What is wrong with Landrover Australia?

[Diego Luego]

Landrover make the most capable 4WD in the world the Defender. So how do they market it in Australia?

Firstly in the Sydney Motor show they display a poorly prepared plain white wagon with absolutely no accessories. The RHS rear door did not even open. The whole vehicle frankly looked crap - even to a Landrover enthusiast like myself. It looked like the poor second cousin that no-one liked to talk about.

Secondly the stealers all (at least in Sydney) had only plain white vehicles. If you wanted anything else you had to order it.

Now, as far as I know there are NO new defenders for sale. If you want one you will have to wait until at least May 2008.

The sales-people turn up their noses when you express interest in Defenders. I should know I am still trying to convince my wife that we should buy a new one.

They should have a mega-bling vehicle on each showroom floor with all the goodies - like the Lara Croft version they had in in 2002.

It looks like they are intent in killing off all demand for the Defender. It is really sad.

[solmanic]

Yep. I does seem that way. But there are still a couple of regional dealers that are a bit more interested in Defenders. I got mine through a Toowoomba dealer who moved mountains to source me one quickly in my preferred colour.

[CraigE]

Its a shame but it just seems they do not want to sell or maintain LRs in Australia.:(

[Scallops]

Landrover make the most capable 4WD in the world the Defender. So how do they market it in Australia?

Firstly in the Sydney Motor show they display a poorly prepared plain white wagon with absolutely no accessories. The RHS rear door did not even open. The whole vehicle frankly looked crap - even to a Landrover enthusiast like myself. It looked like the poor second cousin that no-one liked to talk about.

Secondly the stealers all (at least in Sydney) had only plain white vehicles. If you wanted anything else you had to order it.

Now, as far as I know there are NO new defenders for sale. If you want one you will have to wait until at least May 2008.

The sales-people turn up their noses when you express interest in Defenders. I should know I am still trying to convince my wife that we should buy a new one.

They should have a mega-bling vehicle on each showroom floor with all the goodies - like the Lara Croft version they had in in 2002.

It looks like they are intent in killing off all demand for the Defender. It is really sad.

And in addition, now that there is a known problem with the sump pan/drive shaft (see post in Defender section) - they won't fix it until it breaks leaving you stranded - what a moronic approach. :mad:

[matt39788]

I agree, the Landrover sales people in Perth i have talked to don't want to know about you when you ask about a Defender, all over I have found Landrover Australia about the worst sales people out of all the car manuafactures in Australia, no wonder the sales of their vehicles are slowing. It is sad I have grown up around Landrovers, but the next Landrover I buy wont be new and not bought from a dealership.

[spudboy]

Well the fact is that they can't supply all the orders they already have, so it is a little pointless advertising a product that can't be delivered, but I do agree about the poor presentation - no excuses for that.

Land Rover UK are only giving them a small dribble of cars to sell, so Australia is not that high up their priority list by the looks.

The Adelaide dealer has a nice red demo.........

[trog]

maybe Land Rover could try selling a few different models of the Defender that currently aren't available here. If I had the cash I certainly wouldn't mind a 110 HCPU

[JDNSW]

As far as I can see, the problem is that the Defender does not fit with the rest of the range. The Defender is essentially a utility vehicle, no matter how you dress it up.

Landrover Australia, since the introduction of the Discovery at least (remember the Defender was dropped at that time!), has positioned itself as a purveyor of luxury cars, and the Defender does not fit in that position.

They have got themselves in this position largely by losing the utility market (but kept their luxury market with the Rangerover). This was lost by failure to meet the challenge of the Japanese in areas such as power/weight, durability, reliability and dealer support, and subsequently shutting down most of the dealer network. Retrieving the situation is likely to be very expensive and take a long time, but it seems they are not even trying, perhaps waiting for a completely new Defender design, or perhaps just put it in the too hard basket.

John

[WedWon]

Hey......here's a mad idea

With the skill base available here and on other international forums we would, collectivly, have what it takes to run the company........

With "who is going to but Land Rover" still not completely decided........

How about a driver/enthusiast buyout?

Not sure what the individual cost per member would be

I'd be happy to run it too!!

Cheers
Jason

[Diego Luego]

I'd be in it like a shot.

I've been driving Landrovers since 1968.

[CraigE]

MM I could take car of LR emergency response but would need a nice red kitted out RR response car, a red D3 utility car, a red Fender 130 fast attack fire vehicle, a Defender ambulance and maybe a 101 Fire truck.
Who do I send my resume to??
:D:D

[UncleHo]

G'day Diego Luego :)

The main problem with Landrover Australia, is Attitude:(
and the dead wood at the top, can't be bothered to order the Defender, not enough mark up on it, not the right image, all of what JDNSW has stated, when the company was bought by Ford, Ford in Australia saw it as a threat to Ford's Aust products, so by closing down dealerships (some very old and successful), thereby making parts and service hard, customers were forced to seek alternate brands, but they didn't go to Ford, but to Japanese/Asian brands, (Ford own Madza);) bigger load customers went to Ford "F" series, so Landrover commercials were left to wither on the vine:( no parts/service == no sales, hence to hard to order, buy elsewhere:(

cheers

[wovenrovings]

Well then perhaps TATA will change that if they buy Landrover.

[Xavie]

I have to agree. The sales person even made snide remarks to me about buying a Defender...what a jerk.

And the sump problem highlights how atrocious the service and repair is with not replacing a possible cause of incidence down the track.

Xavier

[jddisco200tdi]

Dealers will only stock colours that are easy to move, so that why they mainly use white for demos.
According to the dealers I spoke to, there is not too much margin in the defender price. Where as a rangie sport has plenty of space for negotiation as he has them in stock.

I ordered a silver defender 110 at the start of Feb, won't arrive until July.

[Diego Luego]

It wouldn't hurt them to buy a silver, grey or a black one, they are the most popular colours at the moment.

[Diego Luego]

Most retailers would be pleased to sell a $50K plus vehicle. Let's face it Defenders are not cheap. Compare them to the price of Jeeps.

[Diego Luego]

The first dealer I went to didn't even bother to get back to me when I went to organise a test drive. It was on the showroom floor but for some reason I couldn't drive it right then. He took my details that was the last I heard. If my wife wins and I do buy a Disco it won't be from them, that's for sure.

[Diego Luego]

I hope Tata withdraws the XXXXXXX dealership in Sydney, they are so useless, and snooty. If you don't want a Range Rover Sport, preferably supercharged, they don't want to talk to you. As you can tell my level of ****edoffedness is very high at the moment.

[vnx205]

Landrover make the most capable 4WD in the world the Defender. So how do they market it in Australia?

Firstly in the Sydney Motor show they display a poorly prepared plain white wagon with absolutely no accessories. The RHS rear door did not even open. The whole vehicle frankly looked crap - even to a Landrover enthusiast like myself. It looked like the poor second cousin that no-one liked to talk about.

Secondly the stealers all (at least in Sydney) had only plain white vehicles. If you wanted anything else you had to order it.

Now, as far as I know there are NO new defenders for sale. If you want one you will have to wait until at least May 2008.

The sales-people turn up their noses when you express interest in Defenders. I should know I am still trying to convince my wife that we should buy a new one.

They should have a mega-bling vehicle on each showroom floor with all the goodies - like the Lara Croft version they had in in 2002.

It looks like they are intent in killing off all demand for the Defender. It is really sad.

I get your point and I thinks JDNSW's explanation about the image of the Defender is right.

But don't forget there are still a few of us left who actually prefer to buy a standard vehicle.
We are quite happy with what the vehicle is able to do as it comes out of the factory and some of us even prefer white.

[dullbird]

Landrover make the most capable 4WD in the world the Defender. So how do they market it in Australia?


Firstly in the Sydney Motor show they display a poorly prepared plain white wagon with absolutely no accessories. The RHS rear door did not even open. The whole vehicle frankly looked crap - even to a Landrover enthusiast like myself. It looked like the poor second cousin that no-one liked to talk about.

Secondly the stealers all (at least in Sydney) had only plain white vehicles. If you wanted anything else you had to order it.

Now, as far as I know there are NO new defenders for sale. If you want one you will have to wait until at least May 2008.

The sales-people turn up their noses when you express interest in Defenders. I should know I am still trying to convince my wife that we should buy a new one.

They should have a mega-bling vehicle on each showroom floor with all the goodies - like the Lara Croft version they had in in 2002.

It looks like they are intent in killing off all demand for the Defender. It is really sad.

did we go to the same show??? the 07 defender that was there when we went was grey:eek::D...and all the doors opened

[Diego Luego]

It is not really trying very hard just to sell "any colour as long as it is white" 110 station wagons and 130 crew cabs.

It reminds me of a John Cleese line:
"you're the fifth person to ask me for one of those today, we don't keep them there is simply no demand".

[Quarks]

did we go to the same show??? the 07 defender that was there when we went was grey:eek::D...and all the doors opened

Nope, here is yours truly in a white defender at the show :p;)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/02/5.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/7393)

[olmate]

The main problem with Landrover Australia, is Attitude:(

The joint needs a real good shake up and clean out :mad: I only hope that the recent changes makes a poisitive effect as there is heaps of room for improvement.

Landrover Aust needs to:

- have its product in stock / or readily avail
- know its product
- care about its product
- show some interest in those who want it and those who purchase it

I have only personally owner a Landy since the late 90's but have driven the things since the early 80's and been very much involved in repairs, parts etc since. I wish I could recall someone involved who has really impressed me :o other than entusiasts such as ourselves.

They need people with some get-up and go and some people high enough to be interested in selling both the luxury vehicles and the ones made for work.:soapbox:

I'll stop now as my typing cant keep up with complaints.:D

[dullbird]

I hope Tata withdraws the XXXXXXX dealership in Sydney, they are so useless, and snooty. If you don't want a Range Rover Sport, preferably supercharged, they don't want to talk to you. As you can tell my level of ****edoffedness is very high at the moment.


which dealer did you go to

we brought ours from trivetts and the bloke was great.......

and when we ordered our car they at the dealership had ordered white, but when ours was dealivered and they saw the colour they ordered ones straight away..........now i belive they have a tonga green 130 up on the stand couldn't say 130 for sure as i only saw it from a distance.......but apparently its a 130 but nothing on the back i.e tray or anything

[BigJon]

.......but apparently its a 130 but nothing on the back i.e tray or anything

If it isn't a 110 wagon, it is a 130 crew cab chassis. No other options in Australia.

[dullbird]

If it isn't a 110 wagon, it is a 130 crew cab chassis. No other options in Australia.


yes i know bigjon thanks

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I was actually IN a dealer this arvo,,
saw a nice pile of brochures,,

picked up the closest one,, just happened to be for the Defender,, but what model was on the cover??

why the 90 of course!!:p

[leeds]

If main LR stealershippers are bad in Australia they are equally as bad if not worse in the UK!

Went into one of the local stealrships and enquired about Defenders. Got told by one of their sales executive (posh name for salesman) that they only sold Discoveries and Range Rovers!

As far as that salesman (sorry sales executive) Defender was a dirty word, not to pass his lips.

His knowledge of the LR range was poor, his selling ability was non existent.

Regards


Brendan

[Diego Luego]

Apologies the show one was grey it but the back door really did not open. The ones at the dealership were both white. On one the back door did not work either. I saw it again last weekend and it still does not work.

[Diego Luego]

I really am not going to say which dealer, out of fairness. We should all take them as we see them. Let's just say you got a good salesman and I got one having a bad hair day.

[Pierre]

Hey, Diego, did you crash your early LRs (S2 and S3) to make them 108" long, or did they shrink from 109" on washing?

Pete :D

[Bigbjorn]

Sounds like nothing had changed in 35 years. When I joined Leyland Truck & Bus in 1973, LT&B had just taken on the LR/RR distribution. We soon found we could not get 6cyl. LR's except in very small numbers as LR had sold almost all of them to the UN & militaries at discount. Station Wagons were almost non-existent same reason. RR's were on a never-never waiting list. We had to tell willing buyers we had no idea when they could have one. Six months, three months, eighteen months, who knows. Don't bother asking for a particular colour, cloth seats or power steering, what arrives is what you will get. But what got up our noses in Brisbane was that LT&B at that point had not taken over distribution in WA. The WA distributor bought direct and had RR's in stock. And adding insult, we found from our angry clients that there were RR's available ex stock from Melbourne and Sydney dealers, most notably Rowley Motors, Artarmno who seemed to have an endless supply. The bean counters had the ships unloaded in Melbourne & Sydney so they could get paid quicker and Brisbane being the last port of call got the leavings.

[Diego Luego]

Pierre, my mistake and thanks, I will fix my signature. I did wash one of them once though.

[wally]

If it isn't a 110 wagon, it is a 130 crew cab chassis. No other options in Australia.

BigJon, something I've been wondering: If I want to buy a new single cab 130 can I place a special order for one?

[BigJon]

You could always try, but I don't like your chances...

[UncleHo]

G'day Wally :)

I would say that you might have to contact Landrover Special Vehicles Dept in Sulihull Warwickshire UK, or Foley Specialist Vehicles (might have to Google that one) they supply special orders world wide. try FOLEY SPECIALIST VEHICLES (http://www.foleyspecialistvehicles.co.uk) that might get them:) all you have to do would be request that they comply with Australian ADR standards.

cheers

[Lotz-A-Landies]

All I can say is that I hope that the workers in the UK, don't get their way and that Tata does move some of the production/assembly to India - even if it is only Defender production. Give them 12 months production and time to sort out reliability and build quality issues and we should be able to buy a Defender in Australia at a competitive price to the Japanese brands.

Tata is a huge commercial vehicle builder and I can not see them dumping an icon brand when so many of the markets for a reliable work model are right on India's doorstep. Even South America is not much more distant than it is to the UK.

If Tata can do that, I may even consider buying a new Defender 130

Diana

[rumman43]

I agree, the Landrover sales people in Perth i have talked to don't want to know about you when you ask about a Defender, all over I have found Landrover Australia about the worst sales people out of all the car manuafactures in Australia, no wonder the sales of their vehicles are slowing. It is sad I have grown up around Landrovers, but the next Landrover I buy wont be new and not bought from a dealership.


Dude you are so right..I'm flatout trying to con the wife aboutthe benefits of a new Defender..into the dealers i go..Lazy non enthusiatic..boring salesmen..the wife thought the car was a definate improvement but pi#ssed off about the help provided...
think its not buying the car i have to sell her on now but buying it off the of a salesman...

[Bigbjorn]

BigJon, something I've been wondering: If I want to buy a new single cab 130 can I place a special order for one?

If they still make them you should be able to order one for pickup in the UK through LR Australia.

Then you are faced with the problem of getting it back here without owning and using it overseas for the statutory time.

[rangieman]

Well i just got home from the Melbourne motor show

Of course i went to the LR stand and dribbled all over the new Defender not one of those suit wearing Uni drop outs came near me:eek:

The 110 wagon was grey (love it) all doors opened and closed , a very nice car

Now i just want one;)

[rumman43]

DO IT chris get one..........
i like the grey too

[rangieman]

DO IT chris get one..........
i like the grey too
That grey is sooooooooo horny :wasntme:

[Jojo]

...- like the Lara Croft version they had in in 2002.


G'day Diego,
just to give you some perspective...
http://www.landy.pl/TR_September_2007_124.jpg

And, of course, I agree with you on all counts!
Cheers

[Diego Luego]

Exactly what I mean!