Ford dealers shutting shop.

mr smith · 15-09-2008, 04:42 PM

Spent the weekend driving around country vic, Castlemaine Ford dealer has shut shop (moved?).

snakeoil · 15-09-2008, 07:14 PM

I know the dealership you are talking about was in castlemaine recently on business
it is a shame.Probably too much competition from either bendigo or melbourne

geckoGT · 15-09-2008, 08:06 PM

I heard that Southside Ford in Brisbane is also shutting it's doors.

**Bluehoon** · 15-09-2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geckoGT

I heard that Southside Ford in Brisbane is also shutting it's doors.

Can you confirm for sure? They are fantastic for parts!!

Smoke Pursuit · 15-09-2008, 08:15 PM

They are only shutting the New / Used car department.

Service and Parts are staying. They are owned by the same Group as Metro Ford and they are all moving to the one location in the Valley.... It seems like its the latest trend as theres rumours that another dealership on the southside of Brisbane is closing one of its sites... Which means there will only be 3 yards south of brisbane all the way to Sunshine Ford at the GC. Its an easy way for dealerships to get competitive when they move all their people / contacts into the one location, they double their numbers while cutting overheads in half... it makes sense but you can only push out so many cars a day, i would say Metro Ford will still use the Pre Delivery Areas located at the Gabba to prepare cars aswell as the ones they have at Eaglefarm.

Fords partly to blame expecting dealerships to have multi-million dollar sites with no support.

Swordsman88 · 15-09-2008, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSTerritoryGhia

They are only shutting the New / Used car department.

Service and Parts are staying. They are owned by the same Group as Metro Ford and they are all moving to the one location in the Valley.... It seems like its the latest trend as theres rumours that another dealership on the southside of Brisbane is closing one of its sites... Which means there will only be 3 yards south of brisbane all the way to Sunshine Ford at the GC. Its an easy way for dealerships to get competitive when they move all their people / contacts into the one location, they double their numbers while cutting overheads in half... it makes sense but you can only push out so many cars a day, i would say Metro Ford will still use the Pre Delivery Areas located at the Gabba to prepare cars aswell as the ones they have at Eaglefarm.

Fords partly to blame expecting dealerships to have multi-million dollar sites with no support.

At least the parts bit is staying....as everyone with a ford in brisbane knows they are great when it comes to getting parts.

As a former FNQ resident i have noticed most of the small town Ford dealers closing up there as well.....Ford wants them to spend heaps of cash on small dealerships that just don't get the traffic. What i find interesting is that often some of the best deals for private buyers, and the best aftersales service etc. is found in these small outfits. I find the larger dealerships often lack much interaction from the sales staff and service is just a number mentality. Shame...

Smoke Pursuit · 15-09-2008, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swordsman88

At least the parts bit is staying....as everyone with a ford in brisbane knows they are great when it comes to getting parts.

As a former FNQ resident i have noticed most of the small town Ford dealers closing up there as well.....Ford wants them to spend heaps of cash on small dealerships that just don't get the traffic. What i find interesting is that often some of the best deals for private buyers, and the best aftersales service etc. is found in these small outfits. I find the larger dealerships often lack much interaction from the sales staff and service is just a number mentality. Shame...

We have noticed the same deal with Metro dealers that look a little run down.. The bigger dealerships with the nice big glass showrooms dont perform as well as the smaller 80's finish ones. The sad fact is the likes of Metro Ford is part of a group and its all about numbers to them, they really dont give a about anyone. The smaller dealers that are family controlled still seem to have some pride about them.

Airmon · 15-09-2008, 09:43 PM

Seems to be the opposite out here.

Macarthur Ford just opened a new Ford and FPV dealership and its 5-10minutes away from Camden Ford, that makes 3 dealers within 15 minutes of here. Although, all 3 are Peter Warren owned.

SVTVNM · 15-09-2008, 11:01 PM

The Castlemaine dealership was for Sale but it needed considerable amount of money to bring the building up up to FORDS standards. It is pretty run down. I actually looked at purchasing it but but would of needed way to much extra money put into it. Plus Bendigo only 25min away and Ballarat about 50min away seemed pointless to invest in it. Looking back now probably a good thing with the GREAT job Ford is doing marketing the FG(NOT!!!) probably a good choice.

Rodp · 16-09-2008, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airmon

Seems to be the opposite out here.

Macarthur Ford just opened a new Ford and FPV dealership and its 5-10minutes away from Camden Ford, that makes 3 dealers within 15 minutes of here. Although, all 3 are Peter Warren owned.

I thought they were getting rather bunched up there. If they're all PW owned then I'd suggest that they wouldn't be throwing money into a pit and they're doing some pretty good business in the area.

Perhaps they're looking to expand them into several other manufacturers. I don't know if it's finished yet but when I was looking for my next new car in April, PW Warwick Farm was erecting a Peugeot dealership out the back. Ford may not be keeping abreast of the market but you can't say the same about PW's dealerships.

dandandandan · 16-09-2008, 06:59 AM

Bayford Ford in Preston has shut down so I've noticed.
It is now a Bayford VW and Skoda dealership.

Shaggzy · 16-09-2008, 04:11 PM

The Old boy and I got alot of cheap parts from the castlemaine dealer closed. helps when my grandparents are good friends and next door neighbours with the people who owned it

XR Martin · 16-09-2008, 06:49 PM

One of the Ford dealers in Canberra is pretty much rebuilding the whole site its on.

csv8 · 16-09-2008, 08:19 PM

I read in my local paper that QFord, Springwood is also closing down ???
Maybe I should have bought a Calais V , instead of the Fairmont Ghia !! None of the Holden dealers are closing down !!!!

Penelope Pitstop · 16-09-2008, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

I read in my local paper that QFord, Springwood is also closing down ???

Leave this one for you Brent!

BFZ Wagon · 16-09-2008, 09:04 PM

Qford are closing? WOW. I thought they were a 'BIG WOOP' dealership in Springwood.
I wonder how Byrne Ford & Bryan Byrt Ford are doing? Those 2 have been around for many many years.

Airmon · 16-09-2008, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodp

I thought they were getting rather bunched up there. If they're all PW owned then I'd suggest that they wouldn't be throwing money into a pit and they're doing some pretty good business in the area.

Perhaps they're looking to expand them into several other manufacturers. I don't know if it's finished yet but when I was looking for my next new car in April, PW Warwick Farm was erecting a Peugeot dealership out the back. Ford may not be keeping abreast of the market but you can't say the same about PW's dealerships.

Could be, Peter Warren have Macarthur Ford in Campbelltown and now Narellen, the Narellen one has a Toyota dealer aswell I think?
Camden Ford is owned by Phil McCarol so maybe they're trying to squeeze him out of the picture? Its only a small old dealership in Camden, but the new one in Narellen is huge.

It was odd though, the Ford spare parts and service centre has been in Narellen for years, and the dealership only recent

Silversurfer · 16-09-2008, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dandandandan

Bayford Ford in Preston has shut down so I've noticed.
It is now a Bayford VW and Skoda dealership.

you are right even on the web preston is no longer there.

Smoke Pursuit · 18-09-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

I read in my local paper that QFord, Springwood is also closing down ???
Maybe I should have bought a Calais V , instead of the Fairmont Ghia !! None of the Holden dealers are closing down !!!!

Interesting...

What paper was this in and what exactly did it say??

Smoke Pursuit · 18-09-2008, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

I read in my local paper that QFord, Springwood is also closing down ???
Maybe I should have bought a Calais V , instead of the Fairmont Ghia !! None of the Holden dealers are closing down !!!!

Thats because Ford went away from selling Daewoos and Holden took them up..

Remember most of the Ford dealerships were multifranchised with Daewoo at one stage... in Brisbane the following Ford dealers also sold Daewoos back in the day, that i can remember neways.

Q FORD
DENMAC FORD
BRYAN BYRT FORD
BYRNE FORD

Interesting times ahead.

partzkid · 19-09-2008, 10:29 AM

yeh, the one in preston shut down so they could focus on the VW and Skoda part of the business down there, thats alright caus they still got epping and coburg as well as parts in campellfield (spelling).

partzkid

Cuey · 19-09-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

I read in my local paper that QFord, Springwood is also closing down ???
Maybe I should have bought a Calais V , instead of the Fairmont Ghia !! None of the Holden dealers are closing down !!!!

I wouldn't have thought so...

Especially considering the remodel of the bulding that only took place around 2 months back. They've refurbished the inside and outside of the building, plus put in a new sign which looks great.

I'm not sure where you've got your info from, but I wouldn't trust your source.

As a former Castlemaine lad (i'll be back in town next weekend actually) it's disapointing to hear the yard has shut up shop. But in a town of only around 5000, it's hard to generate enough sales to keep up.

RATT · 19-09-2008, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airmon

Seems to be the opposite out here.

Macarthur Ford just opened a new Ford and FPV dealership and its 5-10minutes away from Camden Ford, that makes 3 dealers within 15 minutes of here. Although, all 3 are Peter Warren owned.

Hi Airmon,
What happened was we closed Camden down (previously known as Phil McCarroll Ford) which Peter Warren bought a couple of years ago.
We moved it and the staff to Narellan along with Kia and Suzuki. Now it's Macarthur Ford Narellan and Macarthur Ford Campbelltown (previously known as Rod Lawrence Ford).
The Toyota and Subaru dealerships are the only ones not owned by Peter Warren.

Smoke Pursuit · 19-09-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuey

I wouldn't have thought so...

Especially considering the remodel of the bulding that only took place around 2 months back. They've refurbished the inside and outside of the building, plus put in a new sign which looks great.

I'm not sure where you've got your info from, but I wouldn't trust your source.

As a former Castlemaine lad (i'll be back in town next weekend actually) it's disapointing to hear the yard has shut up shop. But in a town of only around 5000, it's hard to generate enough sales to keep up.

Cough cough :ticking:

The money spent there was far less then originally planned...