A large part of the problem IMO within that industry is the installers "milking" the subsidies. A few years ago I enquired about getting a system installed and was quoted X amount. A month or so later the government announced they would subsidy the LPG installations by $2000 (from memory in SA). I thought I'd take advantage of this generous offer by the government, so I called back the installers to book in the car to have a system fitted and by sheer coincidence the quote for the LPG system had increased by $2000 since my query a month earlier. This was the same "theme" amongst all installers I called - they simply jacked up the price equivalent to the rebate being offered.
When I informed them they had quoted $2000 less a month earlier, they couldn't give a damn as with the announcement of the new subsidy scheme they were now flat out and had been booked out for installs for the next 6 months!
On this basis I have very little sympathy for that industry if they're doing it tough now - they raped and pillaged and made bucket loads of profit when the going was good for them..... how things change.
This.
I was speaking to my mechanic mate last night about this. Every LPG business in his area has either closed down or have got the death wobbles. The enitre industry from the parts suppliers to the installers are to blame. Jacking up prices overnight by 75 - 100% for short term gain was never going to be a good business model.
Not to mention the people who had the old 'mixer' type lpg system fitted to their cars. These people are fed up with their cars constantly either stalling, or back firing and taking out the air intake box and air flow meter. The installers charge like a wounded bull to repair, but the issue is still there and finally they come to my mate and ask for the system to be disconnected.
