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Land Rover Assistance - Future
Chatting to an LRA chap at McDonalds today and he gave me a few insights into their world. First news was that they are being forced out of their Disco 4s into a regular silver van. Apparently this move was first mooted when the manual gearbox was dropped but brand recognition won out. Cost is clearly the major factor as is the need to carry more parts to cover more models. His new van arrived recently and he has not taken kindly to losing the D4.
The other news was that the D4 commercial may be dropped very shortly and there are no plans for a commercial variant with the replacement Discovery. Line space and capacity has also conspired against the commercial variant as well as 'detracting' from the vehicle range which is moving ever-more upmarket. He expected to see a commercial variant from the new utility range.
So the death of the familiar D4 LRA vehicle. Seems a shame.
Again, all via rumour control over a Big Mac.Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
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Should mean his BIK bill should drop, to look on the brights side.
23rd Oct 2014 7:03 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15245
Re: Land Rover Assistance - Future
Robbie wrote:
So the death of the familiar D4 LRA vehicle. Seems a shame.
Yep, it is indeed.
Sounds like a classic case of LR "shooting itself in the foot"...... always on the road less travelled 🚧
23rd Oct 2014 7:17 pm
jolleymike
Member Since: 02 Dec 2012
Location: wigan
Posts: 91
typical losing the commercial would be a bad move, I've tried the rest like the navaras amarocks and the hilux and non of them come even close.
Towing, off roading or just plain old motorway driving the disco commercial does it all in comfort with ease, I'm on my 5th one started with a TD5 now on a 12 plate D4, id be gutted if and when i need to change there will be no more available new or nearly new.Discovery 3 TDV6 Commercial 2007
RRS TDV8 2008
23rd Oct 2014 7:36 pm
stchris
Member Since: 13 Oct 2013
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23rd Oct 2014 7:42 pm
euangibson
Member Since: 24 Dec 2010
Location: Borders
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There were definitely some hints at the Design Tour this week,that the new "Defender" variant will fulfil the commercial role.....there were some key competitors being tested while we were there....VW Amaroks etc being driven around the site.
Vehicles of that type can't hold a candle to a Discovery,so it would make sense that they were being evaluated in terms of that,and not as a competitor to the new D5
Still seems a bit of an own-goal as has been said though,but once the accountants get their pencils sharpened,there is only ever one winner..
More importantly though,did the van fit in the Drive-Thru ?"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool,than to speak out and remove all doubt" ?.....what rubbish...
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23rd Oct 2014 8:04 pm
DG Site Moderator
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
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Silver tranny type LRA vans are already on the road down this way ...not sure it really matters as long as the chap is a bright button. 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
23rd Oct 2014 8:08 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
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And has a yellow taxi on speed dial.
23rd Oct 2014 8:09 pm
Dudleydisco
Member Since: 20 Jun 2014
Location: York
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When I had to call LRA a couple of months ago, he turned up in a silver van. He wasn't pleased about the change either, but knew his stuff and was still a LR fan D4 MY14 XXV - RLD/IID BT
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23rd Oct 2014 8:22 pm
sean 471
Member Since: 26 Apr 2011
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 2990
In Cumbria at the moment and just passed a silver van with LRA on it. I was hoping he was going to follow me just in case.
23rd Oct 2014 8:23 pm
Disco dazboy
Member Since: 02 Dec 2013
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 1782
There in silver tansit customs round here saw one parked in a gateway the other day! Makes sense having a van big enough to carry the spare parts in! Wonder if they have the awd versions for the bad weather?
23rd Oct 2014 8:23 pm
markate
Member Since: 17 Sep 2011
Location: England
Posts: 703
Discovery used by LR Assistance was a standard GS spec model with extra racking fitted over the rear seats and not a Commercial.
Replacement vans are standard Ford Transit 2 wheel drive so they might struggle to reach you in bad weather of if you've strayed off the beaten track.
23rd Oct 2014 9:06 pm
RAW
Member Since: 14 Oct 2008
Location: Devon
Posts: 936
Re: Land Rover Assistance - Future
Robbie wrote:
Chatting to an LRA chap at McDonalds today and he gave me a few insights into their world. First news was that they are being forced out of their Disco 4s into a regular silver van. Apparently this move was first mooted when the manual gearbox was dropped but brand recognition won out. Cost is clearly the major factor as is the need to carry more parts to cover more models. His new van arrived recently and he has not taken kindly to losing the D4.
The other news was that the D4 commercial may be dropped very shortly and there are no plans for a commercial variant with the replacement Discovery. Line space and capacity has also conspired against the commercial variant as well as 'detracting' from the vehicle range which is moving ever-more upmarket. He expected to see a commercial variant from the new utility range.
So the death of the familiar D4 LRA vehicle. Seems a shame.
Again, all via rumour control over a Big Mac.
Any idea how soon the commercials will end Robbie might have to get one on order bit earlier than I was going to?MY18 RRS Autobiography Fuji White
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23rd Oct 2014 10:11 pm
Russell
Member Since: 24 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
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I called one out on Sunday Got talking to the bloke who was very good, apparently the demand for vehicles was so much that they felt it better to cut customers in them rather than techs also AA cut the cost/contract by going to transits, fuel cost of transit etc al made for big saving.
Apparently there are some changes coming. LR have realised that lot of people who drive LR's also tow, so next year LR assistance/enterprise vehicles will all come with tow bars and will have insurance to cove trailers/caravan etc. So if you break down towing and require a tow vehicle that is what you will get.MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
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The LRA chap that visited me a few months back mentioned he was getting a van, he also said it was down to the fact that they also covered Jaguars and they now didn't have spare wheels so they were going to have to carry all spare wheel variants for the Jags on the roads. He wasn't too chuffed to be loosing his D4 either.
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Got talking to the bloke who was very good, apparently the demand for vehicles was so much that they felt it better to cut customers in them rather than techs also AA cut the cost/contract by going to transits, fuel cost of transit etc al made for big saving.
