Let me just say that when I purchased my 2003 G35 sedan in August of 2002 I was told that they will give me a Complimentary loaner car for any service. I asked "Even for an oil change?" They told me yes.

A few years later, I was told that they would only give me a complimentary car if the service consisted of 2 or more hours of labor.

Now, in addition to the 2 hours of labor, they are also charging a fuel surcharge of $10-$15! I don't even use that much gas going to work!

So what is the point in offering a complimentary loaner car?

Does any still receive a complimentary loaner car??? Do they still advertise this when they sell the new cars???

 

i get loaner cars all the time when i take the G in, but its true with the 2 hours of work...

 

ive never encountered that....

 

they always ask if i want a loaner or not.

 

I asked the same questions you did when I purchased my car a half a year ago. I do get a loaner car, but only when I'm having a servicing that consists of more than an oil change. Haven't experienced any surcharges for a loaner…that seems ridiculous.

 

I know the last change I went in for last year they asked me if I wanted one.

 

My dealer started asking you to bring the car back with the same amount of gas but the service guy said don't worry about it. They never charged me.

 

Riiiiight.

 

the last loaner i got was a fx35. i had it for two days while my car was in for warranty work. i paid nothing upon picking my car up for the work to my car or for the loaner car.

no surcharge, that's BS. if you fuel up before dropping the car off they can not charge you. if you've driven around and return the car without fueling up, i can understand them charging you something.

the service rep asked me if i wanted a loaner, i did not need to request one.

 

I agree with filanji. If you don't like some of the terms, you can cross it out before you sign it. Make sure that all copies have been edited. Probably a good idea to date and initial (both parties) the changes as well.

HOWEVER, most companies who have standardized contracts, particularly something like a car company, will not accept any changes to their contract, and they would most likely refuse to sign it with any changes you made to it. But you are free to try.

 

I've always been given a loaner and asked to just bring it back with the same amount of gas.

I take it and then the drifting begins

 

I get a loaner, even for just oilchanges. As long as I schedule it at least 1-2 days before. No min. labor time or fuel charges, I just fill it to the same level it had prior and provide DL and ins. copy and a credit card for toll charges that they will use only if you don't pay.

 

It's not that I don't believe you, more that I can't believe you'd be such a jerk to suggest doing such a thing. Many folks on the boards like to badmouth "stealerships" as they so often refer to them and complain about how "sneaky" they are and your grand solution to this is to be twice as sneaky. There's nothing wrong with being an "informed" shopper. In fact I welcome folks who have done their homework. It saves me time in the long run. It's the folks who don't know what they want that take up most of a salesperson's time because you have to find the right vehicle for him/her. But while I welcome all informed customers, folks like you who are just out to be a complete nightmare can go and buy a car down the road for all I care.

I understand that some dealerships are downright **** poor in terms of customer service, and some salespeople are flat out rude, judgmental and pre-qualify folks who walk on the lot, but there are some of us out there who are actually good at what we do. That's why we get the repeat business, the referrals, the good surveys and the satisfied customers who oftentimes are willing to pay MSRP or even above MSRP. Because they feel that the "high line" treatment they receive is worth a premium. It's because we take the time to do a good job that we're able to afford Infinitis of our own.

The ethic of reciprocity "treat others as you would like to be treated" is a principle by which both seller and buyer should BOTH abide by so that in the end, both parties emerge from the deal content.

 

My dealer tells me that the $10 charge is for maintenance of the loaner, and its like a rental, return it full of gas or they charge you to fill it. Also, they don't charge the fee if your car is in for warranty work, but you still have to fill it before you return it.

 

I got basically the same thing from my dealer.

In December 2005 I bought a 2006 G35x. At the time they told me that I would get free loaners (G35x or better) for life. About a year ago they started sticking a time "requirement" on service calls (basically, anything longer than an oil change) and charging a $10 "refueling charge".

I've had my car in for maintenance 3 times since then and every time I just say "Unless you can complete the service in the 10 minutes it takes me to drink this coffee, I need a loaner." As to the $10 fee, I simply say, "That policy doesn't apply to me, when I bought my car loaners were free and that was part of what got me to buy this vehicle. I'll add gas to cover whatever I use." Those two simple phrases are enough to get them to do the work and give me a loaner without complaint.