Join us as we take a peek behind the curtain and reveal the most intriguing stories of the talented individuals who make up the Driveline team and keep this company running.
Some say that he can hit a cricket ball into orbit, and that he’s pals with Hugh Hefner. All we know is he’s called Mario.
Meet Andy Barr, our Business Consultant at Driveline. From DJ to parts van driver to sales manager at Nissan, Andy Barr’s story is a testament to the twists and turns that life can take.
Crossing the Ditch #1
Born in Perth to a Kiwi father and an Australian mother of Russian descent, he moved to New Zealand when he was nine years old, which, in Andy’s words, makes him a “Kozzy”… a Kiwi Aussie.
His father was national sales manager for Johnson & Johnson in Australia, which would later become an unexpected influence on Andy’s own career path.
After leaving school, Andy got a job as a parts van driver at Auckland Motors. This marked the start of his journey in the auto industry, which would take him to various roles and locations over the years.
Crossing the Ditch #2
Andy moved up to a service advisor role at Auckland Motors, then moved to the Gold Coast where he took up a similar position at Audi.
Music – Career Path or Hobby?
While there Andy also pursued his love of music by completing a Diploma in Sound Engineering. He had always been into music and was a part-time DJ in Auckland after leaving school.
While he ultimately decided it was more of a hobby than a career path, the skills he learned in recording and postproduction have come in handy over the years. Andy also credits his love of music for giving him a creative and open-minded approach to problem-solving.
DJ Extraordinaire
Andy says he still does a bit of DJing. His most recent gig was a 21st birthday party for boss Lance Manins’ daughter.
If you have a wedding or a 21st coming up, give Andy a call or txt on 027 880-4808.
Crossing the Ditch #3
After growing homesick Andy crossed the ditch once again, moving back to Auckland and back into the auto industry as a salesperson for John W Andrew Mazda. He enjoyed seven successful years there, during which he worked his way up to Assistant Sales Manager.
Crossing the Harbour
Andy’s next move was across a different body of water, this time to Auckland’s North Shore to take on the Sales Manager role at Nissan. It turned out to be a short gig, however, because after just one year the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Covid Calamity
They were uncertain times and as the highest-paid staff member, and with the shortest tenure, Andy Barr’s position was made redundant.
With a three-month-old baby at home, he had to find a new job quickly. This led him to a small dealership called MotorHaus, where Andy and his brother sold cars and did finance for customers – a skill that would soon come in very handy. While the MotorHaus experience was valuable, he eventually felt the pull to something new.
Driveline
That’s when he joined Driveline as a Business Consultant. And according to Andy, it’s been a great fit ever since. He appreciates the flexibility and work-life balance that Driveline offers, as well as the lack of micromanagement from his bosses Lance Manins and Paul Tobin.
“Lance and Paul are the two best bosses I’ve ever worked for. If they can see that you know your job and you know what you’re doing, then they’ll just give you the freedom to do your job and won’t micromanage you.”
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Loving the Lack of Bias
Instead of being driven purely by sales targets, Driveline focuses on finding the right solutions for clients and providing unbiased recommendations. As Andy puts it…
“One of the things I love about Driveline is that we have no bias. I’m going to recommend the vehicle that I think is best for my clients, or if they already know what they want I’m not gonna try and talk them out of it.”
Driveline vs The Big Car Dealership Model
This approach stands in contrast to the typical car dealership model, where salespeople are understandably incentivised to push that company’s brand on customers. On a Nissan or a Ford dealership, they’re going to sell you a Nissan or Ford no matter what.
Driveline, on the other hand, allows clients to choose from a wide range of manufacturers’ vehicles and provides full transparency on pricing and discounts.
The Curious Case of the Disappearing Discount
“Another interesting difference,” says Andy, “is that at Driveline our clients always get the full discount we’re allowed to give. Whereas at a big dealership they never give you the full discount because the portion they hold back goes into their pocket, it increases their commission each month. If you’re lucky, you’ll get half the discount they could have given you. They always hold some back.
“At Driveline we don’t make any money on the vehicle. We just have a standard profit component that’s built into the lease, just like a bank or finance company. There’s no double dipping with us.”
Continuity of Service
Another unique aspect of Driveline is the continuity of service that clients receive. If a client wants to move to a different marque when their vehicle comes up for renewal, they don’t have to establish a new relationship with a salesperson at a new dealership.
Instead, they can work with the same business consultant at Driveline throughout the process. This builds trust and familiarity, and helps to ensure that clients are always getting the best deal possible.
An Insider’s View of Life at a Big Car Dealership
The big car dealerships have a highly structured and micromanaging approach, says Andy. The atmosphere is highly regimented, and the focus is on hitting numbers rather than building relationships.
Salespeople must consistently meet their sales targets and are required to submit daily reports detailing who they spoke with that day and why each deal didn’t go through. If targets are missed the salesperson is called in for a meeting and asked, “Why aren’t you hitting your targets?”
Andy says the pressure to meet targets means the salespeople are required to follow up with customers until they receive a definitive yes or no answer. Unfortunately, this can leave customers feeling as though they’re being nagged and pressured.
Andy Barr’s Sporting Interests
Andy loves just about every competitive sport there is. He’s especially into rugby league and soccer, so he’s a big Warriors fan and Manchester United fan. If he gets a few quiet minutes at home he’ll spend it playing FIFA on his Playstation.
Cricket
During the interview, Andy shared his passion for cricket and how it has become a big part of his life. He joined a social cricket team four years ago, with zero cricket experience.
Andy says his team was not very competitive back then, describing them as, “Real celler dwellers down the bottom of the league”.
But as Andy and a couple of other newbies learned and improved, their team started moving up the rankings. This upwards trajectory culminated in Andy’s team becoming the division champions this year.
Andy Barr – Hitting Balls Into Orbit
Fielding is not Andy’s strong suit, and he admits to being a terrible bowler, but says batting is where he’s progressed the most and really come into his own.
“When you hit the ball out the middle and you see it in the air going over the line, it’s a pretty good feeling.”
What Andy loves most about cricket, though, is the social aspect of practising every week and playing the sport together with a bunch of great mates.
Mario & Luigi Visit Hugh Hefner
In 2009, Andy and his girlfriend at the time, plus their friend Dom, had a trip to the United States. While there they heard about a Halloween party at the Playboy Mansion and somehow managed to wangle some tickets from a contact.
After restructuring their entire trip to finish in LA specifically for the occasion, Andy and Dom attended the party dressed as Mario and Luigi.
At one point during the party Andy found Dom, dressed only in his Luigi hat and underpants, in the grotto with a Playboy bunny.
To this day, Dom still calls Andy to reminisce about the wild Halloween party they attended. It was a pinch-yourself moment that few could ever lay claim to.
From Playboy to Family Man
Andy has new settled down and has a wife named Briarna, whom he met in 2011 and who already had a daughter named Bella. They now have another two children together, Lily and Frankie. Andy is very proud and protective of all three daughters.
Final thoughts
In summary, Andy Barr’s career has been unconventional but has allowed him to pursue his interests in music and sports while working in the auto industry. He values the flexibility and balance of family life and work that he has found at Driveline and values being able to recommend the best vehicle for his clients.
Overall, Andy’s story is a reminder that there’s no one “right” way to build a career or find success. Sometimes, the most unexpected detours can lead to the most fulfilling destinations. And in Andy’s case, his journey has brought him to a place where he can use his skills and experience to help clients find the perfect vehicle solutions for their needs.
Ford Ranger red-hot deal of the decade!Don’t forget that we’ve negotiated a red-hot Ford Ranger deal and we’re passing the 20% discount on to you. Offer valid until 30 April 2023. See our Ford Ranger page for details and full T&Cs. Or read our blog post announcing the offer here » • • • Get in touch to learn more about our Ford Ranger deal…
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