Adventra sales struggle...

[Kirium]

From carsguide.news.com.au


Adventra sales off track
James Stanford
25jun04

THE Holden Adventra all-wheel-drive is failing to match sales targets.

Holden expected to sell an average of 415 Adventras a month this year, but the closest it has been was 261 in March.
Only 1100 Adventras have sold to the end of May, and Holden's target of 5000 sales by December 31 seems increasingly optimistic.

Launched last October, the Australian-made Adventra suffered teething problems when a component shortage meant most dealerships didn't see the cars until January.

"Sales targets are forecasts and that's all they are," Holden's Jason Laird says.

"There is nothing else like Adventra in the market so you are making certain estimates."

Holden has launched a campaign offering people on dealer mailing lists a chance to test-drive Adventras on tough terrain next month.

The Adventra is currently only available with a V8 engine – which pushes the base price up to $52,990 – but a cheaper V6 model will be added to the range this year.

"We expect the V6 to be the volume seller," Laird says.

Instead of developing an Adventra with the Commodore's ageing 3.8-litre V6, Holden has been testing a version fitted with the all-new Melbourne-made V6.

The same engine will power the Commodore and Statesman range late this year.

While Holden struggles to shift Adventras, Toyota's Kluger is selling strongly, with an average of 650 a month.

It is too early to tell how sales of the Australian-made Ford Territory will compare as the vehicle only went on sale on June 1.

While Adventra hasn't been an instant hit, its locally developed AWD system is being used for other models, including the Crewman Cross8 and upcoming HSV Coupe4 Monaro.

Would you buy an Adventra?

I can't see sales getting any better until the V6 version is launched... it's drastically overpriced IMHO...

[Danv8]

Overpriced because they use Berlina and Calais spec interior and options. Even Holden knew that they were not going to be a big seller. If they had an acclaim spec or something it might sell. The Territory is going or is wasting them for sales but then again they are not as unique :-p

[Kirium]

I remember before being laughed at by the dealer up here for asking about a test drive of an adventra, he was telling me the LX8 was built by HSV... He said this while pointing at the roll and pitch instrument binnacle...

maybe that's why they're so (comparitively) expensive

As for using Calais spec interior, the Territory Ghia AWD has a Fairmont Ghia spec interior, but is still cheaper than a base model CX8. And putting a Boss220 in it won't increase the price by $20,000 surely...

[LSX-438]

isnt the Ghia $53,290 and the CX8 $52,990

And the LX8 at about $61k..

plus on roads of course

despite philosophical differences or varying opinion on each car, $ price variance is about right isnt it?

I hired an adventura for a recent trip to the snow, not sure I would be happy with the fuel economy around town, it really is just too thirsty. On the highway it was ok. Don't get me wrong I love the ls1 but I'm not sure of the point in this car; the mass of the car negates most of the V8 joy I reckon. I assume LX6 price will be rather closer to ghia pricing, perhaps the same.

[Kirium]

You're probably right regarding pricing. I recall the same salesman who told me HSV built the adventra's that the CX8 was "mid-high 50's" but perhaps this was his ploy to discourage me with a price he thought was out of my range...

[LSX-438]

the prices above are straight from holden and ford websites. but anyway, i like the wagon crossover idea more than the boxy 4WD's, I dont see myself ever buying a large A/4WD. I think most of the sales in this segment are driven by fashion and I think there is a chance the tide could turn against the larger size 4WD's

[Danv8]

[QUOTE=forrestd]the prices above are straight from holden and ford websites. but anyway, i like the wagon crossover idea more than the boxy 4WD's,

Agreed its like a V8 version of a Outback and 1 foot longer. :-)
Shame it is thirsty but I guess if your willing to pay for the go go juice then why not.

[TriShield]

It's a shame they don't sell it here, the US has quite an appetite for vehicles like that.

[SSbaby]

In this month's Wheels mag they compare the Territory with Kluger and Pajero. The Territory was declared the overall winner but in the author's view, it was probably a better soft roader than either the BMW X5 or Porsche Cayenne. That's a huge wrap for any vehicle.

As for Adventra, I think it's too much a wagon to be classed as a soft roader. I think the sales will improve but at the present, the options list is quite limited - no 6-speed manual and no V6.

[SV8VY]

I personally think it is a little expensive and overpriced for what it is.
If the price was just over what the wagons are it would sell.
The car is not that capable an off roader as ride height is too low,no descent low range or diff lock gears.
I would prefer a Discovery than this for this price.
The Discovery base model is only a little more and by far a better off roader.
The Adventra,to me is a glorified wagon that can go a little on gravel and some small off roading.
This is my Opinion as I have had a few 4 x 4s

[Ghia351]

I would have thought that (very loosely) whatever ratio of Ls1 : V6 sales in the Commodore range this would transpose similarly to the AWD models and that it will only when V6 models are available would its sales numbers jump up considerably.

On the Wheels article and the soft roader comparo, I remember seeing a left hand drive X5 in the Ford HQ carpark literally a couple of months after its European release so Ford were benchmarking against this almost immediately after the initial design work was begun on the Territory's development.