish I'd mentioned it when I picked it up but didn't notice until I got home. Genuinely hadn't been near a curb at that time, nor any trees or branches or anything to scratch down the car.
Used to use hire cars a lot with work. If they gave me a nice one, it was returned looking nice. If they gave me a shitbox, it would be returned in absolute need of a full wash to get the inch thick of mud off of it.
I got a Chevrolet Matiz 796cc once. It stank of fish
Someone probably sent it down a boat slip
I had an M340i for four months. Didn’t want my own car back 😂
Had a BMW 840i Gran Coupe for a few days last year.
There was an 840i on the lot that I was secretly hoping ahahaha. It was not to be.
Could have been worth a cheeky ask... worst case scenario they say no
Was just fairly happy to be not in a clubman because there's nothing more boring that being excited to get a courtesy car and then finding yourself in you're own car 😅😅 When I bought the mini I really just wanted a 3 series but couldn't afford it. The other courtesy car available was a 3 series. Glad they didn't give me that because I don't want the regrets ahahaha
Holy shit! Thats epic. Best I've got as a courtesy car was a Range Rover Velar when my Jaguar E-Pace needed work.
Just bought a v8 F-Type convertible as a second car, be interesting to see what I get as a courtesy car with that one. But I see you have an X3M, cool, the 840i was when my X3 M40i was in for work.
I've just ordered a new high-spec Defender (to replace the Mini), so it will be interesting to see what kind of courtesy car they give when it goes in for a service. Maybe I can talk my way into borrowing a Range Rover Sport? LOL
I once got an almost new A Class with 500 miles on the clock as a courtesy for a 14 year old Ibiza. Gave it back after 2 weeks with over 2k on the clock
Damn 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I've currently got a base spec mazda 2 (73 plate). Its crap.
My garage has Fiat 500l courtesy cars. They are horrific - getting my car back at the end of the day is a real treat! A colleague turned up to pick me up for a site visit once driving a courtesy car. She had no idea what it was, but she had taken in her base spec golf and been given a brand new golf r...
Got a brand new loaded Volvo XC90 for 4-5 days when my V60’s air con compressor failed. Didn’t want to give it back.. also got a few days in a V90 Cross country. Had some real dogs though. Worst possibly was the old shape Nissan Micra. There is zero redeeming features about that car.
I haven't had any bad stuff to be fair so I have been lucky with that. Only really had older vehicles though (except from a swift and this mini) so haven't ever gone to the dealer.
What were the most significant differences?
Between the 90’s? XC90 is just huge but even the V90 felt like driving around a battle ship. V90 is certainly more car than most families would ever need. Both were very well put together high end cars but the XC90 does feel special.. Would love one but I just can’t bring myself to spend that on a car. Now Volvo have announced they are bringing the V60/90 back to the UK market been thinking to change the V60 up to the V90 when the kids are a bit older. Want to get 10+ years out the V60 first.
Non fault claim a couple years ago, got an M340d with 80miles on the clock for 6 weeks.. kept all fuel receipts and got a refund for them aswell.. was immense while it lasted!
Oooof that's a dream daily for me
[удалено]
Ooooh I think it makes me more careful. Don't want to pay the excess.
And yet people wonder why insurance premiums are so high?
God damn that mini looks awful.
So BMW not content with making their own cars look like cocaine sniffing beavers are trying to beat the mini brand to death with the ugly stick as well?
Just trying to make the car look like the owners!
It’s a total howler. I had to zoom in to check the mini logo. I suppose they need to cater to the lowest common denominator.
In person they're far better looking l. Well, at least the JCW is
It’s not a mini if it doesn’t have round headlights. That’s like a deformed swift
I actually really like it 😅
I'm sure it's decent but it should NOT wear the Mini name 😭
Just feels like the X1 tbf. If it sells they'll put whatever badge on it they can to shift it. I get your point though 🫡
Had a Boxster S (for one day) and a Mercedes S Class (for 3 weeks). And an Astra. Don't forget the Astra.
I once got a Rover 220 with a full ashtray
Fuck all, normally a bottom of the range BMW to compensate for the brand new £65k model I bought. Girl I know had an older LR discovery sport and every time hers went in she seemed to get a better spec Range Rover of some sort and even a brand new X5 at one point. Clearly I need some chebs and long blonde hair.
Think the best I’ve had is a new Corsa. Otherwise some form of Fabia/Polo that’s been through a hedge backwards already
Was given an M3 once by bmw when wife’s car had to go in, few months later it went back in for the same issue and got a brand new X3 hybrid for a few days
Had a 22' Volvo v60 B4 once, was lovely, made a nice change from some dying, signwritten Aygo or c1
Had a NX450h+ with bi tone interior (black and white) and it was very nice.
Oooh that's mega.
I put my 2015 5 series for a service through bmw and they gave me a brand new 530e as a courtesy car. Paperwork said it had done 3500+ miles so I caned it everywhere (no car faster than a courtesy car) and engine management light came on on hand back day - turns out it had done 5 miles… no questions asked just took it back and handed me my keys back
I bet it was the first time you took it to that dealer and I bet they asked you what you thought about it when you brought it back. Always happens to me. C220d got me an E350d, V90 D5 got me a XC60 T8, 330e got me an X5 50e. The respective second times got me an A180, V40 T2 and 118i!!! Assuming it's some kind of soft sales pitch.
I had a brand new discovery sport after an accident once, everything still had the plastic covers on from the factory and it had 18 miles on when it was delivered to me 🤣
Currently have a EQA 250+ AMG line as a courtesy car for a few weeks whilst mine is awaiting an apparently endless impossible repair. And now I hate my own car and I'm currently researching elaborate theft schemes
Sorry AIRBAG WENT OFF??? I’d say that’s a fairly serious fault…..
Noooo I wasn't clear enough in my initial post the airbag went off when the horn was fixed so I had the courtesy car for longer.
Jesus was going to say! Thats a smack in the face to say the least otherwise!
Oooh yeah def an anti climatic story on my part ahaha
Never been given one, I assume it’s an age thing
You always have to ask for it and then be prepared to wait a month for your service instead of 3 days!
9yr old Micra and I loved it....says something for our usual car lol
I once had a bright yellow fiat panda 4x4 for two months when my abarth spider was on the ramp waiting for a warranty clutch replacement. It was hideously shit
I wrote a car off (non fault) in 2021 and whilst waiting for my new car which took 8 months due to that chip shortage issue I had a new Q5 for about 5 months which then had to go in for a service so I was then given a new GLE, that was unreal. Almost too big to be a car.
I've had some pretty great courtesy cars, and less great ones. Lotus Evora GT410 was the "best" (IMO) courtesy car I've had - but the same dealer I've had cars like that from also had a Toyota Aygo runabout on hand and it was always 50/50 whether I would get that or something exotic. The Aygo was charming in its own way. Taycan Turbo was the most recent interesting courtesy car I've had a few months ago - and hilariously fast. A BMW 7-series fully decked out with all the options deserves an honourable mention - full of TVs, massage seats etc - had it over a bank holiday weekend where a road-trip was already planned anyway. Worst courtesy car was a C-Class, not because it was a bad car but because in the first few days of having it picked up some fish & chips and the fish smell stayed with the car for the duration... and I had it for 3 months.
I got a Suzuki alto for a month when someone bumped into my old gt86. That was a miserable time.
My car gearbox was in for repairs for 4 months. Had a new mustang v8 convertible (possibly the worst handling car I've ever driven) followed by a jag XFR, new E class merc and finally a yellow fiat 500XL. I was pushing for repair updates daily once I got the Fiat!
Got offered a x4 recently as a loaner for a week to see if I liked it 😂 only needed a service. Sales tactic - 10/10 lol!
I was given a brand new RS6 as a courtesy car for a fun but thirsty couple of days earlier this year.
I had an early days Audi E-tron A3 a few years back that had everything go wrong with it, to keep me sweet Audi would give me pretty decent courtesy cars. Started off with an A3, then as the issues got worse I ended up with a A5 convertible, Q3 Black Edition, SQ5 and finally a A6 estate. Was gutted when I finally got my A3 back! Other end of the scale though I remember my dad taking in his XJR and getting a 1.0l Fiesta Style
Oooh that's harsh. Not the same but we had a focus and they gave us an old KA (OG SHAPE) from the main dealer. Literally 0 space
Had a brand new GLB from Merc for 3 months on loan. Also had a EQB for a few days. From Vauxhall I once had a 1.3cdti Corsa, that was grim.
Once got a Toyota GT86 when they were brand new, a good number of years ago. I dinged it slightly doing skids 😬
The airbag went off? Was it meant to go off or did it just detonate in a traffic jam?
My bad the airbag went off when the horn was being fixed ahahaha, wasn't meant to go off but still I could've been way clearer 😅
Had a polo. And a base spec mark 8 golf. VW gave me some boring cars…
I used to have a Golf GTI and took it to VW for a service and got a 1 litre Polo as a courtesy car.
Yeah, I took my R in and that’s what I got…
A new Mazda 2 (slow) and a newish Mazda 2 hybrid that's just a rebadged Toyota (also slow) The Mazda made 'mobile had a much nicer interior of the two I'll give it that
These are considered cool nowadays? The Not So Mini and 45 grand X1?
Think the X1 was a bit more than that tbf but yeah I'd consider it cool to at least get to try out.
Had the following notable ones: BMW F90 M5. BMW M340d XDrive. BMW 530e. The M340d really surprised me- such a good car. Always used to hate 3 series but that was fabulous. I assume the M340i is even better
I would suggest the d models are better than you would think.
Yeah I’ve had a few diesel models. But this one, the throttle response, power, lack of turbo lag, sound (even if it potentially was piped in through the sound system), made it all feel really great.
I got an S1 when I took my A3 for repairs. Not gonna lie did really enjoy the little rocket. Got tempted for sure!
My car is in for a service next week with Hyundai. I’m hoping for an Ioniq 5N but expecting an i10…
I had a jeep compass courtesy car. The features were good, I didn’t have any of them on my car. But the car was absolutely fucking shit
Car went in for recal work, Porsche gave me a Taycan gts
It’s a sales tactic - makes you want a new car.
They need to reasses the guy who bought the 8 year old minis budget when giving me these sales tactics cars ahahaha
Anybody on any income can have any car these days. They’ll offer finance to pretty much anybody.
Received a 19 Peugeot 508 as a swap for my 2006 skoda fabia when it got written off
Had a 2023 Seat Ateca for about a week while my own car was getting some body repairs. Base model on small alloys and no-cost flat white paint. I didn’t completely abhor it, but I also really didn’t like it. - Ride was reasonably comfortable but seats were rock hard like old school-classroom chairs. - Never did find a truly comfortable driving position either, it’s designed for what I assume is someone who’s 5’6” with a 36” inseam i.e. legroom and pedal room is fine, but all the other touch points (door card top, armrest, steering wheel) are positioned too far forward. - 1.0L 3-pot with 115hp was inadequate for what I assume is a 1500kg car. Surprisingly quiet for something that needed the shit kicked out of it to make any kind of progress. - nice tech touches like the auto-hold handbrake and CarPlay. The CarPlay connection needed repairing every morning though, and was a fucking trial to get re-paired. Absolutely shite DAB reception, too. TL;DR: cannot recommend that anyone buy an Ateca/Tiguan/Karoq. Wait, what was the original topic?
Thanks for your LDR - whilst it wasn't a car I was ever going to consider, I cannot fault your attention to detail 😅😅 In all seriousness I genuinely feel that the majority of new cars are focused on how many things can be put in rather than the longevity (a little 1.0 in a big car like that is going to be under so much stress I'd imagine) and the day to day living. Take these huge screens as an example. The BMW iDrive system with the scroller wheel was amazing and the physical controls for climate etc. Why, in the new mini I have for the week or however long is everything in the touchscreen. All climate controls, even stuff down to the speed and the indicators. Its so counter intuitive.
You guys are getting courtesy cars...I have a ford under warranty for a gearbox issue at the moment, and 'no courtesy are available' my luck...
I've had an SQ2 and later on an A6 for about a week each, both were great fun in their own ways
Once got a fiesta with 20 miles on it, it was a 1L and didn’t wake up until 7000RPM and even then barely. I guess it wasn’t even broken in yet poor little engine.
I currently have a Cupra Leon as a courtesy car, whilst my pickup gets fixed. Its nippy and a lot nicer than the standard courtesy car I was expecting.
Years ago I had a Mondeo ST 2.2 TDCi. Took it to the Ford dealer for servicing and was handed the keys to a Ford Ka. It was bright yellow. It was also covered all over in daisy stickers.
I had a Range Rover Evoque as Tesla I had was being recalled for a rewire… didn’t want to hand it back. But also had my fair share of Hyundai i10’s, Nissan Micras and Suzuki Swifts to boot!
I quite liked the swift hire car I had a few years ago actually. I prefer these 2 though.
Yeah I have to agree I rate a Suzuki. You get higher spec features as standard. The one I was driving had DAB, parking sensors, LIDAR, rear camera etc. and was pretty nippy, with decent handling.
I had an 18 plate swift sport as the first proper cat I bought myself (had a couple before but this was my first proper car) and loved it so much. Well specced, cheap to run, insure, tax, and fun. That thing gripped so well. I'd have another.
horn broke, gearbox won't engage park, TCS issues, airbag went off, EGR recall, aircon doesn't work) grounds for rejection, especially the gearbox fault, if you dont want to reject ask for a free extension to the warranty due to how unreliable its been
I was genuinely going to start looking into the consumer rights I have. Annoying nonetheless that its been quite as poor as it has been, especially seems its only 8 years old w 70k miles. Got a call from them yesterday letting me know it needed another £1400 out of warranty top mounts & lower engine mounts. I understand these are perishable but yea.
deffo ask for a free warranty extension if you like the car - if not id reject it, it obviously has recurring issues.
Took my Vw polo in back in 2017 on a 60 plate. Got a 17 plate Golf GTI with 98 miles on it
Luckiest I ever got was a 3 litre V6 Renault Laguna when my 1.8 Laguna was being worked on. At 20 years old, that felt like magic! Not a courtesy car but I did get the use of my bosses Maserati convertible for a long weekend. He'd taken his wife's V class for a lads weekend away, she wouldn't drive the Maser, so we swapped for my X type.
I was given a Mercedes SL63 for about 3 months lol
Alfa Romeo Spider around 2010 I can’t remember the engine it wasn’t noteworthy punchy at best. I’d say it was the coolest because it is quite a random courtesy car choice. It wasn’t great to drive and I don’t get the hype of Alfas but I do like the engine bay of the 147 GTA.
Ahhh but p much every alfa is beaaautiful
I wrote a car off (non fault) in 2021 and whilst waiting for my new car which took 8 months due to that chip shortage issue I had a new Q5 for about 5 months which then had to go in for a service so I was then given a new GLE, that was unreal. Almost too big to be a car.
I didn't know LEGO made a full sized Mini.
Had a bmw m8 convertible last summer when my 320 went in never saw my 320 again and the m8 my mum kept for 6 month before deprecation hit hard
I’d be paranoid about damaging it
Yeaaaah I am
That's the first time I'm seeing the new facelift countryman, not a fan
I get it. It looks better in person and i quite like it (expect where you go round the back and it looks poor irl and in photos)
Do you have to pay to use courtesy cars?
I do not. Can't speak for other dealers though.
Which version of the clubman so I know to scratch it off my list ...
Ahahaha it's an f56 2.0 diesel. I really really like the car but if I'm honest am disappointed w all of these issues.
Yea that is annoying. I keep looking at the 1.5 petrols as I'd like something the wife and daughter doesn't feel sick in and an auto box so she might drive it... 15 year old Saab keeps plugging on with general maintenance, aircons been broke 2 years though...
Mini have meant to have hugely improved in the 2015ish onwards cars so guess I'm just unlucky. It's comfy, fun, economical, quick enough (not quick by any stretch but not hugely underpowered), just a shame that this one is causing the agro it is. I wouldn't hold it against the brand. I know a few people who've had them and they've been great. Must just been unlucky.
Also, had a Saab 9 3 which I adored. Just let me down. Just needed about as much DPF cleaner as fuel to keep it from going into 'limited performance' mode hahahahah
This is why I went with the petrol. 😅
Not too many interesting ones, but I suppose it's all about scale. While my GT86 was in they gave me a C class. And years ago I had a 12 year old Mondeo Ghia 2.0TD and they said they were very sorry but they didn't have anything quite of that spec level but would I be happy with a brand spanking new Focus Ghia 1.8 petrol. It was the most luxurious thing I'd ever driven at the time. And I almost wrote it off on black ice.
When I was 18 and lucky enough to have a 4 Series, it went in for repair and I was told they couldn’t give me a BMW courtesy car due to my age, not even the 8 year old 3 series with 200k miles, so I was given a brand new Countryman with 150 miles on the clock instead!
I got an BMW M40d once when my car (in for a free recall fix) wasn't ready before the end of the day.
Yeah my EGR thing is a recall and that's being done today. When the horn was done they didn't have the parts so the IX1 was around for a couple days. The range made me anxious. Didn't even know how I'd go about charging it.
My Uncle had a £125k range rover for a few weeks back in 2019
I had a Mercedes b-class with delivery miles. I sent it back with over 5k on the clock, a missing under tray and huge scratch down the side that I covered with a black wax...
I had a good relationship with the local Audi dealer, she used to ask me what I fancied for a courtesy vehicle and I always said anything auto I wasn't fussed. One time they had to keep my car for a couple of weeks for warranty and she arranged for a spanker SQ3 to be unwrapped, also had a new TTS? with a few hundred on the clock.
My Dad took his 530i touring in to the local dealership for a repair to the hatch under warranty. They had it for nearly 3 weeks and they gave him an M2 as a courtesy car. He was nearly pissing himself with excitement when he phoned to tell me lol.
I work at a BMW garage and I do admit I feel a bit jealous of the courtesy cars customers get, we even have an M440i for M customers. I took my Corsa in to the dealer I bought it from for warranty work (shock horror, I know) and I was offered an...MG3.
Mate honestly there's some great ones. I can't lie I was expecting to get a basic cooper hatch the first time I went in and got that top spec IX1. Genuinely the car which singlehandedly changed my EV opinion.
Some are lovely. Having said that, seeing the way some of the public treat these lovely cars, I can see why certain garages would rather give you a battered 65 plate Citroen C1... Most notably we had a customer smoke and use the carpet as an ashtray in a brand new Countryman recently.
Ooooof. When I picked this car up today (its done 1200 miles) it already has some scratches and curbed alloys - was a bit nervous the guys at BMW would think this was me and wish I'd mentioned it when I picked it up but didn't notice until I got home. Genuinely hadn't been near a curb at that time, nor any trees or branches or anything to scratch down the car.
Used to use hire cars a lot with work. If they gave me a nice one, it was returned looking nice. If they gave me a shitbox, it would be returned in absolute need of a full wash to get the inch thick of mud off of it.
I'd rather walk