The End of Holden

[Scotland]

The UC was just a shitter version of a car they already had. Same car underneath minus the V8 option and uglier to look at than an LX/LH.

 

[edgie]

I don't disagree but they didn't pull it out their bums, it was following trends of the era.

Headllights were crap too looked like a bad attempt at trying to be a generic Japanese car

If you cover the front and the back its not that far of a HR Holden though except with HQ door handles and mirror

Is it that different from this?

 

[Kram]

One of my mates late 90s still in HS Y12 very briefly owned a genuine SLR5000. Had a ****in awesome engine engine in it, but the thing probably had more rust in it than solid metal, which was the only reason he was able to actually afford to buy one. Had some great fun with it but soon realised though that it would be years until he would be able to get enough spare funds to try and restore it and obviously not the most practical car to get about in that time (and 100% just waiting for a yellow sticker) sold it.

He had a plain 6 cylinder Torana as a first car beforehand that was a decent vehicle, in hindsight he probably should have kept that as a more realistic option at that age. Preferred it over the boring VH Commodere he went to after the V8 anyway.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

 

[The Speaker]

Hopefully the pandemic and inevitable closing of borders will bring it home why we need to be self-sufficient, and can't just have an economy of services.

 

[craigos]

Hopefully the pandemic and inevitable closing of borders will bring it home why we need to be self-sufficient, and can't just have an economy of services.

What, like we have are own oil we can use? Our own gas? Our own fish supply? Our own water? Our own fruit and vegetables? Our own meat?

You're crazy, man.

 

[Bomberboyokay]

Hopefully the pandemic and inevitable closing of borders will bring it home why we need to be self-sufficient, and can't just have an economy of services.

Given the contemporary world is akin to hundreds of puzzle sets, with each set having millions of pieces, all mixed together, greater international co-operation and enforcement on virus studies and health protocol is likely to eventuate.

 

[The Speaker]

Given the contemporary world is akin to hundreds of puzzle sets, with each set having millions of pieces, all mixed together, greater international co-operation and enforcement on virus studies and health protocol is likely to eventuate.

Oh, for sure, but I was talking more about being able to supply and manufacture our own things.

 

[Power Raid]

Worth noting the exchange rate history over the life of the Zeta platform as well. When Zeta was first conceptualised and funded, the AUD was trading at around 60c/USD. Soon after the VE exports started, the exchange rate was virtually at parity and remained that way until the twilight years of the platform. There was probably a strong business case for exporting the Commodore at one point such that GM saw fit to commit a billion dollars to the architecture it was built on, but that business case probably didn't take into account the dollar moving by that much.

The Chevy SS probably would have sold much better if the price were listed when the dollar was worth 0.75 USD and not the $1.05 USD it was worth when it first went on sale.

We paid a huge price for overstimulating our economy, killing our manufacturing and reducing our mining exports

Who knows what may or may not be around today, if not for poor policy. Reports suggest it cost 10,000 permanent jobs

 

[edgie]

It seems GM didn't want to sell the brand off either.

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[Power Raid]

It seems GM didn't want to sell the brand off either.

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Lol if ford had bought it

FYI
Holdens started by making Fords

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

Apparently it was offered to PSA and they declined.

I'm not sure what's left of Holden's assets in Australia, but at one point they had enough here to conceptualise, design and build the Zeta platform from scratch so hopefully those assets still remain and they're appealing to a foreign maker.

Perhaps a Chinese brand would be interested now that our dollar is so low.

 

[edgie]

PSA?

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[Herne Hill Hammer]

Interior and ergonomics in the VL was pretty shocking, worst thing about the car. Handling may have been a tad suspect as well? Great Japanese engine though..

As someone who was raised in a Holden household, I've only every owned two of them, a 1987 VL and a 2010 VE. The VL was the biggest piece of shit I've owned. The VE was nice but it wouldn't be in the top 5 cars I've owned.

 

[Power Raid]

Looking at the pics in this thread, make you appreciate why holdens is finished

 

[edgie]

Looking at the pics in this thread, make you appreciate why holdens is finished

And how's that?

 

[edgie]

Noticing more of these around lately.

Did Holden drop the ball by only making them across one series? Surely it would have been worth a crack in VE/VF form?

 

[edgie]

VL turbo is the ultimate piss take.

Skyline GT-Rs at Bathurst bad. Holden with Skyline motor good.

Never seen a VL with a Nissan badge, I say to the bogans.

 

[Kram]

As someone who was raised in a Holden household, I've only every owned two of them, a 1987 VL and a 2010 VE. The VL was the biggest piece of shit I've owned. The VE was nice but it wouldn't be in the top 5 cars I've owned.

You have done pretty well if a VL is the worst car you have owned

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

You have done pretty well if a VL is the worst car you have owned

These are what I've owned, some such as the ZL, Corolla, Verada, Calais and Prado are / have been the 2nd car of the household.

1975 Toyota Crown S E manual. Ugly but beautiful to drive, it had a bit of go in it.
1979 XD Fairmont Ghia. Drove well and mechanically sound but eventually everything else started breaking / falling apart on it
1989 Nissan Pulsar GL hatch. Drove it to Cairns when I was in the Navy. A lack of a/c and cruise is what condemned it. Was a pretty nice car otherwise.
1987 VL wagon - =worst. Terrible drive and uncomfortable.
1999 Nissan Pulsar+ Sedan. Nice little car, only got rid of it because we started having kids. Purchased brand new.
1987 ZL Fairlane. My personal long distance cruiser, dirt cheap to buy and lovely to drive. Got stolen.
1976 Toyota Corolla canary yellow, 2 door coupe. =worst. Run about piece of shit, at worst equal of the VL.
2001 AUII Falcon wagon, dedicated gas. Adequate, cheap to run, pretty bland.
2005 Mitsubishi 380 VRX - =best. Everything in it and plenty of go, cheap compared to Falcon and Commodore but shit over both of them as contempories. imho.
2003 Mitsubishi Verada Ti. Not as good as the 380, probably on a par with the Calais.
2003 Toyota Landcruiser 100 series, turbo diesel. Nice. Bought it to tow a van around the country. Did it well enough. Disposed of it with the van.
2011 Isuzu D-Max. Adequate, a bit spartan. Purchased brand new.
2010 VE Calais V Wagon Series I. Nice car, nothing special though.
2008 Toyota Prado GXL, 4.0L petrol - =best. Beautiful to drive, great driving position, enough toe, comfortable. Thirsty though.
2018 Hyundai Tuscon Activ-X. With me working fifo, this is my wife's car, probably on par with the Calais too. When I'm home I'll only drive the Prado.

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

I don't disagree but they didn't pull it out their bums, it was following trends of the era.



Is it that different from this?

I actually liked the Cortinas. I think the alloys are what set them apart, they went alright with the 250 in them too. My best mate had one, I liked it.

 

[Jizzy_Wizzy]

Are there even many VL Commodores on the road these days? I always wanted a turbo, did actually look at buying one mid 00s but struggled to find one that was a manual.

I make a point of taking mine out as often as i can, but the frequency of seeing them out on the road is probably limited to weekends these days.

 

[MarcusP2]

PSA?

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Late but PSA is Peugeot/Citroen/Opel/Vauxhall. About to merge with Fiat/Chrysler/Dodge/Alfa.

 

[edgie]

Late but PSA is Peugeot/Citroen/Opel/Vauxhall. About to merge with Fiat/Chrysler/Dodge/Alfa.

So Holden basically.

Apart from Vauxhall's best stuff being Holden designed and made.

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[edgie]

I make a point of taking mine out as often as i can, but the frequency of seeing them out on the road is probably limited to weekends these days.



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Weird request but do you have any interior at night pics? Always wanted to see how one lights up. Also the semi pop up headlights?

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