Buying a shiny new or used car isn’t like it used to be, says a guy who knows a thing or two about such matters.

“The standards are much higher, in my opinion, than when I first started in the business,” said Jim Pattison, beaming with pride shortly after banging open a sake barrel during a traditional Japanese Kagami-biraki ceremony on Feb. 3.

It marked the opening of the glistening 8,300-square-foot, two-level building that houses the new Lexus Victoria dealership at 623 Finlayson St.

There’s also the adjacent new Jim Pattison Toyota Victoria, the largest Toyota showroom in B.C., and Jim Pattison Scion Victoria that occupy a 68,400-square-foot, four-storey building at 3050 Douglas St.

The new buildings, which took 14 months to construct, replace the 41,000-square-foot locations across the street.

“As time goes by in the auto industry, many car dealers, including ourselves, have tried to upgrade the quality of the people in the stores and the quality of the buildings,” said the self-made B.C. billionaire and philanthropist, whose Jim Pattison Auto Group is B.C.’s largest automotive retailer. It has 25 retail locations selling 15 brands across Western Canada, including Jim Pattison Volvo of Victoria at 2735 Douglas St.

“This is the nicest dealership I’ve ever been in and I really want to congratulate all the people who made it happen.”

Pattison’s dazzling new automobile showplace received rave reviews from hundreds of local business people, politicians, sales professionals, loyal customers and potential future buyers at its dressy opening event, where gleaming new Lexus, Toyota and Scion models were as eye-catching as the colourful baton-twirling entertainers, Japanese drummers and gourmet snacks.

There were oohs-and-aahs over the new dealerships’ computerized LED light shows, “skyway” display tube featuring hot new models above a ground-floor showroom, and a computerized, self-playing grand piano in the Lexus dealership, which is more than twice its former location’s size and among the first dealers in Western Canada to incorporate Lexus’s new platinum image.

Other conversation-inducing amenities at the dealerships include deluxe guest lounges, one with a fireplace and huge flat-screen TV, the on-site Vista Bistro, operated by Cook’s Day Off, custom artworks, automated car wash and enclosed drive-through service centre with 36 state-of-the-art service bays.

Acknowledging the ongoing debate over whether intensive land use by businesses such as automobile dealerships is appropriate so close to downtown, Victoria Coun. Geoff Young said the advantages are obvious.

“What I’ve become aware of is that auto dealerships are significant employment generators,” said Young, commenting on the upside to increased development along the north Douglas Street corridor.

“It’s a debate we do have from time to time. We have to be aware of that, but we want to welcome them. They create good-paying jobs and are part of the commercial fabric of the city.”

Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce CEO Bruce Carter said he’s a big fan of the additional local investment by Pattison.

“The more investment like this we can attract, the stronger our economy will be,” Carter said, noting construction of such fancy showplaces is justifiable because they get customers into the dealership.

“After that, it’s up to the car and the salespeople and the deal you make. But if you don’t come in the door, there’s no option.”

While building such spectacular complexes isn’t essential, Pattison said they’re a sign of the times.

“You don’t have to do this, but the car business has changed such a lot over the years,” he said.

“The quality of the cars are much better than they used to be, and people are much more concerned about safety, the environment … those types of things.”
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