Holden called me...

johnydep · 10-02-2012, 12:45 PM

I am in the market for a new car, so have called into a few dealers.

Over the past week, my wife and I have been inundated with calls from Ford and Holden (we don't mind).

I just got a call from a large Holden dealer, we got chatting and I said I have my own business and want to keep an eye on the economy over the next couple of weeks, so call me in two weeks.

He said that last week was their worst week, that he has ever seen. And offered me a Commodore Equipe at an unbelievable price

Tempting, but I already have a large car. However, that's not the point.

Are potential new car buyers doing what I am? Watching the economy? If so, this could be bad for our local guys; what with the high dollar and low exports.

Not good.

blueoval · 10-02-2012, 12:52 PM

selling large family cars in oz is probably the hardest car type to sell in an unknown economy. It is certainly a buyers market out there and by the sounds of it, the Holden dealer is desperate to move stock on. If you were willing to look at the large car market, you could have pressured the dealer further I would presume. But this isn't a new tactic with dealers. If they can see you are genuine to buy, they will hound you for a sale even if it means a possible loss.

Just my 2c

Majestic · 10-02-2012, 12:52 PM

what was the price you were offered for the Commodore?

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnydep

I am in the market for a new car, so have called into a few dealers.

Over the past week, my wife and I have been inundated with calls from Ford and Holden (we don't mind).

I just got a call from a large Holden dealer, we got chatting and I said I have my own business and want to keep an eye on the economy over the next couple of weeks, so call me in two weeks.

He said that last week was their worst week, that he has ever seen. And offered me a Commodore Equipe at an unbelievable price

Tempting, but I already have a large car. However, that's not the point.

Are potential new car buyers doing what I am? Watching the economy? If so, this could be bad for our local guys; what with the high dollar and low exports.

Not good.

poppa smurf · 10-02-2012, 12:55 PM

quite common to be called by car salesman especially if they are selling large cars.....I was getting two or three a week when it was known I was "in the market"

highly competitive field, one that i'm glad I'm not part of!

johnydep · 10-02-2012, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Majestic

what was the price you were offered for the Commodore?

34ish. If he's willing to mention that over the phone, what could we sort out face to face?

Sounds ok http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257926001C6EB5

Damn, nothings ever easy is it? And to think that we almost signed up for a Focus two weeks ago, we would have been happily cruising now. Instead, we're holding off.

Mr Hardware · 10-02-2012, 01:32 PM

http://www.holden.com.au/latestoffer...mmodore-equipe

$34990 drive away

would I pay $35k for something with dubious build quality and a 3L wheezy V6?

NOPE

Paxton · 10-02-2012, 01:35 PM

Think about it this way John - the Equipe will always be a Poverty Package, tarted up, and with the POS 3.0, whereas either the Focus or Cruze (did you look at the Jetta?) will be higher up in the range, with more fruit in them, and better resale, when that time comes.

Smoke Pursuit · 10-02-2012, 01:36 PM

They are doing them much cheaper then that...

I had one offered to me at $29 kay drive away...

johnydep · 10-02-2012, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DASH GT

They are doing them much cheaper then that...

I had one offered to me at $29 kay drive away...

Called me back; clerical error price is 32499 with options, drive away.

castellan · 10-02-2012, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnydep

I am in the market for a new car, so have called into a few dealers.

Over the past week, my wife and I have been inundated with calls from Ford and Holden (we don't mind).

I just got a call from a large Holden dealer, we got chatting and I said I have my own business and want to keep an eye on the economy over the next couple of weeks, so call me in two weeks.

He said that last week was their worst week, that he has ever seen. And offered me a Commodore Equipe at an unbelievable price

Tempting, but I already have a large car. However, that's not the point.

Are potential new car buyers doing what I am? Watching the economy? If so, this could be bad for our local guys; what with the high dollar and low exports.

Not good.

Imagine if you worked for the government you would be jumping for joy but owning you own business and the new tax coming out

only all the wage earners will get extra money to compensate for a year or two maybe.

Smoke Pursuit · 10-02-2012, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnydep

Called me back; clerical error price is 32499 with options, drive away.

Yep...

Id buy one over a focus as I am looking at a Focus Diesel too, even though the Commodore will use more fuel it should be more comfortible... the come with a free reverse camera too atm.

johnydep · 10-02-2012, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paxton

Think about it this way John - the Equipe will always be a Poverty Package, tarted up, and with the POS 3.0, whereas either the Focus or Cruze (did you look at the Jetta?) will be higher up in the range, with more fruit in them, and better resale, when that time comes.

Yeah, your right. What had me thinking was the options list, it's long.

The Jetta is nice, the base model is well priced.But model I want with the options, value for money is long gone. Talking Mondeo Titanium territory, for a nice car with an ugly 80's dash (though the missus like the dash, I could not live with it).

I've decided to wait on a few things.
See if Ford change their thinking with the Focus
Waiting for a close friend in Holden to give me some intel on the Cruze upgrade.
Anything else that may catch our fancy.

Brazen · 10-02-2012, 02:17 PM

Does the Equipe have leather as well??? I would honestly take a well equipped Falcon or Commodore over a Focus or Cruze - the big cars have very similiar economy nowadays to these heavy small cars.

Talking to a roofer he has never seen his work so quiet, its scary as these guys have mortgages, equipment repayments, advertising, car payments etc - these dont go away when he has no work.

Mr Hardware · 10-02-2012, 02:18 PM

Yep the equipe has leather.

Smoke Pursuit · 10-02-2012, 02:20 PM

The Equipe has a Calais V series 1 interior pretty much.. same cluster, seats, leather etc.

Its good value for 29 kay!

SpoolMan · 10-02-2012, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnydep

And to think that we almost signed up for a Focus two weeks ago, we would have been happily cruising now. Instead, we're holding off.

We did Focus Sport $30k, its features, quality and equipment far exceeds the Commodore and Falcon and Focus is European built.

Brazen · 10-02-2012, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

Yep the equipe has leather.

A rear wheel drive large V6 sedan with leather and camera, 18inch wheels, touchscreen for 32 large? Man, I wouldnt even go near a Cruze or Focus.

See if Ford could do something similar.

Rodge · 10-02-2012, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

http://www.holden.com.au/latestoffer...mmodore-equipe

$34990 drive away

would I pay $35k for something with dubious build quality and a 3L wheezy V6?

NOPE

+1 and not at any price. That sisi motor couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. You get what you pay for, always have, always will.

Brazen · 10-02-2012, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodge

+1 and not at any price. That sisi motor couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding.

the engine is fine, its actually pretty gutsy and with 190kw its really good on fuel.

Rodge · 10-02-2012, 03:05 PM

For a few thou more he could have a car (XR6) that actually steers, handles and makes proper torque

Brazen · 10-02-2012, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodge

For a few thou more he could have a car (XR6) that actually steers, handles and makes proper torque

I have seen FG1 Limited Edition XR6s for 31,990 with leather which would be a great car. When you are spending 20 grand on a Focus you cant really cross-shop with a local car, but once you start spending up to 35g on the Focus its probably worth checking out the deals on a Falcon (or Commodore).

Smoke Pursuit · 10-02-2012, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodge

For a few thou more he could have a car (XR6) that actually steers, handles and makes proper torque

Im no Holden lover but 2 of those things are actually better in the VE then they are in the FG...

As for the torque well ill let you have that one, but we are comparing a V6 to a 4 cylinder here (some diesel).

Rodge · 10-02-2012, 03:21 PM

Quote:

I have seen FG1 Limited Edition XR6s for 31,990 with leather which would be a great car

I reckon that's a good deal and a much better car than what the Op's considering.

Quote:

DASH Im no Holden lover but 2 of those things are actually better in the VE then they are in the FG...

You'll have us wondering with comments like that. Whenever i've been unfortunate enough to have to drive one, (usually when some rental car company has them instead of Falcon's), I can't stand them.

As you can probably tell I owned a Holden once, VX1 5.7 Gen3 Calais.
Its quality control was appalling, electrical issues, diff issues, drank oil like a fish, piston slap, handling and steering were only average, owned it for only 19 months and lost 55% of its original value. Best thing I ever did was sell it for a BA Turbo and havn't looked back and owned Ford's and FPV's ever since.

Top spec Focus is too expensive.

Brazen · 10-02-2012, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodge

I reckon that's a good deal and a much better car than what the Op's considering.

You'll have us wondering with comments like that. Whenever i've been unfortunate enough to have to drive one, (usually when some rental car company has them instead of Falcon's), I can't stand them.

As you can probably tell I owned a Holden once, VX1 5.7 Gen3 Calais.
Its quality control was appalling, electrical issues, diff issues, drank oil like a fish, piston slap, handling and steering were only average, owned it for only 19 months and lost 55% of its original value. Best thing I ever did was sell it for a BA Turbo and havn't looked back and owned Ford's and FPV's ever since.

Top spec Focus is too expensive.

They have come such a long way in build quality where basically they are on par with most other makes but its understandable that when you have had a bad expirience it stays with you. To this day I will not own a Nissan due to the shockingly unreliable new Maxima I had in the early 90s.

johnydep · 10-02-2012, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodge

For a few thou more he could have a car (XR6) that actually steers, handles and makes proper torque

The car is for the wife, she's no race car driver. The Falcon is not on her radar, she just does not like the looks of it. She was keen on the Focus, but that's over.

My wife has never been a Commy or Falcon person but the next door neighbour has a one, and my wife likes it.

I've told her no, because of the size, but the pricing is going to make it hard for me when I get home

Brazen · 10-02-2012, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnydep

The car is for the wife, she's no race car driver. The Falcon is not on her radar, she just does not like the looks of it. She was keen on the Focus, but that's over.

My wife has never been a Commy or Falcon person but the next door neighbour has a one, and my wife likes it.

I've told her no, because of the size, but the pricing is going to make it hard for me when I get home

With rear parking sensors and rear-view camera, some of these large cars are quite easy to live with.

With a family we tried the one large car and one small car approach. I traded in the small car 7 months later ha. But we live in the sticks.

Were you looking at a Focus sedan or hatch?

Rodge · 10-02-2012, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnydep

The car is for the wife, she's no race car driver. The Falcon is not on her radar, she just does not like the looks of it. She was keen on the Focus, but that's over.

My wife has never been a Commy or Falcon person but the next door neighbour has a one, and my wife likes it.

I've told her no, because of the size, but the pricing is going to make it hard for me when I get home

I must confess to being a little confused, she doesn't like the looks of a FG Falcon, but did like the small Focus, now she doesn't like the Focus but likes a full sized commondore because the neighbour has one...no you're right mate,... I can see that's all perfectly logical....I'd like to help but I have my hands full trying to understand my own wife's infinite logic and wisdom

Good luck

2011G6E · 10-02-2012, 03:54 PM

Driving past the Ford dealership in Rocky the other day and I noticed they still have an awful lot of FG's sitting there on the lot, some of which I am sure I recognise from many months ago. Whenh we took our car in for it's last service a month or so back, they still have a gold with black stripes GT (the supercharged one) sitting in the showroom...I'm certain it was the same car that was sitting there in January last year when we were car hunting and ended up buying our G6E...you could probably get a great deal on it...they must be getting a bit desperate by now to shift it.

Despite what a lot of people say, both the Commodore and Falcon are toss-of-the-coin cars now...they're both great large packages that we are lucky the local makers still bother producing for such a small population. They both have thier pluses and minuses, they're both nice drives, and handle long distances with ease, good economy for such large cars, and relative comfort for the price you're paying.
For a lot of buyers these days...like it did with us...it really comes down to who's going to offer you the better trade-in deal and lower purchase price or goodies thrown in...see if you can play them off against each other and get some freebies or discounts on options.

Cheech · 10-02-2012, 04:01 PM

Mate, meet her in the middle and agree to a new Mondeo.
2L ecoboost at 35k drive away. Bit of haggling should see you in the 33's.

Rodge · 10-02-2012, 04:04 PM

The main things that seprate Falcon and Commordore IMHO is that Ford's offer a far better and more torquey inline six and a world class gearbox in the ZF which is vastly better than any gearbox Holden offer.

I think many people forget how fortunate they are to have the legendary reliability of the inline six and the ZF gearbox. Now we have the eco lpi and ecoboost to chose from too. The only reason I can see to buy a Commordore is price or getting a V8 at a certain price point, (the SS), in both cases you get what you pay for.

I reckon the Mondeo Ecoboost would be a good option for the Op but predict wifey will "know" better.