Keep Holden

[wbute]

I have not bought any Australian built car except for two WB utes and a HX Sandman.
They haven't built a car that I want since. I have two 4WD Hilux one tonners. We have a Prado wagon.
I buy what I choose. I don't feel guilty for GMH stopping building cars. The fact is they are not an Australian company and all the profits go off shore.
GMH base decisions on world economics not Australian economics. This country has a tiny market and is a long way from the rest of the world.
No Australian would be able to start a car company here now or ever without it being a State funded business. So perhaps more relevant support needs to be given to more relevant business that suit Australia.
Perhaps we need to get past this phobia about Agriculture and start pushing it and then jobs will be created in that industry.
All government needs a rethink, less on complete economic driven policy and more focus on sustainable future for all. Funding an unfeasible business like car manufacturing in Australia is not the way to keep people in work.

[Taily]

If you still looking for somebody to blame, have a close look at what is currently parked in your driveway.

Yep, two Falcons (a new FG XR50T for SWMBO and an AU wagon - albeit a bit old now but doing fine on the work commute duties - but it isn't like I can buy another new wagon unless I buy something different) and the HJ. Before that we had bought a brand new Mitsubishi 380 which we planned on keeping for a lot longer than we did (was an unrepairable write off in the end) but was actually a great drive and easy enough to service - just didn't fare well on slippery boat ramps with the boat, which was the only let down for us. I did waver once and bought a second hand Golf off a mate (seemed like a good idea at the time), but lets not go there as I had no intention of "going Euro" again... Tell me why you can buy a 10-12 year old CLK for 15 grand on Carpoint.... Euro gets real expensive to live with if you keep them too long.

Had plans to upgrade the wagon to a new supercharged XR8 when they release them but leaning towards a Holden based "play" engine for the ute instead, while I rebuild the original factory fitted engine back to standard specs and mothball it under the bench ready to be re-fitted when I want to take it back to the way it came from the factory. My reasoning is that I might use the ute from time to time to commute (on a weekend or similar) so it will get some use (rare), but the main thing is that if I don't build the "play" engine now while those businesses that specialise in them are still around then once that expertise is gone there is no getting it back. I don't buy a car just to flog it off in a couple of years, I like to keep them for a longer timeframe than that, besides four regos might be a bit too much for the pocket.

This result of all three manufacturers pulling out has been a perfect storm brewing for a very long time. You cannot attribute cause or blame to any one thing by itself that has been listed previously but I will add to the previous that I think the main reason people buy certain cars is the price point they are offered at in our markets - which means our local product cannot hope to compete with when dollars are the primary driving factor of many wishing to purchase a new vehicle. We have many things to be thankful for in this country, the standard of living is one. This, unfortunately for local suppliers and manufacturers both having to compete with cheap and subsidised imports, comes at the cost of higher wages and many other costs that have to be covered by the bottom line.

I feel for those caught up in this situation directly, as well as those in both supply and aftermarket industries that may end-up out of work because of the Big Threes' departure. I'll bet a penny to a pound that once the Fat Lady has bowed out then prices will steadily rise....

[Duc1991]

Think of the great British motorcycle manufacturers. They dominated the world and exported everywhere until the Japanese manufacturers dominated the market from the late 1960's.

[wbute]

Perfect storm my $&se. Businesses have faced the same issues since Adam was a boy. GM chose the moment to pull out that suited it!

[wbute]

More to the point on buying Holden to save the company.... You are all accessing the internet with electronic devices made overseas. You are all wearing clothes made overseas. Truth be known, food is the the only majorly available product that is locally produced. Even that is being undermined by imports.
Dick Smith tried to educate people about imports in the early 90's with his Ausbuy idea. No one took any notice of him. It's too late now to complain. Wages are cheaper in Asia. That's all there is to it.

[Robbo]

My family have alway's supported the Australian car industry, even before
it was an issue. My father bought
the first model falcon, the XK, it
was a demo. He then proceeded
to buy every second model up
to the XC in 1977. There were also
a couple of new Holden's in there
as well. As for me, I have never owned
an import and never will. I own an 07
VZ ute that I bought new, and I am very
happy and proud of it." Buy Australian products".

[Duc1991]

Bought a 2011 VE Thunder SS new. Great car - love it.

[HK1837]

Agree, all for it. I always buy Australian made (and owned if possible) where there is a suitable alternative. Every major applicance in the house is Australian made (fridges, washing machine, dryer, oven, cooktop, dishwasher - all Westinghouse made here). The only one not Australian was a Smeg microwave - guess what? Only thing that has ever failed was the microwave! There is no suitable alternative in cars for me unfortunately!

[jason.ruff]

Deregulation of the industry in the late 70's early 80's sounded the death nell for the car industry, the same as every other industry that went that way. My uncle was a dairy farmer until deregulation, lasted about 3 years. True all the car manufacturers were from overseas, and now we are selling our mines and our farm land off to overseas conglomerates, i feel sorry for the next generations of Australians. How is anyone going to make a living?

[wbute]

Email in Orange is closing down. There will be no more Australian made Westinghouse white goods either.
Australian farms have been bought and sold by overseas investors for ever. They all end up selling once they realise our climate is so unpredictable. All very well owning the land but actually producing something and making a profit in business terms are never possible for a farm investor.