Humphrey The Pug
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Atocar long term Laguna Coupe'Autocar's Laguna Coupe' long termer is in today for a bit of warranty work, Matt Saunders dropped it in this morning.
I wonder what his verdict will be on our service?!
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Nice Guy Eddie
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I trust you let the service guys know.
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Humphrey The Pug
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We were given a heads up last week by RUK.
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"him"
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I always thought the point of these was that they got a "punters" eye view of servicing, were you told whose car it is, or do you just recognise it?
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Humphrey The Pug
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It was booked in under Matt Saunders name and address, RUK rang the service dept. last week to let them know what was happening.
I saw him drop it off this morning and TBH I think he twigged I knew who he was when I made eye contact with him.
He took a photo of the Laguna under one of our signs too.
I hope Autocar don't read this!!
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Dr. Hfuhruhurr
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In any case, RUK will obviously know the registration numbers of cars they've allocated to the press.
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DaveGibson
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Most of the cars on Autocar's long-term fleet say "XXXX Press Office" on the plates anyway so it would be pretty unobservant of the dealer to miss that.
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Humphrey The Pug
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| DaveGibson wrote: | | Most of the cars on Autocar's long-term fleet say "XXXX Press Office" on the plates anyway so it would be pretty unobservant of the dealer to miss that. |
As does the Laguna Coupe' but the service dept wouldn't notice and even if they did it wouldn't twig.
If you did notice you wouldn't see it until you went to move the car anyway and the driver would be long gone by then and some damage could've already been done anyway due to a poor initial greeting or whatever.
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Nice Guy Eddie
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Its a little daft that Autocar have to report a service to RUK. Its not exactly a true reflection of private ownership if the dealers are pre warned. I remember when I had a lease car the service receptionist at a local vauxhall dealers just threw the keys at me and without looking up said the car was somewhere around the back. It seems a rather pointless excercise for magazines to run long termers without them having to face the reality of car ownership.
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Matt
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It does make you wonder how legit it is when they say they booked a car in anonymously. So everyone who books their car in for a service takes a perfectly staged picture with an SLR outside the dealer, do they?!
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Dr. Hfuhruhurr
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Hard to see how they could keep it a secret really, short of buying the car with their own money.
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gonnabuildabuggy
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I've made a note to take a photo of myself with the car before dropping the keys off and to order new plates with "BMW UK LTD - Press Fleet" written on them.
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Colin
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| Dr. Hfuhruhurr wrote: | | Hard to see how they could keep it a secret really, short of buying the car with their own money. |
......... which, of course, is what they used to do, years ago.
They probably had to phone Renault UK as it is RUK's car, and it would not surprise me if RUK pay for the work, too!
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PR
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I'm sure Humph's place is fine, but if my experience of Renault dealers (alright, the execrable Sutton Park Warwick) is anything to go by, Renault would do better to concentrate on treating its paying customers a little less like shit than worrying about one press car.
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Gooner
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If they have spies on here and find one of the salesman is a member of the breakaway forum it might have some adverse effect on the right-up!
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Humphrey The Pug
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He told the service receptionist that the car was as press car when he dropped it off.
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Dr. Hfuhruhurr
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SMC got a mention in last week's mag - favourable too
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Humphrey The Pug
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| Dr. Hfuhruhurr wrote: | | SMC got a mention in last week's mag - favourable too |
Yep saw that, they haven't given their view on how they were dealt with once at the dealership yet though!!
"Upon arriving at the dealership I made eye contact, whilst on the forecourt, with a rather dashing salesman who gave me the look of I know you but I'm trying not to give you the I know you look!!"
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Dr. Hfuhruhurr
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You need to update your "my car" statement, BTW ...
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Humphrey The Pug
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| Dr. Hfuhruhurr wrote: | | You need to update your "my car" statement, BTW ... |
Thanks, will do.
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Dr. Hfuhruhurr
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Though did you see the letter in the same issue from the Ford dealer guy who claimed they were really busy thanks to the Fiesta?
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Humphrey The Pug
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| Dr. Hfuhruhurr wrote: | | Though did you see the letter in the same issue from the Ford dealer guy who claimed they were really busy thanks to the Fiesta? |
Yep though can't rememeber it. Our old admin girl now works for Dagenhams and she says they are busy and there were jobs last week for Gowrings Ford, Reading and Newbury.
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Dr. Hfuhruhurr
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The thing that amazed me in your post about the jobs going, was how Renault's market share as a percentage has declined. My impression is that their decision to switch from radical styling (a la old Megane) to conservative has backfired big time.
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Eff One
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| Dr. Hfuhruhurr wrote: | | Hard to see how they could keep it a secret really, short of buying the car with their own money. |
I assumed that was what they did for long termers, for exactly this reason - in order to get an idea of the dealer service a normal punter would recieve.
Disappointing to see it's only just a press car, that reduces the value of a long-term test IMO. Not that I've paid good money for the magazine in years, mind you.
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Mark
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| Eff One wrote: | | Dr. Hfuhruhurr wrote: | | Hard to see how they could keep it a secret really, short of buying the car with their own money. |
Not that I've paid good money for the magazine in years, mind you. |
Maybe that's why they don't/can't buy their own.
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Dr. Hfuhruhurr
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It would be tricky anyway, as so many magazines make "personalities" of their writers. You'd have to send the work experience kiddy to the showroom (which would actually be a good test of the dealer's attitude).
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Humphrey The Pug
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| Dr. Hfuhruhurr wrote: | | The thing that amazed me in your post about the jobs going, was how Renault's market share as a percentage has declined. My impression is that their decision to switch from radical styling (a la old Megane) to conservative has backfired big time. |
I've mentioned this before but I think the problem with Renault is that in the past they were a wacky alternative to a mainstream car, they were middle of the road but different. Now the styling is just as bland as everything else but they are still middle of the road and don't particularly offer any great USP's over other more popular manufacturers.
They lost their way a few years ago when trying to be a French VW, it has taken VW decades to get where they are now and Renault thought they'd give it a shot and do it in a couple of years, no chance.
Another problem, which is their own doing, is their apalling residuals, caused by letting all and sundry sell them massively cheaply with dodgy fleet numbers over the internet to anyone who wants one. I have lost count of the amount of die hard Renault customers how fancy a change at 3 or four years old and they walk out in disgust as I have valued their pride and joy so appallingly, never to buy another Renault.
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Dr. Hfuhruhurr
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| Humphrey The Pug wrote: | | They lost their way a few years ago when trying to be a French VW, it has taken VW decades to get where they are now and Renault thought they'd give it a shot and do it in a couple of years, no chance. |
Just as Fiat did with the Stilo (and even explicity stated that as an objective). Trouble is, anyone who wants a Golf will buy a Golf, and anyone who wants a cheap Golf with buy an Octavia.
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Giant
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| Dr. Hfuhruhurr wrote: | | Humphrey The Pug wrote: | | They lost their way a few years ago when trying to be a French VW, it has taken VW decades to get where they are now and Renault thought they'd give it a shot and do it in a couple of years, no chance. |
Just as Fiat did with the Stilo (and even explicity stated that as an objective). Trouble is, anyone who wants a Golf will buy a Golf, and anyone who wants a cheap Golf with buy an Octavia. |
I have said before that too many manufacturers have tried to go 'upmarket', the nature of a heirarchy (sp?) means they can't all be prestige marques. With most European and Japanese manufacturers intent on going upmarket a gap is left below them which, I think, KIA/Hyundai is well placed to fill. Most manufacturers have forgotten what their USP was, the one which has remembered what theirs was and seems to be doing well for it, is FIAT.
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Mark
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| Humphrey The Pug wrote: | | Dr. Hfuhruhurr wrote: | | The thing that amazed me in your post about the jobs going, was how Renault's market share as a percentage has declined. My impression is that their decision to switch from radical styling (a la old Megane) to conservative has backfired big time. |
I've mentioned this before but I think the problem with Renault is that in the past they were a wacky alternative to a mainstream car, they were middle of the road but different. Now the styling is just as bland as everything else but they are still middle of the road and don't particularly offer any great USP's over other more popular manufacturers.
They lost their way a few years ago when trying to be a French VW, it has taken VW decades to get where they are now and Renault thought they'd give it a shot and do it in a couple of years, no chance.
Another problem, which is their own doing, is their apalling residuals, caused by letting all and sundry sell them massively cheaply with dodgy fleet numbers over the internet to anyone who wants one. I have lost count of the amount of die hard Renault customers how fancy a change at 3 or four years old and they walk out in disgust as I have valued their pride and joy so appallingly, never to buy another Renault. |
Renault have been in a bad way for a long time - a recession tends to expose companies that were already in serious trouble.
The Laguna coupe is priced way to high (IMO).
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Humphrey The Pug
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I don't think the Laguna Coupe' is too expensive at all, I have just specced up a 3 series 330d SE to simialr spec to the Laguna 3.0 V6 dCi and you're looking at £27400 for the Laguna and £36000 for the BMW.
Their main problem is they do not offer a really credible alternative to the major players in the sector:
Fords drive better, Kia's and Hyundai's are far cheaper and for some reason people buy Vauxhalls, they only come into their own when it comes to Renaultsport products, the Laguna Coupe' is the only really credible alternative to something more expensive, it looks good and is built extremely well.
The other issue, as mentioned above, is their apalling residuals, also it doesn't help that major players in the motoring press major too much on how a car handles thus proclaiming the best mid size hatch is a Focus because it handles better than anything else, people then buy it as xyz magazine have said that it is the best car, but they are saying it is the best car for the wrong reasons.
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Mark
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| Humphrey The Pug wrote: | I don't think the Laguna Coupe' is too expensive at all, I have just specced up a 3 series 330d SE to simialr spec to the Laguna 3.0 V6 dCi and you're looking at £27400 for the Laguna and £36000 for the BMW.
Their main problem is they do not offer a really credible alternative to the major players in the sector:
Fords drive better, Kia's and Hyundai's are far cheaper and for some reason people buy Vauxhalls, they only come into their own when it comes to Renaultsport products, the Laguna Coupe' is the only really credible alternative to something more expensive, it looks good and is built extremely well.
The other issue, as mentioned above, is their apalling residuals, also it doesn't help that major players in the motoring press major too much on how a car handles thus proclaiming the best mid size hatch is a Focus because it handles better than anything else, people then buy it as xyz magazine have said that it is the best car, but they are saying it is the best car for the wrong reasons. |
It is a good looking car (apart from the fuel flap being in the wrong place in my eyes).
And, I have to admit my comment is based on only one article I’ve read and not looking at the whole range. It was a group test which, I think, was in Autocar a few months ago. And I’m not taking spec into account:
Laguna Coupe dci GT - £24.5k
Audi A5 TDi - £28.5k (320d coupe similar price)
Volkswagen Scirocco TDi - £19.5k
On that basis, I feel it’s in ‘no man’s land’ pricewise. I would take the Scirocco or pay £4k more every time.
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Humphrey The Pug
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| Mark wrote: | | Humphrey The Pug wrote: | I don't think the Laguna Coupe' is too expensive at all, I have just specced up a 3 series 330d SE to simialr spec to the Laguna 3.0 V6 dCi and you're looking at £27400 for the Laguna and £36000 for the BMW.
Their main problem is they do not offer a really credible alternative to the major players in the sector:
Fords drive better, Kia's and Hyundai's are far cheaper and for some reason people buy Vauxhalls, they only come into their own when it comes to Renaultsport products, the Laguna Coupe' is the only really credible alternative to something more expensive, it looks good and is built extremely well.
The other issue, as mentioned above, is their apalling residuals, also it doesn't help that major players in the motoring press major too much on how a car handles thus proclaiming the best mid size hatch is a Focus because it handles better than anything else, people then buy it as xyz magazine have said that it is the best car, but they are saying it is the best car for the wrong reasons. |
It is a good looking car (apart from the fuel flap being in the wrong place in my eyes).
And, I have to admit my comment is based on only one article I’ve read and not looking at the whole range. It was a group test which, I think, was in Autocar a few months ago. And I’m not taking spec into account:
Laguna Coupe dci GT - £24.5k
Audi A5 TDi - £28.5k (320d coupe similar price)
Volkswagen Scirocco TDi - £19.5k
On that basis, I feel it’s in ‘no man’s land’ pricewise. I would take the Scirocco or pay £4k more every time. |
Putting the Laguna up against the Scirocco is wrong, they are not competing for the same market at all, the Laguna should've been up against the Passat CC, the Megane Coupe' will be a direct competitor for the Scirocco.
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Mark
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| Humphrey The Pug wrote: | | Mark wrote: | | Humphrey The Pug wrote: | I don't think the Laguna Coupe' is too expensive at all, I have just specced up a 3 series 330d SE to simialr spec to the Laguna 3.0 V6 dCi and you're looking at £27400 for the Laguna and £36000 for the BMW.
Their main problem is they do not offer a really credible alternative to the major players in the sector:
Fords drive better, Kia's and Hyundai's are far cheaper and for some reason people buy Vauxhalls, they only come into their own when it comes to Renaultsport products, the Laguna Coupe' is the only really credible alternative to something more expensive, it looks good and is built extremely well.
The other issue, as mentioned above, is their apalling residuals, also it doesn't help that major players in the motoring press major too much on how a car handles thus proclaiming the best mid size hatch is a Focus because it handles better than anything else, people then buy it as xyz magazine have said that it is the best car, but they are saying it is the best car for the wrong reasons. |
It is a good looking car (apart from the fuel flap being in the wrong place in my eyes).
And, I have to admit my comment is based on only one article I’ve read and not looking at the whole range. It was a group test which, I think, was in Autocar a few months ago. And I’m not taking spec into account:
Laguna Coupe dci GT - £24.5k
Audi A5 TDi - £28.5k (320d coupe similar price)
Volkswagen Scirocco TDi - £19.5k
On that basis, I feel it’s in ‘no man’s land’ pricewise. I would take the Scirocco or pay £4k more every time. |
Putting the Laguna up against the Scirocco is wrong, they are not competing for the same market at all, the Laguna should've been up against the Passat CC, the Megane Coupe' will be a direct competitor for the Scirocco. |
Fair enough. I did (kind of) think that myself.
Peugeot 407 coupe HDi Sport - £20.5k (old hat but doesn't affect the price)
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Martin
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| Humphrey The Pug wrote: | | Mark wrote: | | Humphrey The Pug wrote: | I don't think the Laguna Coupe' is too expensive at all, I have just specced up a 3 series 330d SE to simialr spec to the Laguna 3.0 V6 dCi and you're looking at £27400 for the Laguna and £36000 for the BMW.
Their main problem is they do not offer a really credible alternative to the major players in the sector:
Fords drive better, Kia's and Hyundai's are far cheaper and for some reason people buy Vauxhalls, they only come into their own when it comes to Renaultsport products, the Laguna Coupe' is the only really credible alternative to something more expensive, it looks good and is built extremely well.
The other issue, as mentioned above, is their apalling residuals, also it doesn't help that major players in the motoring press major too much on how a car handles thus proclaiming the best mid size hatch is a Focus because it handles better than anything else, people then buy it as xyz magazine have said that it is the best car, but they are saying it is the best car for the wrong reasons. |
It is a good looking car (apart from the fuel flap being in the wrong place in my eyes).
And, I have to admit my comment is based on only one article I’ve read and not looking at the whole range. It was a group test which, I think, was in Autocar a few months ago. And I’m not taking spec into account:
Laguna Coupe dci GT - £24.5k
Audi A5 TDi - £28.5k (320d coupe similar price)
Volkswagen Scirocco TDi - £19.5k
On that basis, I feel it’s in ‘no man’s land’ pricewise. I would take the Scirocco or pay £4k more every time. |
Putting the Laguna up against the Scirocco is wrong, they are not competing for the same market at all, the Laguna should've been up against the Passat CC, the Megane Coupe' will be a direct competitor for the Scirocco. |
What's the space like in the Laguna Coupe (rear and boot)? Is it more Passat CC than Scirocco?
I do think that as they are both proper coupes in the 20k ish bracket, the Laguna coupe and Scirocco are definately competing directly for sales.
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Humphrey The Pug
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Havent' had a poke around either a Scirocco or a Passat but rear space is, what I'd class as average for a Coup'e of that size and the boot is fairly deep and spacious.
I still wouldn't put it as a direct competitor to the Scirocco though, the Laguna is more of a tourer than sporty Coupe', the Megane Coupe' is a competitior to the Scirocco.
The Laguna is far more likely to attract an older customer than the Scirocco.
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Martin
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| Humphrey The Pug wrote: | | The Laguna is far more likely to attract an older customer than the Scirocco. |
Or a company car driver that doesn't have to worry about depreciation!
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