Thread: Holden - how long before the end?

Agree 100%

The loss of the V8 didn't help recent sales,and who wants an ugly looking imported thing(commodore) with a Holden badge?

The other manufacturers will be rubbing their hands together.

I think that Cadogan bloke has predicted ten years.
Ten years ago he predicted they will become irrelevant in ten years, and he was about right.

I wouldn't purchase a Holden product made in the last ten years or so. They're largely irrelevant to me.

When I was in school, Holden held 50% of the market - with one model. (Admittedly it came as a car and a ute, and later a wagon, but only one engine and only two trim levels). The market is very much more fragmented than it was sixty or seventy years ago.

I currently have a car in my garage with a Holden badge on it called a Viva with a Aussie built motor in it.(2009 model)
I have never had anything to do with such a big piece of **** in my time as motor mechanic............Holden deserve to die after selling rubbish.( worse than a lemon)
My mother purchased new a 4x4 Rodeo which was a jap built vehicle and generally has been Ok , except for a new transmission which took alot of complaining to get fixed under warranty.
The real problem was when the vehicle was taken back to the dealer to get a fuel pump replaced and being a older type women told her the rear body had to come off to remove the fuel tank and replace the fuel pump and they would need to take 3k to do the job.
Naturally I took a look.........tank is held in with one strap, a couple of pipes and wires and drops out though the bottom of the vehicle..........says very little about dealer and brand trust.
Happy to see Holden go now they stopped all local production.

Am I alone or is this a very strange thread to be in a forum for imported cars? After all it is the actions of the forum members that have contributed to Holden's downfall.

Holden and Ford prospered when there was an 80% local content rule and quotas on imported cars that made an R12 as expensive as a Commodore.

Unfortunately the locals were between a rock and a hard place. They couldn't make medium cars like say 626s profitably at the price point , as it costs about the same to build a medium car as a large one.
The export markets disappeared as all the Asian countries bought in limits of usually 2 litres above which swingeing taxes were applied. Thailand is a good point AFAIR the import duties and taxes of an over 2litre car were about 150%. Holden even introduced a 2 litre Commodore to try and compete.
Another nail was the User/Chooser legislation that allowed fleets to purchase any mix of cars and tax deductibility for leases. Why not have an Audi instead of a Fairmont?
It remains to be seen how Holden will fare in the future. If their cars are competitive they will prosper, if not they wither.
But right now it is too early to tell.
Regards Philip A

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Am I alone or is this a very strange thread to be in a forum for imported cars?

Nup.
My daily drives have always been Aussie built, except the Gemini. The current Camry was built in Altona and it is a really good car. If I can't find a suitable Territory, I'll buy another Camry.
Three of my Landrovers were built in Australia, or so I believe. The three 101s are imported. Oh, the International No1 Mk3 and Mokes are also Australian built.

Holden behaved just like Kodak did...
And will suffer the same fate.