What makes a service loaner?

[freinando]

Recently took the Taycan in for service and was given a Macan S (ICE) as a loner. It is a 2025 model with 3k miles, 97K sticker.

This got me thinking, how come a car this new is in service loaner duty, let alone an S trim? The car has a mad rattle from the drivers door and from another place I cannot pinpoint, which surprises me for a car this new. Perhaps cars with low QC meet the service loaner fate? Just wondering, no clue what that criteria is..

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[SergeyIndy]

I have not seen an S level Macan as a loaner. This has something to do with dealer asking corporate to pay for loaner fleet and I guess they ran out of Base models. Loaners are not treated well, so all kinds of dents/dings/rattles are expected.

We have a 2024 Macan GTS and it is flawless, where our 2016 Macan Turbo had every issue that was known to happen, but they were all fixed under warranty or good will. I keep looking and listening for something to happen but 2 years and counting, it is solid and fun to drive after you add a Roar Pedal and COBB tune.

 

[69Mach390]

Not sure about Porsche but at other brand dealers the service fleet vehicles seem to be a mix of whatever they need and whatever they have in inventory.

I’ve seen anything from basic bare bones to completely loaded service loaners. The loaded ones work sometimes to make you want the “new” version of a car.

That dang loaded loaner is how we ended up having to upgrade my wife’s car to one with the 30 way adjustable massaging seats.

 

[Scandinavian]

Seems to differ a lot by dealers.

I am lucky if there ever is any loaner available to use. And when there occasionally is one it normally is a very old clapped out Audi A1. At the last service the manual clutch in the loaner slipped so badly that it hardly managed to get up the hill where I live. Nearly called Porsche Assistance for recovering it. I did not use it all during the week the car was at service.

Guess this is costsaving by the OPC.

 

[kempez]

The loaners at my local (UK HQ), have variously been: Taycan RWD (heavily loaded), Macan GTS (heavily loaded), Macan S, Cayenne E-Hybrid (heavily loaded) and another Taycan RWD. That's from memory though

But you have to book for a loaner a *long* way in advance (2-3 months), so I have been waiting for shorter appointments recently. None available for emergency appointments at all...which is nice

 

[kern417]

I know in BMW land at least, they try to match you with what you have.

If you have an M3, they put you in another M Car.
If you have an SUV, they put you in another one.

I think it's dealer dependent, but there's definitely a strategy to try to get you interested in a new car.

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