Hi LWH
It's been a whilst since I've been on here. Just read this thread all the way through. I feel your pain. That said I thought I would throw in my two pence worth;
Paint on my S5 - Still perfect - it is also a 2016 car and has done just over 8k in all seasons. Something that occurred to me - are the paint colours that have suffered this standard offerings as mine is not?
MMC Service - I too used to grow frustrated with MMC over their long delays (you will see some of my past comments!) But I have learnt to grow patient with them and I find the whole experience a lot more pleasant. In the two years I have had my car it has probably been with them a good six months BUT I now leave it with them, walk away and let them know they can take their time as long as they need - just so long as the problem is perfectly rectified and does not reoccur - so far so good AND, my car often comes back with other little niggles sorted unexpectedly.
MMC Service contd. - Some years ago (around 8 to be exact) When I had an S3, I visited MMC to meet their I.T. Director (I was I.T. Director for a large national carrier and it was to compare notes). From what I saw of MMC's I.T. infrastructure it was good, but not great and they did not have a dedicated I.T. Director, just someone who'd job it was to handle I.T. (Excellent chap and dedicated but someone who was previously and still was to some degree hands on engineering). This in my view was typical, but a mistake for a company of this size - my point being, I think it was Hamwich that mentioned they should install software to manage customer service - I agree - but whilst ever an organisation looks upon I.T. as a necessary evil rather than an enabler (by not dedicating resource full time along with the right budget, strategy and board buy in), the technology/organisation will always be playing catch up. I have known small and large organisations embrace technology (rather than "lip service" as so many use) and flourish - it still needs people mind (as Hamwich points out - Customer Service personnel) to manage it.
S5 - To keep or not to keep....that is the question? - Two years ago I bought a new Jaguar F Type S - (superb car - superb value). At the time, many people on here said I would ditch the S5 and stick with the F Type. I very nearly did this year and my S5 was up for sale for a few months. I had fallen out of love with it due to all the issues. BUT, two weeks ago, I sold the F Type (whilst the S5 was at the factory!!). Why? Simple - because even though the S5 has been a pain in the proverbial fault wise and the F Type has been a joy, in my view driving the S5 is like nothing else and the more I drove it whilst it was up for sale the more I realised it was special and I would miss it - so it's staying and the F Type went. I am so glad I did not let it go as I now think all the fettling has been done and I would have simply handed someone a great, fettled car to enjoy.
By the way....for the record, I keep my S5 in an air chamber which I'm sure may help look after the paint. Merry Christmas all and Happy new year :-)
