Andy Gough

Subaru will be 2 dealers short from Friday. Mainland in Warrington and AJ White in Blackburn are having their dealerships removed this friday. The only dealer left in the N/W is Robinsons of Rochdale.

Thanks for your immense support for customer care Subaru. That will really help my residuals!

rotty

Spoke to a bloke at Lancaster in pangbourne a few days ago , they have lost the franchise too

Tim66

Hi Andy.
There is a dealer on the Mac to Knutsford Rd called Monks Heath which is in the north west! But bad news about the 2 which have closed down.

Brit_in_Japan

Only Subaru dealer left in NW ?

What about Gibson's of Brock, just north of Preston on the A6 ?

Brit_in_Japan

...whoops, just found out they're now an independent too !

Andy McCord

gibsons lost there dealership about 18-24 months ago, inst it to do with new law regarding dealership monopolies?

Old_Fart

I've heard the same...Subaru/IM want to get around the new laws regarding free trade by making Subaru a premium brand..cars can only be sold by dealerships which meet certain criteria ('X' number of staff, 'X' number of courtesy cars, 'X' number of models on display etc etc) which makes it very expensive to be a dealer...at least it does if you didn't already meet the criteria aka Lancasters. In theory this means the cars can only be sold by 'good' dealers with good support, as opposed to Tescos etc, in fact it's just like Levi's getting Tesco banned from selling their jeans and keeps the monopoly alive....all in my opinion of course.
Rgds
Chuck

stiler83

What has happen is that IM have said to the dealers that they must update their show rooms ect and in A&J Whites case it was at a cost of £250,000. This is why allot of dealers are giving up there franchise with IM. A&J Whites said thet they will still offer new and used Subaru's so i guess they will be getting them from the EU or from another dealer like Lancasters.

Andy Gough

I agree that they are trying to make it a premium brand, but the novelty wears off when the customer has to travel miles to get it fixed

Scoobsouth

Lancaster Reading has gone and become Bulldog.
Lancaster Sevenoaks goes soon.
Osbourne colchester going.
Sounds like Parks of Exeter are maybe changing owners or going.
A&J going.
Got a feeling i heard S+S are also gong.

There won't be any left soon! I think there is more to it than IM are dropping them, more like the dealers can't see the merit in ploughing loads of cash in to get corporate identity when it is no longer a very profitable franchise!
(my thoughts).

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Hmmmmmmmm!
I wonder who is responsible for this idea at IM?
I know of at least 4 people here who either HAD a Scoob, or wanted one, and were put off by not being able to buy one/have it serviced without having to travel 30 miles each way!

Isn't this why LOADS of folk buy Ford/Vauxhall, as every town of any size has a dealership?

Alcazar

MattW

We have it lucky down here.

Simpsons in Highworth - 5 miles
TH White in Cirencester - 11 miles
CD Bramall -in Cheltenham 35 miles
Tileys in Bristol - 40 miles
Cross Country in Witney - 40 miles

Just imagine living in Aberystwyth, no dealer for miles!

Old_Fart

Good, get the cars back in the hands of the enthusiasts I say! Hell I travelled from Essex to Bristol to get the one I wanted!
Chucky

messiah

we dont here - there used to be a few but ford left not so long ago...

Mr.M

.




[Edited by Mr.M - 9/26/2003 10:13:21 AM]

RichWalk

Welcome to Block Exemption people... and its going to get worse

doobiedooo

Interesting about Lancasters Pangbourne - I was told this back at the end of June by someone who is involved in motor sport and I think "knows people" but when I asked Lancasters about it they said they were defo staying Subaru.

Wonder if they actually knew at that point?

ZIPPY

Premium Brand, with no dealership within 40 miles,dont make me laugh.IM need to take their corporate head from up there a#se and see what the actual owners require.
Premium is BMW, Mercedes + Porsche these manufactures have dealerships in most towns all Subaru are doing is driving the owners away from the brand,mine will go if i have to travel 80 miles round trip for a service.
Mitsubishi here i come.

Zippy

wrxbugeye

Aird Motors near Inverness have also lost their franchise. They had an excellent reputation with customers built up over many years resulting in much repeat business.
On the other hand, having personally had a bad experience (albeit some years ago) with the new franchise holder, I suspect Subaru may lose some credibilty up here.

mista weava

i know alot of people with scoobs of all shapes and sizes here on the Isle of Wight.

alot of farmers use them, but are now turning to other brands, since our only Subaru dealer went 18-24 months ago.

then updating required by IM probably crippled them also.

i have an import, so do all servicing locally. friends of mine have uk cars and have to travel to Sparhatts Botley, S'oton to get servicing stamps kept up.

Weava

RB170

Lavendar Hill are no longer a scooby dealer

I have no idea where my closest dealer is now, I think it's in Baldock

[Edited by RB170 - 9/25/2003 1:10:26 PM]

IN THE STICKS

Does anyone have a contact at IM they could forward this thread to , so they can see just what their customers think of their head up ar*e attitude ?
Dave

Jonto

Article 81 or 82 ? i forget !

Car retailers is how teyt will be known soon, selling multiple brands, apparently it will bw good for competition !

Andy555

It will be Wilsons, off the A12

RB170

Are they any good ?

Andy555

I have an import so would not know, but the salesman took me out for a testdrive before I bought my car, and he can certainly drive, although I would not go out with him driving again.

Darren_172

I can assure you that Carstins are NOT losing the IM franchise
and will remain as the Subaru dealer for this region. My source is as good as they get

P1-day

RB170,

lavender hill was also my local. i was told that Baldock was the closest, (took mine on Monday). was approx 40 miles away.

Andy 555, i know u say the closest is the A12, but where abouts is that??

Andy Gough

Try www.subaru.co.uk

Old_Fart

Wilsons are in Romford on the A12-ish
They've looked after my 22B for the past 3 years and also sold me a WRX, a MY03STIPPP and a Forester in the same space of time. I think they are pretty good...particularly since they reduced servicing costs on the 'classics'
Chuck