Thread: Franchise change in Canberra.

Originally Posted by Laurie

Went to check out the new Disco 3 today. I went to Rolfe only to find out that Lennocks have taken over L/R in the ACT as of the 1st January. I hope they will promote L/R more here and are willing do deal : something Rolfe's weren't interested in. I must say my dealings with Rolfe service weren't good, except for the guys in spare parts.

Probably why, when I asked the guys at Graeme Cooper what Canberra people did when they wanted their LRs diagnosed/serviced etc, he said "They normally bring them to us".

It's like any franchise/dealership with a monopoly/captive market will tend to be like that. Joe's MC have a "reputation" around town as the only MC wrecker here. You either like their "service" and pay their prices, or you buy outside of Canberra...

It is a shame that there are no decent landrover establishments in Canberra. I need some specialist work done on my diesel - so if the local diesel specialist cannot help, mine will be going to Davis or Coopers in Sydney - there is a decent bus service back and forward.

National Capital Motors were the landrover dealer in the early 90s and were awful - by mid 95 Rolfes took over - my first experience with them was with a rebuild on my R380 under warranty - went to pick up the car and there was about a litre of auto tansmission fluid on the floor that had drained out of it - stripped back down to replace the gaskets and seals again. Just before Xmas an insider at Rolfes admitted they had to ring Landrover often just to understand the parts book - let alone service them and it was admitted their staff did not actually know a lot about landies. He was glad to loose the cars so he didn't have to get grief from owners all the time when they got their cars back.

I doubt that Lennocks will be any different bit I would hope to be proven wrong.

Garry

Having previously owned a Nissan Navara before my Disco - I can give first hand feedback on the quality of service from Lennocks - the poorest service I have ever had with anything to do with vehicles. They are expensive, won't honour warranties, they lack quality management and control - the three times I used them, my ute came out worse than it went in. I imagine that the money I spend by traveling to Sydney for work needed will still be less than difference that Lennocks will try to charge for the work.

Ray Spence at Canberra Motor Works in Mitchell is a Land Rover specialist.

Hume Off Road are gaining experience and expertise ... so may be worth a call.