ZB Commodore sales

[Pickles]

Visited or friendly Holden/HSV Dealer yesterday to resolve an exhaust alignment issue on our GTSR, so as I said I would, availed myself of a drive of a ZB.
The one we drove was a V6 AWD Wagon.
Drove it with Wifey for 1/2 an hour or so & found it Ok. Reasonably compact, plenty of performance, comfortable seating & nicely appointed inside with an air of "Euro".
Look, it ain't no VF, but it's not a bad car at all. The only point I would make is that maybe it doesn't look a lot different to many other cars on the market, whereas the VF, well it was our "Home Grown VF Commodore".
So, I suppose with the latent "anger"/public sentiment etc with VF production ending, the "Peugot Aspect", the ZB has had a few situations running against it, but take away all of that, and I don't think it's as bad as some portray.
Just my opinion, Pickles.

[CLUBRED]

I actually prefer the turbo 4. Be interesting now that Mazda has dropped the 2.5L T into the 6 finally - and 91 RON, unlike the Commodore.

[Smitty]

I actually prefer the turbo 4. Be interesting now that Mazda has dropped the 2.5L T into the 6 finally - and 91 RON, unlike the Commodore.

curious that... japanese/euro 91 ULP is the same as our 95 (which ZB requires)

oh and by the way, ZB WILL run 91ULP without issue except for 8% power reduction

Our reps running ZBs had been using 91 (out of habit from VE and VF days) and I thought
I better check, so I ran Holden's national Fleet Service Manager who advised that
you get the power loss and can also expect 'doughy' throttle response (as he put it) too

[Smitty]

Visited or friendly Holden/HSV Dealer yesterday to resolve an exhaust alignment issue on our GTSR, so as I said I would, availed myself of a drive of a ZB.
The one we drove was a V6 AWD Wagon.
Drove it with Wifey for 1/2 an hour or so & found it Ok. Reasonably compact, plenty of performance, comfortable seating & nicely appointed inside with an air of "Euro".
Look, it ain't no VF, but it's not a bad car at all. The only point I would make is that maybe it doesn't look a lot different to many other cars on the market, whereas the VF, well it was our "Home Grown VF Commodore".
So, I suppose with the latent "anger"/public sentiment etc with VF production ending, the "Peugot Aspect", the ZB has had a few situations running against it, but take away all of that, and I don't think it's as bad as some portray.
Just my opinion, Pickles.

no argument from me Martin.. its is not bad
but in the competition it is not a stand out...

btw.. i think Holden are doing it tuff in the market place.
I got an ad via email today to put on the staff notice boards
.... specially for us fleet buyers. Terms are -

$2,000 incl. GST cash back applies to ZB Commodore RS-V, Calais, Calais V VXR models only.
$1,000 incl. GST cash back applies to ZB Commodore LT & RS models. Loyalty code is transferable
but can be redeemed only once. ( I have several if employees are interested enuff)
Offer valid for Private and ABN buyers only. Offer valid until June 30, 2018.
7 year/unlimited km warranty (whichever occurs first) and 7 years roadside assistance

[Pickles]

no argument from me Martin.. its is not bad
but in the competition it is not a stand out...

btw.. i think Holden are doing it tuff in the market place.
I got an ad via email today to put on the staff notice boards
.... specially for us fleet buyers. Terms are -

$2,000 incl. GST cash back applies to ZB Commodore RS-V, Calais, Calais V VXR models only.
$1,000 incl. GST cash back applies to ZB Commodore LT & RS models. Loyalty code is transferable
but can be redeemed only once. ( I have several if employees are interested enuff)
Offer valid for Private and ABN buyers only. Offer valid until June 30, 2018.
7 year/unlimited km warranty (whichever occurs first) and 7 years roadside assistance

Yes, pretty much agree with all that.
I was talking to Adam Sawicki who is the Dealer Principal of Baycity, but also head of the Victorian Dealer Council or whatever they call it.
Obviously Holden is not where it wants to be, but there are better times ahead, HSV have also got some good stuff coming,.....their new Walkinshaw Park facility is very good indeed,.....Have you been there yet?.....I reckon Camaro will be good, and Dealers are really waiting for Silverado,.....what a machine!
Time will tell on all this stuff.
Pickles.

[mjrandom]

no argument from me Martin.. its is not bad
but in the competition it is not a stand out...

btw.. i think Holden are doing it tuff in the market place.
I got an ad via email today to put on the staff notice boards
.... specially for us fleet buyers. Terms are -

$2,000 incl. GST cash back applies to ZB Commodore RS-V, Calais, Calais V VXR models only.
$1,000 incl. GST cash back applies to ZB Commodore LT & RS models. Loyalty code is transferable
but can be redeemed only once. ( I have several if employees are interested enuff)
Offer valid for Private and ABN buyers only. Offer valid until June 30, 2018.
7 year/unlimited km warranty (whichever occurs first) and 7 years roadside assistance

Do tbey even read what they write? 7 years/unlimited km warranty (whichever occurs first). Wonder who will exceed the unlimited km...

[Pickles]

Do tbey even read what they write? 7 years/unlimited km warranty (whichever occurs first). Wonder who will exceed the unlimited km...

No, it simply means that the warranty is for seven years, no matter how many klms are driven.
Pickles.

[A^K^T]

Saw a forth ZB (a wagon) the other week , have seen a couple of Tealas in that time as well.

Apparently there are around 200 Teslas in WA.

[mjrandom]

No, it simply means that the warranty is for seven years, no matter how many klms are driven.
Pickles.

Obviously it is time limited so the words "whichever occurs first" are redundant. That is the point I was making. Just say 7 years unlimited warranty.

[Pickles]

Obviously it is time limited so the words "whichever occurs first" are redundant. That is the point I was making. Just say 7 years unlimited warranty.

Ah yes, I see what you're saying!
Pickles.

[raff]

Apparently over 1000 ZBs ‘sold’ in May? That’s about double last months......

[Pickles]

Apparently over 1000 ZBs ‘sold’ in May? That’s about double last months......

That's gotta be good for Holden.
I reckon if buyers could just get over the negativity created by the end of manufacturing in Aus, the car would sell much better.
Pickles.

[raff]

I think they did themselves no favours by calling it a Commodore. Marketing balls up. Would have been better to let the Commodore die out with the last of the Aus built VFs and let the new ZB fight it out with the Camry’s, Mazda 6 etc

[csv rulz]

Whilst the ZB is a flop sales wise for many reasons its not holdens only problem. They have had no consistency in any part of their business. From all the turn over in management staff, to changing a cars name with every model, eg: astra/viva/cruze/astra or vectra/epica/malibu/insignia/commodore and the changes in warranty every other month.
Holden need to pick a direction and stick to it

[Aus8]

Agree totally and even as people who have a little bit of a bias towards the brand although no much anymore I ask myself what car in the range is best in class? Can’t think of a single car they have right now that I would buy over the opposition models. That is the real problem!