Review: two-year included roadside assistance

[vwW12]

Car wouldn't start after work, so I called the roadside toll-free line, which according to the little roadside assistance card provided together with my manual, "is available in 65 languages."

Well, the printed 1-800 is not the roadside toll-free line, but alas!, apparently the main 1-800 for smart. You have to pick option #2.

Not nice to have to navigate a phone system while you are stranded roadside. And good luck navigating the main menu in 64 languages other than English.

After about 2 minutes in the roadside call queue, "Richard" comes on. Not a very friendly guy, more like someone whishing he wasn't there. Kind of did his job, though. Had heard about Miami, but sounded thoroughly confused, dejected even, even when I gave him a specific street address in Coral Gables. Coral Gables is in the geographic center of Miami, but is actually a different township. Why do I dare tell him I am in Miami if I am actually in Coral Gables?

So he asks where am I? I am at, say, 1010 Main Street. "Yes, but what is the name of the place" —Well, this office building is called 1010 Main Street! "That's the name?" —Yes. 1010 Main Street. He sounded disappointed.

I actually had to ask him if the tow truck would call me on my mobile when near, as he did not volunteer any info other than "service will be there in one hour or less"

I told him I am stranded in a high floor on a parking structure, that he needs to tell this to the service people (most tow trucks are too tall to clear the entry). Says he will, but does not sound too convincing as he hangs up.

The service guy shows up :45 later on this abslutely humongous full-size truck. Much larger than your average tow truck, mind you. And it is not a tow truck. Why? This is the company that services Roger Penske's trucks! The guy is a diesel truck specialist!

The service guy is totally friendly and cool. He calls up his buddy who comes with a regular old pickup truck :30 later. We go up and see if we can push the car down 8 stories, no luck. With no power, even with the shifter in "N" the car is still in "P" mechanically. He waits with me street-side and we shoot the bull.

With his buddy, we jump start the smart. They had never seen one up close and did not know where the battery is.

If the smart had needed a tow... I would have had to call smart assistance and get a whole other service. Maybe by midnight I might have arrived home?

Still, it all was no charge. Can't argue with free, can you?

[jose3030]

Sadly, this would have been me yesterday had I not been quick-witted and thought about going to a tire shop immediately after encountering I was losing air pressure.

Thank Goodness I lucked out tho.

[jwight]

Sorry to hear this; can't imagine a worse situation than inside a parking garage and no electrical power. Anyway, even with the free roadside assistance, we use AAA as primary. Yeah, it costs something but then you get what you pay for.

[fpage77]

Yes Penske rental truck support network is same one that does smart USA since ummm that dude owns both.

[chieftmc]

Originally Posted by jwight

Sorry to hear this; can't imagine a worse situation than inside a parking garage and no electrical power. Anyway, even with the free roadside assistance, we use AAA as primary. Yeah, it costs something but then you get what you pay for.

Yes,

Have been a very satisfied AAA member for many, many, years

[BigWarpGuy]

I have had AAA for many years. Only really had to use the service a couple of times. They are pretty good.

[SmartAzz]

Originally Posted by BigWarpGuy

I have had AAA for many years. Only really had to use the service a couple of times. They are pretty good.

Just to add another POV, AAA left me in a horrible situation after an accident stranded by the side of the highway - the driver, that ultimately got there after a very very long wait (much longer then an hour), decided it was too far and decided not to tow me. He was also very creepy, and at that point it was after night fall and terribly dangerous to be stranded on the freeway - harrowing experience and AAA did nothing about it, didn't even apologize when it was reported.

In the end all the companies offering towing are just call centers farming out the towing to whatever shops and free agents are in the area and AAA is no different, it ends up being simple luck of the draw.

[SubSlr88]

I was on my way for 40 mile trip for a doctor's visit with my sick wife one day when my vehicle (not a smart!) starts bucking and stalling. I nurse it a mile or so to the next gas station and call the Dr. to cancel appointment, then to AAA for assistance. They took all my info and where I was located. After an hour I called again - was assured they were on the way. After another 45 minutes I phoned again - was nastily told "THEY ARE ON THE WAY!" by the operator who answered. After another 45 minutes (we're up to 2 1/2 hours now) I phoned my sister who lived 45 minutes away to help out. She arrived (we're now at well over 3 hours) and my car started and seemed to run OK, so I headed home with sister following. The AAA tow truck never showed up during all that time, and I never got a call as to why.
Needless to say, I dropped my membership and haven't thought of joining since . . . FWIW the problem continued off and on for the next 6 months or so until the right mechanic found and replaced a defective mass airflow sensor!

[chieftmc]

TRUE, there are 2 sides to every coin; luckily I've always been able to flip HEADS

to all those that flipped TAILS

Like SmartAzz said, it's the luck of the draw

[SmartAzz]

Originally Posted by SubSlr88

Needless to say, I dropped my membership and haven't thought of joining since . . .

Likewise, and I haven't missed it. I figure that once I am past any included towing that came with our cars I will look into what my car insurance has to offer, it is supposed to be a reasonable way to go vs paying for a membership like AAA.

Glad it worked out for the OP in the end, sounds frustrating to say the least.