Hello all,

Hope my first post doesn't come across as a troll because that is absolutely NOT the case. If LandRover was trying 1/10th as hard to sell me a new Disco as I have been trying to buy one, we'd already have one in the garage. That is inherently where the problem lies . . .

After going through Touareg and Cayenne TDIs, I was looking forward to finally getting a Disco Diesel. I realize most folks rarely get them dirty but between living clear out in the sticks here in Kansas, still having a farming operation, and a cabin at 9000 ft in CO, we actually do go off road.

No doubt partly due to the ongoing problem stateside with diesel prices being higher and gas prices still relatively low, but mainly the just ZERO diesel marketing being done just like with the Touareg and Cayenne TDIs [Jeep GC diesel too for that matter] they are struggling to move them so there are deals to be had on leftover 17s but a $10K discount on their stock vehicle just means $10K off my trade allowance, currently a Q5 from its NADA trade value.

Also, I just really need a SE with 4 corner air, full size spare, and a few options but cannot get premium sound on the SE. So, I asked if the base Meridian could be upgraded to the 825 and better speakers at the dealer . . . NOPE! So, I asked if I bought the base sound system, do you work with any local audio shops to upgrade to anything aftermarket? Not only NOPE but that I would likely invalidate the warranty if I was to do that. They actually seem annoyed with questions . . .

So, I have tried to deal on a couple of HSEs with the 825W option and even a couple of less optioned HSE LUXs that include the 825 and again there are deals to be had on left over 17s but not that much of a deal considering they all generally have several hundred to several thousand miles on the clock and are now officially used. Again, even on these, $10K less for my Q5 than NADA says it's worth.

And I have tried 3 different dealers in 3 different states so it's not just my local dealer . . .

I'm at the point of just ordering a HSE with the 825 added and ONLY what I absolutely need, comes in about $72K MSRP but very little discount off MSRP to be had, even given it's a pre-sold unit. You would think no inventory or advertising costs would require less profit. And they still obviously don't want a perfectly good Audi Q5 Prestige, S-line with 55K on the clock for a trade even though it has extended warranty. I considered selling the Audi myself while the LR is being built which I may still do but the whole snobbish attitude of sales is frankly turning me off. Worried more what service is going to be like?

Actually seemed to **** one salesman off when he had a $10K discounted 17 with miles on it if there are any discounts on 18s to be had and I got this . . . "at the risk of sounding like a broken record, the ONLY reason that 17 is discounted at all is because it is a left over 17 with miles on it".

So, Is this just Life in LandRover Land?

All of these dealers are in the midwest. Should I try going further out toward the coasts? I assumed shipping costs would negate any possible savings doing that.

I just thought maybe I need stop talking to dealers and go to the folks that actually know from experience . . . sorry I'm starting on somewhat a sour note!

Thanks,
Garth

 

 

 

Why not take the 2017 with a $10k discount. That's real savings
Sell the Q5 to Carmax or equivalent - don't trade it at dealer. You should get a fair trade (not private sale) price for it. Then you're all set
That's not unusual for dealers. They don't want the Q5 as it will just go straight to auction anyway.

You can't swap the low amp age stereo for the 825. It's very complex - different amps, different speakers and has to be configured in the car CCF file. They tier modes like base, HSE and Lux to take different options deliberately and they won't break that. It's standard mode lineup for all manufacturers. Some folks on the LR4 and similarly on the jags have upgraded the base to premium sound down the road but it's very involved and complex, time consuming and you need someone who can program the CCF. While it won't void the whole car warranty, it you have electrical system issues they will likely not help you

It is frustrating that they won't 'deal' on a new 2018 even as you say with no inventory and carrying cost risks. But just the way they operate

 

Well, I have reluctantly decided to hold off perhaps a year to do this to see if this resale problem with our Q5 improves. Not sure if it is still related to the TDI scandal that has been resolved now or just that dealers are struggling to move diesels period which is why there are deals to be had on left over diesel RRs. I was going to go ahead and order one exactly as we want it [per below] and try to sell our Q5 myself and [as suggested] worst case just taking it down to Carmax if it doesn't sell? For the record, though, the Carmax offer was not any better than what Landrover offered and both were well below book. There are only [5] 2015 S-Line Q5s like ours nationwide on AutoTrader right now and they are priced from $35K to $47K [though I'm not sure what he's smoking]. Still, I'm only being offered $25K for it. It's worth at least $31K as a trade on KBB, $34K on Edmunds, and $37K on NADA as a clean trade in.

What we'd like. Have to dream a while longer . . .

 

Not that I expect the OP to ever come back and report, but I think it's absurd to ask a dealership to become a used parts dealer just to earn one sale. Dealers are focused on buying and selling vehicles, not modifications and/or buying/reselling wheels, electronics, etc. NADA doesn't reflect local value last time I checked, so locally the LR dealer is focused on what it will bring at auction, that its it. NADA values mean nothing, auction prices mean everything to a local dealer.

Margins on new cars isn't as lucrative as many think, and in many cases they are the loss leader for the dealership. Money is made on used cars and service from my experience.

 

 

I think you are misunderstanding me.

I get it, you are emotionally attached to your Q5, but the dealer isn't. It's purely financial for them. Asking them to bend over backwards for a car isn't realistic. I don't care what you see online, and I'm assuming you looked at Edmunds, picked every option, picked the extra clean option. I'm an Audi fan, having owned a new one, but in certain markets Q5's are soft, in others maybe stronger. No idea about your market, but a dealer simply focuses on what he/she can get at auction, which as such, extended warranty, extra options, nobody cares about.

What I'm saying is that you want all the money for your Q5, which may or may not be reasonable. You can certainly sell it privately, but you lose out on the tax differential, which is something to keep in mind. A dealership will look at your car, and based on mileage and some options, price about 2K below what you see for trade in value, not retail price, and certainly not certified pre owned price that you see on Edmunds. That's from an Audi dealer, and doesn't help the Land Rover dealer.

Give me the year and mileage of your Q5 and I will tell you what I think you would get for trade in value.

 

Nor am I "emotionally attached" to our Q5. I'm nearly 60 and this will be our 10th new vehicle purchase between the wife and I over the last almost 28 years. I have done this before. You apparently don't get that I get what I want, for what I want to pay for it, cash, trade, or otherwise, or I don't get. Period. That is ALL this is. With all due respect, I don't care what you think it's worth. If we cannot rely on the historical book trade values that have ALWAYS been used in the past as well as the retail book values and that others are currently selling at for comparative data . . . what are we to do?

Naw, we got some guy named Vinnie out back that has a magic 8 ball he shakes . . . on Tuesdays and Thursdays when the moon is full . . . with all apologies to anyone named Vinnie!

 

Just looked. KBB [the lowest book value] still says it's worth $31K.