new audi dealer for waterford

helpde8k

Just heard today that audi are to apoint a new dealer for waterford, anyone know who got the franchise !

gears

What happened to Tom Murphy??

eobyrne

I think it's Bolands. I heard they own the old World of Wonder (where the new Audi showroom is going).

Matt406

eobyrne wrote: »

I think it's Bolands. I heard they own the old World of Wonder (where the new Audi showroom is going).

Story has it that Audi told Tom Murphy to build a new (bigger) showroom for the Audi cars, Tom Murphy told them where to go so they did. Boland’s now have it in the old World of Wonder premises. There are already cars in the new showroom.

R.O.R

Matt406 wrote: »

Story has it that Audi told Tom Murphy to build a new (bigger) showroom for the Audi cars, Tom Murphy told them where to go so they did. Boland’s now have it in the old World of Wonder premises. There are already cars in the new showroom.

There have been a lot of changes in the Audi network over the past few weeks, non of which has been publicised - but Audi have updated their website.

It's still listing Tom Murphy for Waterford so they mustn't have been struck off yet. Cork now has one dealer for the whole county!

Tea 1000

Matt406 wrote: »

Story has it that Audi told Tom Murphy to build a new (bigger) showroom for the Audi cars, Tom Murphy told them where to go so they did. Boland’s now have it in the old World of Wonder premises. There are already cars in the new showroom.

Tom Murphy was right. All this multi-million euro showroom building is pure daft in a depressed economy. They'd be better off working on their sales people's personal skills.

-Corkie-

R.O.R wrote: »

There have been a lot of changes in the Audi network over the past few weeks, non of which has been publicised - but Audi have updated their website.

It's still listing Tom Murphy for Waterford so they mustn't have been struck off yet. Cork now has one dealer for the whole county!

What about newmarket motors????.

They built an audi showroom not so long ago

R.O.R

SARASON wrote: »

What about newmarket motors????.

They built an audi showroom not so long ago

They "failed" an Audi audit even less time ago so are no longer an authorised Audi Service Centre.

If you are no longer an authorised Audi service centre, you can no longer PDI new Audi's (or provide warranty repairs), so unless you have an agreement with an authorised service centre, you can't sell them.

Blackwater moved in to KOL's place in South Douglas, while they get planning for their big new dealership.

-Corkie-

R.O.R wrote: »

They "failed" an Audi audit even less time ago so are no longer an authorised Audi Service Centre.

If you are no longer an authorised Audi service centre, you can no longer PDI new Audi's (or provide warranty repairs), so unless you have an agreement with an authorised service centre, you can't sell them.

Blackwater moved in to KOL's place in South Douglas, while they get planning for their big new dealership.

Fcukin hell. Thats enough so!!

Miss Dymph

Jim Boland (BMW, Mini, Mitsubishi garage, Cork Rd) owned or still owns the World of Wonder building and the new Audi dealership is reported to be owned by one of his brothers. There is no name on the new showroom but mechanics working on the Cork Rd mentioned it.

VolvoMan

That's suprising really that they're losing the franchise on those grounds, as I've been in Tom Murphy's a few times and its absolutely massive!

metalgear2k2

R.O.R wrote: »

They "failed" an Audi audit even less time ago so are no longer an authorised Audi Service Centre.

If you are no longer an authorised Audi service centre, you can no longer PDI new Audi's (or provide warranty repairs), so unless you have an agreement with an authorised service centre, you can't sell them.

Blackwater moved in to KOL's place in South Douglas, while they get planning for their big new dealership.

http://www.audi.ie/ie_partner/p_00230/en_home.html

still says they are Audi dealers on their website anyway.

Ricardo G

Very little franchises Bolands dont have at this stage tbh, very professional family when it comes to the motor industry and best of luck to them. On a side note Audi have passed BMW in the last 2 years with regards to sales so for a dealer not to build a new showroom for such a great franchise like Audi was a silly move imo. Audi, BMW, Merc etc all have stds to keep and if a dealer is not prepared to spend a few million then rightly Audi were right to pull the plug

TomMc

Ricardo G wrote: »

Very little franchises Bolands dont have at this stage tbh, very professional family when it comes to the motor industry and best of luck to them. On a side note Audi have passed BMW in the last 2 years with regards to sales so for a dealer not to build a new showroom for such a great franchise like Audi was a silly move imo. Audi, BMW, Merc etc all have stds to keep and if a dealer is not prepared to spend a few million then rightly Audi were right to pull the plug

Yes Bolands have been around a long time and with a strong presence in the car hire business too. Think NVD might be connected as well.

Surely Audi and all other marques should have learned the fallacy of insisting on dealers building fancy premises. But then again if they get some mug dealer to do so with borrowed money, the vanity will continue. Like another poster mentioned, they should be more focused on customer service not glass palaces.

what recession?

VolvoMan wrote: »

That's suprising really that they're losing the franchise on those grounds, as I've been in Tom Murphy's a few times and its absolutely massive!

disagree... the Audi part, ie. the glass shed to the side of the giant showroom, was really bad and I just ignored it every time. They should have built a bigger area for them in the first place. I can definitely understand why they were asked to build/get a bigger showroom.

VolvoMan

what recession? wrote: »

disagree... the Audi part, ie. the glass shed to the side of the giant showroom, was really bad and I just ignored it every time. They should have built a bigger area for them in the first place. I can definitely understand why they were asked to build/get a bigger showroom.

It does the job and displays cars in a modern environment. I can't see why any other showroom would make a car buying experience any better to be honest.

opinion guy

TomMc wrote: »

Yes Bolands have been around a long time and with a strong presence in the car hire business too. Think NVD might be connected as well.

Surely Audi and all other marques should have learned the fallacy of insisting on dealers building fancy premises. But then again if they get some mug dealer to do so with borrowed money, the vanity will continue. Like another poster mentioned, they should be more focused on customer service not glass palaces.

Honestly why would audi care ? I've heard that their sstrategy for ireland is to have one dealership with branches all over in any case

Plug

Is it true that Audi are seperating from VW garages all over the country? I heard this a few weeks ago.

-Chris-

Yep, it's already happening.

Audi and VW are separate brands, and after the move from MDL to VWGI they're being treated very separately too.

For lots of VW dealers, Audi was just an add-on, and so the brand was never treated with the "respect" it deserved. With this new separation Audi will be competing on a level par with the likes of BMW and Merc from a retail standards point-of-view.

TomMc

Why put Audi on a pedestal. Apart from quattro models, most of their range are just upmarket VW's. Costume jewellery in effect. They will never have the prestige of BMW and Mercedes if sharing a multitude of underpinnings with lesser brands.

They can get as many lofty ambitions as they like but surely the economies of scale of sharing dealerships makes more sense. Both marques appeal to a similar type of person/market. Any differences are more to do with means, aspirations and aesthetics.

If they think separating the brands is going to make Audi more appealing to a wider demographic of prestige buyers, it will not. If they want to be perceived as a true equal of their premium German rivals, they will need to have more individual engineering like that found in a BMW or Mercedes.

-Chris-

Audi are already the no.1 premium brand for both last year and this year. They're competing with Merc & BMW quite well already.

Sharing development costs and sharing platforms & parts between manufactuers is already pretty common so that's hardly an issue.

As for why should they put Audi on a pedestal? It's to combat the perception of your second sentence.

opinion guy

Economies of scale are only relevant to Audi if Audi actually own the dealerships. They don't. So it makes no financial pain to Audi to separate the dealerships. Probably does to the dealers thou...

Plug

TomMc wrote: »

Why put Audi on a pedestal. Apart from quattro models, most of their range are just upmarket VW's. Costume jewellery in effect. They will never have the prestige of BMW and Mercedes if sharing a multitude of underpinnings with lesser brands.

They can get as many lofty ambitions as they like but surely the economies of scale of sharing dealerships makes more sense. Both marques appeal to a similar type of person/market. Any differences are more to do with means, aspirations and aesthetics.

If they think separating the brands is going to make Audi more appealing to a wider demographic of prestige buyers, it will not. If they want to be perceived as a true equal of their premium German rivals, they will need to have more individual engineering like that found in a BMW or Mercedes.

Good point but most people buying 'prestige Audis' don't realise what lies beneath. A skoda or a VW etc. So basically they will buy an Audi thinking it will match BMW or mercs.
To be honest I really like Audi but don't really think they are up with the likes or BMW or Merc just yet but they are getting there.
Theres a higher labour cost of Audi than VW or Skoda to make them more 'prestige'.

TomMc

Every motor manufacturer has one or two models in their range which define what they stand for as a marque (or brand).

With Audi it is the A4, with BMW the 3 & 5-series, with Mercedes the E & S-Class. FWD v RWD or in engine terms a 1.9/2.0TDI with a straight six or V6 petrol.

The car which represents Audi most of all is an entry level prestige car with major underpinnings found in low-rent, mass-market offerings. A few halo models aside a car more about style than substance (in this market). As you go more upmarket people demand more than just posher furnishings/aesthetics and so BMW have their 3 and 5-series models but at least with RWD as standard. As ubiquitous maybe, but not generic in engineering terms. People of discernment want more exclusivity and technology and that is where Mercedes thrive with the E-class and particularly the S-Class. That is why Audi aren't perceived in quite the same league.

-Chris-

TomMc wrote: »

Every motor manufacturer has one or two models in their range which define what they stand for as a marque (or brand).

With Audi it is the A4, with BMW the 3 & 5-series, with Mercedes the E & S-Class. FWD v RWD or in engine terms a 1.9/2.0TDI with a straight six or V6 petrol.

What Audi stands for as a marque or brand is Sporty, Sophisticated and Progressive. That's their own chosen brand DNA.
An A4 2.0TDI is not the model that defines that, it's just the model which is most popular in the Irish market.
The same could be said for BMW - while a straight 6 petrol 3-series may be a version of the key BMW model, I'm pretty sure that you'll find the 318d in fairly basic spec is outselling that straight 6 petrol 20 to 1 in the Irish market.
At the moment the 520d is what's boosted BMW's market share from around 3% to 8% for August, and that's hardly the definitive BMW either.
Mercedes has sold 10 times more C-Classes and nearly 30 times more E-Classes than they have S-Classes, so while the S-Class may be the pinnacle of their engineering prowess, that's not represented in on-the-ground sales figures.

What I'm trying to say is just because you see more A4 diesels than other models does not make it the definitive Audi, and comparing it to 5-Series and S-Classes is a flawed argument.

TomMc wrote: »

The car which represents Audi most of all is an entry level prestige car with major underpinnings found in low-rent, mass-market offerings. A few halo models aside a car more about style than substance (in this market). As you go more upmarket people demand more than just posher furnishings/aesthetics and so BMW have their 3 and 5-series models but at least with RWD as standard. As ubiquitous maybe, but not generic in engineering terms. People of discernment want more exclusivity and technology and that is where Mercedes thrive with the E-class and particularly the S-Class. That is why Audi aren't perceived in quite the same league.

Can you tell me what parts of the A4 are shared with it's "low-rent" siblings?
Can you explain how RWD makes a BMW "posher"?
All the aspirational brands rely on halo models (note that you keep referring to the S-Class rather than the B or C-Class), so that's a moot point.
Can you explain in what way a 318d ES has posher furnishings/aesthetics than a base level Audi A4 2.0TDi?


I'm not meaning to be an Audi fanboy, but your arguments are full of anti-Audi sentiment and I think they deserve questioning.

TomMc

-Chris- wrote: »

As for why should they put Audi on a pedestal? It's to combat the perception of your second sentence.

VW owners are far more likely to trade up to an Audi than a BMW or Mercedes. Ford owners generally prefer a more driver focused (excuse the pun) car, so a BMW would be far more desirable to them than a FWD Audi.

VW and Audi do not really compete with each other in real terms, they keep sales/market share within the VAG family. Yes as brands they are different entities and there is bound to be a level of competition, but keeping them together doesn't undermine Audi's credibility as a premium product, sharing engines and drivetrains does. BMW and MINI share showroom space after all.

-Chris-

TomMc wrote: »

VW owners are far more likely to trade up to an Audi than a BMW or Mercedes. Ford owners generally prefer a more driver focused (excuse the pun) car, so a BMW would be far more desirable to them than a FWD Audi.

Which is why Audi offer quattro as well as FWD - you get the choice depending on your requirements and driving style.

TomMc wrote: »

VW and Audi do not really compete with each other in real terms, they keep sales/market share within the VAG family. Yes as brands they are different entities and there is bound to be a level of competition, but keeping them together doesn't undermine Audi's credibility as a premium product, sharing engines and drivetrains does. BMW and MINI share showroom space after all.

BMW and MINI don't compete. There's no overlap between the brands.

On the other hand, I've had plenty of people ask me "why should I buy the A3 instead of the Golf?" or "why should I buy the A4 instead of the Passat?".
The fact that our Audi showroom and VW showroom were adjoining made that question more likely, and for any dealership that allowed their salespeople to sell both Audi and VW it made the question very likely (and made the answer a grey area).

For Audi to reduce the likelihood of those questions, and to encourage their salespeople choose a particular side of the fence, they have to have complete brand separation.

TomMc

In this market, Audi by and large stand for avante garde design, thats about it. BMW for motorists who prefer a more rewarding drivers car and Mercedes like Lexus for more prestige, greater luxury and the latest engineering/technology.

The perception of a prestige motor marque is based on many things ... pedigree (history), quality, engineering, status etc but in model terms, not just what they sell the most of but what type of vehicle represents their ethos ... the quintessential USP of the marque that comes as standard.

///

Posher was referring to the Audi v VW debate (nothing to do with BMW). So comparing soft touch plastics or leather in FWD vehicles with 1.9/2.0TDI engines.

TomMc

BMW and MINI do not overlap because they are completely different. While most popular Audi and VW (Seat, Skoda) models are mechanically alike. Whether they are sold together or in different locations, perceptions will largely stay the same.

Audi dumb down their most popular model to the point they no longer have a USP, BMW do not. I guess some motor marques have a little more self-respect than others.

Tragedy

Are Audi now in the same class as BMW and Mercs, or are they still trying to convince people they are? Anyone I know classes them like:
Ford/VW
\/
Audi
\/
BMW, Mercedes Benz

opinion guy

To be honest I think Audi are in a class of their own!:D

RedorDead

VolvoMan wrote: »

It does the job and displays cars in a modern environment. I can't see why any other showroom would make a car buying experience any better to be honest.

The showroom isnt big enough to display the 45 models that will be in the range by the end of 2012 - an 8 car showroom doesnt cut it anymore - has to be able to display between 12 and 15 cars

VolvoMan

-Chris- wrote: »

Can you tell me what parts of the A4 are shared with it's "low-rent" siblings?

Most of the engines in the A4 except the bigger ones are available in many other models with the VAG Group. Also, it was only up until a few years ago that any Audi in the range could trace its design back to some VW or another.

As I've said before, the fact that VW remarkets the B7 A4 as the SEAT Exeo tells you all you need to know about the brand. All this talk about it having history that traces back to NSU and Horch is mostly horsesh1t, as very little DNA in the Audi brand today is relevant past the period when VW took over the company called 'Auto Union' in the 60's.

-Chris-

VolvoMan wrote: »

Most of the engines in the A4 except the bigger ones are available in many other models with the VAG Group. Also, it was only up until a few years ago that any Audi in the range could trace its design back to some VW or another.

AFAIK Audi were the first to get the VAG 20.TDI CR Diesel, and it's now making its way into the VWs. Ditto with the 1.8TFSI, latest 2.0TFSI, 1.6TDI, 1.2TSI, 7 speed DSG etc.

It used to be that the Audis were expensive VWs, but I'd say it's more fair to say now that a lot of the time they get the new technology & toys first before it's passed down the "family".

VolvoMan wrote: »

As I've said before, the fact that VW remarkets the B7 A4 as the SEAT Exeo tells you all you need to know about the brand. All this talk about it having history that traces back to NSU and Horch is mostly horsesh1t, as very little DNA in the Audi brand today is relevant past the period when VW took over the company called 'Auto Union' in the 60's.

I think the making of the B7 into the Exeo is a marketing mistake too.
I think most of the manufacturers hark back to a past that's probably not that relevant any more (Do BMW still need a propeller on their logo? Do Jaguar have any kind of British heritage any more?), and Audi are no different.


I think we're in a new phase of Audi, where they're getting more priority and separation as a brand, they're developing their own technology or getting VAG technology first, where they're working harder to reinforce that separation through specialist salespeople and specific brand guidelines. They even have their own finance arm - Audi Finance to separate them from the other finance providers.
You can't begrudge Audi Ireland for trying to do whatever they can (that is, if they have a choice) to do their part in supporting these developments.

opinion guy

-Chris- wrote: »

You can't begrudge Audi Ireland for trying to do whatever they can (that is, if they have a choice) to do their part in supporting these developments.

I begrude them their prices.
Exhibit A:
http://www.autotrader.ie/search/Audi/A3/2.0TDI-S/201029198942085/advert?channel=CARS

You'll get this for about 8k cheaper up North. And thats after paying your VRT.

-Chris-

opinion guy wrote: »

I begrude them their prices.
Exhibit A:
http://www.autotrader.ie/search/Audi/A3/2.0TDI-S/201029198942085/advert?channel=CARS

You'll get this for about 8k cheaper up North. And thats after paying your VRT.

We're not really talking about pricing though, and when we were we saw that Audi were neither the best nor the worst when it came to comparing UK and Irish prices, and that car is pretty big spec so it would take a while to do a proper comparison to a similarly spec'd UK car.
Also, BMW Ireland was run by BMW GmbH for a year or two before we began seeing things like spec parity between the UK and Ireland. VWGI are barely here a wet week and Audi Ireland are still trying to get things the way they want them. It'd be fair to give them some leeway to actually implement whatever changes they're planning before condemning them.

opinion guy

-Chris- wrote: »

We're not really talking about pricing though, and when we were we saw that Audi were neither the best nor the worst when it came to comparing UK and Irish prices, and that car is pretty big spec so it would take a while to do a proper comparison to a similarly spec'd UK car.
Also, BMW Ireland was run by BMW GmbH for a year or two before we began seeing things like spec parity between the UK and Ireland. VWGI are barely here a wet week and Audi Ireland are still trying to get things the way they want them. I'd be fair to give them some leeway to actually implement whatever changes they're planning before condemning them.

I have had time to do a proper check
To be fair a bog standard a3 will costs the same either side of the border, but if you look at the relative brochures you can see a large differential in terms of adding in extras. The Irish extras are disproportionately expensive. They're all made in the same factory.

And one point I do have a major criticism with is warranty. Audi's bought in ROI come with a 2 year warranty, those in the UK come with a 3 year warranty. That's a huge deal if you ask me.

Drummerboy08

VolvoMan wrote: »

Most of the engines in the A4 except the bigger ones are available in many other models with the VAG Group. Also, it was only up until a few years ago that any Audi in the range could trace its design back to some VW or another.

As I've said before, the fact that VW remarkets the B7 A4 as the SEAT Exeo tells you all you need to know about the brand. All this talk about it having history that traces back to NSU and Horch is mostly horsesh1t, as very little DNA in the Audi brand today is relevant past the period when VW took over the company called 'Auto Union' in the 60's.

If we are going down the road of VAG engines in different cars across the range, and how that affects Audi, then consider this.

A BMW engine was available in a Rover. BMW running gear can be found in a Ssyang Yong.

Tell me which is worse for "car DNA"?

-Chris-

opinion guy wrote: »

I have had time to do a proper check
To be fair a bog standard a3 will costs the same either side of the border, but if you look at the relative brochures you can see a large differential in terms of adding in extras. The Irish extras are disproportionately expensive. They're all made in the same factory.

And one point I do have a major criticism with is warranty. Audi's bought in ROI come with a 2 year warranty, those in the UK come with a 3 year warranty. That's a huge deal if you ask me.

And Vauxhall's warranty is longer than Opel Ireland's. It happens and if it's an issue that is costing them market share, they'll address it.

I'm not sure why optional extras costs vary between UK and Ireland, but since VWGI took over Audi have been offering optional extras packages that are significantly cheaper than they would have been under MDL.
Look at the A4 & A6 S-Line packages currently on offer. You're paying €3k-ish for what would have previously cost €7k or so.
Look at the Audi A6 SE pack, you now get leather, bluetooth, chrome and more for the same price as you used to pay for leather.

BMW have responded by putting bluetooth and leather as standard in the new 5-Series, I'm sure Audi will respond in kind.

VolvoMan

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

A BMW engine was available in a Rover. BMW running gear can be found in a Ssyang Yong.

The 2 litre diesel engine is the only unit I ever remember going into a Rover. I don't think you're right about Ssangyong though, are you thinking of Mercedes by any chance?

The whole component/platform sharing can be applied to basically any brand these days. What I'm saying is that Audi 'are' VW and not a subsidiary, despite what marketing may tell you. The Audi we know today were never an independent brand and always an upmarket VW.

I don't mind people liking Audi cars and appreciating the quality feel of their interiors, but don't try mentioning them in the same league as Mercedes and BMW, because they are simply not and never will be.

opinion guy

VolvoMan wrote: »

I don't mind people liking Audi cars and appreciating the quality feel of their interiors, but don't try mentioning them in the same league as Mercedes and BMW, because they are simply not and never will be.

Which is why I would pick an Audi over a Merc or a Bmw anyday

VolvoMan

opinion guy wrote: »

Which is why I would pick an Audi over a Merc or a Bmw anyday

Good man, that's what I like to hear.;)

Drummerboy08

VolvoMan wrote: »

The 2 litre diesel engine is the only unit I ever remember going into a Rover. I don't think you're right about Ssangyong though, are you thinking of Mercedes by any chance?

I think it had BMW underpinnings, and a Mercedes Engine and gearbox.... Could be wrong though. Either way, it still proves my point even further - Mercedes share their technology too.

200motels

While I think Audi have great cars, they are not as reliable as Honda or Lexus but that's a personal point of view.

Drummerboy08

200motels wrote: »

While I think Audi have great cars, they are not as reliable as Honda or Lexus but that's a personal point of view.

I'd agree with you on Honda, but I've had to replace an engine and 2 turbos in three different IS220d's in the last year or so.

VolvoMan

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

I think it had BMW underpinnings, and a Mercedes Engine and gearbox.... Could be wrong though.

Hmmm.....I think you are.