Another main dealer gone...........

Ali Babba

P.J. O'Heas Opel main dealer in Little Island, Cork. Called in there today and the place was empty, the new place in Little Island!! Couldn't believe it, ordered parts there last week and this week gone, cleaned out.

DannyBuoy

On the go for over 80 years. Sad turn of events for the lads in there.

Ali Babba

I heard there's a Ford one in trouble in Cork county too.

EPM

Heard that at the weekend but have you got anything to back that up with?

Shame, decent crowd to deal with. Were a landmark in the city centre before the move.

DannyBuoy

EPM wrote: »

Heard that at the weekend but have you got anything to back that up with?

Shame, decent crowd to deal with. Were a landmark in the city centre before the move.

Examiner link here.

EPM

There will not be any speculating here. There are peoples livelihoods at stake and in these times rumours won't help.

As per the factual article their old premises was put up for sale and is still for sale, it was expected to sell for €7 million.

Padraig Mor

RoverJames wrote: »

As per the factual article their old premises was put up for sale and is still for sale, it was expected to sell for €7 million.

'Was' being the operative word! Worked there for a summer many years ago actually.

Recon

Any idea how MSL in Little Island are getting on?

unkel

106 years in business and now folded. Sad, sad, sad. For everyone, owners, workers, creditors, everyone

Recon

Recon wrote: »

Any idea how MSL in Little Island are getting on?

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=70851842#post70851842

lomb

unkel wrote: »

106 years in business and now folded. Sad, sad, sad. For everyone, owners, workers, creditors, everyone

Sad for customers too. Where I am at Newlands Cross, Dublin, Belgard motors closing down is a pain in the neck. Parts are harder to get now with a spin to Sandyford or possibly Naas . They were well stocked on VAG spares too :mad:
I cannot understand why there is no demand for VW/Audi/MB sales in a large area like Clondalkin and Tallaght.

unkel

lomb wrote: »

I cannot understand why there is no demand for VW/Audi/MB sales in a large area like Clondalkin and Tallaght.

It's not all to do with demand for new car sales. Many of the dealers that have folded just had too high a cost base. That combined with a catastrophic fall in new car sales was enough to kill all but the healthiest car dealers out there.

This country is properly poor again. We've never had any exotic car dealers, even when most people thought we were rich. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin. Never sold in this country. And now even for a Porsche, we will have to travel to Belfast.

Plug

unkel wrote: »

It's not all to do with demand for new car sales. Many of the dealers that have folded just had too high a cost base. That combined with a catastrophic fall in new car sales was enough to kill all but the healthiest car dealers out there.

This country is properly poor again. We've never had any exotic car dealers, even when most people thought we were rich. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin. Never sold in this country. And now even for a Porsche, we will have to travel to Belfast.

I think Joe Duffy in Dublin took on Porsche. And the reason we had no exotic cars in this country was dirty thieving VRT.

Joe 90

Plug wrote: »

I think Joe Duffy in Dublin took on Porsche. And the reason we had no exotic cars in this country was dirty thieving VRT.

Yes, one thing that I noticed any time I was back in Ireland during the boom was the lack of interesting cars despite all the talk of lots of money.

unkel

Plug wrote: »

I think Joe Duffy in Dublin took on Porsche.

He's not a Porsche main dealer, just an authorised service centre.

lomb

Joe 90 wrote: »

Yes, one thing that I noticed any time I was back in Ireland during the boom was the lack of interesting cars despite all the talk of lots of money.

Plenty of Astons and Bentleys about, not as many is in South UK but then Ireland was never really car mad like the Brits. Huge petrol head culture in the UK..

Owen

Ireland used to be a petrolhead country - look in the Cork forum, we've pictures of the motor races that used to go on here. The King of Siam's in one photo tearing around in his racer, and more where the Grandstand used to be on the Carrigrohane straight. We had a huge thing for speed records down here too - a motorcycle land speed record was set in the same area.

It's only in relatively recent times that things have gotten out of hand in terms of buying, running, and taxing vehicles here. And it's only going to get worse.

Sad to hear about PJ's officially, I'm know of one of the family members who owns it and they're obviously gutted about it themselves. Long time to be in business, and they were well known in Cork with a lot of loyal customers. Personally, I think Opel need a slap for allowing another Opel dealership to open up less than 2 miles away.

Dempo1

So much for the alleged and apparent turn around in the Motor sector

Mc Love

PaintDoctor wrote: »

Ireland used to be a petrolhead country - look in the Cork forum, we've pictures of the motor races that used to go on here. The King of Siam's in one photo tearing around in his racer, and more where the Grandstand used to be on the Carrigrohane straight. We had a huge thing for speed records down here too - a motorcycle land speed record was set in the same area.

It's only in relatively recent times that things have gotten out of hand in terms of buying, running, and taxing vehicles here. And it's only going to get worse.

Sad to hear about PJ's officially, I'm know of one of the family members who owns it and they're obviously gutted about it themselves. Long time to be in business, and they were well known in Cork with a lot of loyal customers. Personally, I think Opel need a slap for allowing another Opel dealership to open up less than 2 miles away.

There were also GP's in Limerick (a la Monaco)

Nonoperational

I remember looking at a car in Little Island last year. It was pretty striking how big and impressive the building was but it did strike me as a bit much. An awful shame though. It's horrible to see long standing businesses like that close.

R.O.R

PaintDoctor wrote: »

Sad to hear about PJ's officially, I'm know of one of the family members who owns it and they're obviously gutted about it themselves. Long time to be in business, and they were well known in Cork with a lot of loyal customers. Personally, I think Opel need a slap for allowing another Opel dealership to open up less than 2 miles away.

Forgot about them. O'Heas have already gone from the Opel website - wish they'd update the new car info as quick.

Very sad to hear another one has gone, especially someone who's been in business as long as O'Heas.

Ali Babba

Esmonde motors gone today too.

johnos1984

Ali Babba wrote: »

Esmonde motors gone today too.

Is there something in the air with so many going today and in the past week?

Ali Babba

I would think that any new cars that are going to be sold this year have been sold now and the rest of the year is going to be lean to say the least. Speaking to a sales man in a main dealers the other day he said that the majority of the cars they sold were to disabled drivers as there's some change in the benefits for them soon so they're all changing their cars.

Tbh, I don't know how most of them can afford to stay in business with all the overheads and very little trade.

Ali Babba

Dempo1 wrote: »

So much for the alleged and apparent turn around in the Motor sector

Who told you that, Fianna Fail was it? Well we all know now that they're professional liars.........

EPM

Ali Babba wrote: »

Esmonde motors gone today too.

Have to ask, source?

Mc Love

Does this help?
http://www.insolvencyjournal.ie/home_more_details/11-02-25/Esmonde_Motors_Limited.aspx

Delancey

If one were to believe all thats in the media I suppose we would all think that the motor trade is one of the few businesses doing well .
We keep hearing about huge increases in new car sales so that begs the question : why are dealers still closing down ?
Is the improvement in sales exaggerated or is there an issue with used car sales that is hurting the dealers ? Is there something else going wrong ?

Big Nasty

Ali Babba wrote: »

Esmonde motors gone today too.

Didn't Esmonde Motors close two years back?

unkel

Delancey wrote: »

If one were to believe all thats in the media I suppose we would all think that the motor trade is one of the few businesses doing well .
We keep hearing about huge increases in new car sales so that begs the question : why are dealers still closing down ?
Is the improvement in sales exaggerated

The improvement in sales is not exaggerated. What is generally less known is that the fall was so deep, that even with huge recent improvements, only half the cars are selling that were selling back in '07. No trade can cope with the loss of half its business in a couple of years time without major upsets and cutbacks. The motor trade is far, far from doing well.

Delancey

Delancey wrote: »

why are dealers still closing down ?
Is the improvement in sales exaggerated or is there an issue with used car sales that is hurting the dealers ? Is there something else going wrong ?

Many of them have in the last decade increased their overheads drastically with the expectation that sales would be strong like they were 4 years ago. I was interviewed for a sales position in Drive motor group back in 2006, they were opening 4 or 5 showrooms in one complex, Land Rover, Jaguar, Peugeot, Mitubishi and Ford iirc. It was one of the Director interviewed me, at the time he fully expected sales to be strong longterm, admittedly he didn't think they'd be record breaking year on year. Two or three years they lasted.

crosstownk

unkel wrote: »

The improvement in sales is not exaggerated. What is generally less known is that the fall was so deep, that even with huge recent improvements, only half the cars are selling that were selling back in '07. No trade can cope with the loss of half its business in a couple of years time without major upsets and cutbacks. The motor trade is far, far from doing well.

Correct.

Sales may be up on 2009 but the volume in 2009 was unsustainable for most dealerships. Being up a few percent on unsustainable is nothing to write home about.

Yes 2010 was up on 2009 but is still way down on 2007 and even 2008. 2011 is similar to 2010 so far.

There will be a lot more dealerships closing this year. I heard of another that closed today - a 2 franchise dealer. More good people on the dole

lomb

The sales are mostly low priced basic spec cars most probably with not alot of margin in them? Also people not speccing up like before /bigger engine means less in it for the dealer. Probably more haggling on prices? Less service work probaby doesnt help either.

crosstownk

lomb wrote: »

The sales are mostly low priced basic spec cars most probably with not alot of margin in them?

Most dealers are shifting new cars to simply take in the used car. In other words, the new unit is being sold at minimum mark up but profit will not be made until the trade-in is washed out. This eats into the dealers working capital. If the trades don't shift in time then the dealer has a serious cash flow problem.

robtri

crosstownk wrote: »

Most dealers are shifting new cars to simply take in the used car. In other words, the new unit is being sold at minimum mark up but profit will not be made until the trade-in is washed out. This eats into the dealers working capital. If the trades don't shift in time then the dealer has a serious cash flow problem.

but the manufacturers incentives will kick in and help out a lot

crosstownk

robtri wrote: »

but the manufacturers incentives will kick in and help out a lot

Not really - manufacturers advertise these so the customer expects them. Essentially they are given away or added to the trade in value.

vectra

PaintDoctor wrote: »

Ireland used to be a petrolhead country - look in the Cork forum, we've pictures of the motor races that used to go on here. The King of Siam's in one photo tearing around in his racer, and more where the Grandstand used to be on the Carrigrohane straight. We had a huge thing for speed records down here too - a motorcycle land speed record was set in the same area.

Ah yes.
Mel Nolan from Ballincollig ?. .... I remember it well.. I used to head to the straight when that used to be on, Used to be some buzz there.

Do you remember the morning that clown Rosmarie Smith tried it in a Special Jag LOL... What a joke..she should stick to knitting

Ali Babba wrote: »

ISpeaking to a sales man in a main dealers the other day he said that the majority of the cars they sold were to disabled drivers as there's some change in the benefits for them soon so they're all changing their cars.

Not sure if that would be entirely true... The disabled driver scheme only allow a car change every 2 years.. Not whenever a driver chooses
Can you find out anymore info on this? I am curious

VolvoMan

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Didn't Esmonde Motors close two years back?

Indeed. They've been gone since at least mid 2009.

The wind-up is probably only being made official now.

RoverJames wrote: »

Many of them have in the last decade increased their overheads drastically with the expectation that sales would be strong like they were 4 years ago. I was interviewed for a sales position in Drive motor group back in 2006, they were opening 4 or 5 showrooms in one complex, Land Rover, Jaguar, Peugeot, Mitubishi and Ford iirc. It was one of the Director interviewed me, at the time he fully expected sales to be strong longterm, admittedly he didn't think they'd be record breaking year on year. Two or three years they lasted.

I never saw it in person, but that looked a right dog's dinner of a place. It was just several glass houses all surrounding each other.

Owen

vectra wrote: »

Ah yes.
Mel Nolan from Ballincollig ?. .... I remember it well.. I used to head to the straight when that used to be on, Used to be some buzz there.

Yup, Mel! He still has the bike too. Don't remember the Jag thing though Pity they don't allow the speed records to be run anymore, a nice turbo Hayabusa would do the job on normal petrol these days

vectra

PaintDoctor wrote: »

Yup, Mel! He still has the bike too. Don't remember the Jag thing though Pity they don't allow the speed records to be run anymore, a nice turbo Hayabusa would do the job on normal petrol these days

Wasnt it a Honda 900 bored out and some other work done on it to do the record run??

That jag had some different engine in it.. I was more into the bikes back then so didnt show much interest in the Jag. But I think thee was some Yank engine in it

oops
Back on topic :pac:

Absurdum

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Didn't Esmonde Motors close two years back?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055573721

G Luxel

The old o'hea garage is still in Patricks Quay but is now a carpark/carwash. My friends own 2 Triumphs that were bought new there in the late 70s. Its unfortunate to hear that they have ceased trading....:)

yogimotorsport

New cars sales are exagerated by the scrappage scheme,people are shopping around so much that dealers margins are cut to the limit some are selling cars for 200-300euros just to make the sale
Why just to make the sale its that they have to keep there numbers up to keep the dealership to make it look like there selling car and to save face
The simple cost of maintaining the Glass palaces(showrooms) is alot more then people think
What people must concider that when running a main dealership there is a lot of hidden costs,its just not sustainable at the moment in ireland and its the Brands that are causing the damage
For example Audi and Skoda new extensive rebranding of there dealership network is plunging some dealers in to the red in a big way.Until this stops and the lower there demanded market share im afraid well see a lot more garages close by end of year

Bumpstop

It has always saddened me the lack of thinking by the powers that be in this country. They have done nothing to make motoring interesting in this country. They have made it practicaly impossible to own anything interesting, then these green a/holes come along and finish the job.

Luckily it is still possible, to just about own something a little exotic on a budget, if it's ancient, How is making new cars and throwing away just about new ones green, i.e. scrappage.

How is an electric car green, it has two huge exhaust pipes in poolbeg or moneypoint or wherever the electricity is made.

I am sure the new draconian austere plans will knock the last bit of fun out of motoring and kill off the trade alltogether.
Don't forget the ill advised change to diesel, low in CO2, high in particulates, how long will the next generation pay for that pollution with their health.

Oh except for a few S class mercs for the boys we can afford those alright.

oops ranting.

darragh o meara

Having worked in a main dealers it comes as no surprise to me that some are closing down. The manufacturers give you a list of things they expect in a showroom, in most cases they already have a sample showroom setup somewhere ie. Motor distributors on the Naas road.. For anyone who has ever been in there they would have seen the vw,merc,audi and skoda sample showrooms. The manufacturers decide what your building should look like putting massive financial strain on the dealers.

A good example of this in the dealership I worked in (merc commercial dealership) after a visit from the Germans we were given a list of things they wanted done, failure to comply would have lost us the dealership, some of the list :

Replace the roof in the garage as it looked old
Paint the floors in the workshop in merecedes chassis grey!!
Mechanics overalls to be a different shade of blue
Replace the sign outside dealership with new light up sign
Paint the outside of the building
Etc

Now in fairness being a commercial dealership we didn't have to have a fancy glasshouse but they still insisted on their standards. In fairness a customer rarely got near the garage as with heavy vehicles around the place it was dangerous but merc had to have it their way incase someone would get the wrong idea. I can only imagine how they treated the car dealerships. The dealerships closing down is no surprise to me as I'm sure the standards are still being enforced.

I feel bad for the lads in o heas they were a nice bunch of people, I dealt with the a few years ago in the old premises looking for old manta parts, hey gave me thousands worth for 100 quid...

lomb

Bumpstop wrote: »

It has always saddened me the lack of thinking by the powers that be in this country. They have done nothing to make motoring interesting in this country. They have made it practicaly impossible to own anything interesting, then these green a/holes come along and finish the job.

Luckily it is still possible, to just about own something a little exotic on a budget, if it's ancient, How is making new cars and throwing away just about new ones green, i.e. scrappage.

How is an electric car green, it has two huge exhaust pipes in poolbeg or moneypoint or wherever the electricity is made.

I am sure the new draconian austere plans will knock the last bit of fun out of motoring and kill off the trade alltogether.
Don't forget the ill advised change to diesel, low in CO2, high in particulates, how long will the next generation pay for that pollution with their health.

Oh except for a few S class mercs for the boys we can afford those alright.

oops ranting.

Correct and correct! The fertilizer known as CO2 helps plants breathe and produce O2 which helps us breathe. Its all a complete con. Luckily anything pre 2003 is for peanuts and there are some very tasty and reliable cars of that age now. Even with 1700 road tax if needed its still cheap motoring compared to buying new and loosing 2500+ in depreciation on even the likes of a 1.4 golf.

Also scrapping good but old cars is NOT environmentally friendly in that resources are stripped that are hard to offset in potential savings. New cars mostly happen to be rubbish anyway with crappy electric power steering that feels like the steering wheel is sitting in treacle for starters and diesel engines by and large.

voteforpedro

PaintDoctor wrote: »

Personally, I think Opel need a slap for allowing another Opel dealership to open up less than 2 miles away.

What is the name of the other dealership?

vectra

I think any dealer can sell a new car to a customer but they just do not get the discount/concessions etc. that a main dealer gets,

Thats my understanding of it anyway

VolvoMan

yogimotorsport wrote: »

For example Audi and Skoda new extensive rebranding of there dealership network is plunging some dealers in to the red in a big way.Until this stops and the lower there demanded market share im afraid well see a lot more garages close by end of year

IMO, the manufacturers should be shot for this. They are squeezing the neck of a beleaguered industry and it is not fair.

I wonder was it worthwhile for the VW Group afterall to pull the plug on Phoenix Motors. That new dealership that is supposed to be replacing them is taking ages to get off the ground and I can't imagine the amount of market share that is being lost.



They source them through other dealerships at trade prices.

unkel

VolvoMan wrote: »

I wonder was it worthwhile for the VW Group afterall to pull the plug on Phoenix Motors. That new dealership that is supposed to be replacing them is taking ages to get off the ground and I can't imagine the amount of market share that is being lost.

I don't know what the hell happened there. Phoenix Motors had a good reputation as far as I'm aware. I had good experiences with them myself buying a new car and for servicing. They were straight, sound and good value for money (for a main dealer)

Anyone know any inside info they care to share here?