Potential Dealership Build - 2nd Gen

[obi_krash]

Recently I was approached with an idea from a contact at a local Nissan dealership. Right now I wont talk names or what dealership. I am bring this to XN only to discuss because really - you all are the ones I can trust to give true input and not be jerks or weird about it.

So the idea was to take a new X (might be a lightly used one, or a new one, that is not figured out yet) and mod it up at the dealership. We are talking bumpers, skids, tires, upgraded suspension, possible lighting systems, maybe even getting into talking about titan swapping. At the moment everything is on the table.

The goal is to be able to mod this thing up and then sell it as is. Of course there would be some sort of mark up because they would need to cover the costs of the upgrades. They are talking about doing it as cost effective as possible.

The idea comes from another Nissan dealership that does this to 1 titan every couple months. They lift it and build it all up, then sell it. Once sold, they turn around and make a new one. Actually the guy I bought my sliders from traded his X in for one of them.

My question is - do people think there is a market for this sort of thing? I would like to think yes, I know there are people out there who wouldn't mind buying a truck already done up. I mean we see people build up nice 350 Zs and other vehicles, those are sold. This thing would be available to be shipped I am assuming or delivered to the right buyer.

Thoughts? Concerns?

 

[Fromfrontier2Xterra]

I believe there is a market for it. I think Boulder Nissan in CO does this as well.

Sent via my walkie talkie

 

[thecoalition]

Here's a couple of questions:

1. Are you doing the work or supervising the build in anyway? Planning counts.
2. Are you being compensated for your time and effort?
3. If no to question 2, then stop.
4. Who is doing the work if you are not?

 

[obi_krash]

Here's a couple of questions:

1. Are you doing the work or supervising the build in anyway? Planning counts.
2. Are you being compensated for your time and effort?
3. If no to question 2, then stop.
4. Who is doing the work if you are not?

1. Are you doing the work or supervising the build in anyway? Advising, similar to how Nissan did the Titan build on Facebook for Wounded Warrior they would be looking for crowd sourced advice on which products to install. They would be doing the work themselves, at the dealership.

2. Are you being compensated for your time and effort? Minimal effort on our part, merely occasionally posting updates or something. So no need for compensation. The visibility provided to the VAXC and Xterra Community would be compensation in a way.

3. If no to question 2, then stop. I think I covered this

4. Who is doing the work if you are not? They will be, not us

 

[Prime]

I dig this idea

 

[thecoalition]

I mean...I guess it's cool overall. I think I'm just having a hard time comprehending the whole buying it completely built already idea. I mean essentially you are getting someone else's rig because you didn't put any effort into it yourself. I think if I were not willing to do the work myself I would be more into it.

 

[Prime]

I mean...I guess it's cool overall. I think I'm just having a hard time comprehending the whole buying it completely built already idea. I mean essentially you are getting someone else's rig because you didn't put any effort into it yourself. I think if I were not willing to do the work myself I would be more into it.

I agree with your thinking here. But. There is a market for a pre-built truck. Especially if the add-ons will be covered under the warranty. And it pushes the notion to other Xterra drivers that, "hey! You can do this too!"

 

[Prime]

I mean, promoting a dead vehicle seems kinda silly. But there are still a lot of them on dealer lots.

 

[obi_krash]

I mean...I guess it's cool overall. I think I'm just having a hard time comprehending the whole buying it completely built already idea. I mean essentially you are getting someone else's rig because you didn't put any effort into it yourself. I think if I were not willing to do the work myself I would be more into it.

I agree with your thinking here. But. There is a market for a pre-built truck. Especially if the add-ons will be covered under the warranty. And it pushes the notion to other Xterra drivers that, "hey! You can do this too!"

Jay hit this. There are some of us that really embrace and live the "Built not Bought" mind set. I personally am the same way, I would rather build it myself. But that is just me. There apparently is a pretty big market out there for pre-built vehicles.

This would be one of those.

 

[akinc]

I think BlackWatch Customs does this in Georgia.

 

[obi_krash]

I think BlackWatch Customs does this in Georgia.

Yeah, I need to talk to holden about it and see how they go about it.

 

[metzican]

I think there is a market for this. But I have seen dealers overdue a truck and either loose a lot or not sell it.

Most people who buy these trucks don't know what there doing and cost becomes a major factor.

Keep the suspension lift simple. Spacers and AAL with shackles ect. Don't do a full titan swap. If doing LED's don't go crazy keep it simple and looking good. Maybe one above and one in the front bumper. Do front bumper and Rock sliders. If you do the rear bumper don't do a swing out. Stick with 33" tires. I would not do anything to the inside. I would also start with the base line model. They key is to hit people with the visual appearance but also keep it so a wide market would still be interested in it.

 

[Casper]

Is there a market for it, yes.
However you are taking a vehicle that appeals to a very large customer base, and turning it into a vehicle that appeals to a SUPER SMALL customer base.
Will you be able to sell it, yes.
However you may or may not make actual money on it, and may actually make less actual money on it. I use the term "actual money" because there are other benefits to doing this, like marketing. While it's harder to quantify, having a vehicle such as this sitting front and center on the lot will bring in customers who otherwise would not have gone to the dealership in the first place. While they may not buy the "built" vehicle, they may buy a stock one just like it because they saw the built one and liked it, and want to build their own. This is earning money on the built one indirectly.
If it was a very profitable endeavor, there would be more businesses doing it. Instead, there are millions of dealerships selling vehicles, and millions of shops to modify said vehicles. The main reason for this, the general consumer can't afford the whole thing in one shot. So they buy it, and modify as they can afford it.

As for the whole "Built not bought" debate, if that were truly the case as many state, they wouldn't have "bought" their bumpers, sliders, suspensions, LED lights and so on, they would have "built" them. Hell, I'm a fabricator, and I would rather buy my rigs and hot rods built so I could spend more time enjoying them with friends and family. I build them because I can't afford to buy them. But that's a debate for another thread.

Cheers, and good luck with your endeavor. Gonna be cool to see what you guys come up with.
JP

 

[caseycamby]

I believe the market is there. The truth is, there's a lot of people that like the look of a lifted and off road looking truck. And will more than likely never see more than a dirt driveway. These are the kind of people that will buy a prebuilt truck. They really don't know too much about mechanicing or fabricating, just like the look. I would say a lot of the time, these kind of people have the money to pay for it.

I can't tell you how many times I've seen a brand new Jeep, new 20 inch Rockstars, big lightbars and it'll never see dirt. Just the way it is! :kewl:

 

[R00]

Firemen buy built trucks, then polish them with a diaper every third shift

 

[obi_krash]

I think there is a market for this. But I have seen dealers overdue a truck and either loose a lot or not sell it.

Most people who buy these trucks don't know what there doing and cost becomes a major factor.

Keep the suspension lift simple. Spacers and AAL with shackles ect. Don't do a full titan swap. If doing LED's don't go crazy keep it simple and looking good. Maybe one above and one in the front bumper. Do front bumper and Rock sliders. If you do the rear bumper don't do a swing out. Stick with 33" tires. I would not do anything to the inside. I would also start with the base line model. They key is to hit people with the visual appearance but also keep it so a wide market would still be interested in it.

I like this idea, definitely something I will mention about keeping it simple. Build it up so it gets attention and people will look at it - but leave it open that if someone buys it and wants to keep with the upgrades they can. I thought a TS would be a bit of a big deal and really only people who are Xterra people would really get the reason behind it. Thanks for that Metz.

Is there a market for it, yes.
However you are taking a vehicle that appeals to a very large customer base, and turning it into a vehicle that appeals to a SUPER SMALL customer base.
Will you be able to sell it, yes.
However you may or may not make actual money on it, and may actually make less actual money on it. I use the term "actual money" because there are other benefits to doing this, like marketing. While it's harder to quantify, having a vehicle such as this sitting front and center on the lot will bring in customers who otherwise would not have gone to the dealership in the first place. While they may not buy the "built" vehicle, they may buy a stock one just like it because they saw the built one and liked it, and want to build their own. This is earning money on the built one indirectly.
If it was a very profitable endeavor, there would be more businesses doing it. Instead, there are millions of dealerships selling vehicles, and millions of shops to modify said vehicles. The main reason for this, the general consumer can't afford the whole thing in one shot. So they buy it, and modify as they can afford it.

As for the whole "Built not bought" debate, if that were truly the case as many state, they wouldn't have "bought" their bumpers, sliders, suspensions, LED lights and so on, they would have "built" them. Hell, I'm a fabricator, and I would rather buy my rigs and hot rods built so I could spend more time enjoying them with friends and family. I build them because I can't afford to buy them. But that's a debate for another thread. 

Cheers, and good luck with your endeavor. Gonna be cool to see what you guys come up with.
JP

I like this . . . while the vehicle itself might not make them money, it could lead to more money being brought in. I mean it would be great if they could sell it, for sure. But if you can build up 1 vehicle and spend maybe $3 doing so (that is a random figure btw) and turn around to use that to bring people in and sell another 3-4 trucks that you might not normally sell a lot of, you would technically get your return. That is something I think they could use to talk to their management about when they are selling the idea to them.

Full disclosure - this doesn't benefit me in anyway. The idea was brought to my attention because 1. he is a good friend and 2. my position with the VAXC.

I have been sending him updates of this conversation as it goes (he is a 4runner owner and manages the local club in Richmond, so he is not on this board). I am really appreciating all the good feedback and thoughts guys, seriously.

 

[Fromfrontier2Xterra]

Found this just tonight at the dealership I've stopped on for a few things and they always ask me about the smurf. They're asking way too much IMO. No skids what so ever. Stock uca's And wtf is a pro runner? Lol. Pictures suck with glare but here.

Sent via my walkie talkie

 

[TheFauxFox]

4 Wheel Parts is currently doing this for F150s. Obviously, we're nearly comparing apples to poultry as we are well aware that there is a F150 sold every 39 seconds. But thats not to say its not happening.

 

[rolling rock]

Courtsey jeep in altoona PA does this with new wranglers. They always have one on the lot.

http://www.courtesymotor.net/new/Je...-altoona-20dbc3d00a0a006467d2480ab508a68a.htm

HAUK does this for them. NO two are alike.

 

[Fromfrontier2Xterra]

Courtsey jeep in altoona PA does this with new wranglers. They always have one on the lot. http://www.courtesymotor.net/new/Jeep/2015-Jeep-Wrangler-altoona-20dbc3d00a0a006467d2480ab508a68a.htm HAUK does this for them. NO two are alike.

That's where the xterra was.

Sent via my walkie talkie