ZB Commodore sales

[jc_sv8]

Hunters in St Leonards is now a Tesla dealership.

[whitels1ss]

Gilbert’s saw the writing on the wall years ago.

True...I actually know some of the Gilbert family, they are lovely, salt of the earth Australian people.

What happened was a very funny story.......

It went something along the lines of Grant telling Holden to belt their franchise up their *#@&.


Such a shame he passed away last year in a plane crash!

https://www.news.com.au/national/sou...6f7f40bc5a6b11

[CLUBRED]

Yeah, was pretty obvious to me that he was referring to the tyre's that are factory fitted to the Stinger.

https://www.caradvice.com.au/665383/...helin-stinger/

[Pickles]

Why are you guys knocking "Holden",....even as it is now, jeez guys, HOLDEN is still HOLDEN,....get positive & support the brand.
People seem to forget that the very first VB was not a "Holden" ...it was an OPel.
I'm a "Holden" man, I'm an Aussie, I support the brand,....& I support the Dealers.
"Aussie" is getting erased in all sorts of ways.....FFS, lets support an Aussie icon,.......I will be.
Drive one, then post your opinion on here.
Pickles.

[amckiwi]

Saw one today finally

[Pickles]

Saw one today finally

All good mate, I can't even remember seeing one myself, because they do look similar to many other current makes,..so I simply don't see them, but hey, I don't make a habit of looking either.
In any event, it doesn't make ém a bad car.
I say simply, look at one, drive one, then tell me, on this forum, what YOU say is a problem with them.
Pickles.

[Smitty]

anyone interested in where this is going , have a read of this...

https://www.whichcar.com.au/car-revi...els_newsletter

having driven all but the Hyundai, I don't disagree with much and the conclusion
I also have no issue with. The curious bit is they left out the Mazda 6

[jc_sv8]

True...I actually know some of the Gilbert family, they are lovely, salt of the earth Australian people.

What happened was a very funny story.......

It went something along the lines of Grant telling Holden to belt their franchise up their *#@&.

Such a shame he passed away last year in a plane crash!

https://www.news.com.au/national/sou...6f7f40bc5a6b11

Indeed! I grew up with the Gilbert’s (my dad’s cousins) so I know the back story well.
They are a fantastic family and have done Mt Barker proud.

His was one of the first Teslas I ever saw.

[Ausmartin1]

Holden to Offer $500 to people who test drive & then buy from a competitor brand.

Holly crap! Holden are so desperate for sales I think the marketing department just shat it's dacks - this could backfire on them costing a bomb.
Why?
Times have changed as Aussies like to cross shop and don't fall for the first vehicle they test drive.
The more arrogant and pushy (re desperate) the more likely a prospective buyer will walk away.
Especially when the vehicle range is "average" or less in their class categories.
No stellar vehicles at a Holden dealership currently is the best summary I've overheard while visiting.

https://www.goauto.com.au/news/holde...-08/73987.html

[JJW501]

How many cars are sold in Oz each year? Anyone who is buying a car can go down to holden for 15 minutes and get $500?

Have they thought this through? They must have some clauses in place to wriggle out, surely!

[whitels1ss]

I would not like to be a salesperson in a Holden dealership at the moment.

More people walking through the door, going for test drives with very little intention of buying

& a sales manager on your back because your conversion ratio is at a record low.

[Micks]

I would not like to be a salesperson in a Holden dealership at the moment.

More people walking through the door, going for test drives with very little intention of buying

& a sales manager on your back because your conversion ratio is at a record low.

Yes a very good guy I dealt with at Suttons for my last two new rides has left last year, have NFI why!!

[Pickles]

Yes a very good guy I dealt with at Suttons for my last two new rides has left last year, have NFI why!!

Did you ever deal with or hear of Denys Gillespie, He was at the Chullora branch?.....anybody on here know where He is now?
Pickles.

[macca_779]

Lol!!....why don't you say what you REALLY think?!
Have you driven one yet?
Pickles.

I agree with him completley. And yes I've driven a couple including the VXR.. Nice seats, thats about all!

[Smitty]

That's Easy...
Poor Marketing decisions, and zero accountability, and holden still trying to justify their poor choices, instead of admitting they Totally stuff up and make the required changes to fix the problem instaed of sitting on the sinking ship.... In the Insigneedoor...

The VB commodore was Rear Wheel Drive!!!...... and every single other commodore including the last VF...

The insigneedoor Is Not RWD!!!...

There is the Total Complete Disconnect.... associated with the commodore name, that is totally non existent / missing in action...

The insigneedoor is only available in useless FWD or the waste of time & added weight... for no real benefit of puttying around the Suburbs with AWD...

Why call the insigneedoor a commodore, when it resembles completely nothing of what it was???

That would have to be the most... Stupid / Foolish / Moronic / Idiotic...... marketing decision ever made by Holden Period... calling it a commodore IMO...

Holden would had received more respect for the insigneedoor, if they put the commodore name to bed, and gave it, it's Own all new name...

Instead they called it a commodore and just pissed everybody body off... Total Epic Fail!!!.... in the Marketing department...


Your quote "I support the Dealers"......

What you like paying huge markups, for vastly over inflated prices for parts and service...

The 1000% markup of Placebo... Paint, Interior, Rust and Body protection BS..... they try and force / up sell you when you buy a Brand new car, cost's them almost Nothing... and they charge you like $1000 a piece for each total BS Placebo protection system!!!... Seriously....


If Holden had introduced the insignia with a new name and 2L turbo (in RWD form) or V6TT (in RWD form) with both manual / auto options... there would of been a lot more interest in the car.

The V6 AWD non turbo is a waste of time.... the 2L turbo if coupled with RWD would of been lighter... more fuel efficient... and out preformed the AWD V6 no problem what so ever...

Just look at all the interest in the Stinger...

Interest in the insigneedoor is non existent...

I have still only seen one on the road to date, IE = Pathedic sales!!!...


If you like the insigneedoor so much, go knock yourself out, and go buy one...

guess.... you ain't interested in buying one then

whilst I take that much of the above rant is your opinion and a bit over the top
and full of emotion and one you are entitled to, having driven one (no... quite a number now)
as a car, the ZB is not bad as transport, pretty much the same as Camry or Mazda or Kia now,
just whitegoods on wheels these days. There is no emotion in ZB as a car
unlike VB or VY or VF. Geez, we really enjoyed a V8 VB SL/E when they came out

Different to the VF, definitely ! and we are all sad that died and I think most of us agree
(as you do) that Holden screwed up with ZB. My own opinion being an ex Holden employee
is that... Holden had no choice. Big Brother GM and federal pollies had a big stick.

But I do think and agree the one BAD mistake Holden made .. was to call it Commodore.

At the retail release of the ZB, which I attended, I was asked by Holden's senior
sales guys my opinion on that. My reply was ...it should never have been badged
Commodore and you will struggle to sell it, simply because of that! Call it something
else and the showroom foot traffic will come. As a Commodore, dealers will not
see interest from potential customers

And I think I called that right.

I support the brand, Holden and dealers employ thousands of us but my support is
not blinkered. If I can get something of better value from another manufacturer, I will
put my $ somewhere else.

Also, I buy lots of cars for my employer (am National Fleet Manager) and when the crunch
came a few months ago to replace an early VF EVOKE wagon, after assessment of everything
from Skoda to BMW to the ZB, $ for $ the ZB does the job . I bought two of them...
and will continue to do so until something better comes along that meets our fleet needs.


ps.... I feel that making remarks against members for having a different opinion to you,
never helps or adds to a discussion or topic here