Victoria driving, automobile, auto dealership and related news

You may have heard the news stories on the turmoil in the auto industry. I was wondering if it might have an effect on any of the long-standing auto dealers on north Douglas Street.

For instance, Ford is considering selling its Saturn and Volvo divisions, which would affect Saturn Saab of Victoria as well as the landmark Volvo dealership at Douglas and Hillside. Meanwhile, GM is considering selling Saab and downsizing or eliminating the Pontiac brand, also sold nearby. The Swedish government may likely nationalize two of Sweden's most famous icons, Volvo and Saab and conceivably they may one day be sold under the same roof.

It may be that there will be no significant change on Victoria's streets. Old timers might recall how the Pacific Mazda dealership on Yates and Cook evolved out of Peter Pollen Ford (after Ford bought a stake in Mazda).

On the other hand, this shake up combined with the buying public's sudden lack of appetite for expensive new cars could be what drives some of the dealerships away, paving the way for future commercial and residential development more appropriate for downtown's northern end.

[quote name='Holden West']
For instance, Ford is considering selling its Saturn and Volvo divisions, which would affect Saturn Saab of Victoria as well as the landmark Volvo dealership at Douglas and Hillside. Meanwhile, GM is considering selling Saab and downsizing or eliminating the Pontiac brand, also sold nearby. The Swedish government may likely nationalize two of Sweden's most famous icons, Volvo and Saab and conceivably they may one day be sold under the same roof.
QUOTE]



Just a minor correction, can't really comment on the dealerships, but to avoid any confusion...Saturn is a General Motors product and NOT a Ford product...

Most of the larger dealers in town make more money from service and bodywork than from sales.

Brands will come and go, thats always been the case, when was the last time there was Fiat or Alfa, Renault or Puegot dealers in N.A.?

btw, Peter Pollen sold to Kelly Armstrong who created Glen Oak Ford on Yates. He then sold it forward to the Carson Family. Most of these types of business the real money is in the land.

What do you think about Cook at Yates, wouldnt that make a great gateway to downtown with a higher and better use than whats on all 4 corners right now?

Brands will come and go, thats always been the case, when was the last time there was Fiat or Alfa, Renault or Puegot dealers in N.A.?

Apparently, Fiat may buy a stake in Chrysler which could bring Fiats to North America.

btw, Peter Pollen sold to Kelly Armstrong who created Glen Oak Ford on Yates. He then sold it forward to the Carson Family. Most of these types of business the real money is in the land.

Thanks for the clarification. Also thanks to GitS for reminding me Saturn is of course a GM product.

What do you think about Cook at Yates, wouldnt that make a great gateway to downtown with a higher and better use than whats on all 4 corners right now?

I have heard the Ensign owner is not satisfied with his dealership and could sell (uncorroaborated rumour)

Volvo will continue to exist no matter if Ford sells it or not.
Jimmy P. will also continue.

^No doubt. But my guess is Saab moves in with Volvo at Douglas and Hillside and the present Saturn Saab dealership lies vacant or is used as a storage lot until the economy improves. Ideally, I'd like to see more dealerships move their product underground and reserve above ground for showrooms. This type of development could transition into traditional commercial/retail/residential over time.

The empty site of the former Gregg's Furniture Factory at Douglas and Queens which is being used by Timmins car lot as storage is having some excavation work being done. I don't know if this means future development is coming but this is a prime corner with a lot of potential.

^No doubt. But my guess is Saab moves in with Volvo at Douglas and Hillside and the present Saturn Saab dealership lies vacant or is used as a storage lot until the economy improves. Ideally, I'd like to see more dealerships move their product underground and reserve above ground for showrooms. This type of development could transition into traditional commercial/retail/residential over time.

I'd like to see the dealers consolidate into an auto mall somewhere else than the main road entrance to the city. Visitors driving in through the car lots get a crappy first look at the best city in Canada.
And I'd really like to see them out of the View-Cook-Johnson area, that's prime condo territory (when the next boom comes).

Most of the larger dealers in town make more money from service and bodywork than from sales.

Brands will come and go, thats always been the case, when was the last time there was Fiat or Alfa, Renault or Puegot dealers in N.A.?

btw, Peter Pollen sold to Kelly Armstrong who created Glen Oak Ford on Yates. He then sold it forward to the Carson Family. Most of these types of business the real money is in the land.

What do you think about Cook at Yates, wouldnt that make a great gateway to downtown with a higher and better use than whats on all 4 corners right now?

Dealers also makes lots of money on the "junkers" they accept on trade and then sell for a tidy little profit!

Problem is that almost all of their used car and service business is tied to new car sales. If GM goes out of business as an example, then eventually the number of people with cars willing to pay to have them serviced at the GM dealership will dwindle.

One dealership that must be doing quite well in these trying economic times is Victoria BMW. Apparently they can afford to alienate potential clients by bullying them and calling them liars. Business must be good - good for them!

Could you explain that :eek:

One dealership that must be doing quite well in these trying economic times is Victoria BMW. Apparently they can afford to alienate potential clients by bullying them and calling them liars. Business must be good - good for them!

I would love to see all the car dealerships pushed off of Douglas Street (and Yates). They are very land intensive and create significant dead spaces in the community landscape.

At the moment there is about 15.5 acres of land in the City of Victoria near North Douglas dedicated to car sales. In Saanich there are 12 acres of land dedicated to cars sales in that area. That is 27.5 acres for car sales, this is more than the whole Dockside Green area.

I see this as very bad use of the land. It does nothing to make the entrance to the city look inviting. It also is acres of land that are not friendly to people walking or the building of community.

I would love to see Saanich and Victoria work towards having these car lots turn into office buildings, housing and more retail. I would love to see 1/3 of the land become park green space.

Could you explain that :eek:

Sure, I'd be happy to.

I've stopped off at Victoria BMW on more than one occastion to drool over the M3s; however, I've never once been helped by a salesman.

But because I wanted to explore purchasing a particularly nice M3 convertible, I telephoned the dealership directly and was put forward to a salesman. I told him I was interested in having a look at it; however, I raised the issue that I was never helped by anyone there and felt rather neglected. He apologized and I made an appointment to go see him.

When I went to see him, he actually got to witness what I was talking about (another salesman walked up to a couple to help them, then when he finished with them, he looked over at me to size me up and then WALKED AWAY). However, I decided to give Victoria BMW yet another chance.

Last week I was again on the lot for about 1/2 hour, looking at cars right up against the big glass dealership windows - and nothing. So right then and there I vowed to never buy anything from Victoria BMW...EVER.

Then it got bizzare...

The salesman texted me urging me to schedule an appointment on Saturday to test drive an M3, as his slots were filling up (a very transparant tactic, I must say). I texted him back explaining to him that I am no longer interested in dealing with Victoria BMW because of what happened.

He texted me back as follows, "I call bullshit on you..." and then proceeded to accuse me of lying that I was actually there because he was there, blah blah blah. This salesman is not a friend of mine by any means; however, he saw fit to treat me with a level of familiarity that I had never even hinted was there - and then he called me a liar, who needed to "get over [my]self" and to forget about having my "ego stroked" and that I should prove him and the others wrong by coming down and buying the best M3 convertible in Canada.

Well, he certainly put me in my place. I guess I'm not cool or secure enough in my masculinity to purchase a BMW. Or perhaps I'm just not sophisticated enough to understand the fancy ways of these high-end car dealerships. Business must be so good that they can risk pissing off people in this kind of economy.

Maybe they got used to yuppies begging to be allowed to buy one.

That is one of the most bizarre and also amusing bad customer service stories I've heard in awhile.

No surprises with that story. Thats exactly how I was treated 5 years ago and 3 years ago and then last year at Vict BMW.

A few of my friends drive BMW's and all purchased from Vancouver and reluctantly have them serviced in Victoria.

End result for me, I bought 2 Audi's from Speedway in the last 5 years and of course my new weekend toy this month. My experience with Speedway has been excellent, however I've heard from others that its not so stellar. I guess theres always an exception to the rule....both ways :-)

Hey Bob Fugger, I'm really sorry hearing of such an horror story, but if you're cool enough () to go for a nice Mercedes-Benz convertible instead of a beemer, I could help you getting a better service from a better dealership

That is one of the most bizarre and also amusing bad customer service stories I've heard in awhile.

I actually toned it down quite a bit. The actual text conversation string itself was pretty hilarious. I applauded him for figuring out my nefarious plot of going from dealership to dealership, making up stories to mess with salespeoples' minds - all for my personal amusement. He suggested I prove him wrong by buying the vehicle.

Hey Bob Fugger, I'm really sorry hearing of such an horror story, but if you're cool enough () to go for a nice Mercedes-Benz convertible instead of a beemer, I could help you getting a better service from a better dealership

Why don't you PM me: I don't know all that much about MBs.

Why don't you PM me: I don't know all that much about MBs.

Hi Bob,

I tried to PM you, but I'm getting this message: Bob Fugger has chosen not to receive private messages or may not be allowed to receive private messages. Therefore you may not send your message to him/her.

Cheers,
ptol