Will the Holden brand survive?

[arronm]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

Agreed, but everyone is different.

When we bought the Picanto i'd seen it in the local shopping centre on a Thursday afternoon, spoke to the Wife about it when we both got home and went down to look and test drive that evening, unfortunately the Kia dealer didn't do late night shopping hours so we looked at a few on the yard and she told me to test drive myself.
Luckily the following day I had an hour spare so I called in during work hours in the bus, turns out the salesman was a driver in a previous life so we made small talk about the industry and I used it to my advantage, told him work was slow and I needed a cheap runabout and that i'd love the 3k dearer GT line but didn't know that it was a good move considering, he said what would it take to get you into one, I gave him a list of the extra's I wanted, my budget and he came back with a good price drive away.
I signed on the line and collected the car a week later.
I was on the yard in business hours for all of 20 minutes if you overlook the test drive.
I took it in for its first scheduled service last fortnight on a Monday, wandered around the yard whilst waiting, didn't see another customer other than others having services in the hour and a half I was there and Kia is one of only a few showing growth, go figure.

My wife drives the cars I buy for her. She never shops for cars. A-B....

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by arronm

My wife drives the cars I buy for her. She never shops for cars. A-B....

yep same, last one all she did was pick the colour as we were driving somewhere and i pointed how about that colour, yep.
Ordered through my broker, once ready for delivery (we never even went to the dealership) the Fleet manager brought it to our place for the in car intro, done thanks mate the wife was bored.
She didn't drive it for the next couple weeks for she still liked her previous ride that we hung on for one of our sons lol.....
Very very A-B, no excitement whatsoever.

Oh by the way on thread topic - F Holden die ya bastards die I have no sympathy for that company whatsoever.

[PooDog]

A mate of mine was really keen on this green XD Fairmont Ghia years ago took the mrs to see it .....she said nup i dont like it after many discussions about all the features and the price it was still ..i DONT like it , after a couple more days of gently probing her about it she finally told him the reason .....i dont like green !

[4stanger]

Maybe holden had the wrong leadership in these current times;
https://www.caradvice.com.au/811317/...iliate_program

[Syndrome]

Originally Posted by 4stanger

Maybe holden had the wrong leadership in these current times;
https://www.caradvice.com.au/811317/...iliate_program

Dave Buttner inherited the poisoned chalice like Robert McEniry inherited at MMAL. A no win situation.

[mick taylor]

If one was to jump into a new Commodore what is the problem with such ?
Why is it wrong or why is it not right.

I would look at the V6 to drive, I would think I would be happy to own such a car. what else is there to buy nowadays, in that size of car and price range.

[mick taylor]

Originally Posted by FTE217

yep same, last one all she did was pick the colour as we were driving somewhere and i pointed how about that colour, yep.
Ordered through my broker, once ready for delivery (we never even went to the dealership) the Fleet manager brought it to our place for the in car intro, done thanks mate the wife was bored.
She didn't drive it for the next couple weeks for she still liked her previous ride that we hung on for one of our sons lol.....
Very very A-B, no excitement whatsoever.

Oh by the way on thread topic - F Holden die ya bastards die I have no sympathy for that company whatsoever.

Why do you have no sympathy for the company.
Holden always did the right thing by me with my new Holden's, I could not fault them at all.

Ford however was the worst most rude disgraceful dealerships I have ever had the displeasure of trying to buy a new car, I wanted my Falcons but they all were hell bent on trying to destroy the company, if anyone worked for me and treated a client like that I would have to give them the **** on the spot.
So from 1991 to 2012 I came across 2 dealers salesmen that were good and one was a woman, but the last new Ford I bought was a 1993 Longreach ute, now that was a great ute to drive, I bought a VS S V6 ute as well ordered that before they came out and had both the XG and VS at the same time that VS was a rubbish ute crap seats and understeering pig worst handling bucket of I have ever had, until I had to do the suspension on it. then I got a 1999 VS ute V8 that was much better ute.

[janddbone]

Originally Posted by mick taylor

if one was to jump into a new commodore what is the problem with such ?
Why is it wrong or why is it not right.

I would look at the v6 to drive, i would think i would be happy to own such a car. What else is there to buy nowadays, in that size of car and price range.

stinger

[hayseed]

https://www.betootaadvocate.com/unca...ng-commodores/

[marty351]

https://cadillacaustralia.com

[Syndrome]

How may dealers does Holden have? 200? That is about 12 sales per dealership during the month of November. Ouch.

[roddy1960]

I went ages before I laid eyes on a new Commodore...Saw way more Mustangs before my first close up look at one which was a station wagon .

Over recent months though I've spotted quite a few. Got passed by one today actually . I don't mind them at all to be honest but would I buy one if I was rich enough to do so ?.
Probably not .

Quite apart from the blue Ford blood that runs in my veins and a desire to look at a Mustang at some time in the future there is the uncertain future with all the buy outs and carrying on that has the GMH mob most likely wondering where or if the can continue .

Who knows if the current Commodore even has a defined future at all and with uncertainty about the company's survival , even that most recognized nameplate (commodore) could ultimately suffer .

I hope not.. It's all kind of sad if you ask me if Holden actually collapses .

[cheap]

New CEO, musical deck chairs at Holden/Titanic, may as well rename the company to Holanic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivHamhCpcZU

[tranquilized]

Originally Posted by mick taylor

If one was to jump into a new Commodore what is the problem with such ?
Why is it wrong or why is it not right.

I would look at the V6 to drive, I would think I would be happy to own such a car. what else is there to buy nowadays, in that size of car and price range.

Mazda 6
VW Passat
Toyota Camry
Subaru Liberty
Skoda Superb


All good options that would never have been cross shopped with a Commodore until the ZB arrived.

The Kia Stinger is a different class of vehicle.

[anobserver]

Mike Simcoe, of Monaro designer fame, reckons sedans will make a comeback...
https://www.motoring.com.au/suv-boom...n-boss-121626/

Im not convinced holden can make it back though.

[anobserver]

Reading the press release, its shocking how many cars outsold the opeldore last month.

Holden sold 469 commodores.

Others that sold more include...
Suzuki swift 538
Mercedes c class 546
Kia carnival 587
Hyundai accent 529

How the mighty, etc.

[DFB FGXR6]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivHamhCpcZU

Not everyone's cup of tea, but I somehow think his prediction of Holden ceasing to exist from 2020 will come true.

[Sprintey]

Sad to hear, I remember watching as a fan and customer, the merry-go-round of CEOs at FOA after Geoff Polites and it does no good for a firm.

Edit: the JC link was really perceptive, from about 12:00 on he presents Holden as a warning to other carmakers, and that automotive brands aren't anything special today - instead of a strong brand it's individual and societal perception of what that firm does that matters. Plus, he uses "monkey-gassers" when mentioning a certain German maker, that never gets old...

[Nikked]

At some point, GM will have to make a decision if it is better off rebranding the existing Holden network to Chevrolet.

[arronm]

Originally Posted by tranquilized

Mazda 6
VW Passat
Toyota Camry
Subaru Liberty
Skoda Superb


All good options that would never have been cross shopped with a Commodore until the ZB arrived.

The Kia Stinger is a different class of vehicle.

Are any of those rwd or awd 6cyl 4 door sedans.

[blue sleeper]

Originally Posted by tranquilized

Mazda 6
VW Passat
Toyota Camry
Subaru Liberty
Skoda Superb


All good options that would never have been cross shopped with a Commodore until the ZB arrived.

The Kia Stinger is a different class of vehicle.

I would choose a ZB 4 pot wagon over any of those listed. I don't get the hate for the new Commodore. They are a great car for the price. The Camry went up what 10 grand when it was made off shore? Plus I wouldn't touch anything made by VW with a forty foot pole!

[tranquilized]

Originally Posted by arronm

Are any of those rwd or awd 6cyl 4 door sedans.

Umm, no - that's my point... This is the class of car the Commodore now competes in. VF was in a completely different class that it had pretty much all to itself after Falcon died.

Originally Posted by blue sleeper

I would choose a ZB 4 pot wagon over any of those listed. I don't get the hate for the new Commodore. They are a great car for the price. The Camry went up what 10 grand when it was made off shore? Plus I wouldn't touch anything made by VW with a forty foot pole!

Each to their own. New Passat wagons look great IMO. I'd probably put the Commodore second last just ahead of the Liberty. Keeping my VF is preferable to any of them though.

[GCRXR6]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivHamhCpcZU

Not everyone's cup of tea, but I somehow think his prediction of Holden ceasing to exist from 2020 will come true.

He is a bit of a character, who shoots from the hip. Yep, he gave Ford a slap with a wet fish, but hell, he has wacked others with a rotten tuna.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Nikked

At some point, GM will have to make a decision if it is better off rebranding the existing Holden network to Chevrolet.

I don't think GM would bother. They will either persist with the "Holden" brand name or exit Australia completely. With little to no investment in RHD for other countries, GM aren't going to invest in re branding for 4000 sales per month, especially when they couldn't make Europe work.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by tranquilized

Keeping my VF is preferable to any of them though.

Basically this.

[kevino]

Originally Posted by blue sleeper

I would choose a ZB 4 pot wagon over any of those listed. I don't get the hate for the new Commodore. They are a great car for the price. The Camry went up what 10 grand when it was made off shore? Plus I wouldn't touch anything made by VW with a forty foot pole!

This.
Agree 100 per cent
There is suggestion that the 2 litre zb actually produces 400 nm refer to Wikipedia stats for the US GM engine.

I drive dsg vw vehicles for a living the transmissions are crap and the drivers seats are flogged out at 90000 thus making one purchase a new base cushion.

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by Nikked

At some point, GM will have to make a decision if it is better off rebranding the existing Holden network to Chevrolet.

This keeps getting mentioned but makes no difference. GM are no longer developing RHD. Colorado will not be renewed. They have no models to sell here, it’s lights out I’m afraid.

[janddbone]

If Holden have any future it will be with Fiat/Peugeot.

[Sprintey]

What happened to GM-H's tooling? Does anyone know who bought it? All the engine plant parts and stamping machines? They could do the largest auto stamping in the Southern Hemisphere with the VE/F ute side pressing iirc

[tranquilized]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

What happened to GM-H's tooling? Does anyone know who bought it? All the engine plant parts and stamping machines? They could do the largest auto stamping in the Southern Hemisphere with the VE/F ute side pressing iirc

And the IP rights to the Zeta platform? And the goodwill associated with the Holden brand? Surely both a worth a fraction of what they would have been only a couple of years ago...