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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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#1 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Q..10kms west of Rocky...
Posts: 8,307
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HOLDEN: Australians still want large cars
Toby Hagon December 10, 2010 - 3:22PM Australians still want large cars according to Holden boss. Holden boss says company is confident there is a future for Commodore - providing it continues fuel economy improvements. Australians will still want large cars for large families and a large country, according to Holden chairman and CEO Mike Devereux. But it will have to be more fuel efficient than ever, with Holden improving economy on the large car - the best seller for 15 straight years - to as little as 8.4 litres per 100km in the short term. Speaking to journalists at an end of year lunch, he confirmed the next "two or three months" would involve some big decisions about the long term future of the Commodore. "Long term we have some architectural decisions to be making in the next two, three months," said Devereux. But he believes there is still a market for large cars, albeit one that is posing challenges for the likes of the locally produced Commodore and its Ford rival, the Falcon. The pair are focused largely on the Australian markets, reducing the economies of scale that inevitably come with more global products. "We're still very confident Australians want to have families with backyards," said Devereux. The current VE model Commodore went on sale in 2006 and its underpinnings are expected to continue until about 2015 when an all-new model is due. Until then there will be various styling and engineering updates, including the arrival of a dedicated LPG variant in the second half of 2011. Holden will also add E85 capability - running on a mix of petrol and up to 85 per cent ethanol - next year as part of an MY12 (model year 2012) update. Devereux confirmed various updates to the Commodore - many focusing on reduced fuel use - will reduce consumption to as little as 8.4 litres per 100km, an eight per cent improvement over today's Commodore. It's understood everything is on the table for the all-new Commodore - which will have to continue at least five (or possibly 10) years into the future - including new body styles, engines and concepts.
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#2 | ||
Clevo Mafia Inc.
![]() Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 10,496
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Well so far AFM and SIDI have failed to deliver and ethanol isn't wide spread enough to be feasible.
They are still barking up the wrong tree and need an ecoboost type engine. |
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#3 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,052
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#4 | |||
Clevo Mafia Inc.
![]() Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 10,496
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Quote:
Seeing as the current lineup already is powerful and uses less fuel than the opposition they may shelve them until needed, who knows. http://fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11267560 http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/experiencef150/ |
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#5 | ||
Rob
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Woodcroft S.A.
Posts: 21,551
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i believe the rear egress issue has been fixed somewhat with fg. haven't compared an fg with b series side by side but thought i'd read that the fg rear entry and exit is much better. no issues with mine.
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#6 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,052
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Quote:
If I need a bigger car, I can get an SUV - and it can go places the Falcon cant. If I need economy, I pick the diesel variant. There'll always be a market for those who are obsessed with nothing more than 0-100 times, but for the rest of us, the Falcon is an increasingly irrelevant proposition. |
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#7 | |||
hmm eyebrows
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Lower Hunter Valley, NSW
Posts: 2,392
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Quote:
Too true b0son. The large car market is shrinking despite better fuel economy and better than ever performance. The consumer in Australia is truely spoilt for choice when it comes to motor vehicles and sadly for Ford and GMH, their large cars are no longer the staple diet for Aussies these days.
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1999 Range Rover 4.6 V8. Soon to have a new blue oval bent eight. |
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#8 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,876
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Quote:
Never in its history has having a wagon or hatch body more vital than it is now for Falcon, but for the first time its sedan only. Just look at Mondeo over 80% opted for the hatch over the sedan, and nearly half of Commodore private buyers are opting for a wagon, could you imagine this even a decade ago? |
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#9 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Brisbane cannon hill
Posts: 310
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Of course we want large cars who on earth would go on a family road trip in a swift!!!! Fuel consumption is good enough. I get 12l/100 km in a 335 rwkw v8 which in my books is awesome.
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#10 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Q..10kms west of Rocky...
Posts: 8,307
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I did it in a Festiva, Brisbane to Perth ..10 years ago!!!
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CSGhia |
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#11 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Brisbane cannon hill
Posts: 310
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bit of a dare devil ay? |
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#12 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Central Q..10kms west of Rocky...
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Quote:
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#13 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,052
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#14 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Melbourne - Eastern Suburbs
Posts: 956
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Quote:
A lot of those points are understandable (and subjective), but the boot? You are kidding yourself there. As for the topic at hand, I don't believe Australians in general still want large cars. When you see tradies driving around in Hyundai Excels you know the day of the large car is over.
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#15 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,052
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#16 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,264
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[QUOTE=b0son]We take our GTI. It may be smaller but it is a better drive than my previous XR6 in every way. Handles better. Quicker. More comfortable inside. More comfortable for the driver over many hours (Syd->Ade 14hours). Uses way less fuel. Kids dont need the extra leg room which is about the only advantage the Falcon had. Even the boot in the Golf is more useable FFS..[/QUOTE
Try fitting a decent sized adult in the back seat and a bit of luggage. Thats what the Falcom and Commodores are made for. |
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#17 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,052
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Quote:
It looks more like an argument for designing Falcadores for cops and taxi drivers. |
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#18 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,264
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Quote:
I'd say thats exactly what a family car should have, space! Wait til the kids get a bigger and the GTI will be on the way out pretty quick. I think someone mentioned in this thread about the falcon's competition, its no longer only the commodore, families look to soft roaders and SUV's now, their versatility is the key. And I agree the Falcon now more than ever needs a sports style wagon. |
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#19 | |||
Broken
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,845
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[QUOTE=Cabbage]
Quote:
Try fitting two adults in the front! Small cars are exactly that - small! Our S3 gives me leg cramps when I'm in the front due to the inside of the wheel wells protuding into the footwell - you can't sit with both legs in front of you - one need to be off set. Great if you've got one leg, not so good if you have two. Fuel economy....... S3 is averaging 11's. The advertised economy is so far off the mark it isn't funny. And did I mention it rides like a billy cart.
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#20 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,052
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Quote:
I hated the Falcon's pedal position. Too far apart if you heel/toe, too far to the right if you ever use left foot for braking. I prefer a central pedal position, something my Falcon definietly did not have. I've never had worse bum-rot than after hours spent in the Falcon. The seats were rubbish. |
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#21 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,077
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Quote:
But what about when you get to the bottom of the big long hill and have to go up the next one? |
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#22 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Brisbane cannon hill
Posts: 310
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#23 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
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#24 | |||
_Oo===oO_
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 3,305
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#25 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Brisbane cannon hill
Posts: 310
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I don't smoke I don't drink I own my cars and my houses I earn 120k a year. Driving around in a v8 is the only real enjoyment I have going for me. I only drive 10000 km a year anyway. |
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#26 | ||||
IWCMOGTVM Club Supporter
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern Suburbs Melbourne
Posts: 17,799
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Daniel |
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#27 | ||||
Happy Volkswagen owner
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Manly
Posts: 256
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Stoney!
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Curent ride: 2009 model VW Golf 118tsi - 1.4L supercharged and turbocharged - ECU flash - 151kw and 318nm - 6.7s 0-100. Quote:
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#28 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Brisbane cannon hill
Posts: 310
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Quote:
I disagree I have a 09 wrx, 05 Calais ls1, 09 ssv wagon and a e2 maloo all have engine mods and the wrx would have to be the worst no power until 3-4000rpm were the v8's have it from idle to redline... |
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#29 | |||
Rob
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Woodcroft S.A.
Posts: 21,551
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Quote:
glavas - you totally missed the point flappist was making. i think he was having a go at your fuel economy, inferring that it was achieved driving downhill. as for the large v small thing, some people still prefer large cars, regardless of whether smaller cars are more than capable. its that simple. no point arguing that a smaller car will do the job if the person doesn't want a smaller car. for 90% of the time, i could make do with a smaller car, but every year we drive to qld for a holiday. you can't fit 4 people and luggage in a smaller car and travel 2000km accross the country in comfort with reasonable economy. well, i'm sure some would argue that you can, but we cant. not with esky and stroller and 4 cases and various other stuff. |
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#30 | ||
_Oo===oO_
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 3,305
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'Small' cars have come a long way in a short space of time. You don't need a Falcon or Commodore to be comfy anymore.
I want to see the Commodore and Falcon to continue on indefinitely but Holden and Ford need to figure out exactly what the X-Factor is (or should be) for their large cars, and exploit it. I've found myself increasingly tempted by the new Fiesta as a run-around, or the 2011 Focus Zetec/ST as a proper alternative to a Falcon. So much bang for your buck! (The AU XR8 will stay in the ledfoot household indefinitely as a weekender however, I love it too mch) |
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