Quote Originally Posted by JJW501 View Post
I am an Aussie car supporter. I have only ever owned Falcon and Commodore utes. Each one has been better than the last. I will buy another next, not a VF until the drivetrain upgrade. Only 65,000km on the current one so no rush at the moment.

But the fact is the majority of new car buyers are trending away from Aussie cars. There are multiple reasons - fuel consumption, bogan factor, size etc. But the killer for me is profiteering on the luxury models. Holden and Ford need to do something to get the buyers back. Right now money is tight in the economy, economy and price would be a great place to start. It would seem that Holden and Ford are losing traditional government vehicle contracts for more fuel efficient vehicles. Why we don't have VCT V6 and the latest offerings from GM astounds me. I applaud the weight savings on VF, they have een getting heavier and thirstier for so long.
In the most I agree.
However, I don't agree with the profiteering claims costing them sales. The "problem" Ford and Holden have gets back to the bogan factor you mentioned. Calais V and G6E offer awesome value, with excellent standard equipment, quite good fuel economy, superior space, power and ride comfort to virtually any other imported car for similar money.
What they lack is a badge with snob factor. Too many people now go "But for not much more money I can have a base or mid spec imported model in my garage". It's extremely hard to fight this kind of thinking. Giving the car away isn't the answer.
As for not having the highest spec V6's fitted? It's called marketing. The current arrangement leaves sufficient room for the more profitable V8 models to have extra appeal above the already more than sufficient V6's to "most" buyers. After all, high volume car makers exist to make money...not to cover every single niche in the market.