Opel Astra.. Why? - what happened to Holden Astra?

**Sorted** · 03-09-2012, 02:04 PM

I saw alot of adds for these Astra's over the weekend and thought why?
Where will these be sold? In Holden Dealerships?
Is this all about marketing strategy to use Opel as the Make instead of Holden?

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/547...e-in-australia

Opel will launch itself into Australia's hugely competitive small-car market in
September with the Astra five-door Hatch and Tourer wagon, along with the three-door Astra GTC. The new sedan will not be offered in Australia.

Local pricing for all three cars has been revealed today, with the practical Astra kicking off at $23,990 in hatch form and $27,990 for the wagon. The sporting Astra GTC will enter at $28,990.

In Australia, Opel will put the Astra against the market-leading Mazda3 and Hyundai i30 cars, along with platform mate the Holden Cruze and German compatriot the Volkswagen Golf.

While it will share the honour with the Cruze and the Golf, the Astra will have one advantage over the strong-selling Mazda3 and i30 cars: the option of a wagon body.

Five-door Hatch
•Opel Astra - 1.4 Petrol MT - $23,990
•Opel Astra - 1.4 Petrol AT - $25,990
•Opel Astra - 2.0 Diesel MT S /S - $27,990
•Opel Astra - 2.0 Diesel AT - $29,990
•Opel Astra Select - 1.6 Petrol MT - $28,990
•Opel Astra Select - 1.6 Petrol AT - $30,990
•Opel Astra Select - 2.0 Diesel MT S /S - $31,990
•Opel Astra Select - 2.0 Diesel AT - $33,990
•Opel Astra Sports - 1.6 Petrol MT - $33,490
•Opel Astra Sports - 1.6 Petrol AT - $35,490

Sports Tourer wagon
•Opel Astra - 1.4 Petrol AT - $27,990
•Opel Astra - 2.0 Diesel AT - $31,990
•Opel Astra Select - 1.6 Petrol AT - $32,990
•Opel Astra Select - 2.0 Diesel AT - $35,990

Astra GTC three-door
•Opel Astra GTC - 1.4 Petrol MT S/S - $28,990
•Opel Astra GTC - 1.4 Petrol AT - $30,990
•Opel Astra GTC Sport - 1.6 Petrol MT - $34,990

Yellow_Festiva · 03-09-2012, 02:12 PM

15% too pricy IMO. There have been a few other brands in the past that were introduced at a premium and they failed... Hope Opel don't do the same.

**Silver Ghia** · 03-09-2012, 02:21 PM

I noticed the advertising over the weekend and today on TV and newspapers.

I wonder how the cam drive belt situation is in the current models? The Holden Astras were a shocker. They seem to have the looks which a normal buyer would be attracted to. And they are German with a German name, so they must be good.

Mr Hardware · 03-09-2012, 02:28 PM

and remember underneath they are essentially a Cruze.

But yes good question about the timing belt situation Silver Ghia - i don't mind a timing belt, I do mind one on an interference motor though, like the Astras are.
Especially in an era when other manufacturers (hyundai, toyota etc) have gone back to timing chains.

castellan · 03-09-2012, 02:31 PM

Holden is mainly just a rubbish daywoo now, so Opel has to try to give it a go.

I can see the day coming i think that we will not have GMH but it will be called GM australia.

Maybe Opel will take over GM in aus.

tweeked · 03-09-2012, 02:36 PM

Not a bad thing. Just trying to distance themselves from the Holden name - people want European for the perceived quality.

If Ford could they probably would.

**Polyal** · 03-09-2012, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

and remember underneath they are essentially a Cruze.

But yes good question about the timing belt situation Silver Ghia - i don't mind a timing belt, I do mind one on an interference motor though, like the Astras are.
Especially in an era when other manufacturers (hyundai, toyota etc) have gone back to timing chains.

What?

Are you saying the Opel is like a Daewoo? If so it could not be further from the truth. Opel make good solid cars, GM/Daewoo do not.

sgt_doofey · 03-09-2012, 03:42 PM

That wagon is really, really ugly. And that is coming from someone who owns a Peugeot.

cobramania · 03-09-2012, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

What?

Are you saying the Opel is like a Daewoo? If so it could not be further from the truth. Opel make good solid cars, GM/Daewoo do not.

Opel is a GM company & has been since about the 1930's. The base of both the Opel Astra & Cruze are the same platform, GM's Delta 2 Platform, just like the territory's based on the Falcon platform. Essentially the same car underneath with different panels on top. Pretty sure both cars come out of some of the same GM factories around the world, so same quality. The old Holden Astra's were made at Holdens Elizabeth plant, the Cruzes are also made there, I don't think the new Opel Astras will be made there at the start, but may be sometime in the future, so that makes them all GMHolden quality.

**DJM83** · 03-09-2012, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

and remember underneath they are essentially a Cruze.

Means nothing they are world's apart .
I went to the opening at the Brisbane dealer with some Opel Aus guys on Saturday for a look. They have some decent cars the Insignia sedan is awesome. I'm just hoping they bring the OPC /VXR astra because it might well be my next car.

Fiesta_Man69 · 03-09-2012, 04:30 PM

Wait for Opel to launch the Insignia in Aus. It's an awesome car... There will be ques for it... If Opel get the price right....

Mr Hardware · 03-09-2012, 04:35 PM

OOh some upset people ITT.

The Astra/Cruze is based on the GM Delta II platform, and shares the same ethos and market segment as the J-platform (Camria etc) of the 80s.

Kayos · 03-09-2012, 05:09 PM

Here come the euro taxis, and the begining of the end of GMH... Bet this will take off as the next fresh thing, and the "sports tourer wagons" fit right in with the fleets that use mondeo.. smart move, more sales walk for FoA

**DJM83** · 03-09-2012, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiesta_Man69

Wait for Opel to launch the Insignia in Aus. It's an awesome car... There will be ques for it... If Opel get the price right....

Its already here.

**Polyal** · 03-09-2012, 05:49 PM

I dont care whats on what platform...unless something has drastically changed over the last few years having owned an Opel GMH I know they are good cars and are far better than the rubbish GMH is selling now.

**DJM83** · 03-09-2012, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

I dont care whats on what platform...unless something has drastically changed over the last few years having owned an Opel GMH I know they are good cars and are far better than the rubbish GMH is selling now.

Exactly, these cars are light years apart from the other rubbish they share platforms with.

JG66ME · 03-09-2012, 05:56 PM

And a turbo diesel with a manual transmission. That excites me.

I would rather buy a Focus Titanium Diesel if I could get it with a manual. Seeing as Ford sees fit only to sell automatics I won't be.

mik · 03-09-2012, 05:59 PM

is it just me or do they look a lot like mazda`s with the smiley face thing.

Corzza · 03-09-2012, 06:05 PM

Iv been an Opel fan for a longtime. My first car was an Opel Corsa back in South African in 2001. These new models have really added a bit of spice into the Euro market and will be a great addition to the brand line up in Australia. They are a tad pricey but then again they are in competition with the likes of Renault, Citroen, Peugot, VW, Alfa

Bossxr8 · 03-09-2012, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JG66ME

And a turbo diesel with a manual transmission. That excites me.

I would rather buy a Focus Titanium Diesel if I could get it with a manual. Seeing as Ford sees fit only to sell automatics I won't be.

A diesel manual excites you

Do you happen to wear cardigans?

Looks like Opel figured out their cars were too good to be wearing Holden badges, and its good to see Holden realised Opel were too good to be Holdens and Daewoos were more worthy of the Holden badge.

The Astra is a Focus rival in Europe, I wonder home many suckers will pay thousands more than a Focus for a car that should be a similar price.

From what i've read Opel are dropping the premium price tag in Europe they have tried over the past few years and back to pricing where they were a few years ago, competing with Ford etc and not VW.

JG66ME · 03-09-2012, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

A diesel manual excites you

Do you happen to wear cardigans?

Looks like Opel figured out their cars were too good to be wearing Holden badges, and its good to see Holden realised Opel were too good to be Holdens and Daewoos were more worthy of the Holden badge.

The Astra is a Focus rival in Europe, I wonder home many suckers will pay thousands more than a Focus for a car that should be a similar price.

From what i've read Opel are dropping the premium price tag in Europe they have tried over the past few years and back to pricing where they were a few years ago, competing with Ford etc and not VW.

Having driven them all over the UK, through Germany Holland, France and Belgium at speeds that would have me on the front page of a newspaper here, yes they do. That was a Mondeo TDci six speed and a Focus turbo diesel six speed. I have also driven the Astra through the UK but it was a petrol.

Fiesta_Man69 · 03-09-2012, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM83

Its already here.

Just saw an ad for the forthcoming Opel range during Top Gear on Channel Go... They look awesome.

**DJM83** · 03-09-2012, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiesta_Man69

Just saw an ad for the forthcoming Opel range during Top Gear on Channel Go... They look awesome.

Agreed. As i posted though, this is what im waiting for. My luck it wont be in my price range.

xr6turboford · 03-09-2012, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

A diesel manual excites you

Do you happen to wear cardigans?

Looks like Opel figured out their cars were too good to be wearing Holden badges, and its good to see Holden realised Opel were too good to be Holdens and Daewoos were more worthy of the Holden badge.

The Astra is a Focus rival in Europe, I wonder home many suckers will pay thousands more than a Focus for a car that should be a similar price.

From what i've read Opel are dropping the premium price tag in Europe they have tried over the past few years and back to pricing where they were a few years ago, competing with Ford etc and not VW.

Well thanks for that I like it when someone calls my daughter a sucker
as last Friday she took delivery of a new Focus Titianium.
But guess what she is over the moon with it and if I can get the misses
to say yes (working very hard on it) I will have a new R-spec Gt
the drive way so what does that make me a all day sucker.
For a Ford forum theres a lot of crap written about Ford and their
products with fans like this you don't need enemies.
At the end of the day I buy a product because it what I like and want
not whats got this or that or cost this or that.

stevz · 03-09-2012, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

What?

Are you saying the Opel is like a Daewoo? If so it could not be further from the truth. Opel make good solid cars, GM/Daewoo do not.

WTF are you smoking?

Cruze is a global vehicle in which Opel did a large amount of engineering and development work. So yes, the Cruze and Opel Astra are basically the same cars underneath the skin. Saying that Cruze is pure Daewoo is sheer ignorance, besides Daewoo hasn't even existed for a number of years now.

**Silver Ghia** · 03-09-2012, 08:23 PM

Seems to me that Opel are exploiting the current value of the Aussie dollar to their advantage to get rid of more cars, especially with the downturn in car sales in Europe.

Drives another nail in the Aussie car makers coffin. Tarrifs are desperately needed to get local manuf/imported cars back to a level playing field here.

BAFrod · 03-09-2012, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xr6turboford

Well thanks for that I like it when someone calls my daughter a sucker
as last Friday she took delivery of a new Focus Titianium.
But guess what she is over the moon with it and if I can get the misses
to say yes (working very hard on it) I will have a new R-spec Gt
the drive way so what does that make me a all day sucker.
For a Ford forum theres a lot of crap written about Ford and their
products with fans like this you don't need enemies.
At the end of the day I buy a product because it what I like and want
not whats got this or that or cost this or that.

Mate, I'm pretty sure you misread what he said; it was "suckers paying thousands more THAN a focus" (on an Astra), not "suckers paying thousands ON a focus..."

I don't see any Ford bashing in that post.

SSVPom · 03-09-2012, 09:23 PM

To answer the OP, Eastside Mitsubishi is currently selling Opels whilst the new Eastside Opel showroom is built next door (they have temporarily covered up the three pointed diamond logo though!)

FGX-351 · 03-09-2012, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAFrod

Mate, I'm pretty sure you misread what he said; it was "suckers paying thousands more THAN a focus" (on an Astra), not "suckers paying thousands ON a focus..."

I don't see any Ford bashing in that post.

Was just thinking the same thing to myself.

SumoDog68 · 04-09-2012, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cobramania

Opel is a GM company & has been since about the 1930's. The base of both the Opel Astra & Cruze are the same platform, GM's Delta 2 Platform, just like the territory's based on the Falcon platform. Essentially the same car underneath with different panels on top. Pretty sure both cars come out of some of the same GM factories around the world, so same quality. The old Holden Astra's were made at Holdens Elizabeth plant, the Cruzes are also made there, I don't think the new Opel Astras will be made there at the start, but may be sometime in the future, so that makes them all GMHolden quality.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikked

Well, better not let those undercover cops and/or paid off crims deal drugs in a sting...

Thats entrapment and its not allowed, the police are forcing you to buy drugs dammit!

Astra was never made at Holdens Elizabeth plant - first Holden Astra was joint venture with Nissan and was assembled at Clayton , second gen was Vauxhall imported from UK , third TS Astra was imported from Belgium and AH was also belgium built with TS moved to Poland.
Opel is looking to sell some cars as they were bankrupt in Germany and as
Holden has taken Korean product Opel has decided to enter Aussie market indenpendently. They are both GM subsidaries but now in competition in Australia.