subaru dealer with no stock.
08 January 2008 | 08:04 PM
#31
18 June 1815 - Waterloo
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: To the valley men!
I have a bit of involvement with the motor trade and was chatting to a Subaru franchise holder recently ("somewhere in the Midlands"). He said he's had a bad 2007 and 2008 is looking very grim. High fuel prices and Band G road tax on turbo Imprezas mean that demand is almost non-existant. The few that do want one can get a same-spec EU-import for less. IM are only bringing in 500 of the new WRX's anyway. He got a couple of low-mileage used Hawkeyes on the plot, but no punters looking at them...
Credit is becoming difficult to get and high interest rates are being quoted to anyone other than those with a perfect credit record (that's only about 20% of customers).
He's pinning his hopes on the coming Diesel models - but it does look very bad....
Incidentally, those of you that have any dealings with the retail motor trade might recall that Subaru came bottom in the last NFDA dealer survey - below even Chrysler. Subaru dealers certainly aren't a happy bunch.
Credit is becoming difficult to get and high interest rates are being quoted to anyone other than those with a perfect credit record (that's only about 20% of customers).
He's pinning his hopes on the coming Diesel models - but it does look very bad....
Incidentally, those of you that have any dealings with the retail motor trade might recall that Subaru came bottom in the last NFDA dealer survey - below even Chrysler. Subaru dealers certainly aren't a happy bunch.
But came 5th in the What Car? Survey for 2007
09 January 2008 | 05:28 PM
#32
Scooby Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
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No, you misunderstood.
The NFDA (National Franchised Dealers Association) Dealer Attitude Survey is a survey of how the dealers rate "their" manufacturer with respect to things like support, parts supply, marketing, etc etc. Unless you are in the motor trade you 're not likely to have seen it. Subaru dealers rated Subaru very poorly - below any other brand in fact. Very bad news because its a possible indicator that some dealers may bail out or go bust.
The NFDA (National Franchised Dealers Association) Dealer Attitude Survey is a survey of how the dealers rate "their" manufacturer with respect to things like support, parts supply, marketing, etc etc. Unless you are in the motor trade you 're not likely to have seen it. Subaru dealers rated Subaru very poorly - below any other brand in fact. Very bad news because its a possible indicator that some dealers may bail out or go bust.
09 January 2008 | 05:40 PM
#33
Scooby Regular
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 514
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From: NE England
The local Subaru dealer here in Middlesbrough closed last year (Jennings). I never used them as they weren't Subaru specialists (unlike SG Petch in Richmond) and seemed clueless the one time I took my car to them for warranty work.
However, the only other person I knew with a Scoob got his there. When he came to change his car late last year, he said there was no way he'd buy a new car with no local dealer support and hence bought a Focus RS instead. He insisted that if Jennings hadn't closed he would have seriously considered a hawkeye. I don't necessarily agree with him, but I'm sure a lot of other people feel this way too.
On the same theme, SG Petch recently brought a couple of new shape Imprezas to our local Tesco for a weekend, presumably in the forlorn hope of drumming up some business. I spoke to one of the salesmen and he admitted that a lot of people had asked where the local garage was. When he told them, that was the end of any interest on their part. I was amazed they'd bothered coming at all personally...
However, the only other person I knew with a Scoob got his there. When he came to change his car late last year, he said there was no way he'd buy a new car with no local dealer support and hence bought a Focus RS instead. He insisted that if Jennings hadn't closed he would have seriously considered a hawkeye. I don't necessarily agree with him, but I'm sure a lot of other people feel this way too.
On the same theme, SG Petch recently brought a couple of new shape Imprezas to our local Tesco for a weekend, presumably in the forlorn hope of drumming up some business. I spoke to one of the salesmen and he admitted that a lot of people had asked where the local garage was. When he told them, that was the end of any interest on their part. I was amazed they'd bothered coming at all personally...
09 January 2008 | 05:49 PM
#34
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 400
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I really don't understand the Subaru UK strategy at all. Marketing seems to be very weak - almost non-existant.
They have a self-imposed limit of 500 WRX's for sale this year. That's less than 1 per month per dealer. Given its likely to be one of their better selling models then it doesn't bode well at all. I have a dealer 10 miles away in one direction and 7 miles away in the other and yet I seldom see new Subarus (any model) on the road in my area. Dealers also suffer because service retention is poor - their service and parts costs are high so most customers desert to the independent as soon at the car reaches 3 years old.
I think they need to improve their marketing.
Aggressively cut the price of all models, including WRX, to EU levels to shift some metal and get back some 'road presence' so that people see them on the road in reasonable numbers.
Cut servicing costs.
This would probably cost Subaru UK money in the short term, but they are a big and profitable company and could afford it. It would help re-establish the brand in the UK.
They have a self-imposed limit of 500 WRX's for sale this year. That's less than 1 per month per dealer. Given its likely to be one of their better selling models then it doesn't bode well at all. I have a dealer 10 miles away in one direction and 7 miles away in the other and yet I seldom see new Subarus (any model) on the road in my area. Dealers also suffer because service retention is poor - their service and parts costs are high so most customers desert to the independent as soon at the car reaches 3 years old.
I think they need to improve their marketing.
Aggressively cut the price of all models, including WRX, to EU levels to shift some metal and get back some 'road presence' so that people see them on the road in reasonable numbers.
Cut servicing costs.
This would probably cost Subaru UK money in the short term, but they are a big and profitable company and could afford it. It would help re-establish the brand in the UK.
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