Main stealers - extras pricing

[narked]

Out of boredom and curiosity today whilst in town, I called into Cambrian Land Rover, our local main stealers, to have a nosey at the new Defender. They had a nice shiney 90 hardtop in the showroom, so had a butchers at the inside of it, pretty nice, big improvement over the old interior.

They didn't have any brochures for me to take away, so instead, not wanting to be rude, ended up sat with one of the salesmen pricing up a nice new 110 station wagon. "So when would you be looking to purchase the vehicle sir?" "Oh I'd imagine it'll be a month or two at least yet....". Wanted a station wagon priced up as I'd seen the one tested in this months LRO, with the Utitlity Pack, and it took my fancy. Speaking of which, why oh why has it taken until now for Land Rover to produce a 5 door, 5 seater van model?

Well, he told me how lucky I was, as the Utility Pack is a "no cost extra". How kind of them not to charge me for the inconvenience and cost involved in them not having to cut out the holes for the rear windows and then glaze them!

Then made the mistake of getting prices for snorkel, A bar, driving lights, towbar, 2 rear worklights and a roof rack. £120 for a pair of worklights? £420ish for 2 spot lights on the front?

Think with the extra cost of getting everything fitted by them to maintain the warranty, I'd rather do it myself on the cheap and just pray nothing major broke in the first 3 years! Still, seems plenty of people are happy enough paying those prices!

Still, at least I had a good look at the new model, didn't get quite as far as asking for a test drive though, maybe some other time. And if my numbers come up on Saturday night, I might just treat myself to one with the extra toys anyway :P

[Rich_P]

Think with the extra cost of getting everything fitted by them to maintain the warranty, I'd rather do it myself on the cheap and just pray nothing major broke in the first 3 years! Still, seems plenty of people are happy enough paying those prices!

Didn't LR get involved in a big court case a couple of years ago by not allowing the specialists to compete with the main dealers for the work on a vehicle under warranty?  And that specialists are allowed to service the vehicle without the owner losing the warranty?

[narked]

Dunno. Not much point me looking into it anyway :P Not exactly got the funds lying around for new Defender heh. The bar-stewards didn't pick the right numbers last night, so I'll have to hope they finally pull out the right numbers this weekend! :P

[muckmoses]

Speaking of which, why oh why has it taken until now for Land Rover to produce a 5 door, 5 seater van model?

They haven't.

It's been "special order" for years.  Electricity companys, AA & Post Office all used them.  A bit like the 127 was special order to start with and is now a main stream product. even down to not been a stretched 110 anymore.

I think it may be a move to show they are still interested in the utility market over all the criticism they get about only selling RRs & Discos etc

[rollazuki]

Mebbe their overheads and therefore prices would come down if they didnt waste time quoting for people who had no intention/money to buy the products...... :D

[narked]

Well maybe, had I gone in there at a busy time, but considering I was the only non employee there at that particular time, and the salesman was just twiddling his thumbs, I don't see how that costs Land Rover at all. Apart from the piece of A4 paper the quote was written on though, so if the next person who buys a new model from the dealers objects to that price, send me an email and I'll forward on compensation equal to one sheet of A4. :P

Nothing wrong with a bit of window shopping, and if the salesmen weren't quite so pushy I wouldn't have to waste their time now would I? :P

[barnhill4x4]

Aftermarket accesories will not invalidate the warrantee. Only time you will have a problem is if they can prove that the part fitted was the direct cause of the problem, for example, the wiring of the new spotlights caused electrical damage, the snorkle was not fitted right and caused some problem

[Range Rover Blues]

The law has changed a lilttle recently, if any work is carried out by a proper garage (pays VAT etc) then theyy can do service work too and keep the warranty.

Anyway, it's something called 'percieved value', if it was too cheap people might not want it either, but that's 'price of austentation'.

Marketing guys,  up against the wall shortly after insurance companies come the glorious revolution

[narked]

Ah. "If it's that expensive it MUST be good, so I'll have it!" eh? Didn't find out how much they were charging for winches, didn't think my heart was up to the shock when he offered that option.