Land Rover Delaers in the Republic in 2012

Daithi Mcnamara

I've been trying, without much success, to find a decent Land Rover franchised dealer in Ireland where I might be able to (a) find out exactly what is available and what isn't (in terms of what can be ordered with a new vehicle and what can't) and (b) not be fobbed off with silly answers to my questions by obnoxious and clearly uninterested salesmen!

As an example, I am thinking of buying the new Discovery 4 2 seater Commercial van that has just become available. Three franchised dealers that I have visited in the past few days claim this vehicle doesn't exist. One has two in stock, but say that there are no options available whatsoever on them save metallic paint. Another one says you can have whatever options you want on them subject to a three month waiting list.

To cap it all, when I visited the JLR HQ at Baldonnel near Dublin I was told that if I want to have a high spec Commercial Land Rover of any model, then any model can be converted into a Commercial easily and quickly. This goes against other topics I have read on this forum, I thought that the rules had changed and that all Commercial vehicles now had to arrive into the country fully built as vans?

I'm confused now! Anyone got any idea as to what is really going on?

Eric Cartman

unfortunately this is not unique to land rover, a lot of Irish dealers just don't care and wish to sell you whatever's on the forecourt. Mentioning optional extras or anything different to bog spec manual in silver seems to send most dealers off on a spurt of lies.

In general I find smaller / rural dealers are better, the ones in glass palaces just dont seem to want to break out the options brochure, despite the (im sure) large commission on such extras.

O.A.P

I wish you luck with that, I have dealt with 3 different landrover dealers here, (only for parts though).
Two of them were uninterested and very unhelpfull, one even took 3 attempts to order an indicator lens before getting it right. Over the years I have gotten to know one of the lads at my local landrover dealership, he knows his stuff and has helped me out more than once.
Its still the last resort though because its 30-40% less expensive ordering online.

Stonewolf

Have you looked at importing from the UK?

Theanswers

TP Toppings in Eniskillen.

Not in the South tho.

Daithi Mcnamara

To be honest, I have spoken to Toppings and found them to be far more professional in their approach to selling Land Rover products than any of the dealers down South. To the point where I have more or less decided to order my new car through them, at least I get the full choice of options and it works out cheaper too, even with the 13.5% VRT added in on top!

Daithi

Theanswers

May I ask what are you hoping to buy?

Daithi Mcnamara

2013 Discovery 4 TDV6 Commercial with extras such as Premium Navigation....and a few others.

Theanswers

Are you buying the five seat utility? or Full-on Commercial.

If buying passenger up north and converting. Keep Seats and Belts.. Can be handy in the future.

Daithi Mcnamara

Going for full 2 seat Commercial....

Went back to Newgate today, but got totally fobbed off there once more. I fail to understand how such a place can go so far downhill so rapidly. They used to be so good in their sales and service, but today I was basically told to get lost!

Hopeless situation. Going up North is the only option remaining now for me!