INCHCAPE To Show Us How To Sell Citroens?

Inchscape aren't the only ones who only send parts by sea, Fiat or FCA do it too. In fact I reckon Fiat load all the parts into Fiat Ducatos that are coming to Australia. They have to make a total stuffup before they will air freight anything. Warranty repairs take 3 months.

Maybe it is a Stellantis Policy.

Cheers, Ken
 
Ken W said:
Inchscape aren't the only ones who only send parts by sea ...
Click to expand...
Many smaller parts will certainly come by air if needed quickly, but non-urgent, heavy and bulky items won't. Every network will have some means of escalating a situation, including PCA, but someone has to initiate it and that's usually the dealer. Some parts might be delayed at the manufacturer level, not the importer. There are still problems with the supply of automotive semiconductors and some makes and models dropped features at manufacture in response.
Due to the way parts are sometimes priced and depending on the particular situation, there can be an incentive for a dealership parts division to backorder the part and wait because that has the greatest margin for that part of the business. There's usually an added cost if ordering a part for faster delivery. It can cause a strange form of dysfunctional behaviour because another division of the same business might be incurring costs supporting the customer and the delay.
 
I enquired about a replacement rear quarter glass for the 308 wagon....4 months from dealer and from Oh Brian..... ordered from an Italian manufacturer last week arrived yesterday. They even spoke English after a few emails. No VAT no GST just door to door for €80. Never understand why we have to wait for dealer to place an order for a customer if not available in-country?
 
That's simply the franchise business model at work and it divides the world up into geographical areas so you have to deal with one of a number of appointed agents. For the 308 glass, most DIYers would chase a used part, but even a local wrecker may not sell and deliver a used part for 80 Euro. Conversely, few mechanics would take the risk posting glass or engage in the delay/hassle of chasing it and risking a problem with fit, spec or comeback. Some items you can work around the dealer network very easily and it's fine when it goes well, but buying from the dealer at least gives you some comeback without having to post back to Europe and you (normally) get the correct specification / fit over the counter. Lithuania and Latvia seem to have a few very handy vendors for PSA parts.
It's worth noting that for the last few years in Australia, PCA dealers have carried an economical secondary line of fast-moving parts (and some spheres) under the Eurorepar brand and intended for vehicles beyond 3-5 years. They are worth considering because they will be the correct specification and should save you some money. PCA also deserve some credit for rolling out pre-paid service plans for new vehicles that do offer a real saving.
 
Thanks David,

Went down the wrecker and local windscreen places to remove and be able to reuse an encapsulated quarter glass, got ripped off with 1 wrecker who ruined the rubber. Gave in and purchased new thanks to a 3rd party manufacturer
 
Going a bit off the thread topic ... Some glued-in pieces of glass really need to be cut out using a cord vs cutting the rubber with a reciprocating tool. Sometimes the cost and difficulty of extraction from the wreck makes the new part a cheaper/better option. For the XM C-Pillar glass panel, the factory manual says don't bother, buy a new one! Check out this 'Viper' tool to remove a quarter glass. He's using a wire here, but there are also synthetic cords. You are looking at $1K+ for this kit in case you are wondering. Perfect for salvaging a windscreen.
 
jaahn said:
Could anyone explain to me in simple terms what the similarity or major difference is between the C5 Aircross and the C5X.
Are they the same platform and suspension ? The same interior and seats ?
It is not easy to sort out hype, or the pathetic reviews !
Click to expand...

Hi Jaahn. My wife drives a C5 Aircross which I drive occasionally so I know it well and am happy with it.

When my car (Peugeot 508 wagon) was being serviced this week, I was given the opportunity to drive a C5X as a loaner.

I can't answer your question about the platform but I would say that the ride/suspension (road feel) is quite similar, i.e. classic Citroen cushioned ride.

Otherwise, they are very different cars. One of the stark differences was the cabin - the C5X is much more spacious front and back, plenty of headroom and different materials. Seats were generously proportioned and very comfortable. Centre console was also more spacious and a little lower than the C5 Air. There was definitely more width in the cabin too.

The technology is another level above the C5 Air with a large and high-res centre screen which was very responsive. And there were still regular climate control buttons and dials down below the screen to make things easy. The C5X projects some dashboard information forward so you can "see" your speed, the local speed limit and some other settings floating just in front of the bonnet. Very cool.

The interior fit and finish was excellent. Like many, I've always preferred Euro or Japanese built vehicles but this car really looked the ticket to me. And as mentioned the choice of interior materials was great with some nice accents around the corners of the dash.

I only drove the C5X from my dealer Continental Cars to the office and then back later in the afternoon which is about 16km each way, but I was quite impressed with the ride and handling and overall feel of the car.
 
April 2023 Car Sales:
Citroën C3 4
Citroën C4 4
Citroën C5 Aircross 9
Citroën C5 X 10
Citroën Total 27

Peugeot 2008 19
Peugeot 3008 46
Peugeot 5008 11
Peugeot 308 19
Peugeot 508 15
Peugeot Partner 52
Peugeot Boxer 5
Peugeot Expert 17
Peugeot Total 184

Renault Arkana 78
Renault Captur 49
Renault Kangoo 2
Renault Koleos 363
Renault Master 25
Renault Master Bus 0
Renault Megane 3
Renault Trafic 118
Renault Total 638
 
For the month of May VFACTS:

Citroen C3 – 7
Citroen C4 – 6
Citroen C5 Aircross – 6
Citroen C5 X – 7
Citroen total – 26

Peugeot total - 241

Renault Arkana – 152
Renault Captur – 194
Renault Kangoo – 1
Renault Koleos – 303
Renault Master – 67
Renault Master Bus – 0
Renault Megane – 8
Renault Trafic – 100
Renault total – 825
 
Those are some weak ass numbers! I'm surprised they haven't quit the market there yet. Those sales are literally in the same ballpark as Peugeot in Canada in 1989, when they shifted only 223 405s. Two years later they pulled the plug.
 
Mike Tippett said:
Those are some weak ass numbers! I'm surprised they haven't quit the market there yet. Those sales are literally in the same ballpark as Peugeot in Canada in 1989, when they shifted only 223 405s. Two years later they pulled the plug.
Click to expand...
I can't understand how they've dropped the ball so thoroughly. Why anyone buys them, apart from a few Renault models, is beyond me. Orphans...

It's not that they are bad vehicles but there's precious little advertising, at least that I see, and one Peugeot/Citroen dealer for the whole of Western Australia. We have a local Renault dealer more or less hidden inside a Suzuki dealership (ten minutes from home and I'm not going there after their last verbal quotation for a minor bit of work) and a better one half an hour away with ONE Renault specialist mechanic (he's good though). From what I hear from French Connection, the Renaults are more reliable if secondhand parts demand is any guide - certainly true of our Scenics. Capturs are surprisingly fast and competent if you want something that size. I don't know about the longevity of these little turbo petrol engines mind you.
 
JohnW said:
I can't understand how they've dropped the ball so thoroughly. Why anyone buys them, apart from a few Renault models, is beyond me. Orphans...

It's not that they are bad vehicles but there's precious little advertising, at least that I see, and one Peugeot/Citroen dealer for the whole of Western Australia.
Click to expand...

The answer is all the way back in post #1 of this thread in November 2017. When Inchcape took over the importation of Citroen and Peugeot they slashed the dealer network in half and most of the high-profile committed dealers went. Sales have never recovered.

I can only assume that this was Inchcape's strategy all along, i.e. to turn Citroen and Peugeot into a "boutique/prestige brand" with just a few high-end models available at high prices. A low-volume/high-margin sales strategy that doesn't cost much to manage due to the small number of dealers and low sales.

The mystery for me is why Stellantis doesn't react - they must know that sales could be so much better in Australia. Why do they persist with such a terrible importer?
 
Inchcape recently held an event for Subaru Spares staff @ Sheraton Port Douglas, clashing with the Peugeot equivalent somewhere with a fraction of the budget.
 
June figures are out, and Citroen is still struggling.

Renault Arkana – 128
Renault Captur – 87
Renault Kangoo – 2
Renault Koleos – 402
Renault Master – 126
Renault Master Bus – 0
Renault Megane – 7
Renault Trafic – 220
Renault Total – 972

Peugeot 2008 – 30
Peugeot 3008 – 66
Peugeot 308 – 41
Peugeot 5008 – 12
Peugeot 508 – 12
Peugeot Boxer – 8
Peugeot Expert – 59
Peugeot Partner – 108
Peugeot Total – 336

Citroen C3 – 6
Citroen C4 – 7
Citroen C5 Aircross – 3
Citroen C5 X – 3
Citroen Total – 19
 
As these cars do not represent the planned positioning of Citroën within the Stellantis marque strategy there does not seem to be much point in promoting them. If they do concentrate on the low cost European market and consider Dacia their challenge, then it is hard to see if that has much relevance in Australia with our domination of Asian competitors.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top