GM is shuttering Holden...

[Hotwheels]

I was reading the news this morning and came across this - GM is shutting down Holden by 2017. Ugh. Disappointing. I always admired their cars since I was a kid, and this I'm sure will impact G8 owners.

http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en ... olden.html

[SSEiMan01]

This saddens me as much as GM dropping the 3800. Seriously.

[Zeik75]

They must not realize that not everyone wants a Camaro or Covette.

[repinS]

More and more likely, my next car will be a Ford...

[Jfridge92]

And just when I was thinking that by the year 2017 or so, when it comes time to replace the Buick and Ashlee's Malibu is paid off, I could probably afford a '14 SS..... Ugh, doesn't GM realize that Australia has some of the most amazing cars/is really good at making them go fast?

[1oldman]

I don't think CEO Dan Akerson really cares. Just more poor management. - BC

[CMNTMXR57]

Sorry, I posted mine too. Didn't see this in here.

High labor costs, strong AUD, and the fact that the government didn't want to continue to subsidize them (the Australian auto industry in general), led to this. It has little to do with poor management.

[00Beast]

Building cars in Auz never made sense, the Government has always had to subsidize it.

Also, they're not "closing" Holden. Just not going to manufacture cars in Australia anymore. They'll still sell the Malibu, Colorado and others down there as Holden's.

[gweg_b]

I read this this morning too. Kinda sucks. Makes me wonder what this will do to the costs of GTO/G8/SS's in the near future.

What's gonna suck is all those jobs. First Ford, then Holden, and I've read Toyota might not stick it out either.

Looks like I will be keeping a death grip on my G8.

[CMNTMXR57]

Same here. I may even use this as leverage with the Wife unit to let me go out and get a G8 or SS in the near future.

Current AUD to USD is $0.91188. Meaning every $1 AUD is equal to essentially $0.92 in USD. That may not seem like much on $1. But on $40k per vehicle, over thousands of vehicles, that adds up.

[00Beast]

And *shoot*'s expensive over there. A new Holden is mid 60's thousand dollars Auz...

[CMNTMXR57]

Exactly.

For example, a $46k SS, is the equivalent of $50.4k in Australia! (using the current FX rate)

[SSEiMan01]

Definitely planning to keep mine forever. And I mean forever. I do want an SS or even a GTO at some point too. Definitely will be interesting to see if they move production somewhere else.

[CMNTMXR57]

That was originally the concept. If Holden couldn't get the necessary subsidies from The Australian gov, they would just move somewhere else.

[gweg_b]

Will, you are one who really needs to hold onto to your G8.

Won't be a problem for me either, as most around here know, I seem to have a habit of collecting cars. Purchased 3 (inherited 1), and sold 0.

[SSEiMan01]

I've sold many, but only from necessity. The GXP stays, and gets the CMNT GTO treatment (except driven).

[gweg_b]

That treatment will be even more important now.

There will be stories told in the distant future of a mythical RWD V8 sedan that appeared from the Land Down Under, and just as quickly, vanished. The human race will need proof that it did once exist, as FWD 4cyl (or some kind of magic engine) will roam the lands.



Man, that sounded funnier in my head. Guess this flu is really messing with me!

[00Beast]

I'm keeping my black one indefinitely. Also going to pick up a SRM M6 GXP (With roof) at some point. One will be summer DD, one summer cruiser.

[SuperHbody]

That treatment will be even more important now.

There will be stories told in the distant future of a mythical RWD V8 sedan that appeared from the Land Down Under, and just as quickly, vanished. The human race will need proof that it did once exist, as FWD 4cyl (or some kind of magic engine) will roam the lands.



Man, that sounded funnier in my head. Guess this flu is really messing with me!

Well it didn't have to be this way had the corporate stiffs figured out how to fit Pontiac into their portfolio of brands. Heck, they've done since the 1920's and than all of a sudden "we have too many brands!" sprung up. Sad.

[CMNTMXR57]

They did in todays marketplace. Take a look at most other manufacturer's. They usually have a cradle to grave portfolio which usually consists of two to three core brands. Toyota for example has Scion, Toyota, Lexus. Honda has Honda and Acura. Ford has Ford and Lincoln. Chrysler has Dodge (rolling the new Ram line in here), and Chrysler. GM by contrast have Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac as divisions, then a litany of subsidiaries (such as Holden). Just the way it is. Not making a personal statement as to whether that's right or wrong, but if you want to remain competitive...