I hate my MG4!

[Davn]

Yes really regret getting my mg4 on my companies salary sacrifice scheme for the same reasons about plus bad build quality issues ie like cracking in the rear led tailgate. Complain to mg but just get gaslighted or fobbed off

Hear it more and more about MG dealers

 

[MattyS]

thats my perspective too. Yes my car has issues, BUT its the dealers that really let the brand down IMO. my MG4 is the most comfortable, smoothest, nicest drive I've ever experience either as a passenger or a driver. Its almost like it drives itself. The dealer network I feel are hamstrung by a "head office" that are in some cases need a lot of convincing to agree to some repairs under warranty.

That said, as customers this shouldn't be OUR problem, and its made me very unlikely to recommend my local dealership (who have at least 3 other brands under them) to friends and family and I find that deeply sad, because my car is excellent.

 

[Bam Bam]

thats my perspective too. Yes my car has issues, BUT its the dealers that really let the brand down IMO. my MG4 is the most comfortable, smoothest, nicest drive I've ever experience either as a passenger or a driver. Its almost like it drives itself. The dealer network I feel are hamstrung by a "head office" that are in some cases need a lot of convincing to agree to some repairs under warranty.

That said, as customers this shouldn't be OUR problem, and its made me very unlikely to recommend my local dealership (who have at least 3 other brands under them) to friends and family and I find that deeply sad, because my car is excellent.

I guess MG could take some blame for the service provided the dealers.

They could set higher standards or be more generous with dealers in order to encourage a better service.

I expect MG prioritise lowering costs to make the cars cheaper, which benefits us at the time of purchase, but at the expense of a more difficult time when we have a problem.

I haven't got enough experience of new(ish) cars to know if this is the case or not, but my assumption is that dealers are going to give the service they are incentivised to give.

 

[CharlieT]

I guess MG could take some blame for the service provided the dealers.

They could set higher standards or be more generous with dealers in order to encourage a better service.

I expect MG prioritise lowering costs to make the cars cheaper, which benefits us at the time of purchase, but at the expense of a more difficult time when we have a problem.

I haven't got enough experience of new(ish) cars to know if this is the case or not, but my assumption is that dealers are going to give the service they are incentivised to give.

I think this is probably a pretty accurate assessment. As mine is a lease car (through my company) and wasn’t sold to me from an MG dealer, the local ones to me just couldn’t care less. I also suspect what they get paid by MG UK for doing warranty work is probably absolutely minimal, so they have little incentive to help customers with any issues. It’s a pretty atrocious set up. And because of this, people like me won’t ever get an MG again, so in the long term they’re actually going to lose money.

 

[salty]

I think this is probably a pretty accurate assessment. As mine is a lease car (through my company) and wasn’t sold to me from an MG dealer, the local ones to me just couldn’t care less. I also suspect what they get paid by MG UK for doing warranty work is probably absolutely minimal, so they have little incentive to help customers with any issues. It’s a pretty atrocious set up. And because of this, people like me won’t ever get an MG again, so in the long term they’re actually going to lose money.

Unfortunately, Charlie a few people not buying an MG again. Won't bother them one bit. It definitely should, but it won't.
And that's shocking, really sad. Buts it's the reality.

 

[Tuareg]

Unfortunately, Charlie a few people not buying an MG again. Won't bother them one bit. It definitely should, but it won't.
And that's shocking, really sad. Buts it's the reality.

You can't please all of the people all of the time. There will always be a percentage that has a variety of excuses not to buy another product from the same manufacturer. What these companies need is that most will buy/consider a replacement and that will be the majority of existing owners and the vast, vast majority of those existing owners won't be posting comments on the internet let alone reading this forum.

 

[Davn]

You can't please all of the people all of the time. There will always be a percentage that has a variety of excuses not to buy another product from the same manufacturer. What these companies need is that most will buy/consider a replacement and that will be the majority of existing owners and the vast, vast majority of those existing owners won't be posting comments on the internet let alone reading this forum.

But I think the old adage about any publicity being good publicity doesn't hold up now with how fast we all interact , it's said that "a satisfied customer may tell 2-3 people but a dissatisfied customer will tell 10-12" and so on down the chain! And using your own thinking the vast majority who are dissatisfied will not complain but simply not return to the brand.

 

[Tuareg]

Well, MG is very successful in Europe and there will be a big chunk of repeat business in there. They will have done their research very well, a lot better than the minority of owners who continually moan for various reasons/agendas. Sometimes it's better for your moaning customers to go to the competition and continue moaning, some extra dead weights on the competition always helps.

 

[Bam Bam]

Just for clarity, I think its a reasonable choice by MG to prioritise being cheap up front and take the risk on reputational damage for those who have a bad experience.

I think it shows that they have faith in their product.

MG know that brand snobs aren't going to bother with them anyway, though maybe over a long time frame they will gain a good reputation and the cyberster and more modern looking MGS5 are obviously designed to help that process.

 

[LenEV2016]

MG have a product that in the 4 is a great driving car at a great price. They advertise a 7 year warranty that unfortunately isn't backed up by some dealers and for the most part MG UK.
That is the only thing that is letting them down in the UK (can't speak about the rest of Europe the world)

 

[Davn]

Well, MG is very successful in Europe and there will be a big chunk of repeat business in there. They will have done their research very well, a lot better than the minority of owners who continually moan for various reasons/agendas. Sometimes it's better for your moaning customers to go to the competition and continue moaning, some extra dead weights on the competition always helps.

Well that's a point of view

 

[HiFiDave]

Word gets around in the end, look what happened to Rover 20 years ago. They had some nice looking, nice driving cars and at a really good pricepoint. It’s just that most people who’d owned one in the past wouldn’t buy another, and most who hadn’t yet bought one had heard bad things from those who had.

 

[Ian Key]

Word gets around in the end, look what happened to Rover 20 years ago. They had some nice looking, nice driving cars and at a really good pricepoint. It’s just that most people who’d owned one in the past wouldn’t buy another, and most who hadn’t yet bought one had heard bad things from those who had.

I agree but I think if MG do get their act together and improve their customer service then they have a good chance of going from strength to strength. Remember all those Skoda jokes that were prevalent in the 80's, but since 2000 their reputation has improved no end aided no doubt by being taken over by VW

 

[salty]

Word gets around in the end, look what happened to Rover 20 years ago. They had some nice looking, nice driving cars and at a really good pricepoint. It’s just that most people who’d owned one in the past wouldn’t buy another, and most who hadn’t yet bought one had heard bad things from those who had.

Agree, to certain extent. But you can't compare Rover of 20 years ago.
To SAIC it's HUGE! Can't seeing it effecting it one bit. Don't get me wrong, the way MG treat there customers is terrible. And that's a shame coz there cars are not bad at all. And hopefully will get even better. Just sort the aftersales service out. And they've got a winner.

 

[T1 Terry]

MG have a product that in the 4 is a great driving car at a great price. They advertise a 7 year warranty that unfortunately isn't backed up by some dealers and for the most part MG UK.
That is the only thing that is letting them down in the UK (can't speak about the rest of Europe the world)

It seems to be an MG UK problem. Saic Motors probably haven't been in the business long enough to learn how to deal with problem dealerships and distributors.
Mazda simply cancel their link to any dealer they have issues with, Honda do a similar thing but at least give the dealership a few hefty penalties before they lose their dealership rights, Caterpillar only allow people to be dealers if they can prove they are well respected within the community, Alan Bond discovered that when he tried to sell the dealership rights after taking over a major dealership in Sydney .....

T1 Terry

 

[NickHeynes]

Just to add my two penneth into the mix>

On the whole my experience of the car and my supplying and servicing dealer has been positive . My car is one of the early models so has had the "normal" run of issues, all of which have been dealt with by my supplying dealer (Glyn Hopkin East London) with no fuss or bother.
Despite these issues, with the latest update being carried out tomorrow I've really enjoyed both the car and the general EV owning experience.
Having said all that, will I stick with MG when my PCP is up next November ?

I like the look of the S5 but the honest answer is I don't know. When I bought the car there was very little competition, especially in price. By the middle of next year the market will have changed beyond recognition and I'm looking forward to doing a lot more research than I did last time when I walked into the showroom and said to the salesman. "This will be the easiest sale you ever make"

 

[MattyS]

I guess MG could take some blame for the service provided the dealers.

They could set higher standards or be more generous with dealers in order to encourage a better service.

I expect MG prioritise lowering costs to make the cars cheaper, which benefits us at the time of purchase, but at the expense of a more difficult time when we have a problem.

I haven't got enough experience of new(ish) cars to know if this is the case or not, but my assumption is that dealers are going to give the service they are incentivised to give.

both of my Skodas I bought from new, and with those, the dealers were always friendly approachable and above all helpful when I had issues, but they were from a different dealer network and I suppose being part of a larger car group helped too.

 

[fshuk1]

Just to add my two penneth into the mix>

On the whole my experience of the car and my supplying and servicing dealer has been positive . My car is one of the early models so has had the "normal" run of issues, all of which have been dealt with by my supplying dealer (Glyn Hopkin East London) with no fuss or bother.
Despite these issues, with the latest update being carried out tomorrow I've really enjoyed both the car and the general EV owning experience.
Having said all that, will I stick with MG when my PCP is up next November ?

I like the look of the S5 but the honest answer is I don't know. When I bought the car there was very little competition, especially in price. By the middle of next year the market will have changed beyond recognition and I'm looking forward to doing a lot more research than I did last time when I walked into the showroom and said to the salesman. "This will be the easiest sale you ever make"

Sadly, European car makers are around 5 years behind the Chinese (IMHO). As such even if I was going to look at another car, I cannot think of a batter value proposition. MG4s SR were 18k for some time. Unbelievable value.

So assuming you agree ( and you may not), no other Chinese make has the number of service dealers or their history (through our pain lol). So I cannot see myself trusting any other Chinese brand.

I am not being paid by MG, honest !!!

 

[Tuareg]

Agree, China is way ahead of ANY other nation with regards to EV development and value for money and that isn't going to change anytime soon.

 

[NickHeynes]

Sadly, European car makers are around 5 years behind the Chinese (IMHO). As such even if I was going to look at another car, I cannot think of a batter value proposition. MG4s SR were 18k for some time. Unbelievable value.

So assuming you agree ( and you may not), no other Chinese make has the number of service dealers or their history (through our pain lol). So I cannot see myself trusting any other Chinese brand.

I am not being paid by MG, honest !!!

I do agree to an extent although I think that the European manufacturers are catching up . And the Koreans as well. What they don't have is the mighty power of an authoritarian regime that can become even more price competitive at a whim ( it seems). And also seems to be very quick , in automotive terms, in responding to customer demand .Even if they never admit to things not being perfect in the first place .
As far as dealers are concerned , it seems to me that as MG expanded franchises were being offered to all and sundry. This has meant that some dealers took on the brand when they weren't equipped to cope. In addition to that they had no history in dealing with Chinese businesses at all which makes things challenging to say the least.
I also think that some owners have possibly had unreasonable expectations. I went in to the experience with my eyes open to the fact that there would almost certainly be some issues. It was a brand new car from the bottom up and in 15 yrs of working in the automotive Industry for number of manufacturers I've yet to find one that didn't have problems with any number of vehicles and also yet to find one that was always completely honest and transparent with it's dealers and customers .
I'm also not affiliated to MG!! lol