First world problem alert - I totally get that this is not a big issue but am posting because I don't know if I am reasonable or not to complain.
TLDR: Coutresty car is too big, has clearly been in some kind of accident, is flashing up warning signs, stinks and is filthy. AIBU unreasonable to insist they give me something different?
I drive an Audi Q3 (I know this gives me instant minus points as an Audi driver, which I'll accept on the chin). It got damaged whilst it was parked recently. It's a no fault claim & the bodyworks repair shop's insurance are handling it via the third party's insurance.
I was told I would be offered a like for like courtesy car. Happy days. I was expecting a VW or similar but received a Mercedes GLC300 which was a bit bigger than mine, really lovely to drive but was delivered to me with just 20 miles of fuel in it. So I filled it up (just shy of 60 litres of fuel). Used it to get to work on Thurs and Fri, didn't drive at the weekend or Monday, so the tank was still very full.
Yesterday the car rental company rang me and say their insurers have advised I need upgrading to a bigger car. I said I didn't need a bigger car but they then mumbled something about a bigger engine to match my car's engine size and could I bring it in. So I did and they took the Merc keys off me quick as anything, and so they took the car back with c.£60 worth of fuel in it.
They then tried to give me a Volvo XC90 which is HUGE. It's a 7 seater and massive. I noticed it had scrapes on the front wheel arch and back bumper which annoyed me but not hugely bothered. What did bother me was that one of the front wheels had obviously been banged really hard. The alloy was very badly scraped and - most importantly - the tyre had a big chunk ripped out of it and IMO was compromised. I refused to take the car. They said they would sort it and turned up at my house 5 hours later with the same car sporting a new tyre. I had no option but to take it as I needed to go to work.
Once I got in the car I first saw it only had 60 miles of fuel in it. Annoying because I've already shelled out for petrol which they've effectively taken off me. Also I couldn't get my phone to connect via bluetooth or via a USB cable - so I can't get Apple Car Play going. It smells vaguely of smoke and old BO, and isn't clean (remnants of bits of chocolate in the cup holders). Then last night on my way home from work a warning light saying the tyre pressures were too low flashed up.
I get it that there may be very many tiny violins out, but do I complain or not? TBH the Apple Play thing is fine, the fact that it's dirty and smelly inside is also not a huge issue. But the fact that a warning light is now on and there's been some kind of accident prior to me taking it is annoying me a lot. It's also so much bigger than I want, need or like to drive. I have a long drive ahead of me this weekend and am not sure I want to be in that machine. I'm NOT looking for a fancy car, just something that I can fully put my trust in.
YABU - suck it up and find something real to worry about
YANBU - get them to swap it for a cleaner, smaller car in full working order