Arnold gets another one
Discussion
Seems like Arnold are really pushing forward with yet more of these Motorstores, the existing Ford dealership/accident repair centre at Balfield Road, Dundee seems to have been demolished to build a Motorstore, with the Ford showroom moving into what was the former Nissan showroom.
Bodyshop seems to have relocated to their Dundee Renault and Hyundai dealership which has just had a large workshop built on vacant land behind the original dealership.
Also in Dundee they seem to have acquired premises opposite their Vauxhall dealership which they are trying to make into a used car display forecourt.
Also in Glasgow now that Crow Road VWs service department has moved to new premises on South Street next to GTG, it appears they have vacated their leased used car showroom which as I mentioned previously has been put up for sale by the landlord after Arnold refused to meet their valuation of the premises, and theres work going on converting their former service department/workshop/parts department I assume into a new used car showroom.
I fail to see why the big deal about an indoor used car display at this branch when most of their branches are all outdoor displays, especially when they seem to have the space for loads of used cars outside, maybe its the case they are demolishing the service department for yet more used car display space.
Finally a portakabin has appeared outside the showroom entrance at Bearsden Renault, not sure why as I can find no planning applications relating to it, possibly a showroom extension seen as the showroom only holds 2 cars, and possibly new signage as the existing signage is around 11/12 years old and doesnt match latest Renault CI, and has signage for Renault Minute fast fit which no longer operates at all. Although if this is the case im not sure what theyd do as Bearsden isnt officially a Renault new car sales dealership and hasnt been for a few years now, Arnolds website list it as a Renault dealership but Renault website says its service and parts only.
Although Arnolds have form for this, London Road Motorstore isnt listed as a Ford service centre on their site but Fords website and signage at the dealership confirm it is, Greenock VW is listed as a proper VW dealership but VW list it as a service centre only (confirmed by Arnolds) and Helensburgh VW is listed on their site as a proper VW dealership but theres no mention of it on VWs website at all, and AC confirm its simply a nearly new VW cars sales site, cannot do VW warranty work or anything like that, has one sign outside the branch with a VW logo and "Delivery" underneath which ive never seen before. and then the former Woods Vauxhall West Calder, Arnold list it as a full Vauxhall dealer, but Vauxhall website says its service and parts only but strangely the showroom has just been refitted internally and with new signage outside like a proper Vauxhall new car sales dealership would be.
Not sure whats happening with Milngavie branch, Arnold list it as a Vauxhall dealership but even signs at the branch say its just Vauxhall service and parts, Ford showroom still has all Ford interior and fit out inside and looks like a Ford dealership on the outside too just with the Ford ovals removed and has a couple of 17 plate Vauxhalls, a 14 plate Kuga, a Merc and a BMW in the showroom. Would imagine a site like this would need a franchise for new car sales to make money as its not exactly a massive Motorstore with a huge choice of nearly new, pre reg and used stuff.
Bodyshop seems to have relocated to their Dundee Renault and Hyundai dealership which has just had a large workshop built on vacant land behind the original dealership.
Also in Dundee they seem to have acquired premises opposite their Vauxhall dealership which they are trying to make into a used car display forecourt.
Also in Glasgow now that Crow Road VWs service department has moved to new premises on South Street next to GTG, it appears they have vacated their leased used car showroom which as I mentioned previously has been put up for sale by the landlord after Arnold refused to meet their valuation of the premises, and theres work going on converting their former service department/workshop/parts department I assume into a new used car showroom.
I fail to see why the big deal about an indoor used car display at this branch when most of their branches are all outdoor displays, especially when they seem to have the space for loads of used cars outside, maybe its the case they are demolishing the service department for yet more used car display space.
Finally a portakabin has appeared outside the showroom entrance at Bearsden Renault, not sure why as I can find no planning applications relating to it, possibly a showroom extension seen as the showroom only holds 2 cars, and possibly new signage as the existing signage is around 11/12 years old and doesnt match latest Renault CI, and has signage for Renault Minute fast fit which no longer operates at all. Although if this is the case im not sure what theyd do as Bearsden isnt officially a Renault new car sales dealership and hasnt been for a few years now, Arnolds website list it as a Renault dealership but Renault website says its service and parts only.
Although Arnolds have form for this, London Road Motorstore isnt listed as a Ford service centre on their site but Fords website and signage at the dealership confirm it is, Greenock VW is listed as a proper VW dealership but VW list it as a service centre only (confirmed by Arnolds) and Helensburgh VW is listed on their site as a proper VW dealership but theres no mention of it on VWs website at all, and AC confirm its simply a nearly new VW cars sales site, cannot do VW warranty work or anything like that, has one sign outside the branch with a VW logo and "Delivery" underneath which ive never seen before. and then the former Woods Vauxhall West Calder, Arnold list it as a full Vauxhall dealer, but Vauxhall website says its service and parts only but strangely the showroom has just been refitted internally and with new signage outside like a proper Vauxhall new car sales dealership would be.
Not sure whats happening with Milngavie branch, Arnold list it as a Vauxhall dealership but even signs at the branch say its just Vauxhall service and parts, Ford showroom still has all Ford interior and fit out inside and looks like a Ford dealership on the outside too just with the Ford ovals removed and has a couple of 17 plate Vauxhalls, a 14 plate Kuga, a Merc and a BMW in the showroom. Would imagine a site like this would need a franchise for new car sales to make money as its not exactly a massive Motorstore with a huge choice of nearly new, pre reg and used stuff.
More Arnie related news, and this time sadder news, it appears Allison Street is being vacated by Arnolds after 35 years!
Its been a hire drive depot now for about 7 years but at one time was their Fiat sales centre, prior to that before the workshop became an indoor used car display area and service/parts moved out to Rutherglen Ford, it was a full Fiat dealership, and again before that it was their Austin Rover dealership, it was also their "Car Supermarket" and Head Office. One of the very first sites ever to pioneer the car supermarket idea, and I believe was also in motor trade use before Arnie acquired it.
Seems that although its still listed as a rental depot location, wont be for much longer!
Guess its not an ideal site in a tight squeeze area of the jam packed southside. Maybe rental is moving beside Pollokshaws Vauxhall service centre into the space vacated by their old head office at Nithsdale Drive.
http://www.search.shepherd.co.uk/property-search~a...
Its been a hire drive depot now for about 7 years but at one time was their Fiat sales centre, prior to that before the workshop became an indoor used car display area and service/parts moved out to Rutherglen Ford, it was a full Fiat dealership, and again before that it was their Austin Rover dealership, it was also their "Car Supermarket" and Head Office. One of the very first sites ever to pioneer the car supermarket idea, and I believe was also in motor trade use before Arnie acquired it.
Seems that although its still listed as a rental depot location, wont be for much longer!
Guess its not an ideal site in a tight squeeze area of the jam packed southside. Maybe rental is moving beside Pollokshaws Vauxhall service centre into the space vacated by their old head office at Nithsdale Drive.
http://www.search.shepherd.co.uk/property-search~a...
HendryG said:
Im sure Arnold Clark would love their land at Linwood
He already owns it from what I'm led to believe.The only part he doesn't own in Linwood is Macklin's and a strip in front of the Ford dealership. The bit in front of Ford was "missed" when acquiring the land, and it's current owner won't sell apparently
Dimebars said:
He already owns it from what I'm led to believe.
The only part he doesn't own in Linwood is Macklin's and a strip in front of the Ford dealership. The bit in front of Ford was "missed" when acquiring the land, and it's current owner won't sell apparently
I take it you mean he owns almost everything in Linwood in terms of car dealership sites and not everything else like the cinema, fast food places, Asda etc.?The only part he doesn't own in Linwood is Macklin's and a strip in front of the Ford dealership. The bit in front of Ford was "missed" when acquiring the land, and it's current owner won't sell apparently
I was surprised they didnt snap up Johnston Peugeot for themselves before Macklin bought it in 2010, I wouldve thought that was a logical move for them and had been waiting on it coming for years.
Dimebars said:
He already owns it from what I'm led to believe.
The only part he doesn't own in Linwood is Macklin's and a strip in front of the Ford dealership. The bit in front of Ford was "missed" when acquiring the land, and it's current owner won't sell apparently
I take it you mean he owns almost everything in Linwood in terms of car dealership sites and not everything else like the cinema, fast food places, Asda etc.?The only part he doesn't own in Linwood is Macklin's and a strip in front of the Ford dealership. The bit in front of Ford was "missed" when acquiring the land, and it's current owner won't sell apparently
I was surprised they didnt snap up Johnston Peugeot for themselves before Macklin bought it in 2010, I wouldve thought that was a logical move for them and had been waiting on it coming for years.
Yeah did always wonder why the bit in front of Ford hadnt had anything done with it, the forecourt at Ford is a strange layout as well.
HendryG said:
Dimebars said:
He already owns it from what I'm led to believe.
The only part he doesn't own in Linwood is Macklin's and a strip in front of the Ford dealership. The bit in front of Ford was "missed" when acquiring the land, and it's current owner won't sell apparently
I take it you mean he owns almost everything in Linwood in terms of car dealership sites and not everything else like the cinema, fast food places, Asda etc.?The only part he doesn't own in Linwood is Macklin's and a strip in front of the Ford dealership. The bit in front of Ford was "missed" when acquiring the land, and it's current owner won't sell apparently
I was surprised they didnt snap up Johnston Peugeot for themselves before Macklin bought it in 2010, I wouldve thought that was a logical move for them and had been waiting on it coming for years.
Yeah did always wonder why the bit in front of Ford hadnt had anything done with it, the forecourt at Ford is a strange layout as well.
The guy that owns the boy in front of Ford has threatened to sell to Burger King or the likes.
On the M74 as you come into Glasgow you see the rooftop of a building alongside it with Arnold Clark signage on it and cars parked on roof.
Doing some google map checking it would appear to be an accident repair centre in Kilbirnie St. But this looks like a big old building with multi floors? Assume if cars on the roof there must be ramps all the way up like a multi storey car park?
Anyone been in it? Really seems to be a total different set up to most accident repair places I have seen that look clinically clean?
Doing some google map checking it would appear to be an accident repair centre in Kilbirnie St. But this looks like a big old building with multi floors? Assume if cars on the roof there must be ramps all the way up like a multi storey car park?
Anyone been in it? Really seems to be a total different set up to most accident repair places I have seen that look clinically clean?
StescoG66 said:
They also have the old Parcel Force/House of Sher site a few Hundred yards along. Could be that.
Nah its definitely the Accident Repair Centre at Kilbirnie Street, they dont really have any proper parking there so all the cars are kept inside and they do have many storeys in that building, and it doesnt strike me as being clinically clean either, im not sure why Arnold Clark still trade from it because previous form suggests they have by and large disposed of all their older, non fancy premises and built newer ones and relocated elsewhere. It must be one of the oldest buildings they own and has been a part of the group a lot longer than the vast majority of any of their current trading premises, I believe for many years as well as a bodyshop it was their coachbuilders before it moved to East Kilbride and did various things like recovery truck and single car transporter conversions, dropsides, pickups, luton box vans and so on and so forth.
Kilbirnie Street further along does also house their Van Centre which I believe was previously Wylies Ford Iveco Truck dealership and then for a time First Ford's Trade Centre, and in order to take commercial vehicle servicing, repairs and warranty work away from their glass and chrome palace car showrooms so as not to detract from their image and also space concerns with commercial vehicles they opened it with a Ford, Vauxhall and Renault van franchise for aftersales.
The Parcel Force/House of Sher place is being redeveloped into yet another Arnold Clark premises I think related to the Van Centre, but definitely the one visible from the M74 is the bodyshop building.
The Kilbirnie street bodyshop has a vehicle lift inside, each floor is pretty small!
The new facility further down the road, next to the van centre will house a new bodyshop facility, IT, procurement, Assure alarms along with a fancy control centre, the garage equipment division, insurance services, corporate rental, GTG bus/truck training and their marketing film studio.
The new facility further down the road, next to the van centre will house a new bodyshop facility, IT, procurement, Assure alarms along with a fancy control centre, the garage equipment division, insurance services, corporate rental, GTG bus/truck training and their marketing film studio.
Edited by Phunk on Saturday 2nd September 00:59
Phunk said:
The Kilbirnie street bodyshop has a vehicle lift inside, each floor is pretty small!
The new facility further down the road, next to the van centre will house a new bodyshop facility, IT, procurement, Assure alarms along with a fancy control centre, the garage equipment division, insurance services, corporate rental, GTG bus/truck training and their marketing film studio.
i thought all those functions, infact every function of the company was now based at the new head office at Hillington as part of the reason for moving the head office to Hillington was to have all the different departments under one roof.The new facility further down the road, next to the van centre will house a new bodyshop facility, IT, procurement, Assure alarms along with a fancy control centre, the garage equipment division, insurance services, corporate rental, GTG bus/truck training and their marketing film studio.
Edited by Phunk on Saturday 2nd September 00:59
Still not sure what they are planning to do with the old head office building which is in with Pollokshaws Vauxhall service department and they arent exactly blessed with space down there for parking etc.
HendryG said:
i thought all those functions, infact every function of the company was now based at the new head office at Hillington as part of the reason for moving the head office to Hillington was to have all the different departments under one roof.
Still not sure what they are planning to do with the old head office building which is in with Pollokshaws Vauxhall service department and they arent exactly blessed with space down there for parking etc.
Nope, all of those departments are currently scattered about different premises in the company. The new head office isn't big enough!Still not sure what they are planning to do with the old head office building which is in with Pollokshaws Vauxhall service department and they arent exactly blessed with space down there for parking etc.
The old head office is going to be a call centre for service booking.
Phunk said:
Nope, all of those departments are currently scattered about different premises in the company. The new head office isn't big enough!
The old head office is going to be a call centre for service booking.
Only Arnold Clark could build a new head office which they claimed would house all functions under one roof and not build a big enough one and end up having them scattered across different locations anyway.The old head office is going to be a call centre for service booking.
They couldve been doing with demolishing the old head office and making Pollokshaws Vauxhall service departments parking bigger because round the back of there its a nightmare to get parked, not enough space.
You seem to have a fair idea whats happening in AC, any ideas whats happening with the premises on St Georges Road that was Lexus dealership and upstairs was Arnold Clark Finance? and Allison Street rental depot, I see the premises is up for sale, they must be I presume planning to relocate the hire drive for the south side of Glasgow elsewhere.
Originally they designed the new head office to sell 5 different manufacturers and have a lot more office space.
Then they realised that they didn't have enough car parking space so it was reduced.
Even still, the valet bay could only hold about 3 cars, so they had to build a separate valet bay in the haulage yard behind.
They really need to have a head office which is just a head office and not a dealership, would solve a lot of issues!
As far as I know they are planning to / trying to sell off St George's road.
Then they realised that they didn't have enough car parking space so it was reduced.
Even still, the valet bay could only hold about 3 cars, so they had to build a separate valet bay in the haulage yard behind.
They really need to have a head office which is just a head office and not a dealership, would solve a lot of issues!
As far as I know they are planning to / trying to sell off St George's road.
Phunk said:
Originally they designed the new head office to sell 5 different manufacturers and have a lot more office space.
Then they realised that they didn't have enough car parking space so it was reduced.
Even still, the valet bay could only hold about 3 cars, so they had to build a separate valet bay in the haulage yard behind.
They really need to have a head office which is just a head office and not a dealership, would solve a lot of issues!
As far as I know they are planning to / trying to sell off St George's road.
Yeah I'd heard it was supposed to be Renault, Dacia, Fiat, Abarth and a Motorstore. I had assumed the reason the Fiat/Abarth branch got canned was that if the existing Paisley Fiat branch moved to Hillington Arnold would no longer have a presence in Paisley itself anymore with the rest of the Paisley branches having long since moved to Linwood and that they wanted to keep some sort of presence in Paisley itself. And the Motorstore I thought got canned because they have loads of other ones dotted about Glasgow anyway. Then they realised that they didn't have enough car parking space so it was reduced.
Even still, the valet bay could only hold about 3 cars, so they had to build a separate valet bay in the haulage yard behind.
They really need to have a head office which is just a head office and not a dealership, would solve a lot of issues!
As far as I know they are planning to / trying to sell off St George's road.
I did see the plans for another valet bay and smart repair building and wondered why theyd done that, lack of space explains it.
Its been happening for years gradually that AC were moving out of a lot of their longstanding and long established sites, but I suppose now Arnold himself is gone and the beancounters like Eddie Hawthorne have even more control, even more of their older traditional sites like St Georges Road will be closed and sold off.
The thing which strikes me is they have some decent sites, not needing a lot of work, yet these are the ones which seemingly constantly get updated, but yet smaller messy sites which are long overdue a tart up keep getting overlooked (Lenzie Vauxhall, thats a cramped mess with an awful layout, really needs demolishing and starting from scratch, Bearsden Renault, Helensburgh VW, Greenock Vauxhall, Ayr Ford, etc) seems its the big fancy branches which dont need any work which they keep on improving and overlooking the smaller branches in further afield places than Glasgow itself, Linwood, and larger towns like East Kilbride, Kilmarnock, etc. and even then when they do places up its half arsed, like East Kilbride Toyota and East Kilbride Vauxhall, when they were built and completely refurbished, they couldve done so much more with them than they did do if theyd demolished the buildings and started from scratch instead of making the whole existing building a showroom and lumping the service department/workshops into rows of tin shed type things flung in the corner of the site.
Phunk said:
The group estates departments aren't the best, try to penny pinch where possible which more often than not bites them in the ass and ends up costing them more in the long run.
I know this year they're trying to keep spending down as new car sales are down.
I see, I thought group estates did whatever Hawthorne and the other directors/franchise managers told them to do rather than make any decisions themselves, for example with regards to the layout, size, cost of new builds, refurbishments and so on and if they penny pinched when refurbishing a site the likes of Hawthorne would haul them over the coals saying "what the hells this, the place is a mess still" I know this year they're trying to keep spending down as new car sales are down.
I know theyve spent a few quid recently, Aberdeen Kia got its own showroom built where Ford commercials was, Aberdeen Fiat/Abarth/Jeep/Kia branch now that Kia is gone was supposed to be getting refurbed into a Fiat brand centre including Alfa Romeo.
Theyre building a new Motorstore and Fiat dealership in Perth, and supposedly one of the existing Motorstores in Perth is to become a standalone Dacia dealership splitting off from the current Renault/Dacia dealership.
Inverness Skoda has just moved into the former BMW/Mini branch as a full refurb, and the old Inverness Volvo/Skoda is apparently going to be refurbished into solus Volvo with a workshop built on site now theres space with Skoda gone.
Aberdeen Volvo is supposedly having a new premises built elsewhere and relocated.
Ayr Fiat/Abarth is being relocated to a new build showroom.
Talk is that Perth Jeep/Kia will become Alfa Romeo too.
Crow Road VW now the service department is gone to South Street is apparently becoming a motorstore with the old workshop being made into a Motorstore showroom, however the plans ive seen include a new smaller workshop at the back of the branch even though the whole aftersales side has moved lock stock and barrel to South Street, unless its just workshops for prep on sales cars.
Linwood Citroen is supposedly going to be refurbished as its a half arsed attempt between a Nissan showroom with Citroen desks and signage but otherwise like a Nissan branch inside, because its not a full Citroen sales branch, just servicing/parts.
Think something may be happening with Dumfries Ford as since Peugeot and Citroen were canned at that branch theres 2 showrooms lying with used cars not being utilised.
Milngavie has lost the Ford franchise but other than the Ford ovals being taken down you wouldnt know, but has used cars in both upper and lower showrooms and is being billed as a full Vauxhall dealer but is only Vauxhall service and parts.
Plus theyve done a lot of refurbs, new builds, developments and spent a lot of money recently, as I said some which are impressive facilities get constant investment while tired and dated ones are long overdue some money being spent freshening them up. Doesnt make much sense.
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