... 2018 Commodore replacement, NO V8 or turbo :(

[Micks]

My long time Holden rep had one hidden away at the back of the stealership when I spoke with him recently, reckons the stock LS3 shits all over them & said the V6 turbo awd is a thirsty pig!

[Woodchukka]

Well I guess three things come to mind-
1) Holden has said there will be a V8 for enthusiasts, so for those that don't like this Commodore there will be something else.
2) SUV's have by far overtaken large cars in sales numbers, and large cars will probably continue to decline in sales numbers. Will this sell in big numbers? Probably not.
3) The average person who is not an enthusiast won't care. As long as it's priced right and they think it looks good and drives well they will buy it.

Yes it's a sad fact that a part of Australian motoring history is being lost, but the average person has changed their buying habits. We have now the best Commodore ever released, but people are buying 4cyl buzz boxes and 4WD's in big numbers.

Yeah Ford have a solution for the V8 enthusiasts as well. I like it however 2 doors just will not do the job for me. I need 4. Holden are likely to do the same thing.

[BLACK 346]

Yeah Ford have a solution for the V8 enthusiasts as well. I like it however 2 doors just will not do the job for me. I need 4. Holden are likely to do the same thing.

Yep, have had a couple of 2 door cars and they are a pita if you want to transport more than 2 people. I remember a few years back looking at a Monaro, just watching the electric seat
take an eternity to go forward to allow rear access cured me of any ambition to own one.

[mac06]

All good points. I wouldn't like 2 doors either, but Cadillac CTS-V? Bit expensive by the time it lands, but a possibility.

SUV's in all sizes accounted for 35.3% of total sales in 2015, large cars 3.8% and medium cars 6.8%. Even the large and medium cars combined only accounted for 10.6%

The current Insignia AWD V6 is thirsty, so hope the new model will a lot more fuel efficient with a reasonable amount of get up and go for a V6. Either way people simply aren't buying many large/medium cars ATM.

The upshot of it is if anyone wants a reasonably priced 4 door V8 RWD then get in while they're still available.

[redvxr8clubby]

The upshot of it is if anyone wants a reasonably priced 4 door V8 RWD then get in while they're still available.

Absolutely, not that it comes as any surprise, the current issue of Wheels has 2018 Commodore on the front cover with the statement - 2018 Commodore - No RWD, No V8, No manual. Obviously it's not going to be a replacement for my VXR8 Clubby, which is all of the above. With Holden not catering to V8 market which is about one third of current production, not to mention no RWD and no manual. They must be revising their sales projections down considerably from current car.

[Smitty]

Absolutely, not that it comes as any surprise, the current issue of Wheels has 2018 Commodore on the front cover with the statement - 2018 Commodore - No RWD, No V8, No manual. Obviously it's not going to be a replacement for my VXR8 Clubby, which is all of the above. With Holden not catering to V8 market which is about one third of current production, not to mention no RWD and no manual. They must be revising their sales projections down considerably from current car.

hmmm... yes well
talking to senior Holden sales people at the Astra launch a few weeks ago talk turned to the Commodore replacement
and it appears (of course they were not saying anything concrete) that sales expectations are back where they were
prior to VE (as in 80,000+ per year)

I mentioned that might be a tuffie ... as the top selling car for 2016 is a not a car but a truck in the HILUX
Their response was ...we have the Colorado (and we have another 4WD to come)

The facts at the moment is that a number of Holden dealers have shut their doors... or gone out and done deals to
have multiple vehicle brands in their stable ( I know of one who has added KIA, Peugot Citroen and Renault, Hyundai
and recently Mitsubishi.. as well as the original Holden and HSV)

[Ausmartin1]

The facts at the moment is that a number of Holden dealers have shut their doors... or gone out and done deals to
have multiple vehicle brands in their stable ( I know of one who has added KIA, Peugot Citroen and Renault, Hyundai
and recently Mitsubishi.. as well as the original Holden and HSV)

I think Smitty you have hit the target well and truely on this one.
The Dealers are expecting a significant slow down - Like your example Ferntree Gully Holden = 1/2 sized shares with VW.
Brighton Holden shares with Mitsubishi and Penfolds gone.

Holden are really stuck with sub par Korean or Overpriced European Opel's that will not be as durable / cheap to maintain for the Australian KM life we expect out of them.
The original Colorado was a service managers dud with a ride quality from a decade ago. The second version is better but look at the amount of competition...
At least Holden didn't import from China - who still have major issues assembling bicycles, lawn mower engines and the Chinese themselves would prefer not to purchase Chinese vehicles - as they know they are total crap.

Yes hard times ahead for GM / Holden in Australia, but they deserve nothing less for wiping out the auto manufacturing in this Country as it was their decision that made Toyota fold as well.

[ralcool]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/507521/2...kest-car-ever/

Been said a few times now. Who ever thought we'd lose Holden and Fords to imported FWD rubbish, for them to become same.

Then, to add insult to injury... the very competition delivers the cars customers are asking for.

Twin Turbo RWD V6, 8 Sp auto RWD Kia. Holden could nearly build one tomorrow in VF.

But No. Claim the market isn't interested and saturated.

I may not know anything, but if a market is trending- then there is something people like and they buy it.
Then other companies think- we can do that too and attempt to either cash in, or better the product.

But some things need to stay around.

There is an expectation of always being able to buy a Holden V8 ute or wagon. Maybe not a lot.. but business case.

You drive for one damn minute in the country and see the staple of Holden and Fords- new and old serving people.
Towing trailers of firewood, horses, rubbish- all manner of things. 'Ford is the answer' STILL... so is an Effing V8 Holden ute.

These people, thousands of them will be another customer if there is something to buy. Cars have a life cycle.
We crash, we wear them out, tow the balls off it, drive it half a million kays on dirt and shit without a worry of parts.

GM & Ford and others, have done little more than sold their souls for whatever their corporate dream is in this moment.

Ruined Manufacturing, Expectations, Talented Innovation, a Staple of Aussie life- in the name of pure ill sighted greed.

Morons

[Ausmartin1]

BIG LOL!

Even the Channel 9 lady presenter KNOWS this is NOT a commodore.
https://www.9now.com.au/today/2016/c...100hl5h543okbl

I think Holden have REALLY screwed up.

Time for V6 Twin Turbo Kia anyone after the VE production finishes... ?

Strange days indeed!

[Smitty]

........................ they deserve nothing less for wiping out the auto manufacturing in this Country as it was their decision that made Toyota fold as well.

bit harsh there ....

don't forget Fraud were the first to pull the pin... and then the parliamentary debacle where Abbott and Costello (.. sorry Hockey ) DEMANDED an immediate answer from Holden and GM
about their future plans. And why would they? Any large corporation is not in the business of divulging its long term strategies.. the banks certainly don't do that, BHP doesn't, neither does AMCOR.
Really that demand from Canberra was infantile and puerile

After that it became obvious, for reasons known only to them, Abbott and Costello wanted auto manufacturing to cease in Australia. Holden wanted $150m a year assistance .. to stay.
Abbott and co said no.
The same lot in power in the next budget increased the bank and mining industry subsidies by $3BILLION

Currently we have the same lot (now lead by Turnbull) who won't make a statement on renewable energy policy. A emissions trading scheme will save this country (*both business and consumers)
$15billion over a 5 year period .. AND assist in meeting the targets we signed up to in Paris. (towards reducing climate change). In the meantime your power bill is about to go up by maybe $300 a year
(depends on where you live.. SA will be up to $500)
Turnbull says that emmissions trading is against Lib party policy ... and will not happen while he is PM . Reminds me of Nero fiddling while Rome burned

Personally... I am worried about the future of this country with clowns like that in Canberra (and Labour and the Greens are no better)

[Smitty]

BIG LOL!

Even the Channel 9 lady presenter KNOWS this is NOT a commodore.
https://www.9now.com.au/today/2016/c...100hl5h543okbl

I think Holden have REALLY screwed up.

Time for V6 Twin Turbo Kia anyone after the VE production finishes... ?

Strange days indeed!

there already is a V8 RWD sedan (from Korea) on sale in this country (V6 version also available)

[white lie]

there already is a V8 RWD sedan (from Korea) on sale in this country (V6 version also available)

We don't get the V8 here.... Which is a real shame, they would easily clean up given the current future options. A lot of car for the money in a Genesis

[HSVREDSLED]

Does ford have a falcon sized sedan with the 3.5 eco boost motor in it? This year I drove an expedition in the states with a 3.5 eco motor (same as the F150) and the thing turned tyres and weighed about 4 ton!

It would be a rocket ship in a sedan. The figures make the 5.4litre V8 look very ordinary.

[Ausmartin1]

bit harsh there ....

don't forget Fraud were the first to pull the pin... and then the parliamentary debacle where Abbott and Costello (.. sorry Hockey ) DEMANDED an immediate answer from Holden and GM
about their future plans. And why would they? Any large corporation is not in the business of divulging its long term strategies.. the banks certainly don't do that, BHP doesn't, neither does AMCOR.
Really that demand from Canberra was infantile and puerile

After that it became obvious, for reasons known only to them, Abbott and Costello wanted auto manufacturing to cease in Australia. Holden wanted $150m a year assistance .. to stay.
Abbott and co said no.
The same lot in power in the next budget increased the bank and mining industry subsidies by $3BILLION

Currently we have the same lot (now lead by Turnbull) who won't make a statement on renewable energy policy. A emissions trading scheme will save this country (*both business and consumers)
$15billion over a 5 year period .. AND assist in meeting the targets we signed up to in Paris. (towards reducing climate change). In the meantime your power bill is about to go up by maybe $300 a year
(depends on where you live.. SA will be up to $500)
Turnbull says that emmissions trading is against Lib party policy ... and will not happen while he is PM . Reminds me of Nero fiddling while Rome burned

Personally... I am worried about the future of this country with clowns like that in Canberra (and Labour and the Greens are no better)

Very True, Smitty
Remember also the American and to a lesser extent the Asian manufactures have only been here to enjoy the teat of support and did not do their part in returning the favour via correct models and EXPORT.
Ford Let the Falcon die and the plant it was made in (Good Grief comes to mind and the Geelong engine plant = eeek), no small car - Bugger all export.
Holden, Screwed over Royal by GM USA when it came to export and investment, Cruze nice attempt but this car was designed at the height of belt tightening when GM declared bankruptcy, much like the imported Capitiva.
Even if GM did everything right, With Trump to be president - Exporting to the USA would be written out for Australia as he is ONLY for Americans.

Mitsubishi left when the Market changed and powerful FWD went out of fashion.

Toyota is the sad part for Australia, they had the Best and Latest / Modern plant and exported a lot for financial tax reasons to juggle their import side of the business.
The Australia cars are highly regarded in the Hot middle east as being well built with great HD A/C's.

Now all we have left after the Button plan onward and Current government is = Zero production / manufacturing post 2017.
R&D only stays again due to Tax breaks / incentives for us to be the Clever country (I know stop laughing here please) while the Overseas companies continue to screw us over still as Australians.

Sad for all the people who worked / supported the auto industries and other manufactures in Australia.

But the Conclusion is these companies and our governments have truly done us completely over.

In the future, browsing the dealerships of Kia and Hyundai for a well powered rear wheel drive sedan is just a very totally sad irony.

[Smitty]

We don't get the V8 here.... Which is a real shame, they would easily clean up given the current future options. A lot of car for the money in a Genesis

no V8 now? pity!
my mate had a demo one (he works for Hyundai) when the car was first released here.. very nice jigger