| [ Total Views: 878 | Total Replies: 15 | Thread Id: 99282 ] |
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 tar76
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| posted on October 19th, 2012 at 07:49 PM |
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Astra/Opel
Just saw the new Astra/Opel tv add. Seem to be jumping on the VW golf train with the German thing! All i can say is go the Golf!
"Obey your Dreams"!
62 Std beetle.
65 11 wnd Split "The Cross".
6? coming very soon!!!!
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grinderman
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| posted on October 20th, 2012 at 09:45 AM |
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Yes, its only here because of the very popular golf. They do make some interesting gti style performance models but it would have been easier (and
cheaper) to sell as a rebadged holden. I hope they are an improvement over the astras of old which aren't known for their quality.
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68AutoBug
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| posted on October 20th, 2012 at 12:16 PM |
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General Motors doesn't really care about Holden sales by the look of it... so long as they have a sale...
Chevrolets and Vauxhalls will be next.. lol
and the German phrase at the end of adds is a bit over the top..
IMHO.. Das Auto - the auto..??
parts were very expensive when the Astra was a Holden [opel]
LEE
- [size=4]Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY--- [/size]
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waveman1500
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| posted on October 20th, 2012 at 02:06 PM |
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Opel is definitely aiming for VW's market in Australia, and pitching themselves as a "premium German" brand. Having said that, there are ads in the
paper today offering the Astra for $24,990 driveaway with 1.4 litre turbo engine, 16" alloy wheels and even metallic paint included, which is very
close to the price of the equivalent Cruze SRi, if not perhaps even undercutting it. In fact, I just looked it up and the Cruze SRi is actually $2000
more at $26,990 driveaway, with only 17" alloys in it's favour. And personally, I think the Cruze 17" alloys are quite ugly.
Whether we need two competing GM small cars in the same size range, built on the same platform, with the same engines/transmissions is an excellent
question. When I was at Holden last year I got the impression that Holden management was not happy with Opel launching in Australia, but the orders
had come from higher up in GM.
Really, given that the cars are basically so similar, I would hope that people could support Australian jobs and buy the locally-made product. Every
Holden dealer should be putting giant "Made in Australia" signs on every Cruze to emphasize the fact.
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waveman1500
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| posted on October 20th, 2012 at 02:21 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by grindermanThey do make some interesting gti style performance models but it would have been easier (and cheaper) to sell as a rebadged
holden.
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The Astra Coupe OPC is a very impressive car. It would have made no sense whatsoever to sell the Astra as a Holden alongside the Cruze though. What
they should do is put the 206kW engine from the OPC Astra into the Cruze to give it a legitimate high-performance hero model. The SRi-V is a complete
joke, with 103kW and about 1400kg of mass to lug around it is not a performance car. The 1.4 turbo engine is an economy engine, not a performance
engine. With finger-light electric power steering they're not much fun to drive either in my opinion. Holden does sell lots of them though, because
they have the sporty looks and luxury features that everyone wants. Anyone who wants a genuinely fast Holden has to go to the Commodore range. Even a
base Omega would leave a Cruze SRi-V in it's dust. In fact even an Omega taxi on LPG with 500,000km on it would leave a Cruze SRi-V in it's dust!
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vlad01
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| posted on October 20th, 2012 at 10:41 PM |
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this is nothing new, they just leaving the opel badge on rather than rebadging it as holden.
opel have been with us for a very long time, since at least the 70s as far as i know. Pretty much all holdens from late 70s is just an opel altered by
GMH to suit our conditions and market.
its funny how many people are falling for this marketing scheme. We all know the auto trend is been going towards the European cars for a while now,
so holden(or higher GM authorities?) did the obvious to jump aboard this ban wagon and just not going to rebadge the cars they have been selling for a
long time to make it look like a new german car on the market.
My friend took out a loan with his gf to buy one of those cruize cars.
I just rolled my eyes at that one. 
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE |
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vlad01
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| posted on October 20th, 2012 at 10:54 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by waveman1500
Opel is definitely aiming for VW's market in Australia, and pitching themselves as a "premium German" brand. Having said that, there are ads in the
paper today offering the Astra for $24,990 driveaway with 1.4 litre turbo engine, 16" alloy wheels and even metallic paint included, which is very
close to the price of the equivalent Cruze SRi, if not perhaps even undercutting it. In fact, I just looked it up and the Cruze SRi is actually $2000
more at $26,990 driveaway, with only 17" alloys in it's favour. And personally, I think the Cruze 17" alloys are quite ugly.
Whether we need two competing GM small cars in the same size range, built on the same platform, with the same engines/transmissions is an excellent
question. When I was at Holden last year I got the impression that Holden management was not happy with Opel launching in Australia, but the orders
had come from higher up in GM.
Really, given that the cars are basically so similar, I would hope that people could support Australian jobs and buy the locally-made product. Every
Holden dealer should be putting giant "Made in Australia" signs on every Cruze to emphasize the fact.
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only the higher model cruize in made here, the lower specs are opel rebadges.
I do agree on keeping it here though. I found myself going to a holden dealership to get parts for my already 20 year old model and surprisingly most
parts they still produce and are of fantastic quality for next to nothing. the ironic part was it was actually cheaper in most cases to buy genuine
from the dealer than aftermarket crap from repco and places like that.
I hope they don't stop making parts, coz I still need a fai few parts yet 
although not all parts are made here, about 50% maybe less are made here.
when I look at the old NOS parts the packet says made in Australia with a factory address either in SA or Dandenong in Vic, ah the good old days when
stuff was made here.
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE |
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 MISS VDUB
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| posted on October 21st, 2012 at 10:39 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by tar76
Just saw the new Astra/Opel tv add. Seem to be jumping on the VW golf train with the German thing! All i can say is go the Golf!
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or a Skoda! 
1963 Single Cab Ute: "El Concreto"
1962 Baja Beetle: "Peanut"
1968 Porsche 912 SWB: "Pip"
1972 Kombi Snail: "The Snail"
2012 Skoda Octavia Scout: "Scout"
2016 Scirocco R: "Rocco"
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GASBNR
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| posted on October 21st, 2012 at 01:58 PM |
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I bought a new Vw Golf in 2006/7 1.9tdi dsg.
Made in South Africa not Germany!!!
Had trouble with the DSG gearbox changing gears at random.
Then had a problem with wind noise, found that on the production line the machine hadn't been putting any locktight on the bolts that hold the skin
to the door itself and the door sin was coming away from the car at speed...........
Sold it with 2000k's on the clock
It will take a bit of convincing to buy another water cooled dub
SORRY BOUT THAT!
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waveman1500
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| posted on October 21st, 2012 at 02:21 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by vlad01
only the higher model cruize in made here, the lower specs are opel rebadges.
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This isn't true, I have seen the base model Cruze CD going down the Elizabeth production line with my own eyes. All the Cruzes sold here are built in
Elizabeth. Panels are pressed and welded here, large plastic parts are moulded here (bumpers and side skirts), major interior parts (seats, dash,
carpet and headliner) are made in South Australia, but most of the rest is imported (drivetrain, electrical, wheels).
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DubCrazy
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| posted on October 21st, 2012 at 03:13 PM |
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the main reason for the Opel badge and not holden is that the holden small cars have taken a beating since they started production in the old Deawoo
plant.. Quality has fallen down from the german built models and sales have been affected
It all comes down the the Aussie public, holden did a survey asking if people would buy the same car one built in germany or one built in korea with
there being a price drop or equipment upgrade and they result was quite high on the korean model, all people could see for the most part was cheap or
free extras..
A very large amount of holden parts are all made at the korean plant now, panels and such. the quality isn't as good as it once was and all in all it
has hurt holden and in turn gmc so they decided to relaunch opel here with that in mind and the desire of people to own a german built car..
truth be known most new cars are going down hill as the companys try to save money and the public demand more and more for standard trim.. yes some
are better than others
steff...
Life with out a v-dub is no life at all!!!!!
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1303Steve
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| posted on October 21st, 2012 at 07:36 PM |
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Hi
The older cars from the same stable have a such a bad reputation in the trade that I would be surprised if anybody buys one.
No wonder Holden gets beaten in sales figures when it builds a big car nobody wants and small cars that smart people try to avoid, Ford isn't any
better.
Steve
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waveman1500
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| posted on October 21st, 2012 at 08:29 PM |
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Holden's problem is that they can't adapt to the changing Australian market fast enough. Back in 2006 when the VE was first launched they could sell
as many of them as they wanted. The Australian market has gone off the large car segment quicker than anybody could have predicted.
Check out this graphic for some proof:
So, large car sales fell from about 15,000 per month to 5,000 per month in only 10 years. Meanwhile, SUV sales swallowed that entire loss of volume,
growing from roughly 7,000 per month to 17,000 per month. The fact that large-car buyers have moved to SUVs rather than small cars proves that the
change in buying behaviour is mostly driven by fashion trends rather than a desire for better fuel economy. Large cars and station wagons are now
desperately uncool, so buyers have switched to SUVs to fulfill the same purpose.
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vlad01
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| posted on October 22nd, 2012 at 09:30 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by waveman1500
| Quote: | Originally
posted by vlad01
only the higher model cruize in made here, the lower specs are opel rebadges.
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This isn't true, I have seen the base model Cruze CD going down the Elizabeth production line with my own eyes. All the Cruzes sold here are built in
Elizabeth. Panels are pressed and welded here, large plastic parts are moulded here (bumpers and side skirts), major interior parts (seats, dash,
carpet and headliner) are made in South Australia, but most of the rest is imported (drivetrain, electrical, wheels).
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are you sure? people involved in holden tell me otherwise.
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE |
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vlad01
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| posted on October 22nd, 2012 at 09:35 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by DubCrazy
the main reason for the Opel badge and not holden is that the holden small cars have taken a beating since they started production in the old Deawoo
plant.. Quality has fallen down from the german built models and sales have been affected
It all comes down the the Aussie public, holden did a survey asking if people would buy the same car one built in germany or one built in korea with
there being a price drop or equipment upgrade and they result was quite high on the korean model, all people could see for the most part was cheap or
free extras..
A very large amount of holden parts are all made at the korean plant now, panels and such. the quality isn't as good as it once was and all in all it
has hurt holden and in turn gmc so they decided to relaunch opel here with that in mind and the desire of people to own a german built car..
truth be known most new cars are going down hill as the companys try to save money and the public demand more and more for standard trim.. yes some
are better than others
steff...
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very true.
they all have been going down hill since the late 90s + or - 5 years.
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE |
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Snap Crackle Bang
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| posted on October 22nd, 2012 at 05:41 PM |
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This one has got more to do with corporate goals than anything else.
GM has been trying to flog off Opel (the company) to any group with deep enough pockets to carry the debt that comes with it. We are talking hundreds
of millions of dollars here, more than Opel's value in assets and more that GM can afford. Consequently they want Opel to be an established player in
global markets, or at least look like they are to potential buyers. Getting rid of Opel is more important than giving Holden the right cars to sell
from GM's point of view. In reality Opel will probably go the way of Saab within a mode cycle or 2.
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