Updated Cruze with a 1.6 turbo available

[Brazen]

Looks like Holden wants to deal with falling Cruze sales. Too bad it looks the same.

New base model has Internet radio, fog lights, 17 inch alloys, reverse sensors for $19,490 which makes it the cheapest small car around and probably the best equipped.

The SRI looks like a bargain with added 1.6 turbo, sports suspension (including EPAS), bodykit, and leather for $22,490.

Apparently Holden have made a lot of changes to the suspension, engine and transmission to make it a lot better than the previous version. Be interesting to see what sales will be like with the new features, better drivability and lot cheaper pricing. It is a very competitive market.

http://www.carpoint.com.au/news/2013...es-early-35478

[SpoolMan]

Those prices will see the squeeze on other brands, they may manage to sell a few more to the public rather than just hire car company's.

[bangm001]

The engines in these things (petrol and turbo diesel) rattle more than 20 year old Vn commodores!! And they are brand new cars.

[aussie muscle]

I'm surprised HSV hasn't started taking a few to hot up.

[Hulsty]

I dont mind the cruze having been in a few, but the standard N/A motor is GUTLESS!

[LeadFoot81]

How can they sell them that cheaply and still make a profit?? Mind boggling.

[EDManual]

wheels make it look ok actually...

[2011G6E]

This is the boom section of the market...decent sized cars with reasonably powerful engines and good driving manners. That's where the dollars are for a manufacturer...volume sales.

Given the rising costs of running cars...especially in states like Queensland where there are big differences between 4, 6, and 8 cylinder cars...and the rising cost of fuel, people are looking more to four cylinders but still want room. Look how the Corolla has grown over the decades for example, along with a lot of other cars that were once seen as "small".

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by EDManual

wheels make it look ok actually...

I thought the same thing. Still dont like it though.

[SS Eater]

Wife bought a SRI 1.4l turbo nearly 12 months ago, for such a small package i was surprised.

They actually go OK, i wanted her to buy the Focus but Ford wouldn't come to the party with trade (12 month old Terry...AWD...TS...$21000...no way.Holden $30000)

Looks wise i prefer the Focus, but as a whole package including the cheaper price i was impressed.
The only thing i really hate is the electric steering, on the highway its way to light and vague.
It has all the whistles and bells any one would want, and nearly 1000kms to a tank, 6.5L per 100km

[Jason[98.EL]]

had a drive of 2012 model diesel the other day and they go surprisingly well

I hate to say it but might look at one for the wife when she decides to get her licence

and it was well equiped for what it was as well

Jason

[barra240t]

Jesus the SRi is a great price, that is a little worrying as they aren't a bad car at all.

[Gobes32]

At $22,490 I find it hard to believe people would be knocking it when its better equipped than a G6E. As for people suggesting it is gutless, the monthly car sales suggest that normal consumers (the majority) do not care about performance.

[M&Ms]

All I know is that a lot of people were let down by the 'hyped up' Cruze when it first came out. In my company, many people paid out their leases early just to get rid of them. One guy even tried writing it off into a kangaroo to no avail!
They may be ok now, but I think a lot of people are turned off the Cruze name after their first experiences with them. Modern day Camira anyone??
I remember driving one of the first ones for a 700km round trip one day, couldn't walk the next day due to the awful seats putting my back out! And let's not get started on how I would struggle to overtake anyone on a country road!

[M&Ms]

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[M&Ms]

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[M&Ms]

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[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

This is the boom section of the market...decent sized cars with reasonably powerful engines and good driving manners. That's where the dollars are for a manufacturer...volume sales.

Volume sales are pointless if no money is made on the sale. Particularly in a market segment like this where the margins are as small as the cars are.

[barra240t]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Volume sales are pointless if no money is made on the sale. Particularly in a market segment like this where the margins are as small as the cars are.

Look on carsales, dealers are doing no money deals on cars, the only place to make money is on finance, aftermarket etc, we all need to hit targets by month end too.

[jpd80]

The new Cruze with 1.6 Turbo will be an attractive package to Aussie buyers especially at that price
The concern I have is that the car's lower price will see potential profit replaced by increased sales.
I don't see how that helps in the long run Holden's sustainability in Australia needs to be profit based not volume.

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Volume sales are pointless if no money is made on the sale. Particularly in a market segment like this where the margins are as small as the cars are.

Even more pointless is when you have a higher price to get an excellent margin and no one buys any. Your dealer network is also hardly falling over itself with joy at less customers for every aspect of their business.

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by jpd80

The new Cruze with 1.6 Turbo will be an attractive package to Aussie buyers especially at that price
The concern I have is that the car's lower price will see potential profit replaced by increased sales.
I don't see how that helps in the long run Holden's sustainability in Australia needs to be profit based not volume.

Holden doesn't shy away from the fact that volume = continuing investment and viability of Australian production.

In 2016 we will know if Ford Aust have a magic formula that no other mass production manufacturer has yet been able to figure out for making less and less, but still being viable.

To be fair to Ford I don't recall they ever claimed they could, except to cut costs where possible as sales and profits retreat, but some on here have determined Ford have a magic formula making them immune to the realities of mass production.

[greenfoam]

Both the local Ford and Holden dealerships in my city went bankrupt last year. The only new car you can buy locally now are Suzuki's. Plenty of swifts around!.

Those were two very large dealers and just in the last couple of weeks the big Holden dealer in the next city went under. I bet the Ford there is/only hanging on because they also sell Nissan's. These are dealers that have been in business for over 50 years.

The point is if you aren't moving cars the dealers will have nothing to service and they will go bankrupt and then everyone will simply buy a swift!. .

Better to make nothing on the cars and a profit in the future on spare parts than living on instant noodles with your unemployment benefits. You really need to get the cars sold and sold in big numbers, the more you make the cheaper they are to build.

The turbo cruise is a good deal, best thing is it'll make Ford think long and hard about Fiesta ST pricing and even Focus pricing. I know the ST is a much better car but the general public won't know that.

[dannyhilton]

The value proposition is amazing. The SRI and SRI-V are brimming with value and the latter is actually quite attractive, maybe if I didn't have the Focus I'd have one of these in the garage...

[mik]

Originally Posted by Gobes32

At $22,490 I find it hard to believe people would be knocking it when its better equipped than a G6E. As for people suggesting it is gutless, the monthly car sales suggest that normal consumers (the majority) do not care about performance.

Or maybe it`s more they are willing and capable of shelling out 22k for car x but not 30+k for car z??

[Bossxr8]

Its cheaper to cut profit to the absolute bone in an effort to get them out the door than to sack a heap of workers and pay out redundancies. Doesn't work unless sales go through the roof though. Just delays the enevitable.

[V3RSAC3]

A friend of mine bought a 1.4 SRiV new about 8 months ago in manual. What a fantastic car (for the price and class that it's in). It's (in my view) an excellent choice for younger drivers or a wife looking for a decent run around.

It's decently made and the turbo helps it out a lot, although it's not an XR6T or a Skyline, it's not ment to be. Although the seats are shocking even with the leather, everything is wrapped in it and it's finished with a nice media system.

[Vormund]

I have to admit that is a pretty sharp price. New wheels and exposed exhaust help too. I just wish they did something with that rear C-pillar piece...maybe make it smoothed out and body colour.

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by EDManual

wheels make it look ok actually...

FG XR6 rip-off wheels

[csv8]

The resale and trade in values will go down with the new model $3k less...Who would buy a 2012 model ?when the 2013 is $3k less????