Thread: Poor Land Rover Service

Originally Posted by incisor

i will wimp out and get a td5 or another 300tdi.

Go on Inc.....



You know you want to

Interesting...

My recent experience with a '95 Classic. - Shrt story is the (plastic) fuel tanks were a problem, leaks could develop around the breather holes, and on the filler neck. - Manufacturer issue.
Anyway, there was a recall issued not long after and I understand that in the US, ALL Range Rovers between certain VIN numbers were recalled and tanks replaced, whether they leaked or not.

In Australia, the same thing applied except, replacement was only offered if/when the offending tanks leaked. (In fairness, most did'nt.) This campaign is still active, - strange but true - and when I contacted LRA, they readily agreed that this was so and gave me the go-ahead to present the Black Hole to a Dealer for inspection.
Yes, it was leaking in the prescribed fashion, LRA would arrange a replacement tank from the UK, and pay for fitting etc.
I suppose I should'nt mention the Dealer, but he's the nearest one to me in the Southern suburbs...
NO criticisms of the work or result. - It is a nice change to fill the tank and not smell petrol... Car was done in the time-frame promised and the Experience made as painless as possible.

A few weeks later, LRA sent me a letter and invited me to do an online Customer Survey. Those who've seen them would recognize the little "comments" boxes alongside most questions...and yes, I DID make use of them with, ahem, 'appropriate and honest' comments about their product. Those boxes seem to have no limit as to how much you write....

The Dealer gets a good passing mark, but the Product pedalled by the shysters of Solihull does not. Somehow I doubt the (LR) Powers That Be will ever read my remarks....
Or care.

A local businessman took advantage of that generous tax write-off some years ago, bought a new diesel Disco... and after being 'flat-bedded' back 3 out of 4 times from up-state holiday trips...got very fed up with the (same!) Dealer and after being told - privately by someone in the know - that his (lemon-coloured...) Pride & Joy was 'guaranteed' to fail again after the last batch of Warranty work.... traded up to a Tojo. Not ONE break-down or warranty issue in the years since.
Still reckons the Disco was nicer driving/more capable, but impractical to own.

Interesting bit is.... turned out that the EGR valve was at the heart of all it's breakdowns.!

Must admit, I've always wondered why Land Rovers are so popular and highly regarded everywhere in the world, - except here in Oz.
Maybe we're a bit more practical.

Or honest...

James in Gosnells,
1995 Vogue SE, with working Air suspension, Cruise Control, - and Rear-wheel drive...

Originally Posted by superquag

Must admit, I've always wondered why Land Rovers are so popular and highly regarded everywhere in the world, - except here in Oz.

The thing that makes Land Rovers so problematic in Australia is that we are one of the few countries that has a big back yard and tons of leisure travellers. And the outback is pretty much devoid of Land Rover service centres so whenever anything goes wrong in your shiny new vehicle you can bet that it will end your holiday.

When I bought my Defender I had high hopes that Ford (owners of LR at the time) might offer Land Rover servicing at their network of dealerships. Didn't happen, then they sold the company. Now unless you buy a Range Rover and operate exclusively within 100km of a capital city you are treated like a leper. LRA seem to want all the Defender buyers to just go away. They have this annoying habit of being adventurous and wanting to actually use their vehicles for their intended purpose. This has the unfortunate effect of testing Land Rover's marketing claims and forums like this are full of guys shouting through a megaphone when something breaks.

I havent even received mine and Im already appalled at the service I have gotten from LR dealer here in western sydney. Ive mentioned it in another thread... but I organised to test drive a 90 through email with their saslesman. Drive the 2 hours to the dealer. Got told that they car is parked in and to come back another day. Drove 2 hours home.

Emailed the manager. Got fobbed off. Since then I have been getting spam emails from their various staff members who will be only too willing to help me organise finance to buy one of their vehicles.

I dont need finance and I wont be buying from them anyway.

I have the bad feeling that if anything goes wrong with my new car I am up for a miserable 5 years dealing with warranty issues.

Re Toyotas:- Ive had Hiluxes for over a decade. Ive never had to put a spanner on one. The current one is a 2003 and hasnt missed a single beat. If my foray into defenders isnt satisfactory, its where I will return to. Im hoping not to have to....

After buying a D1 off a Perth dealer years ago and basically getting left on the side of the road with a broken timing belt and a dealer not even trying to help, I have avoided dealerships as much as possible.

I wrote to L/R australia about what happened to me and the attitude of the dealer in Perth, and not even recieving a reply from them either ,I vowed never to buy new from a L/R dealer again. It was even worse in WA as both the city dealerships were owned by the same people, so couldnt win.

Its sad that a brand that has so much potential gets let down by its management structure.

I have heard some bad stories about all brands especially Toyota here in Darwin, but agree with what Inc say's the only way this will get reigned in is by some proper laws relating to lemons in the motoring industry.

Wont be holding my breath.

Cheers Ean

same here.

I went to Dealer A in Sydney and put down the deposit of $1k. I changed my mind next morning as I realized I was ripped off. went there again and utilised my right to cancel the contract within the cooling period.

waited two months till they "processed" the refund and two visits at the dealer were required. One is for "we need your credit card here, sir"- the same credit card used to pay the deposit.

what can I say.

anyway I went to another dealer and got a great deal and now a proud owner of a defender.

Originally Posted by JamesB71

Re Toyotas:- Ive had Hiluxes for over a decade. Ive never had to put a spanner on one. The current one is a 2003 and hasnt missed a single beat. If my foray into defenders isnt satisfactory, its where I will return to. Im hoping not to have to....

i'm sorry but for my money you have unrealistic expectations.

your comparing a mass produced, mildly capable, bland and soulless piece of equipment with a hand built mecanno set, assembled by poms with loving care and attention as only they can, and most importantly very capable drum on wheels.

of cause you going to have more issues.

if those issues are dealt with as they should be you'll end up loving it

sadly, it seems that more and more those issues aren't being dealt with as they should be and it wont end happily.

Far be it from me to cast aspersions, given that I am buying one and don't want to be in furious agreement with anyone, but shouldn't all that loving hand assembled quality result in less problems rather than more?