MuddyMudskipper
Camp Ninja
cshontz said:
Well Chris it looks like you are luckier than the majority of us. I would love to see that Ambulance FC.
Land Rover Dealers
- Thread starter cshontz
- Start date
Well Chris it looks like you are luckier than the majority of us. I would love to see that Ambulance FC.
UnfrozenCaveman
Explorer
revor said:
Ummmm, I was too confused to figure out if he was addressing you or me
Broke? Shure, but it's all deductible :wings:
Back to counting beans for me today ...
KAA
revor
Explorer
It matters not really... Since I went off.
Dealers if selling only LR's will have an enthusiast or two working at the store but only encourage the "lifestyle" to sell you a car so you can dream about chasing Rhino's in your new LR3. Showrooms that look like a combination LL Bean's/flea market.. It's an upscale Automobile now that has very few ties with its past with exception of those dreams and the enthusiast's that work for the company.
But I digress, and I'm being negative. I like the guys I work with at the local dealerships, the stores are sharp and very cool but am I going to buy an LR3 to do what I do off road? Can't afford to!
KEITH!
I forgot you are "deduction mode" Work Work Work... Deduct Deduct De... hey can I really do that? Deduct deduct..
Get back to counting beans there you!
Dealers if selling only LR's will have an enthusiast or two working at the store but only encourage the "lifestyle" to sell you a car so you can dream about chasing Rhino's in your new LR3. Showrooms that look like a combination LL Bean's/flea market.. It's an upscale Automobile now that has very few ties with its past with exception of those dreams and the enthusiast's that work for the company.
But I digress, and I'm being negative. I like the guys I work with at the local dealerships, the stores are sharp and very cool but am I going to buy an LR3 to do what I do off road? Can't afford to!
KEITH!
I forgot you are "deduction mode" Work Work Work... Deduct Deduct De... hey can I really do that? Deduct deduct..
Get back to counting beans there you!
DblD
Adventurer
I live three plus hours from a Land Rover Center and have not been in one in the past six years.
That being said, when I bought my Discovery in 1997 all of the office staff and sales people dressed and looked as if they had just walked into the Center from a three week trek across the Great Divide. Full beards, cargo pants, fleece vests, and well worn hiking boots. Not a coat or tie in the place. Sure, it may have been just a scheme to separate me form my hard earned money, but it worked. Talk about making a customer feel at ease. They seemed to take a genuine interest in all things Land Rover and held off road events with general maintenance sessions.
I’m afraid I’d be disappointed to walk into a Dealership now days – sounds like I’d need to order up some dubs to go with my factory navigation system and TV screens in the head rests.
dd
That being said, when I bought my Discovery in 1997 all of the office staff and sales people dressed and looked as if they had just walked into the Center from a three week trek across the Great Divide. Full beards, cargo pants, fleece vests, and well worn hiking boots. Not a coat or tie in the place. Sure, it may have been just a scheme to separate me form my hard earned money, but it worked. Talk about making a customer feel at ease. They seemed to take a genuine interest in all things Land Rover and held off road events with general maintenance sessions.
I’m afraid I’d be disappointed to walk into a Dealership now days – sounds like I’d need to order up some dubs to go with my factory navigation system and TV screens in the head rests.
dd
greenmeanie
Adventurer
About 6 years ago I stopped at the LR dealer when it was on McDowell road in Phoenix. I stopped my 101 on their forecourt while I went to the parts department. Lets just say they were not happy to see me and wanted it moved pronto. Must have been the oil leak as I can't imagine they would have been offended by the dust and lack of a shiny paint job.
Cheers
Gregor
Cheers
Gregor
nwoods
Expedition Leader
cshontz said:
No, not normally. As others have said, there are usually one or two people in the dealerships that are enthousiasts. Often service techs, but if differs from location to location.
You will not normally find many enthusiasts "hanging out" there, but if you can establish friendships with some of the staff, it is definately to each others mutual benefit. My truck is still under warrenty and their weekend guy does an amazing job detailing out and cleaning my truck, so after a good trail run, I'm there getting the truck cleaned and hanging out with one or two of the salesguides that I'm friends with. Quite often it results in a sale for the dealership, and a new member for my club. I really enjoy telling potential buyers about what I've been able to see and do in my LR3, and answering some of the questions that the salesguides never seem to know the answers to (where to go wheeling for example).
There are quite a few LR dealers in Southern California, but one of them has a higher concentration of hard core enthusiasts than most. These guys have gotten together and are holding an Off Road Expo just for Land Rovers. I posted a thread about it here: http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=194512#post194512
Pretty rare for this sort of thing to happen, but I love seeing it, and I hope its a great success. As an added bonus, we are just down the street from PAG, so there is likely to be quite a few LR exec's walking around checking it out. Even a rumor that the former bigwig himself will be there...
NeilWilson
Observer
In the UK I think that LR have forgotten their heritage and the majority of stealerships are there for the tarmac only customers. Although there may be the LR Gear stuff in some showrooms and the LR Experience centres, most are only interested in selling new vehicles.
It seems LR now do not stock parts anymore for the Discovery1 and they have to be ordered in. Most people tend to shop from specialist suppliers where you can generally get LR original parts cheaper than from the dealer parts desk. Service costs are horrendous at the dealers as well, typically close to $200 per hour, most indie shops are at least half that.
I use internet ordering for most of my stuff, I have a study full of suspension parts and a clutch plus new tyres to fit this week.
Cheers.
Neil
It seems LR now do not stock parts anymore for the Discovery1 and they have to be ordered in. Most people tend to shop from specialist suppliers where you can generally get LR original parts cheaper than from the dealer parts desk. Service costs are horrendous at the dealers as well, typically close to $200 per hour, most indie shops are at least half that.
I use internet ordering for most of my stuff, I have a study full of suspension parts and a clutch plus new tyres to fit this week.
Cheers.
Neil
Alaska Mike
ExPo Moderator/Eye Candy
I wish my local Land Rover dealer had more of a presence, but I think they're a little scared by the recent ownership change. They've started selling used cars on their lot, including a Jeep Liberty and several other mid-line vehicles. I can't say I blame them, given the history of the marque in the US. Never hurts to have an alternate plan, especially when you're in the premium car market during an economic downturn.
I hope they stick with Land Rover, though. Those and the Mercedes that recently started showing up around town are the only unique faces in a sea of Ford, Chevy, Jeep, and Toyota.
Jeep Liberty and several other mid-line vehicles. I can't say I blame them, given the history of the marque in the US. Never hurts to have an alternate plan, especially when you're in the premium car market during an economic downturn. I hope they stick with Land Rover, though. Those and the Mercedes that recently started showing up around town are the only unique faces in a sea of Ford, Chevy, Jeep, and Toyota.
gary in ohio
Explorer
The ones I have seen are located in upscale areas of town. Nice fancy glass front building, A couple of concrete hills to park LR on and people who have no clue about anything but grocery getting in the LR.
Alaska Mike
ExPo Moderator/Eye Candy
The one we have is the typical Rover dealership style, with all of the green trim and look of "quality" about it. They have the 100' bumpy track next to the road to display vehicles.
In their favor, I understand they have trips every now and then for Rovers. It looks like some of the employees drive Discos, and I'm told that a couple of them are fairly regular trail riders. I've seen a couple convoys out on the road in past years, but I don't know if that was a dealer sanctioned thing or not.
In their favor, I understand they have trips every now and then for Rovers. It looks like some of the employees drive Discos, and I'm told that a couple of them are fairly regular trail riders. I've seen a couple convoys out on the road in past years, but I don't know if that was a dealer sanctioned thing or not.