Most of the small Honda franchises have gone. Replaced by chains in Glass Palaces.
Last time I was at the local palace (needed a wiper for the back screen) - there weere a few new cars, lots of 2nd hand, lots of motorbikes - no customers and an almost empty workshop.
It's closing next week.
Originally the Honda franchise outlet was small. It moved to new premises - small showroom & workshop and large yard & busy, busy.
It then moved to a huge glass palace.....alas it is closing.
Won't miss it much as, IMHO, the people left a bit to be desired and were not competitive with other outlets for buying or servicing.
The Pheonix has not risen from the ashes but just gone up in smoke.
The original tenant of the outlet was a VW Franchise - they lasted less than 3 years IIRC.
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Do you know if it is just the Grangemouth dealership that has closed or has the whole Phoenix outfit gone?
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A small Ascot Honda dealership has upped sticks and been put into a glass and chrome palace, just down from what used to be the Met Office Roundabout in Bracknell. Also I am amused that the Mercedes dealership in Bracknell calls itself Ascot Mercedes - sound more classy I suppose they think
Last edited by: wokingham on Fri 28 Nov 14 at 16:13
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There used to be a Currie Motors in Watford. Maybe there still is. They were excellent and used to service my Landcruiser.
Then Toyota changed the minimum specifications required for an approved dealership. According to the man at Currie Motors, they could not see how to afford those demands within the revenue levels..
So they stopped being a Toyota dealership [they changed to someone else, Nissan perhaps?], and the Toyota franchise was taken over by a large chain some distance away.
Now how did that help Toyota?
Because either Toyota didn't know what they were doing, or the perceptions of their desired clientele were a little off.
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Just the Grangemouth/Falkirk outlet - Stirling Honda remains open.
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Hondas seem to have become a bit staid in recent times. I used to think of them in terms of Preludes and Civic type Rs etc but now they seem to be about the Jazz and the CRV. Undoubtedly fine cars but y'know, a bit M&S.
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>> Just the Grangemouth/Falkirk outlet - Stirling Honda remains open.
>>
I would think that their Kia dealers are doing better than the Honda ones.
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I'd imagine it's just the one dealer and not the group.
None of the current Hondas appeal to me. Not on our company car scheme either.
The last time I drove a Honda was an Accord as a hire car. Probably around 1997. Quite liked it.
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We used a very long standing and well regarded dealer, TwoMills on the Wirral, until Honda canned them a couple of years ago and they closed the business down.
The one that was in Chester moved into a new glass palace at Cheshire Oaks - I understand it cost several £M.
I wanted to change daughter's 7yr old Mitsubishi Colt and she was adamant that she didn't want anything bigger, wife already had a Jazz so that was the obvious and easy choice. As it happened, the dealer was having a special event and we got invited.
It was embarrassing as the place was literally deserted. We did order a car but I'm annoyed with Honda that they're still selling the old Jazz in Europe (new one is out everywhere else) and they not doing much on the price of the old one at all. Feel like I overpaid by at least a grand.
I was pretty set that we were going to change our other Jazz for the new one (so would be wife's 3rd Jazz) when it appears but they've put me right off now and I'll certainly look around at what else there is.
ETA: I had an Accord diesel auto as a courtesy car on a recent visit. It was the size of an E Class and was absolutely horrible. I believe they're dropping it altogether in Europe.
Last edited by: Bill Payer on Fri 28 Nov 14 at 19:18
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Popped into a local Honda dealer to see what they had, as it's coming up to time to swap our Yeti. Hard work, even getting receptionist off her rear end, in the showroom empty of customers. Not even waiting for service etc. No enthusiasm at all for the product. Come back in a month, and they might have some news on the face-lift Civic....
So, nearby Toyota dealer to be seen. In contrast, there were customers waiting in reception, coffee was offered, sales guy popped down to show me (in detail) the car I was interested in, and immediately suggested a test drive. It's bizarre how two dealerships can differ in "atmosphere" but I suspect Honda UK are going to have to have a shake-out, as I get the impression the dealers themselves are fed up with the meagre (and timid) product line at the moment.
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>>fed up with the meagre (and timid) product line at the moment
Widely recognised as one of the world's foremost engine makers with a range of lukewarm cooking models.
As exciting as beige corduroy.
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>>I was pretty set that we were going to change our other Jazz for the new one
Hold off - the NEW NEW Jazz will replace the current UK Jazz and the 2.5 year old USA Fit?jazz.
The USA will get the Mexican flavour build.
UK in 2015 will see the latest Jazz (Japan manufacture) & New HRV (Jazz on steroids) also Made in Japan come to our shores by the summer
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This is the sort of machine they could turn out in 1949! tinyurl.com/pk36d3w Might be a little derivative?
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Many years ago I was acquainted with a chap that operated the Honda franchise in Bath from a small outlet.
Honda had asked him if he would take on the franchise for Bristol but he turned it down due to the heavy investment they insisted on for a large outlet. He had worked out that the market for Hondas was not big enough to generate sufficient sales to cover the investment.
Another operator took up the challenge and lasted about 18 months before they folded.
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>> This is the sort of machine they could turn out in 1949! tinyurl.com/pk36d3w Might be
>> a little derivative?
>>
Compared to the BSA Bantams (& other UK bikes - James, Francis Barnett, Ariel, to name a few) 2-strokes based on german designed single cylinder engine the Honda actually look pretty good and probably started & did not leak oil all over the place.
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>> Hold off - the NEW NEW Jazz will replace the current UK Jazz and the 2.5 year old USA Fit?jazz.
That's my beef - it's been out for months everywhere else except Europe. We're being sold an old model. Be interesting the see UK pricing on the 2015 Jazz - EX model in the US with 1.5 auto and colour sat nav is around £10K.
Both it and the HR-V are even on the Honda UK website now (scroll down the new cars page). Quite bizzare when they're not here for many months.
Last edited by: Bill Payer on Fri 28 Nov 14 at 22:38
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Like Norton...only praise for the guys at Toyota...RRG Stockport in my case. I take about 40 cars a year in for various services....and we've pinned them right down on price.
I'm met by one of the two greeters, Gail or Patricia, Sat down and offered a coffee straight away. My booking is taken into the back office where it's given to Angela, who looks after me ( sadly, only automotively ). If I'm early, which I usually am, I get on stage immediately. I get one of the daily blatts, sit in a nice chair with the telly on. When I've read the paper, I have a read of my book as more ( good ) coffee is pressed upon me. The service takes about 1.5 hrs, any issues are discussed and I'm escorted off the premises by Angie to the car .
Mind you, a fancy bag of Lidl chocolates for her smooths the way now and again...........well, you never know !
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>> sold an old model. Be interesting the see UK pricing on the 2015 Jazz -
>> EX model in the US with 1.5 auto and colour sat nav is around £10K.
$21740MSP + $1900 new car sales tax(california) = £15100
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Just seen this and very surprised if John McGuire and the Pheonix Group were in trouble; perhaps he has been distracted lately with his daughters shenanigans.
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Is that his daughter?? You sure?
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Quite like glass palaces. Just returned from my VW dealer to buy a rear light bulb. £3.54 fitted free whilst I drank a free cup of coffee and read the paper in their very comfortable lounge
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>> Quite like glass palaces. Just returned from my VW dealer to buy a rear light
>> bulb. £3.54 fitted free whilst I drank a free cup of coffee and read the
>> paper in their very comfortable lounge
>>
The VW dealership in Chester was recently relocated to such a place - I actually gasped when I walked in.
Not sure how long they'll be able to keep up having four receptionists. How many people in a VW dealership does it involve to fit a light bulb? :)
OK, you enjoyed it. I just wonder who's paying for it all. I'd rather it wasn't me.
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Just booked in my CR-V for its second service, and learned that Lightcliffe have divested themselves of the Honda franchises. Southport has been acquired by Cox Motors, and the branch in Warrington by Holdcroft Honda. The Liverpool branch has been closed down.
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Honda prices are at the level Honda thinks its market will bear. Its corporate financial blunders are hardly unique in the stupid annals of big modern capitalism. It isn't even clear to me who if anyone 'owns' Honda, whether it's in some sort of coupling with other firms. I wouldn't be surprised but I'm not very interested. I curl my lip at all that carp like the broken-down former naive lefty I may or may not be.
The cars are quite attractive in their tight-assed way. They exude an air of solidity and close, accurate mechanical tolerances.
Last edited by: Armel Coussine on Tue 2 Dec 14 at 17:12
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>> it isn't even clear to me who if anyone 'owns' Honda
Anyone can own shares in Honda.
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Owner of "Honda" in the UK is Honda Motor Corp as illustrated here: www.duedil.com/company/00857969/honda-motor-europe-limited/group
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>> Just booked in my CR-V for its second service, and learned that Lightcliffe have divested
>> themselves of the Honda franchises. Southport has been acquired by Cox Motors, and the branch
>> in Warrington by Holdcroft Honda. The Liverpool branch has been closed down.
>>
Interesting. I knew about Southport, but not heard anything about Liverpool / Warrington - their websites still look normal and the Honda website dealer search still points to them.
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Honda - Glass Palace no more! - Old Navy
