Thread: All discussions relating to the Defenders end of production

Originally Posted by Bess

Attachment 75702
I WAN'T ONE OF THESE !!!

Ok folks, what's our thoughts on bringing one of these little gems in as a private import or making a special order?

I have looked at LRA website regarding the importing of vehicles to Aus, the way I read it would be that if LRA have not bought this particular model into Australia then I would not be able to register it here.

What do you good people think? Is it possible either way because I would seriously consider this before it's all over for the Defender as we know it!

Any advise from people who have done a private import ( late model ) or managed a special order would be appreciated .

Thanks Chris.

According to the Landrover site, there are 29 Aussie Dealers.
I was reading (UK Def 11 site) recently that Defender sales in Aus, to the end of May, were 273, working out at a little under 2 per month, per Dealer.
Obviously some sell more than others, but it's not really very many.
Pickles.

This is just my opinion, but looking at the combination of events, there will be at least a 2 year gap between last puma and the newbie, maybe. So why would LR waste money on a product it's neglected for 25 years and is finished for at least 2?
Have a look at the big 3 soon to shut shop, falcon, commodore, carry are almost invisible in their ads , so the replacement may not even have the same name, whereas Jeep, Mazda Honda and the others who have a new model to directly follow the old, not only keep up the ads,but also have special run out packs. Jeep have their replacement wrangler planned.
LR on the other hand may have had plans to be doing a custom body /suspension on the ranger/bt50 chassis using aluminium but that would have got nipped in the bud by the sale to tata. The f150-250 now use aluminium panels to reduce weight, and the ranger has a true 130 inch wheelbase, with its td5 and tdci4 built in the U.K. Also a 5 door 7 seat ranger is due early 2015 to compete with the MUX, Colorado, outlander.

Originally Posted by Pickles2

According to the Landrover site, there are 29 Aussie Dealers.
I was reading (UK Def 11 site) recently that Defender sales in Aus, to the end of May, were 273, working out at a little under 2 per month, per Dealer.
Obviously some sell more than others, but it's not really very many.
Pickles.

I think you will find that is more due to supply than demand. I was speaking to a Perth dealer who said that he could sell three times the number of Defenders he did if only he could get his hands on them.

Cheers,

I was at the Newcastle dealership 2 weeks ago and they had a new red 110 with luxury pack on it or whatever and asked him if it would sit there long. He showed me a list of 5 people he had to call as soon as it arrived. That beautiful thing wasn't going to be sitting there long.

As far as the Defender goes, the dealers are their own worst enemy. Of course they will put in more effort to move $90K+ Discoveries & RRS than they ever would shifting $50K Defenders.

When we bought our 2007 Puma Defender, I visited two dealerships in Brisbane to enquire about ordering and neither of them bothered to ring me back. One even had a demonstrator on the floor which we were interested in but no phone call. In the end I had a mate who was a professional vehicle fleet purchaser chase one down in Toowoomba.

Fast forward five years and again we were looking to trade up. I went to one of the dealers in the city and poked around the 2.2 Puma on the floor. Gave them my requirements and details, and again not a phone call. They just totally suck arse when it comes to selling Defenders.

I am sure there are some dealers around the country who are big fans of the Defender - take the Toowoomba guys for example. But generally speaking I think they just cannot be bothered. Perhaps they think all Defender buyers are rough neck tight-arses who know too much about what they're buying and make salesmanship a chore. Perhaps they don't want them messing up their dealerships and scaring the Range Rover customers. Who knows.

Anyhoo - I went and bought a G-Wagen just to spite them all and I have to say, the dealership sucking up from MB was spectacular... Oh bugger! I inadvertently made another Mercedes post there didn't I.


Defenders have to sell themselves because they sure as hell don't get any assistance from dealers.

Mercedes Dealers? We bought a new C63, & so yes, we too are aware, they REALLY know how to look after their customers.
Pickles.

With supply being so tight and dealerships lacking motivation, how do people go about getting discounts/deals when negotiating purchase???

FWIW i think most of those sales must've been in WA, theres heaps of new defenders out there! Maybe the ship just arrived ...