Land Rover hit by poor sales - Page 2

afcbadam · 1st September 2008, 22:20

do they still use a k-series engine in the new ones.

Sancho · 1st September 2008, 22:24

To be honest, all the above reasons have affected LR's sales, as has specialising in what is now a very unpopular niche. However, the main killer is always going to be the fact that they bang out a load of rubbish. When the only reliable model in your range is a sixty year old agricultural vehicle, it's a bit rich to be expecting big sales.

Telferstr · 2nd September 2008, 15:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sancho

To be honest, all the above reasons have affected LR's sales, as has specialising in what is now a very unpopular niche. However, the main killer is always going to be the fact that they bang out a load of rubbish. When the only reliable model in your range is a sixty year old agricultural vehicle, it's a bit rich to be expecting big sales.

Sancho.
I strongly disagree with you and take great exception to your statement about Land Rover products. This is exactly the kind of unthinking remark that helped put MG Rover out of business and did untold damage to the British Motor Manufacturing base. It is totally unfounded and unacceptable and should be treated with the utter contempt it deserves.
By the same token, maybe our 75s & MGZTs are also rubbish? I dont think so, as is proved by the great support for these models shown by the members of The 75 and ZT Owners Club Forum.
Regards,
Telfer.

Sancho · 2nd September 2008, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telferstr

Sancho.
I strongly disagree with you and take great exception to your statement about Land Rover products. This is exactly the kind of unthinking remark that helped put MG Rover out of business and did untold damage to the British Motor Manufacturing base. It is totally unfounded and unacceptable and should be treated with the utter contempt it deserves.
By the same token, maybe our 75s & MGZTs are also rubbish? I dont think so, as is proved by the great support for these models shown by the members of The 75 and ZT Owners Club Forum.
Regards,
Telfer.

No offence intended. However, the fact of the matter is that both Discoverys and Freelanders have been dogged by quality and reliability problems since they were first launched. The Defender is a fine vehicle but not even the most ardent fan would call it refined or comfortable.

I didn't make it up, and I doubt JD Power did either. It's a great shame, but the cost cutting that's necessary for British manufacturers to compete on price bred a generation of cars that weren't up to the job and ruined several brand images at once.

As far as MGR go, by the time the 75 came along, it was probably too late to save a brand that had grown to be associated with dull, plasticcy re-badged hondas.

Land Rover seem to be producing some decent vehicles these days, but how much damage has been done to their image by blowing head gaskets and disintegrating bodywork?

Telferstr · 2nd September 2008, 17:49

Sancho,
Sorry if I sounded a bit sharp in my last reply, but I do get very annoyed by these of the cuff remarks which can and do serious damage to a products reputation without backing them up with hard facts.
Yes, Land Rover did have serious problems when they installed the 1.8 Kseries engine into the Freelander, but this was more down to the installation methods rather than the wrong choice of engine. However as we know, the 1.8 did have a Head Gasket weakness, which thank goodness has been largely cured by the extra engineering worked carried out to overcome the problems experienced by this engine when fitted to the Freelander. This engineering improvement has had an added benefit for ZT & 75 owners, in that should they experience a failure of this nature, they now can use the Land Rover modified Cylinder Head Gasket Kit, which provides a very good solution to the former Head Gasket Problem as long as the complete kit is fitted. i.e. The fitting of the bottom oil gallery rail which help gives a firmer base to the Cylinder Head retaining bolts. Yes the fitting of this item does require the removal of the sump and therefore there is extra work involved,but if it achieves the improvement desired it is well worth it.
As you now say, Land Rover are now offering an excellent range of quality built vehicles and it is unfortunate that they now find themselves a victim of a short sighted Government policies, along with a world wide downturn in demand for their products, shared I might add along with all other motor manufacturers.
Regards,
Telfer.
.

1st September 2008, 22:20	#11
afcbadam Gets stuck in 2004 MG ZS 180 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Southampton Posts: 978 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	do they still use a k-series engine in the new ones. __________________ AFC Bournemouth www.themgzs.co.uk Inner wing open cone Oil catch tank Janspeed cat back Janspeed de-cat Reidy Re-mapped

1st September 2008, 22:24	#12
Sancho Loves to post Mercedes 220SE Coupe, Mitsubishi Delica, Nissan Micra Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: London Posts: 358 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	To be honest, all the above reasons have affected LR's sales, as has specialising in what is now a very unpopular niche. However, the main killer is always going to be the fact that they bang out a load of rubbish. When the only reliable model in your range is a sixty year old agricultural vehicle, it's a bit rich to be expecting big sales.

2nd September 2008, 17:49	#15
Telferstr Posted a thing or two Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross 3. 1.5 Petrol 6 Speed Manual Gearbox. Great fan of the Mk1 75 which I had 3 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Inverkip, Scotland. Posts: 1,223 Thanks: 23 Thanked 68 Times in 44 Posts	Sancho, Sorry if I sounded a bit sharp in my last reply, but I do get very annoyed by these of the cuff remarks which can and do serious damage to a products reputation without backing them up with hard facts. Yes, Land Rover did have serious problems when they installed the 1.8 Kseries engine into the Freelander, but this was more down to the installation methods rather than the wrong choice of engine. However as we know, the 1.8 did have a Head Gasket weakness, which thank goodness has been largely cured by the extra engineering worked carried out to overcome the problems experienced by this engine when fitted to the Freelander. This engineering improvement has had an added benefit for ZT & 75 owners, in that should they experience a failure of this nature, they now can use the Land Rover modified Cylinder Head Gasket Kit, which provides a very good solution to the former Head Gasket Problem as long as the complete kit is fitted. i.e. The fitting of the bottom oil gallery rail which help gives a firmer base to the Cylinder Head retaining bolts. Yes the fitting of this item does require the removal of the sump and therefore there is extra work involved,but if it achieves the improvement desired it is well worth it. As you now say, Land Rover are now offering an excellent range of quality built vehicles and it is unfortunate that they now find themselves a victim of a short sighted Government policies, along with a world wide downturn in demand for their products, shared I might add along with all other motor manufacturers. Regards, Telfer. .