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Re: GM to dump Holden

Reply #105
Never been a Jeep fan but they do seem quite capable off road as I witnessed on a trip to the Simpson Desert a few years ago. However on a later trip to the Canning Stock Route the sobering sight of a burnt out Wrangler sticks in my mind, a victim of the notorious Spinifex, which is highly flammable.

Early Jeeps were tough and great off road , which has been half of their appeal IMO but the quality started slipping and once they became a multi merged entity they have become dangerous and their service appalling.
I get it that long time Jeep owners love the brand but I think that was based on the old Jeeps especially the Grand Cherokees but the new variety are poorly designed and if I was going anywhere off road it would be in a Toyota Landcruiser only.
The SUV craze was probably spawned from the old Jeeps operating as dual function vehicles but IMO its now a brand especially in Aus that will become extinct as its sales just plummet every year.

Re: GM to dump Holden

Reply #106
Early Jeeps were tough and great off road , which has been half of their appeal IMO but the quality started slipping and once they became a multi merged entity they have become dangerous and their service appalling.
I get it that long time Jeep owners love the brand but I think that was based on the old Jeeps especially the Grand Cherokees but the new variety are poorly designed and if I was going anywhere off road it would be in a Toyota Landcruiser only.
The SUV craze was probably spawned from the old Jeeps operating as dual function vehicles but IMO its now a brand especially in Aus that will become extinct as its sales just plummet every year.
They are the ugliest pieces of junk on the road, wouldn't have one if you paid me to drive to it.
2017-16th
2018-Wooden Spoon
2019-16th
2020-dare to dream? 11th is better than last I suppose
2021-Pi$$ or get off the pot
2022- Real Deal or more of the same? 0.6%
2023- "Raise the Standard" - M. Voss Another year wasted Bar Set
2024-Back to the drawing boardNo excuses, its time

Re: GM to dump Holden

Reply #107
What are your thoughts on the coming Land Rover Defender 110 P400 HSE?
The Force Awakens!

Re: GM to dump Holden

Reply #108
What are your thoughts on the coming Land Rover Defender 110 P400 HSE?
Good vehicles but dear as poison to buy and service. When crap goes wrong, kaching!! Got a mate who has owned them for a while, has plenty of coin but still whinges at the costs. My mechanic had a Disco 4 on the hoist one day and I asked him what it was in for, he said pads and discs, all 4 about $3.5K.
2017-16th
2018-Wooden Spoon
2019-16th
2020-dare to dream? 11th is better than last I suppose
2021-Pi$$ or get off the pot
2022- Real Deal or more of the same? 0.6%
2023- "Raise the Standard" - M. Voss Another year wasted Bar Set
2024-Back to the drawing boardNo excuses, its time

Re: GM to dump Holden

Reply #109
What are your thoughts on the coming Land Rover Defender 110 P400 HSE?

Expensive, heavy and a few too many option packs IMO ,2k extra if you want anything other than a White one??? Land Rover service and backup isnt exactly anything flash either, is their a manual option or all auto's?....I'd probably go a Lexus if I wanted that end of the market.


Re: GM to dump Holden

Reply #110
Expensive, heavy and a few too many option packs IMO ,2k extra if you want anything other than a White one??? Land Rover service and backup isnt exactly anything flash either, is their a manual option or all auto's?....I'd probably go a Lexus if I wanted that end of the market.

My late wife drove a Disco diesel for a few years - quite good but servicing and repairs were very very expensive. Give me a Lexus or Toyota any day if you want that type of vehicle.
Reality always wins in the end.

Re: GM to dump Holden

Reply #111
There's no such thing as cheap 4WD servicing.   Toyota's are OK - still not cheap.   New steering box for the Prado is $5000.

Ever wonder why you can get say M5's for bugger all,  even though they're less than ten years old?   No parts... Or outlandish costs such $16000 for a gearbox temp sensor,  $4000 each for rotors....
DrE is no more... you ok with that harmonica man?

Re: GM to dump Holden

Reply #112
There's no such thing as cheap 4WD servicing.   Toyota's are OK - still not cheap.   New steering box for the Prado is $5000.

Ever wonder why you can get say M5's for bugger all,  even though they're less than ten years old?   No parts... Or outlandish costs such $16000 for a gearbox temp sensor,  $4000 each for rotors....

Sure but I found Landrover particularly expensive especially anywhere  in the country/bush. Agree also that buying a used prestige vehicle, especially a european one, can be a potential "money pit".
Reality always wins in the end.

Re: GM to dump Holden

Reply #113
Perhaps the move to return to Aus manufacturing begins with one negative step?
"everything you know is wrong"

Paul Hewson

Re: GM to dump Holden

Reply #114
Perhaps the move to return to Aus manufacturing begins with one negative step?

Economics is not my strong suit, in fact probably my WAP suit. But it would seem that with the introspection that C-19 has created and rightly or wrongly a definite anti-Chinese sentiment palpable, this may be the ideal time to focus on local production and maybe even a uniquely Aussie car manufacturer which would very likely receive much more support than 6 months ago.

The future problem would no doubt be (in relation to all products) that as any negative Chinese sentiment subsides (maybe it won't? Or maybe China will be so affected by C-19 that it will force a change of govt?), that if China returns to the market place with reasonable products, dirt cheap, history will repeat itself... how can any nation compete with them when their labour is so cheap in comparison to ours and many other Western nations? Just 'spit-balling', as the Yanks would say.
Only our ruthless best, from Board to bootstudders will get us no. 17

Re: GM to dump Holden

Reply #115
Under the guidance of Scotty from Marketing a return to manufacturing in Australia would be truly antithetical, and I think that idea is being actively supported and confirmed as he tries to replace China with India!

The media report recent efforts as political, it is but that seems to be a very narrow perspective to take in the reporting, the media maybe want to play the anti-China racism card for full ratings effect.

The invitation to India is much more about a wider philosophy, we dig and sell dirt, they make!
The Force Awakens!

Re: GM to dump Holden

Reply #116
I'm all in favour of lower payroll taxes to (re) emerging industries (i.e. no bailouts) and if the infrastructure exists as well as the talent, I'd have no issue whatsoever with a decent car manufacturer as the filter down economic benefits are indeed considerable.   But NOT electric vehicles save for potential export if the market exists. 

Bit of seize the day logic.

Re: GM to dump Holden

Reply #117
I'm all in favour of lower payroll taxes to (re) emerging industries (i.e. no bailouts) and if the infrastructure exists as well as the talent, I'd have no issue whatsoever with a decent car manufacturer as the filter down economic benefits are indeed considerable.  But NOT electric vehicles save for potential export if the market exists. 

Bit of seize the day logic.
Many years ago Australia had the opportunity become the SE Asian / Oceania hub for the manufacture of commercial stuff, trains, buses, tractors, trucks, excavators, etc., etc.. It was basically a three way race between Sth Africa, India and Australia. The local push was being supported by Ex.Patriot Sth Africans, they saw a huge opportunity to add value to locally produced steel. Nobody makes buses, trucks, excavators and tractors out of carbon fibre or aluminium, and everybody was starting the process with Australia's iron ore!

The local Pollies turned up their toes and said we can't compete with China, and so they didn't, naturally the others failed,....................not!!!

Sth Africa and India and now thriving hubs for such equipment and we import pretty much the bulk of whatever we need here excluding a few niche items! The Sth African's behind the push here headed home, a couple of them built billion dollar businesses back there doing exactly what they had wanted to do here!

I can't believe how piss-weak we are on the global stage, we are our own worst enemy!
The Force Awakens!

Re: GM to dump Holden

Reply #118
Egg zackly LP

Re: GM to dump Holden

Reply #119
Many years ago Australia had the opportunity become the SE Asian / Oceania hub for the manufacture of commercial stuff, trains, buses, tractors, trucks, excavators, etc., etc.. It was basically a three way race between Sth Africa, India and Australia. The local push was being supported by Ex.Patriot Sth Africans, they saw a huge opportunity to add value to locally produced steel. Nobody makes buses, trucks, excavators and tractors out of carbon fibre or aluminium, and everybody was starting the process with Australia's iron ore!

The local Pollies turned up their toes and said we can't compete with China, and so they didn't, naturally the others failed,....................not!!!

Sth Africa and India and now thriving hubs for such equipment and we import pretty much the bulk of whatever we need here excluding a few niche items! The Sth African's behind the push here headed home, a couple of them built billion dollar businesses back there doing exactly what they had wanted to do here!

I can't believe how piss-weak we are on the global stage, we are our own worst enemy!
Cant compete when Unions red rag and make factory workers and Labourers earn 100K plus a year.
2017-16th
2018-Wooden Spoon
2019-16th
2020-dare to dream? 11th is better than last I suppose
2021-Pi$$ or get off the pot
2022- Real Deal or more of the same? 0.6%
2023- "Raise the Standard" - M. Voss Another year wasted Bar Set
2024-Back to the drawing boardNo excuses, its time