The reason LandRover isnt building in this market

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Originally Posted by Mercguy

There is absolutely no need for MB to send a manual box G-wagen these days. I get the whole 'bump-start' thing, but the reality is that the auto box is SO much better and more capable.
Insofar as price is concerned, I'm half with you.
the 461 needs to drop about 35K (the "LCT" profit margin) from it's price, to make it truly competitive in the market - against the 76 & 79 - which is pretty much where it's squarely aimed at.
The 461's production line is not a fully-automated line like the toyota assembly. It's largely a hand-assembled vehicle line as the production vehicles are typically individual in their specification, and even the ADF runs are quite a 'big' task in that respect. This is but one of the reasons the G carries a high prce tag - because you're paying for real people to do real work, not electricity and a robot.

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I'll have to respectfully disagree on the auto vs. manual thing. Call me a Luddite, but I still prefer the control and predictability of a manual. I find that when driving an auto, it's easier to let your speed creep up and it's easier to get distracted. I've also observed that most manual drivers slow down sooner when approaching hazards and the temptation to 'multitask' behind the wheel is far less. I actually believe our roads would be safer if more people drove manuals, but that's a whole other debate.

Benz chases the luxury market and defence contracts with the G; both markets that want their cars to be as idiot-proof as possible, which is likely why they've ditched the manual option.

On the price thing; you make a fair comment. The Benz is hand-assembled and low volume (like the Defender), but I'd hope that you're also paying for quality of componenetry and some finesse in assembly and finishing (not like the Defender). To say half the price was an exaggeration. If it were priced in the 70 series/entry 200 series ballpark, it would probably be worth the investment. Although, across much of the country, you'd still have the problem of there being no regional dealer support.

I'm surprised that with the popularity of four-wheel driving and camping as recreational pursuits, the resources sector's massive appetite for fleet vehicles and the notoriously harsh environments encountered in Australia, no-one has ever developed a realistic home-grown alternative, even if it used off-the shelf parts. Something like Foers' Ibex or a civvy version of the Polaris Dagor maybe?

It’s been along time since my last update and I would suggest that this one needs to be put on the thread!

As evidenced by the Thread to date solitaire got everything back online and it seemed things are going well, the third engine and 5th turbo Were fitted and a trip taken that seemed to restore confidence in the vehicle.

A few things with found that needed attention but not urgently and as such It was agreed that rather than doing a 500 K round-trip for these they could wait for the 90,000 K service.

After the engine replacement these things were found in these were pointed out to Land Rover These included...

*-The AM radio which had been perfect ( well, pretty well perfect!) Before the engine change, came back from the replacement almost unable to be used due to the static. The static in someways mimic engine revs...

*-There was a rattle in the transfer gear selector lever which once it started would continue until the lever was held or the car turned off..

*-The engine number had not been updated on the registration when the engine was changed

*-The heater valve (Under the Bonnet which switches heat to cool and is adjusted by the slide on the dash) was sticking and had to be manipulated by hand under the Bonnet. This was inspected and as I couldn’t get the part in time before my trip it was agreed to change it during the service 90,000 K.

*-The UHF radio fitted in the car had a one piece aerial cable running from the back of the radio all the way to the aerial without joiners. This understandably meant that when they were doing One of the engine exchanges The cable would have to be cut to move the bull bar at front of the car. This was done and a joiner was fitted into the cable under the Bonnet by a specialist contractor who allegedly normally does aircraft wiring and communications.

All of this was to be repaired at the 90,000 K service which would mean hopefully only one trip down and then back for me. Parts were allegedly going to be ordered when I booked in and it was all noted apparently on the service record.

So it comes time that I reach 88Thousand kilometres I contacted Solitaire and advised them I would be bringing the car in soon and to remind them of the the work that needed doing. It would appear that Michael (The man I have been dealing with) had been transferred to another department... pity but The bloke I was dealing with seems straightforward. The booking is made!

In June At 89,994 km, (not joking) I hit a kangaroo! This damage the driver-side front panel on the driver-side door and the drivers side skirt and didn’t do much good for the roo!

I contacted the crash repairers recommended and used by solitaires to ensure that my body Warranty would still be intact. They will be able to do the repair within reason probably in November! But first the vehicle had to be inspected.
This was done and insurance etc all arranged. A 2 day repair...

Around this time I located some galvanic corrosion around the Alpine lights on both sides of the car, I advised Land Rover of this It was sent to the same Crash repairer to have this assessed for repair. They advised me short time later they will be replacing the whole roof! A ten day job!!

So I booked the car in for a service and the roof replacement To be done in November when it suited both solitaire and the crash repairer. Then solitaire advise me there is no way they have a vehicle available for 10 days in November and advise me They can only offer Me one for two days!!

After much back and forth in the re pair was moved to January21 and the service left in late November for two days. This meant that the vehicle was in for one day for the 90,000 K service and the other day for the other issues to be sorted and repaired etc.

The vehicle was taken in and I was given a loan vehicle. This vehicle was for the two days only as there was no possible way they could do longer than that. On the second day when I was about to go down to collect the car I received a phone call advising me that the brakes on the car needed doing - the quote for this repair was $4038!!!

Leave it alone Put it back together and I will take it and Sort the repair.

No I wouldn’t be able to collect it as the heater cable hadn’t been replaced as yet apparently it had not arrived to be fitted.

But I was sure it was the heater valve that was the problem and was diagnosed earlier not the cable I Advised them.

We reckon it’s the cable they said And we have one on the way from Melbourne should be overnight keep the car over night that’s not a problem, can you come back tomorrow?

I was contacted next day to say the part isn’t arrived, this meant it was Friday I was told to keep the car over the weekend and I would be contacted when it was ready to be collected apparently it wasn’t a problem for me to keep the car!

The next week this continued the part Didn’t arrive and eventually when it did, turns out it was the valve that was the problem and They had ordered one to be brought in from Melbourne!
The valve? Who would’ve guessed?!

This continued until in week three I tried to find out if the vehicle is ready but got no call back so I took a day off and went down, washed and cleaned the car to the standard I’d received it (practically brand new,) And refill the fuel. I drove into solitaires and went inside...

no, the car isn’t ready...take the loan car and we’ll call you — the heater valve hasn’t come... back I head to home thinking about the fact that the time they’ve had the vehicle well exceeded the 10 Days that we are unable to supply a vehicle to me for to get the repairs done!

By the end of the week I was summoned down to collect my car. But first there were a few things!

They had completed the 72 month service instead of the 90,000 K service which I had requested because apparently the vehicle needed the 72 month service! Even though he had a new engine turbo fittedA bout 12,000 ks ago..

Now the service book will feature pages that appear to of been ignored or not done which is why I was following a kilometre service regimen... Stupidly it appears I thought as the customer, my request would’ve been taken into account but apparently not.

I decided to check the service book once I got home and compare the 72,000 K service and 90,000 K service Entries to see how similar or different they are.

They apparently couldn’t replicate the problem with the AM radio it would appear the signal in Adelaide is much stronger than that in the bush as such apparently there’s nothing to be done To fix this!

Apparently the Transfer case selection lever was removed and tightened before being replaced, And allegedly that was the only problem with that. I questioned whether there may be a problem with the transfer case I was advised there was not.

Whilst away on the trip immediately after the engine change I realise that The UHF radio was receiving but not transmitting - we were at Maralinga and after establishing it wasn’t something to do with nuclear testing I open the bonnet to find that the coax cable Leading to the UHF aerial had obviously shaken out of the fitting and Appeared to have little or no solder on it! A new fitting was sourced from others on the trip and fitted correctly but alas it was too late and the transmission side of the radio is burnt out!

The UHF radio had not been done and this is because allegedly the contractor wants to come and inspect the radio and fittings before it will honour any claim! Apparently the 3 weeks wasn’t enough time to arrange that!!

The service book is missing from the car and I only found out when I had got back here! I will be very annoyed if that is not returned as it obviously contains very colourful history of the car.

So I arranged for brake parts as required, Rotors pads bearings etc through a very reputable Land Rover mechanic and these cost around $700! Due to the electric bits with ABS and traction control etc I was a little gun shy about taking this job on my own! I was advised it was best to have someone who had done it before there to look over my shoulder.

So Saturday morning at 1 am , Tombie Has arrived after a 400 km journey to assist me (guide me) Through the brake and rotor change! At 9 am we started.

The driver-side wheel was taken off and checked it appears it only requires pads this is a good start!

The passenger side rear wheel was then looked at but... because whomever last repaired the car had torqued up the nuts ridiculously tight, I ended up bending the wheel spanner supplied by Land Rover! When trying to undo the lock nut on the factory mag tyres the lock nut “key” stretched and is now useless!

Attempts to remove the nut using sockets etc were unsuccessful.... what if I had a flat tyre on the way home from collecting the car? There is no possible way I could undo the tyre and rim ??

This then put an end to any brake work, can’t remove the mags without the lock nut key....

So today I take it back to get the repair done on bodywork..by the time it comes back it had better have:

the UHF radio should also be replaced...it’s an oricom 80 channel unit, good but cheap to buy so they need to stop the bull—— and just replace it!

The wheel nut lock key and nuts need replacement and all the wheel nuts need to be torqued correctly..

The wheel spanner needs replacing as this one is bent therefore already compromised.

The correct engine number needs to be listed on the rego ( as needs to be done within 7 days of the change over by law!)

The service book needs to be returned... (they can’t lose it as it has all the veh details listed in it!)

For a mob that charge a premium price for their work because they are allegedly experts, there are a lot of mistakes here!

I still am disappointed that the car wasn’t replaced at any of the multiple points that I pointed out it was unfit for purpose, but LR just swept it along until there were no options left as the defenders were all sold... I have the feeling they’re pushing it to the end of all the warranty matters and then I will be even further abandoned!

This last episode leaves me wondering if Larry, Mo, Shemp or Joe had been in charge of my car. I’ve almost completed the circle of service it would seem in this thread. I started off very disappointed, was won back and happy again (especially by the two people I was dealing with -the no BS straight dealings were brilliant ) and now am very disillusioned again....

Would you not think as the warranty ends would be the time to have the customer on side so they continue to come to you for service?

I don’t like having a rant like this without again speaking with them first but three messages left that will be “returned as soon as possible” and still haven’t been called is leaving me very cold...

At the moment it appears the reason LR isn’t building in this market is obvious to me...

Ten days will either make or break this impression I suppose, and yet for most of that it will be with the crash repairers getting the replacement roof....

I shall keep this thread updated...

Digger

Wow...Just wow...You are a better man then me Digger. I don't know what I would have done if this was my car. To say I would be ****ed is an understatement! To be treated like that by such a big company is unforgivable. It's a pity that kangaroo didn't write the car off. Good luck with it though mate. It all seems like a terrible nightmare.

Bugger,, I can’t finish reading this in my break,, Digger,, hang in there mate, we’ll try and organize a chat soon

Sadly your experience is probably the essence of JLRA customer satisfaction standards.

After such an experience I doubt you will be able to regain confidence in that 90.

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Originally Posted by rar110

Sadly your experience is probably the essence of JLRA customer satisfaction standards.

After such an experience I doubt you will be able to regain confidence in that 90.

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Especially as it's a 110. Or... maybe it'll come back with a 90 roof on it!! 🙄

Hi,
yet another reason is the shortage of dealers in country areas, unlike Toyota, Ford etc. A year ago I had a key fob issue with my MY13 130CC in Menindee area so just thought I would pop into Broken Hill to see the dealer,but of course when arrived no dealers so nearest one in Mildura! It never entered my head that BH would not have a dealer so poor assistance! I know of a fellow who sold his puma in Qld as it was a 5 hour trip to the dealer, then again return becomes 10 hrs and then again to collect car if not done same day--hence he spat the dummy and sold it! It is also no wonder LR owners have had issues with services/repairs in part of northern WA as no one wants to work on them--still can't see why pumas at least can't be properly serviced by Ford dealers if that suits the owner. So LR need more country dealers, or maybe not if all we do for the next Def is plug in the charging cord!

Pumas aren't complicated. Any competent workshop should be able to fix them.

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Originally Posted by digger

Especially as it's a 110. Or... maybe it'll come back with a 90 roof on it!! [emoji849]

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There you go. I thought you were a young, hip & happening bloke with a 90. [emoji1]

Try to secure the 110 roof for a perentie owner. There’s a bit of demand for a hard roof and it’s a shame to scrap it.

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Originally Posted by rar110

There you go. I thought you were a young, hip & happening bloke with a 90. [emoji1]

Try to secure the 110 roof for a perentie owner. There’s a bit of demand for a hard roof and it’s a shame to scrap it.

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No, I’m old,
I’m that unhip I’m surprised my bum hasn’t fallen off
And when stuffs happening I’m usually at work!

I have tried to get the roof for myself, allegedly they must be cut up diagonally and a photo sent to LR... bull really what a waste.. offered $50, he says doesn’t matter if it were $500 still meets the angle grinder... 😳😯

Ps:
that was supposed to read “but really” and auto correct got it.. for the first time I’ve decided they were right and I’ll leave it!