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I really do want to buy an MG ZS EV......but

Sam47

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Newcastle upon Tyne
Hi, i am a little bewildered by the attitude of both my local MG dealers. I have visited both for prices and test drives. I have expressed an Interest in the Exclusive and on both occasions they have had the excite available for a test drive. So, after trying out the excite twice, one from each garage i then asked for a test drive in the model i would like to purchase. I was asked why as they are the same car. I explained, which was fairly obvious at the time of questioning that i am on the tall side, 6’ 7” to be precise and my main concern was leg room and head room. With the seat well back and at the lowest manual setting on the Excite I did struggle a little moving foot from accelerater to brake. Good head room though. But as the sales person should know, head room is compromised due to the panoramic roof and I wondered if the adjustment in the drivers seat was different between the two models due to one being manual and other electric adjustment.
His reply was, “i would struggle to sell a new car with miles on it“
“What about a demo car” was my reply.?
“not company policy” was his salesman’s pitch.
He reckons the Exclusive is flying off the shelf and customers are happy to test drive the Excite and then purchase the Exclusive.
He was happy for me to sit in a showroom Exclusive but not allowed to drive it.
I did a search for other MG Dealers, found one 30 miles away. Rang to ask for an Exclusive test drive. Booked for noon tomorrow.
Hopefully make the deal same day.
Has anyone else had a similar experience? Is this the norm for MG. Not a good experience so far.
Rant over...for now. ?
 
Hi there Sam47,
I must admit I test drove the Exclusive and that’s what I bought and I love it it my first EV and I moved from an Volvo XC90 and I’m really pleased with the car even more now the comfort 2 updates have been applied and all those bongs have gone...good luck with tomorrow.
 

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The dealer I went to only had the Excite available for test drive and didn’t even have the update on it, I asked them about it and they said because of COVID we can only test drive one model as they have to disinfect it all down.
 
Hmmm, there maybe some sense in that, but also if they used the Exclusive for test drives they lose more money as it cannot be sold as new and in addition to that the a Exclusive is much more popular for the money and therefore probably less in supply. Just remember that if you like the car before the updates with the slow start up checks, bongs and god knows what else you will really be pleased with a model once the updates have been applied, even the infotainment unit is more responsive..
 
Hi there Sam47,
I must admit I test drove the Exclusive and that’s what I bought and I love it it my first EV and I moved from an Volvo XC90 and I’m really pleased with the car even more now the comfort 2 updates have been applied and all those bongs have gone...good luck with tomorrow.
Thanks Mark.
i have been driving the Kia Sportage for the last 3 years and love it.
I had the sales manager ring me earlier. All he had to say was, i back what my salesman has said.
sales prevention more like. where has, going the extra mile to make a sale, gone. ?

love the photo.
 
Hmmm, there maybe some sense in that, but also if they used the Exclusive for test drives they lose more money as it cannot be sold as new and in addition to that the a Exclusive is much more popular for the money and therefore probably less in supply. Just remember that if you like the car before the updates with the slow start up checks, bongs and god knows what else you will really be pleased with a model once the updates have been applied, even the infotainment unit is more responsive..
Hi Mark, fair point, but the exclusive is their top model. Surely havIng a demo example would sell more of that model. We all look for a good deal and Demo’s with a little discount always sell. The Demo has done what is should do and that is sell more cars.
 
Agree with your comments, let us know how you get on tomorrow and whether you decide to take the plunge, I’ve have the windows on mine tinted, the back more than the front..all the best.
 
My local dealer had the exclusive available for demo and he had stock of exclusives available almost immediately. His comment was that more people wanted exclusives so it made more sense to order excites when needed. He wanted me to take a 20 plate that week but because we were so close to September I opted to wait. Partly because I wanted a post June car that came with updates installed and I wanted a green plate.

A quick look on autotrader website shows MG dealers selling exclusive demos with 3000 miles for 24k.

My test drive of the MG was probably one of the best of the bunch compared to Audi, Mercedes and BMW. I got handed the keys and was told to come back before closing. That meant i had 4 hours and 160 miles to see if I liked it. It was relaxed and I was able to get to know the car. I loved it and was able to convince the better half that the charging infrastructure is there now.

I've been reading these forum posts and its obvious that your mileage will vary in terms of customer service with MG. How I am treated as a customer will determine whether I consider MG again in three years.
 
My local dealer had the exclusive available for demo and he had stock of exclusives available almost immediately. His comment was that more people wanted exclusives so it made more sense to order excites when needed. He wanted me to take a 20 plate that week but because we were so close to September I opted to wait. Partly because I wanted a post June car that came with updates installed and I wanted a green plate.

A quick look on autotrader website shows MG dealers selling exclusive demos with 3000 miles for 24k.

My test drive of the MG was probably one of the best of the bunch compared to Audi, Mercedes and BMW. I got handed the keys and was told to come back before closing. That meant i had 4 hours and 160 miles to see if I liked it. It was relaxed and I was able to get to know the car. I loved it and was able to convince the better half that the charging infrastructure is there now.

I've been reading these forum posts and its obvious that your mileage will vary in terms of customer service with MG. How I am treated as a customer will determine whether I consider MG again in three years.
Which dealer did you use as it sounds like your experience was really positive?
 
It was Wakefield in West Yorkshire.

Compare that experience to Mercedes where I went in for a test "chat". I had already been told by the manager that test drives were happening but with a £10 cleaning fee. When I got there I was told that because of thefts of cars during unaccompanied test drives they were only doing them when sale was almost closed. When salesman asked for my number to follow up, I told him to look it up on his computer because I was already a previous customer. His face dropped and he apologised. By that point I knew I was taking my business elsewhere.
 
@lee graham Sounds like you did the right thing with the Mercedes dealer That dealer sounds like a bit of a liar to me. Who in their right mind lets someone take a car for a test drive without keeping their licence and other proof of ID and asking for a £10 cleaning fee is pure cheek. Reminds me of an incident that happened to the brother-in-law a few years back, and it could be the same dealer as he lives near there, he took his 1 year old Merc to the dealers for its first service and when he came back to collect it they said he had already picked it up. They had given his car to some random bloke who had heard him giving his name when he booked it in, who came back later and picked it up. They had the cheek to ask him to claim on his insurance for the theft, he refused as it was in their care when it got taken and they ended up giving him a brand new car.
 
Just got back from a test drive in the Exclusive. Turned up 1/2 hour early, sales guy said no problem, he gave me the keys and pointed to the car in the compound. Take as long as you like and we will catch up when i return. Moved the drivers seat to the max and set off on a very comfortable journey. Loads of headroom and a felt i had a little more leg room compared to the Excite for some reason.
On my return we talked numbers and availability. Very positive experience compared to my two local MG dealers. Although i had to travel further it was worth paying the Tyne Tunnel Toll and the extra miles. I should know on Monday when the Dynamic Red will be available. Other colours available in stock but not my first choice. . Looking for September when the company car goes back. So plenty time to sort.
Feeling more positive.
 
Just got back from a test drive in the Exclusive. Turned up 1/2 hour early, sales guy said no problem, he gave me the keys and pointed to the car in the compound. Take as long as you like and we will catch up when i return. Moved the drivers seat to the max and set off on a very comfortable journey. Loads of headroom and a felt i had a little more leg room compared to the Excite for some reason.
On my return we talked numbers and availability. Very positive experience compared to my two local MG dealers. Although i had to travel further it was worth paying the Tyne Tunnel Toll and the extra miles. I should know on Monday when the Dynamic Red will be available. Other colours available in stock but not my first choice. . Looking for September when the company car goes back. So plenty time to sort.
Feeling more positive.
Happy day, did the one you drive have the comfort 2 updates applied?
 
My local dealer had the exclusive available for demo and he had stock of exclusives available almost immediately. His comment was that more people wanted exclusives so it made more sense to order excites when needed. He wanted me to take a 20 plate that week but because we were so close to September I opted to wait. Partly because I wanted a post June car that came with updates installed and I wanted a green plate.

A quick look on autotrader website shows MG dealers selling exclusive demos with 3000 miles for 24k.

My test drive of the MG was probably one of the best of the bunch compared to Audi, Mercedes and BMW. I got handed the keys and was told to come back before closing. That meant i had 4 hours and 160 miles to see if I liked it. It was relaxed and I was able to get to know the car. I loved it and was able to convince the better half that the charging infrastructure is there now.

I've been reading these forum posts and its obvious that your mileage will vary in terms of customer service with MG. How I am treated as a customer will determine whether I consider MG again in three years.
Hi Lee,

i totally agree. You get a feeling as soon as you chat with the sales team. Maybe more training on customer satisfaction and customers expectations are needed. Why should there be such a huge divide? It’s in there interest to sell as many MG cars under the MG Franchise.
It’s not rocket science.
 
Happy day, did the one you drive have the comfort 2 updates applied?
Hi Mark, no it didn’t. That was the first question i asked when handed the keys. The upgrade will be on new cars purchased. But again i have read on this Forum that some garages have yet to carry out the upgrade for the first time. How long would it take for the same demo car i drove today to be put in theIr work shop after hours. A little overtime for the mechanic to have a go.
If you are not up to speed with the latest YouTube videos on the EV’s and you turn up just window shopping, the bongs could be a put off and a potential customer walks away.
Oh dear, another rant. ??
 
My local dealer had the exclusive available for demo and he had stock of exclusives available almost immediately. His comment was that more people wanted exclusives so it made more sense to order excites when needed. He wanted me to take a 20 plate that week but because we were so close to September I opted to wait. Partly because I wanted a post June car that came with updates installed and I wanted a green plate.

A quick look on autotrader website shows MG dealers selling exclusive demos with 3000 miles for 24k.

My test drive of the MG was probably one of the best of the bunch compared to Audi, Mercedes and BMW. I got handed the keys and was told to come back before closing. That meant i had 4 hours and 160 miles to see if I liked it. It was relaxed and I was able to get to know the car. I loved it and was able to convince the better half that the charging infrastructure is there now.

I've been reading these forum posts and its obvious that your mileage will vary in terms of customer service with MG. How I am treated as a customer will determine whether I consider MG again in three years.

Glad to see you coming on board! As for customer service, I just choose the car I want, don't base it on customer service as decades of experience has taught me most main dealers of any marque are a pretty s***ty lot if you're unlucky enough to need anything beyond standard servicing!
 
Hi Mark, no it didn’t. That was the first question i asked when handed the keys. The upgrade will be on new cars purchased. But again i have read on this Forum that some garages have yet to carry out the upgrade for the first time. How long would it take for the same demo car i drove today to be put in theIr work shop after hours. A little overtime for the mechanic to have a go.
If you are not up to speed with the latest YouTube videos on the EV’s and you turn up just window shopping, the bongs could be a put off and a potential customer walks away.
Oh dear, another rant. ??

The update package takes about 1.5 hours to apply. :)
 
They should really do the updates as they make a huge difference and what have we always been told about first impressions.....well there you go.
 
Hi, i am a little bewildered by the attitude of both my local MG dealers. I have visited both for prices and test drives. I have expressed an Interest in the Exclusive and on both occasions they have had the excite available for a test drive. So, after trying out the excite twice, one from each garage i then asked for a test drive in the model i would like to purchase. I was asked why as they are the same car. I explained, which was fairly obvious at the time of questioning that i am on the tall side, 6’ 7” to be precise and my main concern was leg room and head room. With the seat well back and at the lowest manual setting on the Excite I did struggle a little moving foot from accelerater to brake. Good head room though. But as the sales person should know, head room is compromised due to the panoramic roof and I wondered if the adjustment in the drivers seat was different between the two models due to one being manual and other electric adjustment.
His reply was, “i would struggle to sell a new car with miles on it“
“What about a demo car” was my reply.?
“not company policy” was his salesman’s pitch.
He reckons the Exclusive is flying off the shelf and customers are happy to test drive the Excite and then purchase the Exclusive.
He was happy for me to sit in a showroom Exclusive but not allowed to drive it.
I did a search for other MG Dealers, found one 30 miles away. Rang to ask for an Exclusive test drive. Booked for noon tomorrow.
Hopefully make the deal same day.
Has anyone else had a similar experience? Is this the norm for MG. Not a good experience so far.
Rant over...for now. ?
I am surprised by their attitude and am glad to hear that you're going elsewhere to try and purchase. I don't know where you are in the country, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend MG Brandon in Suffolk.
 
I am surprised by their attitude and am glad to hear that you're going elsewhere to try and purchase. I don't know where you are in the country, but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend MG Brandon in Suffolk.
Hi Skeeter, thanks for the recommendation. I am the other end in Northumberland. It would be a good drive home just to see how many miles i could do on a full charge. ?
 
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