Thread: Land Rover doesn't understand Australia - no ute !

Someone sent me this today....

Yes i know its all rigged

Originally Posted by DazzaTD5

And yet LR sales are dismal when compared to Toyota, Kia, Hyundai etc etc that DO make vehicles people want.

Compare sales in target markets, rather than just blanket ones. In the UK, and EU, LR beats those brands hands down when comparing competing vehicles. Toyota, foe example, can't sell anything bearing the LandCruiser badge in the UK, because the things are too big. The LC 200 isn't even offered in most EU countries. This info is easily available online, BTW. Where is LRs biggest market, do you think?

Originally Posted by DazzaTD5

Land Rover back in the 50's built a vehicle people wanted, a series I Land Rover.
I don't see "successful" anywhere, it certainly isn't build quality, reliability nor sales.
Maybe you mean customer support, which isnt horrific when compared to VW, Merc, Holden.

In the 50s, there were awful Chev and Ford trucks. They worked, but do you know what conditions were like in outback Australia, in the North, in the Wet? Of course Land Rovers were popular with farmers. You also need to know that, after WWII, US dollars could not be had in this country ( I know, because my father was sole distributor for Evinrude motors, and he could no longer obtain them, due to currency restrictions { this is a whole new topic, but people should at least study a "little" history, don't you think?}), so Jeeps were not available.

Are you seriously going to mention the almost dead Holden and customer support in the same sentence? Land Rover is in a way better situation than Holden. GM filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The US Fed bailed them out. 2008 maybe? Tata is doing just fine.

Originally Posted by DazzaTD5

OK - Being able to access repair manuals, data, info etc etc is second to none from where I sit (you pay for the amount of access and for how long).

I get this point, but how much access do you have to Benz manuals, or Prius, or Lambo, or Ferrari, or Rolls Royce, or HSV, or Lotus, or Lexus, or Infiniti, or pretty much any brand you care to mention? Simple answer; you don't, unless you are an accredited repairer. Why single out LR? They are all trying to protect intellectual property.

I still maintain that LR is commercially more successful than they have been for more than 40 years. I don't like the cars they make these days any more than you do, but the market does, and so do the shareholders, which is the bottom line.

I'll stick with my D2 and my SIII until I can afford an OKA. There is no LR as I knew it anymore, but I can let it go.

Originally Posted by johntins

I get this point, but how much access do you have to Benz manuals, or Prius, or Lambo, or Ferrari, or Rolls Royce, or HSV, or Lotus, or Lexus, or Infiniti, or pretty much any brand you care to mention? Simple answer; you don't, unless you are an accredited repairer. Why single out LR? They are all trying to protect intellectual property.

There is no LR as I knew it anymore, but I can let it go.

*John, I'm saying its one of Land Rovers few saving graces, being able to access (at a reasonable cost, which is fair enough) all info, manuals etc which is something pretty well most manufacturers dont do. It's almost like they support independent repairers, which is pretty good.

*Toyota/Lexus also offer, again at a cost access to their diagnostic software, equipment, everything you need, there prices are right up there though. But access none the less.

***** brands such as VW, Merc, holden, GM offer little to zero support when it comes to accessing manuals etc.

*I dont subscribe to the protecting intellectual property thing as once you have purchased a product, such as a car or a computer, you actually have everything there. All the parts both electronic and mechanical can all be worked out, sure it can be a long draw out pain in the arse, but it can be done.

Originally Posted by DazzaTD5

*John, I'm saying its one of Land Rovers few saving graces, being able to access (at a reasonable cost, which is fair enough) all info, manuals etc which is something pretty well most manufacturers dont do. It's almost like they support independent repairers, which is pretty good.

*Toyota/Lexus also offer, again at a cost access to their diagnostic software, equipment, everything you need, there prices are right up there though. But access none the less.

***** brands such as VW, Merc, holden, GM offer little to zero support when it comes to accessing manuals etc.

*I dont subscribe to the protecting intellectual property thing as once you have purchased a product, such as a car or a computer, you actually have everything there. All the parts both electronic and mechanical can all be worked out, sure it can be a long draw out pain in the arse, but it can be done.

Yep, "Right to repair" is an issue across many sectors - heavy machinery and consumer electronics being big ones. Huge case going on in the US at the moment with manufacturers fighting all the way. The way JR do it is good and fair. They get something for providing the information and they don't stop people from doing their own repairs (or through someone like yourself).

Originally Posted by scarry

Nah,you will have to wait a couple of months longer for the 130 wagon,it should have heaps of room.

You may get more than 12 bags in it

Let us know how you go

Okay, but it will be December before I get to collect more goat poo from the rellies.

I think LR understand the Australian market perfectly - but they are a small company and we are a small market and they have to maximise their return for their investment and that means catering for their major markets. Any investment in a ute (and it would have to be a dual cab ute) for Australia would just not be cost effective and probably a failure in economic terms.

Garry

The monocoque design has pretty much killed any idea of a ute although still possible engineering wise , if they had retained a chassis it would be easy to tool up for one.

Originally Posted by W&KO

I don’t reckon a farmer will be able torun his quad into the back of a defender wagon

Just finished a job which needed me to deliver a 20m roll of 4” dry delivery hose to a gold mine, would have been a bitch getting it in and out of a wagon...good thing we still have real commercial vehicles available to get the job done.

Your “real” working commercial vehicle wouldn’t be allowed on my site.

Those days are gone, now all heavier work is LTs with safety systems.