Does HSV understand its Market?

[planetdavo]

Yet another edit by Martin after his initial post. He must have been mighty bored the last week or two..
People have met me from here. Some were even normal.
Thought this thread was about HSV's supposed "problems", not about Davo upsetting the people that need to be popular on internet forums to feel important in life...

[planetdavo]

Yep, She's back . . . with another useless post that is wasting everyones time

. . . there wouldnt be 23 pages if he left this thread alone!!!

Yes you are right.
It would only be 22 painfully long pages.

[Angeldust]

Quote Smitty : "no not really..... as far as I remember

I had a VK V8 manual Berlina and it was the same price as a VK SS Grp A (both at about $21 large in 1985)
The full noise VH Grp 3 with the hi-output engine was exactly $5k more than the std VH SS with the 5.0 engine (not the 4.2 version)
and the original VN Clubsport was about the same price as a VN Calais... "





thank you for that.

[4VMan]

Does anyone remember whether HDT cars were priced above what the average joe could afford?

They never were affordable, in fact your average HSV or FPV is far cheaper now relative to wages than they were 10 years avo, anyone remember what the Callaway 300kw GTS cost???? or EL GT????

Affordability wise we have it better now than ever before, the problem is we have more gadgets to absorb our disposable income now like plasmas etc then ever before too... Its just a mater of priority.

[nailit]

no not really..... as far as I remember

I had a VK V8 manual Berlina and it was the same price as a VK SS Grp A (both at about $21 large in 1985)
The full noise VH Grp 3 with the hi-output engine was exactly $5k more than the std VH SS with the 5.0 engine (not the 4.2 version)
and the original VN Clubsport was about the same price as a VN Calais...

I have sought some advice on this . . . from an old person

Pricing started to get out of control in 86 when the VL GPA was 29600 . . . . and a Calais 5.0 was $21k

Then the Walky was 45500 (first 500) then (47500) secon 250 . . . which you could eventually buy for $34k . . . hmm. . there we go again - supply & demand!!!

Then the VN GPA was $69k . . . and a V8 VN Calais was $26k with the lot!!!

The VK GPA was the bargain (especially when you consider values in 2012) . . . but it was optional for AIR and the Big Bore Exhaust!!! - as apparatly that is what Brocjk Called it!!!

. . I wonder how accurate his (old man) memory is?

[4VMan]

I have sought some advice on this . . . from an old person

Pricing started to get out of control in 86 when the VL GPA was 29600 . . . . and a Calais 5.0 was $21k

Then the Walky was 45500 (first 500) then (47500) secon 250 . . . which you could eventually buy for $34k . . . hmm. . there we go again - supply & demand!!!

Then the VN GPA was $69k . . . and a V8 VN Calais was $26k with the lot!!!

The VK GPA was the bargain (especially when you consider values in 2012) . . . but it was optional for AIR and the Big Bore Exhaust!!! - as apparatly that is what Brocjk Called it!!!

. . I wonder how accurate his (old man) memory is?

sounds right to me, VN Gp A was about 69k, VR GTS-R in the 70'S? TS S3 in the 70's... Prices have only risen 10-20% in 10 years despite wages almost doubling.

[Martin_D]

Cars are cheaper now than they have ever been.

[nailit]

Thought this thread was about HSV's supposed "problems",

. . . and your still here wasting posts . . . or raising your post (opps - Piffle) count!!!

Read the Thread subject Title - Does HSV understand its market? - SEE THE BLOODY QUESTION MARK

. . . I guess some people have got TOOOOO many female Genes!!! /. . . ie - they open their mouth B4 they open their eyes

[rgmast]

Touche.
Just as you can post your own opinion like you have, "safe" in the knowledge that you are yet another anonymous internet poster like the rest of us.

I might be anonymous but I dont come on to proclaim to the world that I know everything about everything. You dont have to post in every thread. We have already discussed that this thread isnt for you earlier on when u claimed u spent 'HSV $$$ on a non HSV monaro"
Some people are enjoying this thread some arent and im guessing the ones arent no longer click on it or write in so u could always do the same

[nailit]

Some people are enjoying this thread some arent and im guessing the ones arent no longer click on it or write in so u could always do the same

Thats just not possible for Davo . . like all females . . . he has to have the last word on everything - whether she is right or wrong

. . . and by the way rgmast . . the old man says Hi . . . as he sits a couple of metres away from me - Laughing his head off!!!

[rgmast]

Thats just not possible for Davo . . like all females . . . he has to have the last word on everything - whether she is right or wrong

. . . and by the way rgmast . . the old man says Hi . . . as he sits a couple of metres away from me - Laughing his head off!!!

You have killed off my animosity (now I cant be a keyboard warrior)

Hey there Sniper, we must organise another HSV cruise soon

[VYBerlinaV8]

Lookout.....Davos back

I think he prefers we call him 'Keyser Soze' now...

[Martin_D]

I think he prefers we call him 'Keyser Soze' now...

The greatest trick that Davo ever played was making the world believe Davo never existed

[bouka]

Whilst I think HSV have a damn good product, it is still a mass-produced gadget that comes off the line like a sausage machine, and accordingly has many stupid, yet to some - soul-destroying weaknesses and failures.
That is a given.
But it's how these problems are dealt with that is the measure of a quality up-market product.
There is certainly no doubt that HSV has a long way to go in the aftermarket service area. I am a firm believer that no matter what consumer product you are selling - be it cars, cameras, TVs, fridges or whatever, you can make or break owner satisfaction, and the product's market reputation, simply with the way these problems are dealt with.
It is a man-made, mass-produced product, and therefore it will have the occassional problem. Absolutely no doubt.
But the problem lies in the way these issues are dealt with, or not.
It isn't so much that the car has a problem - it is all about how the issue is handled, firstly on a dealer level, and then, by the manufacturer.
When you take the car in with an issue, and get the old "Oh - they all do that - it's normal", or "that clutch issue is your poor driving", or "That rattle inside the engine is normal - just see if it develops" - it is very disappointing, and, at that point, even though the issue might eventually get fixed, irretrievable damage is already done.
The manufacturers make sufficient profit that any issue should be dealt with immediately and comprehensively if they are to have a hope in hell of maintaing any customer loyalty.
In a lifetime of retail experience I have seen over and over again that it is not the original fault that is the cause of the discontent - it is how the issue is handled.
It always works the same way - there is a fault in the product and the customer takes it back to the seller/dealer. If it is fixed quickly and without argument, the customer goes away happy as if the fault had never occurred.
But - if there is an initial argument or non-repair, it escalates, the service manager gets involved, then the dealer principal, then the manufacturer's rep, and, and, until usually finally the problem is attended to as it should have been from day one.
Result - the owner hates the car, the dealer, the manufacturer, and swears to never buy one again and tells all his friends the same.
Yet - if the issue was handled correctly initally, for far less cost and aggravation, the end result is so totally different and better.
For example - I have a Smeg cooker in my kitchen and after about 6 years the markings on the knobs have worn off. The original warranty was 12 months, so I rang the company in Sydney, explained the issue and asked for a price on replacement knobs for the function and the temperature controls. They said - oh they're $37 each, but that shouldn't happen, so at no cost we'll send you some new ones and a couple of spare ones for good measure. Am I happy ? - yes. Am I concerned that I had the problem in the first place ? - not in the slightest, because it was dealt with appropriately by someone with some savvy marketing skills.
If HSV is to ever become a genuine up-market brand, they need some serious lessons in this regard.

Wisdom and experience are irreplaceable. Could not agree more.

Very well said old fella.

[Smitty]

I have sought some advice on this . . . from an old person

Pricing started to get out of control in 86 when the VL GPA was 29600 . . . . and a Calais 5.0 was $21k
Then the Walky was 45500 (first 500) then (47500) secon 250 . . . which you could eventually buy for $34k . . . hmm. . there we go again - supply & demand!!!
Then the VN GPA was $69k . . . and a V8 VN Calais was $26k with the lot!!!

The VK GPA was the bargain (especially when you consider values in 2012) . . . but it was optional for AIR and the Big Bore Exhaust!!! - as apparatly that is what Brocjk Called it!!!

. . I wonder how accurate his (old man) memory is?

ha...and I thought I was the only old man here


anyhow, I have dug out some old price lists....
VL Calais with 6cyl eng was $23,530 (RRP) .. no mention of the V8 option add-on price
the VL Grp A (carby) was $29,600 as you said
and VL Calais HDT LE was $$27,995

the HSV VL offerings were -
Calais SV88 $40,850 (aint that a rip-off for a V8 Calais with fancy wheels!)
VL Walky as per your pricing


VN models is where it goes a bit funny...
VN V6 Calais was $31,265
VN V8 SS was $26,862 (bargain)
with the
HSV ClubSport at $33,020 (nice price)
but
HSV SS Grp A sedan at $68,950...sheesh


the VK Grp A pricing I mentioned ($21,590) included the zorst but not aircon according to my lists
but the REAL Bargain in Vks was the HDT LM5000 at...$15,500!!!