Thread: Holden axed in Aussie.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Yes, and it's going to get more difficult because of the enormous investment required to transition to EVs over the next decade.
Tesla is way ahead on that curve, being now worth more than all the major US car companies combined, and the old companies are playing catch up.
Rationalisation could result in maybe four or five EV manufacturers worldwide, one based in Japan, one plus Tesla in the US and maybe 2 in Europe, including JLR as a division of Peugeot - Renault - Nissan and a merger of the Germans into Mercedes- BMW- Audi- VW -Porsche.

I bet many of the smaller EV manufacturers disappear.

Tesla actually have never recorded an annual profit,and have had huge losses.Even in 2018 and 19,they still had large losses.

VW and Toyota will continue to soldier on as the biggest players in the auto market.They have huge capital,and expertise to change to suit different markets all over the world.If and when EV's take off,they will have theirs as well.

In fact Toyota has had hybrids for over 20yrs,so they were well ahead of the market.

Originally Posted by justinc

I think my 5.0 WB holden ute would've just scraped through in 1983... but yes, we've been without a decent local vehicle since forever....😣

I was too busy trying to forget the UC Torana to think about the WB.

Holden started to die when they dropped the Kindswood badge think I'll keep my 308 HZ.

Originally Posted by laney

Holden started to die when they dropped the Kindswood badge think I'll keep my 308 HZ.

My cousin bought a 1 owner HZ kingswood SL sedan, was factory ordered with 4 spd 308 and 3.36:1 diff for towing horse floats. Had 450k on it, original diff and trans but second engine. Was a sleeper with SL hubcaps and single exhaust etc....

Got any pics of the Z?

Originally Posted by 101 Ron

Holden brand is dead because.
They treated a lot of customers with contempt


Just a small part of people I have seen dealing with Holden and why they are gone.


People want.

value for money
good service and dealer experience.
good parts back up.
a product which long lasting that suits local conditions.

If the above was done ….Holden would own the market...…...they failed in most of the above.

I'm hearing ya. I started with a Holden dealership in '89 and got out in '06, more than half of it at a middle management level and saw first hand the contempt, especially towards the end of my stint, that at times, our next level management treated our customers with. And please don't mention the Viva again. Some of the early ones required assistance to get off of the truck into the yard (LOL).

HZ,....308.....Factory?.....Very rare car now, a good one is very desirable.......BUT, it's GOTTA have dual exhausts!!....Lol,..but seriously, a good, solid, original HZ 308 Kingswood would be good value, and even more so in the future.
Pickles.

Originally Posted by Stuck

I'm hearing ya. I started with a Holden dealership in '89 and got out in '06, more than half of it at a middle management level and saw first hand the contempt, especially towards the end of my stint, that our next level management treated our customers with. And please don't mention the Viva again (LOL).

Ed Zackerly that, imho.

Years ago we purchased a Camira 4 door from a North East located Holden dealer, middle of Summer we went to pick it up late arvo. We were left sitting in the glassed in & un- airconditioned show room while they sorted out something or other. (If it was air conditioned it wasn't turned on)

Manager was sighted in his office, feet up on desk, newspaper in hands & his air conditioning running. We clients sweating profusely in said hot house.

'er indoors opened his door to a startled "Manager", marched in & said "Your'e bloody alright are you mate?". I don't recall the exact reaction now but whatever it was it was very negative. Point is, that if we had not already signed an order for the Camira we would have strolled out.

We never did even consider another Holden anything after that, & the next one was Toymota Camry from Mount Barker, a lovely & reliable car until we bought the D1. (Oddly, the LR D1 dealers were **** as well we found later on). 'er indoors didn't want to part with the Camry, but we did.

Never even offered a drink of cold water &/or a seat in his ACd office. BASTARD!

I think if one multiplied that experience by say, thousands throughout Australia over the years it is easy to see why they went downhill. We also had a great experience with the Mazda CX-3 a year ago. Hospitality & attention was great & nothing too much trouble for them (also a NE of Adelaide Dealer)

Aussie cars of years gone by are sentimental things only.
They handled like ****, stopped like ****, were equipped like ****. Sure some went ok, that’s about it.

Sentiment and childhood memories drove prices to stupid levels - old doesn’t mean something is actually valuable (except it seems to at the moment ) and there’s indications the old vehicles are starting to lower slightly in price.

Holden (and Ford) made poorly constructed and poorly featured cars at inflated prices to public that couldn’t buy anything else.

And then expected us to not notice as the world became smaller....

Like that advertising run... Football, Meat pies, Kangaroos and Holden Cars... GM suckered the globe with that same tune.


I do like the look of a Ford Coupe, or a nice SLR 5000
But my favourite would be this gem. Again sentimental as we had one (also had a XY phase 3 and some other fun stuff)