Thread: D3, it's great but is it true sales have been disappointing?

Originally posted by Jamo
Therein lies the problem. We landy owners have at least half a brain, whereas your average cruiser/patrol buyer tends to have drag marks on the knuckles.

How do you do that thing where you quote someone elses post?? I can't find it in FAQ.

And this proves D3 owners have a sense of humour.

The reason the D3 isn't topping the sales charts is simple.

It's expensive, and people are scared of reliability on two counts, first all the electronics and secondly it's a Landrover.

The current lack of aftermarket accessories counts against it too. There is no cargo barrier, no spare wheel carrier, no long-range tank for example. ARB's only just come out with a bar (yes I know some of these are in development).

Basiscally if you want a tough touring 4WD you don't need to spend D3 money to get it.

However, the D3 should be well and truly eating into the market share of the LC100, Ti Patrol and similar vehicles. It is not actually a replacement for the Discovery II, it's moved upmarket into smaller volume sales consistent with Landrover's premium market strategy.

Originally posted by JamesH
I have heard in the press and via the grapevine that D3 sales are not too flash in Australia. Seems everyone is convinced but the punters.

Is it true do you reckon? Here in WA I'm told we have the number one and two dealerships in Australia for new car sales (at least that's what THEY told me). The vibe I got from a sales rep trying to flog a mate a RR Sport was that for them D3 sales were going "OK" in WA but also significantly better than other states.

Why might that be. In deep late night boozy brainstorming sessions my mates reckon it is the price (no complaints about value, just price) and the ugly (too many) rear. A couple of welded on Disco fans say it's ugly, end of story. Another bloke says they are wrong and the market needs to get used to the back end and that it will be a slow build for sales.

So is the D3 a sales flop? And what effect would a sales flop have on Land Rover in Oz?

They are better than the Disco 2 sales at first

BTW Austral group (includes Southside Land Rover) in brisbane is the biggest land rover seller in Aus

Originally posted by Reads90

BTW Austral group (includes Southside Land Rover) in brisbane is the biggest land rover seller in Aus

you tell em Reads

And they are the biggest pack of crooks.

If you are thinking of buying a new D3, look elsewhere and you will get better deals and more honest service than Austral will give you.

Been there, done that, never going back.

Originally posted by Reads90+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Reads90)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-JamesH
Here in WA I'm told we have the number one and two dealerships in Australia for new car sales (at least that's what THEY told me).

BTW Austral group (includes Southside Land Rover) in brisbane is the biggest land rover seller in Aus[/b][/quote]
JamesH is sort of right.
Barbagallo is the biggest single dealer with 215 LRs sold in 2005. Trivett Parramatta & ULR are equal 2nd with 207.
WA's 2nd biggest seller is 8th nationally.


Sales figures for 2005:
Barbagallo group (Barbagallos, Southern & Gold City) = 389 LRs
ULR group (ULR & Melb. City) = 379 LRs
Trivett group (Parramatta & City) = 365 LRs
Austral group (Austral & Southside) = 274 LRs

Reads90, it was probably a salesman who told you that info. You know you can't trust them :wink: .


I get the feeling D3 sales are down on predictions. When the Sport was introduced, D3 sales seemed to nearly stop o'night.
I don't know the ins & outs of it but when the D3 was released, the dealers had to preorder virtually their entire stock for 2005. At one stage we had around 60 D3s sitting in our new car compound.

I think the lack of dealerships in rural areas doesnt help. If you drive into a country town there is always a Toyo or ****subishi or ford or holden etc dealer, or at least a mechanic that knows how to work on these cars comfortably. If you own a Land Rover, especially a D3 with all those electronics many people would be to scared to buy one as a tourer because if there is a problem there isnt a single sole in the area with a the correct software and computers etc to diagnose the problem, let alone know how to fix it.

Mum and dad would have bought a freelander, but there isnt a dealership near them and the thought of driving over and hour just to get it serviced turned them off it. So they bought a Rav, which has 3 dealerships within a 120km radius. Matt

The one problem is lack of dealerships, I live in the Lockyer Valley my nearest LR Dealer is Toowoomba 55kms or Brisbane 75kms. Where Nissan and Toyota have dealers in Gatton and Ipswich. Unless Ford(LR owners) gets serious and starts up more dealers (only 2 dealers in Brisbane!!) to sevice there products hopefully have some product knowledge, sales will remain low. The price option for the diesel is a joke as well, reduce that price by $5000 would also increase sales as well.