R-Deign Body Kit

[After_Shock]

Not sure why you are saying sales should know about parts prices such as a bodykit which will probably sell 1 of a year if you are in sales, as have already said theirs already far too much to know about as it is just selling the cars!

Apologies if got the gender wrong, its a 50:50 guess and most the time its the other way.

Copying and pasting of the dealerportal can be done by anyone in the garage!

[F i F]

Firkin D said:

Got me confused for a while. Basically the Active Bending is Bi-Xenon. So whilst you can no longer have Bi-Xenon Winter, you can have Active Bending Winter Park. Glad that is so clear... Wonder how many other customers are going to think Bi-Xenon lights are no longer available.

Thanks for that, glad to see it really isn't clear and not just me being thick.

[Firkin D]

After_Shock said:

Not sure why you are saying sales should know about parts prices such as a bodykit which will probably sell 1 of a year if you are in sales, as have already said theirs already far too much to know about as it is just selling the cars!

Apologies if got the gender wrong, its a 50:50 guess and most the time its the other way.

Copying and pasting of the dealerportal can be done by anyone in the garage!

James,

The communication within Dealer Portal was in the Sales side and gave prices for the various bits of kit, that was all. I agree it is impossible to know all the parts prices especially given that most require a labour charge too, and therefore you needs to know how much labour time to add on and at which rate too. Very confusing trade to be in is it not?

No prob about the gender, guess this trade is predominately a male enviroment

[mph]

Lack of knowledge of the product and the available options is not confined to Volvo dealers.

My experience with most of the new cars I've bought is that I knew more about the model I wanted than the sales staff did.

I ordered the C30 T5 with rear park sensors - it came without. They even argued with me on the phone until i asked them to check the order form...

Three months later I left the car with them to fit the sensors, when i went to collect it they told me they had ordered the wrong ones and could I come back again!

I like the C30 but I won't be buying another Volvo from them.

Worst mistake was on an XKR some years ago. They "forgot" to order it with the Sports pack (suspension etc.)

[After_Shock]

mph its not a case of lack of knowledge its just a case of the manufacturer dumping loads of for want of a better term crap on the sales people and expecting them to remember it all.

Personally I rarely come across people who know more about the cars than I do, its not to sound cocky but im a self confessed petrol head and like to know as much as I can but cant know everything! If I dont know how much something is naturally would find out for you.

[mondayo]

After_Shock said:

mph its not a case of lack of knowledge its just a case of the manufacturer dumping loads of for want of a better term crap on the sales people and expecting them to remember it all.

Personally I rarely come across people who know more about the cars than I do, its not to sound cocky but im a self confessed petrol head and like to know as much as I can but cant know everything! If I dont know how much something is naturally would find out for you.

I think you're both right. Some dealers are very knowledgeable and upto date, but at the same time, specs etc seem to change quite frequently these days.

Although I once had an argument with a Ford dealer, as he insisted there was no such thing as a Titanium X Mondeo...till he bothered to open his prices list...idiot!

[Firkin D]

mondayo said:

After_Shock said:

mph its not a case of lack of knowledge its just a case of the manufacturer dumping loads of for want of a better term crap on the sales people and expecting them to remember it all.

Personally I rarely come across people who know more about the cars than I do, its not to sound cocky but im a self confessed petrol head and like to know as much as I can but cant know everything! If I dont know how much something is naturally would find out for you.

I think you're both right. Some dealers are very knowledgeable and upto date, but at the same time, specs etc seem to change quite frequently these days.

Although I once had an argument with a Ford dealer, as he insisted there was no such thing as a Titanium X Mondeo...till he bothered to open his prices list...idiot!

It is true that customer often know more than the salespeople. You come in to buy/look at a particular model. Most people have already researched cars to whittle it down to the model they have come to look at so they have read up about it.

The salesperson has to know everything about every model and as said, with the frequency that things change it is near on impossible to retain all of it all the time. I have files full of changes and errors that have been found, I make mental notes that there is something about a model but often refer to my file when needed to get the info on the specific model.

[plfrench]

Louise,

Is there any likelyhood of Volvo hurrying up with building D5 engined V50's as time is moving so slowly, and the 5th Sep still seems ages away. Do Volvo tend to be pessimistic with delivery dates, or is it still 74days till I get my new car??

[1sttimevolvo]

If it's any consolation, I ordered my V50 D5 in April and have been quoted the 14th July for delivery!!!

Wouldn't it be nice though if a manufacturer actually delivered early rather than they typical situation of being told about delays the day before the car was due!!

[plfrench]

My order went through on the 14th May, so a good 3 1/2 month wait... I suppose looking on the bright side, at least it's delayed the increased amount of tax I'll be paying for a while whilst I get over having just paid for a new bathroom

[Firkin D]

plfrench said:

Louise,

Is there any likelyhood of Volvo hurrying up with building D5 engined V50's as time is moving so slowly, and the 5th Sep still seems ages away. Do Volvo tend to be pessimistic with delivery dates, or is it still 74days till I get my new car??

What model D5 have you ordered because if it is as per this thread an SE Sport or Sport R/Design then that is the reason for the extended delivery and not that it is a D5. 2.0D Is also on extended delivery too. Currently quoting for R/Design delivery of around very late October and more likely November now. Ridiculous I know and I bend the ears of the girls at VCUK on a daily basis, to the point of the hundred or more dealers that ring them - I do not even have to say who I am, they know my voice now. Not sure if that is good or bad

Edited to also say that the factories are about to go on an annual 3 week holiday so all production stops. Not good timing for the UK market with 58 plates due out in September but nothing we can do.

Edited by Firkin D on Tuesday 24th June 21:34

[F i F]

What's delivery on 2.0D SE / SE Lux with Powershift? Too late for November??

[Firkin D]

F i F said:

What's delivery on 2.0D SE / SE Lux with Powershift? Too late for November??

Currently the UK market has no build slots for the 2.0D engine and orders are being placed with the hope of November delivery. Until VCC relesae some more slots to VCUK delivery dates can only be assumed and not guaranteed but I am confident on November.

HTH

[plfrench]

Yup, R-Design Sport in Red with leather upgrade... Oh well fingers crossed the date doesn't slip further back!

[Firkin D]

plfrench said:

Yup, R-Design Sport in Red with leather upgrade... Oh well fingers crossed the date doesn't slip further back!

At the moment the only model with a guaranteed build slot which is slipping back all the time is C70's due to them removing a shift from each day. Therefore increasing the time it takes to build each car. Normal 'car on line' time is 3 days, now it is anything up to 10 days on C70 at the moment.

[plfrench]

How come Volvo are cutting back shifts when they appear to have a pretty healthy order book

[Firkin D]

Valentin said:

Only some weeks ago I orderd a 2009 C30 and delivery will be as late as end of august.
I understand the factory(ies) are on holiday and they haven't begun with the 2009 MY.
Is this correct?

C30 factory (Ghent) is on holiday from 14/7. I have had 09MY cars arrive already so not sure why you re being led to believe that production has to yet commenced.

plfrench said:

How come Volvo are cutting back shifts when they appear to have a pretty healthy order book

No idea the logic on that. We are told not consulted. You have to remember that the UK market for Volvo is not huge, certainly not when you compare it to the size of production that goes to the USA market.

[F i F]

F i F said:

Firkin D said:

Got me confused for a while. Basically the Active Bending is Bi-Xenon. So whilst you can no longer have Bi-Xenon Winter, you can have Active Bending Winter Park. Glad that is so clear... Wonder how many other customers are going to think Bi-Xenon lights are no longer available.

Thanks for that, glad to see it really isn't clear and not just me being thick.

Just to follow up on this, talking to the local dealer and this situation cropped up.

After much perusal of the price list, and the brochure, and digging in various folders coupled with scratching of heads and behinds they came to the conclusion that Bi-Xenon isn't shown on the options list as all vehicles are coming in with Bi-Xenon.

I don't know if this is right or not, as the way in which it was said smacked of a sort of "they all do that sir" type of response to get rid of the question.

However it would explain why in the main brochure on P48 it clearly talks in two places about Bi-Xenon and Active Bi-Xenon, yet this subject is not mentioned at all in the price and specification publication.

Also it's worth noting that on the Active Bi-Xenon bit it clearly says that a twilight sensor disables the active function during daylight to extend it's life. Suggests to me that it isn't all that robust, therefore giving that a miss and will continue to fit a bank of big "eff off" rally lights during the winter.

[plfrench]

F i F said:

F i F said:

Firkin D said:

Got me confused for a while. Basically the Active Bending is Bi-Xenon. So whilst you can no longer have Bi-Xenon Winter, you can have Active Bending Winter Park. Glad that is so clear... Wonder how many other customers are going to think Bi-Xenon lights are no longer available.

Thanks for that, glad to see it really isn't clear and not just me being thick.

Just to follow up on this, talking to the local dealer and this situation cropped up.

After much perusal of the price list, and the brochure, and digging in various folders coupled with scratching of heads and behinds they came to the conclusion that Bi-Xenon isn't shown on the options list as all vehicles are coming in with Bi-Xenon.

I don't know if this is right or not, as the way in which it was said smacked of a sort of "they all do that sir" type of response to get rid of the question.

However it would explain why in the main brochure on P48 it clearly talks in two places about Bi-Xenon and Active Bi-Xenon, yet this subject is not mentioned at all in the price and specification publication.

Also it's worth noting that on the Active Bi-Xenon bit it clearly says that a twilight sensor disables the active function during daylight to extend it's life. Suggests to me that it isn't all that robust, therefore giving that a miss and will continue to fit a bank of big "eff off" rally lights during the winter.

Could explain why the price jumped about £160 from my 08 MY order to the 09 MY order... although I'd have expected more of an increase for Xenons being standard...

[mondayo]

Firkin D said:

plfrench said:

Louise,

Is there any likelyhood of Volvo hurrying up with building D5 engined V50's as time is moving so slowly, and the 5th Sep still seems ages away. Do Volvo tend to be pessimistic with delivery dates, or is it still 74days till I get my new car??

What model D5 have you ordered because if it is as per this thread an SE Sport or Sport R/Design then that is the reason for the extended delivery and not that it is a D5. 2.0D Is also on extended delivery too. Currently quoting for R/Design delivery of around very late October and more likely November now. Ridiculous I know and I bend the ears of the girls at VCUK on a daily basis, to the point of the hundred or more dealers that ring them - I do not even have to say who I am, they know my voice now. Not sure if that is good or bad

Edited to also say that the factories are about to go on an annual 3 week holiday so all production stops. Not good timing for the UK market with 58 plates due out in September but nothing we can do.

Edited by Firkin D on Tuesday 24th June 21:34

I think part of the issue, is ordering your car at the right time. If the "wait time" includes the summer in anyway, it's going to take about 3 months. Well that's from my experience anyway.

I had a v50 2.4 and that took about 3 months to come, and then when I wanted to change it for another v50, it was going to be another 3 months (this was around September last year)and so I ended up getting the V70 instead. I'm really interested to see what the D5 R designs are like, as if they're as good as they look and sound in the brochure, then I definitely want one!