Does HSV understand its Market?

[Jarhead]

I, for one, have moved away from the local brands of 'performance sedans'. There really are lots of options out there if you just open your mind.

Having said that the local sedans are big. Big in that you can carry 5 people in comfort. It really comes down to what you want in a car.

I know a lot of HSV owners usually drive solo 95% of the time. For me it was closer to 100% of the time.

Everything mentioned about HSV owners in 2011 is true. I've seen so many neglected and unappreciated models it would make a holden man cry. Standard 91 octane fuel going in to HSVs, cheap chinese tyres going on after the OEMs wear down, never washed/detailed, scrapes and bumps not fixed....

I beleive the HSV astra was the right idea in the wrong package. My prediction is the future of HSV will be in a small - medium platform. The VF will be a evolution.....time will tell if there will be a HSV revolution.

[Martin_D]

So people are on the fence mainly due to the difference in running costs. What are these costs exactly. Brakes and tyres are the only things that come to mind for me that are different. Quite frankly in my opinion if the cost difference of these aspects alone becomes the deal breaker then people are over capitalising on what they can afford in the first place I reckon.

All performance cars are hard on tyres and brakes - it comes with the territory and vehicle application.
They arent really that bad on fuel either, a HSV will still match a 4/6 on the open road in some instances

[1R8_HSV]

Back to the OP, your original comment was that there are "in excess of 1000 HSV's in or on their way to dealership's" and that this is a problem.
I'll ask, is this due to a drop in sales or are they just churning out too many cars? From one or two reports that I've read, sales are still strong (happy to be corrected).
If this is the case, then the problem merely arises from over production. Why would HSV do this? As has been mentioned, over stocks of vehicles is going to lead to ridiculous price cuts and a reduction in the exclusivity of the brand. Are they playing a numbers game then? Perhaps they have invested that much in the VE platform, that they have to move a certain amount of units before VF, to make it worthwhile, even if it is at a discounted price.
To answer the question "Does HSV understand it's market? I guess we'd have to have a look at some actual stats. Are sales dropping? Are HSV progressively losing out to FPV? We on the forum can talk 'til the cows come home about "they should do this or that" but at the end of the day, whether our particular community LIKE what HSV are currently doing or not, if they are selling cars, then I think you'd be hard pressed to argue that they don't understand the market.

Ben

[jai]

http://www.inventorysearch.com.au/vi...Sedan/5090495/

Doesnt really seem like theyre fire saleing these in the west... $84k drive away??? My E1 was $79k driveaway from shackattack in 08

[Pickles]

Back to the OP, your original comment was that there are "in excess of 1000 HSV's in or on their way to dealership's" and that this is a problem.
I'll ask, is this due to a drop in sales or are they just churning out too many cars? From one or two reports that I've read, sales are still strong (happy to be corrected).
If this is the case, then the problem merely arises from over production. Why would HSV do this? As has been mentioned, over stocks of vehicles is going to lead to ridiculous price cuts and a reduction in the exclusivity of the brand. Are they playing a numbers game then? Perhaps they have invested that much in the VE platform, that they have to move a certain amount of units before VF, to make it worthwhile, even if it is at a discounted price.
To answer the question "Does HSV understand it's market? I guess we'd have to have a look at some actual stats. Are sales dropping? Are HSV progressively losing out to FPV? We on the forum can talk 'til the cows come home about "they should do this or that" but at the end of the day, whether our particular community LIKE what HSV are currently doing or not, if they are selling cars, then I think you'd be hard pressed to argue that they don't understand the market.

Ben

Agree...."if they are selling cars"...Figures don'y lie...."THEY ARE".
Ya can knock 'em as much as ya like....from time to time, I do.....but, at the end of the day, they are, still........SELLING CARS.
So, whilst I say they are an arrogant pack of bast.rds, I reckon they do what they have to do, to sell cars in a very specialized market, and........they do OK!
Cheers, Pickles.

[nailit]

Back to the OP, your original comment was that there are "in excess of 1000 HSV's in or on their way to dealership's" and that this is a problem.
I'll ask, is this due to a drop in sales or are they just churning out too many cars? From one or two reports that I've read, sales are still strong (happy to be corrected). if they are selling cars, then I think you'd be hard pressed to argue that they don't understand the market.

Ben

The sales of HSV's have been patchy all year and Dealer stocks have slowly been growing to the point that dealers are now saying - NO MORE!!! . . . thats a fact . . . HSV and Holden jointly decide what numbers are built but HSV can water the numbers down but they wont as they deal in a $$$ value in each car and if they drop production that drops the bottom line for Premoso. . . the TW company that owns HSV

Maybe its time to change the Ownership of HSV and bring it back under Holden Directorship!!! . .. . GM in the States dont need outsiders to develop their HIPO Cars - ZRI or ZL1 Camaro . . . its all in house and therefore doesnt have the greedy middle entity in place.

There are various options to explore taking Special Vehicles forward in Australia and I started this thread to see what everyones thoughts are . . . and so far the discussion has been good,

But I am starting to think that HSV and their greedy policies are beginning to hurt the Owners and potential owners of the Brand which is not good . . . and the Team at Elizabeth are more than capable of building the Car . . . which would save huge $$$. . . in double handling and double freight . . . just like GM do in the States . . . . just an idea . . .

Whatever happens needs to be good for the status of the brand and profitability of Holden and its dealers who are suffering with profitability at the moment . . . for HSV to be a success going forward it must be a winner for all inc the punter and I think that its not working well enough at this time

[eldan89]

IMO the Holden and HSV divide is becoming more and more blurred.
10 years ago if you wanted a cheap v8 you got a Holden SS, if you wanted something that handled and stopped well you got a HSV.

Now with the redline package, cheap aftermarket performance parts, and HSV's looking like they came out of a design studio run buy the local primary school, "I don't want one"

[nailit]

Doesnt really seem like theyre fire saleing these in the west... $84k drive away??? My E1 was $79k driveaway from shackattack in 08

Thats inventory shows a $9k off RRP just for starters!!!! . . . and that GTS has the $4k brake option and Turismo Red Leather too!!!

[Pickles]

Thats inventory shows a $9k off RRP just for starters!!!! . . . and that GTS has the $4k brake option and Turismo Red Leather too!!!

Nothing unusual about that mate,.....those deals are always on the go....ask your old man!
We got $10K off our GTO, and that was 6 years ago!
Cheers, Pickles.

[Xjas]

So people are on the fence mainly due to the difference in running costs. What are these costs exactly. Brakes and tyres are the only things that come to mind for me that are different. Quite frankly in my opinion if the cost difference of these aspects alone becomes the deal breaker then people are over capitalising on what they can afford in the first place I reckon.

For me the main costs to consider were brakes, tyres and insurance. I have read the brakes were lucky to last 40000km and cost around 4k to replace, the tyres are 98 rated rather than 94s on the SS which can almost double the tyre price and insurance was understandably dearer. Please dont think that I am of the opinion that HSV should have cheaper tyres and brakes to make them cheaper to run, I feel the HSV is exactly what it should be, a performance upgrade over the SS including better tyres and brakes at a cost to match, as you say the simple fact of the matter was I could not afford to own one.

[SilverVH]

Are they playing a numbers game then? Perhaps they have invested that much in the VE platform, that they have to move a certain amount of units before VF, to make it worthwhile, even if it is at a discounted price.

Herein lies the problem with the VE and as to why the model isn't exclusive.

HSV have to get a return on their investment, even if it's at a price of their brand.

[korrupt]

I'm more interested in these comments;

One of the worst kept secrets at this time is the pending arrival of a limited edition S/C LSA E3 (25th Anniversary) Special Edition that will debut at the Sydney Motor Show next October . . . but by the time HSV start deliveries the VE will be approaching Runout and a new 5.5l Production HSV with a factory charger will be the standard diet of Horsepower so I dont see the LSA limited Edition helping the brand too much. . . although it will be a sellout.

Where is this info coming from ?

[kayman]

I'm more interested in these comments;



Where is this info coming from ?

Dunno but I can confirm they are currently or have been testing the LSA at Lang Lang in a E3 HSV. Apparently they have been since before October.

[Toddler78]

I remember when a GTS was exclusive and you would count yourself lucky to see one on the road. Now you see them everywhere, I personally see more GTS's then I do clubsports these days.

Personally for me I wouldnt buy a HSV as a brand new vehicle, I would prefer to buy a SS and then spend my money on modifiying it for more power and better handling. I dont see the point in people buying a GTS or clubsport only to swap out the wheels, suspension, intake, exhaust for aftermarket gear and then fiddle with the engine for more power. Your throwing away all the gear that makes the HSV "better" then the SS and is the LS3 really worth the difference over the L98 once played with?

[zorro]

I remember when a GTS was exclusive and you would count yourself lucky to see one on the road. Now you see them everywhere, I personally see more GTS's then I do clubsports these days.

Personally for me I wouldnt buy a HSV as a brand new vehicle, I would prefer to buy a SS and then spend my money on modifiying it for more power and better handling. I dont see the point in people buying a GTS or clubsport only to swap out the wheels, suspension, intake, exhaust for aftermarket gear and then fiddle with the engine for more power. Your throwing away all the gear that makes the HSV "better" then the SS and is the LS3 really worth the difference over the L98 once played with?

Spoken like a hsv club member

Seriously never met a bunch like them, not even the BMW club is as uptight as these blokes.

Not having a dig at you though mate