Can Holden do anything wrong

[drw009]

Never ceases to amaze me. I get home from work hoping to catch up on the info on the GM collapse, and stupidly expecting to see a positive spin from Ford to take advantage of a should be weaker opponent. But every single web page has a positive spin on how GM and Holden will pull out of this better than before.

1. Who the hell is Holdens PR guy and why cant Ford have them

2 Why is it that the hard working companies not asking for billions will be the big loser in all this while the company already borrowing billions start clean slate.

[GTP290]

I agree whole heartidly, the manager at my work is excited about getting a Holden Cruze as his next company car, he said he couldnt care less about GMs financial state, just aslong as he gets his new Holden car, hes happy!

[phillyc]

My concern is that they will also get the sympathy purchases as well. I don't want them to disappear, but equally i want Ford to get their deserved leg up out of this. Doesn't look that way.

[ebxr8240]

figjam comes to mind here..

[drw009]

Could you imagine the table turned and it was ford posting bankruptcy, every paper in Aus, every news show, every website saying its over for ford and that is has been coming for years blah blah blah,

the positive spin Holden always creates is what gets to me the most where Ford just has twiddling thumbs waiting for their turn.

[Iggypoppin']

Sorry to say this, but guys wake up...its an originally AUSTRALIAN company, why would they want to be negative about it? yeah they could, yeah GM screwed up bigtime and get a "get out of jail free" card, but by the sounds of it, everyone would like holden to fail?? i don't. without holden, SA goes belly up. along with the several thousand employees in other states, dealerships etc. that, and without holden, we have no-one to rag on. and why speculate on what has not happened in regards to Ford going bankrupt, and everyone saying "we told you so?". we haven't gone bankrupt, probably won't, and can take quiet satisfaction in the fact we are doing the best out of this. Ford have terrible marketing, we all know it. nothing we can do but continue to support them ourselves. if they dont make the most of "opportunities" like these, well, thats their headsup, not ours.

[drw009]

I dont want Holden to fail at all, too many jobs , too strong an aussie history , and is like a yin yang to ford. they both feed off each other, im just hoping ford US and aus claw back some market share out of this thats all, and..... that all important public perception and brand image

[XR_Strider_GuY]

Guys,

As strange as this sounds, we (Ford enthusiasts) need Holden to survive to keep our Falcon alive and keep the competition alive. We all benefit as a result. Alot of parts suppliers (PBR comes to mind) locally supply to both brands. If one goes I would think it will not be viable to just supply 1 brand without significant cost increase. Who wants an XR8 to be worth $70k???

[Windsor220]

Originally Posted by drw009

2 Why is it that the hard working companies not asking for billions will be the big loser in all this while the company already borrowing billions start clean slate.

Thats just life. Hard working people seem to get nowhere while others wing there way through.

One thing that annoys me is that Obama said GM will rise again and be on top. Bit unfair for other car manufacturers when they are doing it off their own back.

[timmo]

Of course Obama would say that after the US Taxpayer has invested $30 billion in GM. Why would he say any different?
As far as Holden is concerned, they produce one of the best value for money cars in the world, which pushes Ford to make a better car than what they would without a direct competitor.

[GT69]

Originally Posted by timmo

Of course Obama would say that after the US Taxpayer has invested $30 billion in GM. Why would he say any different?
As far as Holden is concerned, they produce one of the best value for money cars in the world, which pushes Ford to make a better car than what they would without a direct competitor.

Your looking at this one eyed. Push the falcon against a BMW M5. Why not? Up the quality, people have already shown the $150,000 for a BMW isn't asking to much? Look at it this way, ever thought it possible that Holden is holding Ford back? Just a thought :

[LowEL2XR8]

Holden PR is second to none. They could sell snow to eskimos.

[R-Design]

Originally Posted by GTP290

I agree whole heartidly, the manager at my work is excited about getting a Holden Cruze as his next company car, he said he couldnt care less about GMs financial state, just aslong as he gets his new Holden car, hes happy!

Your boss sounds like a loser.

Don't be disheartened boys, just because the media don't report it doesn't mean it's not happening. It will all unravel for GMH in the coming months and no amount of positive spin will be able to save them.

I don't mean to bash GMH as I know a number of good people associated with the company, but it is what it is.

Besides, I think we’d all prefer to see Ford outsell Holden based on a better product range rather than GM falling on its sword.

[timmo]

Quote:
Originally Posted by timmo
Of course Obama would say that after the US Taxpayer has invested $30 billion in GM. Why would he say any different?
As far as Holden is concerned, they produce one of the best value for money cars in the world, which pushes Ford to make a better car than what they would without a direct competitor.



Your looking at this one eyed. Push the falcon against a BMW M5. Why not? Up the quality, people have already shown the $150,000 for a BMW isn't asking to much? Look at it this way, ever thought it possible that Holden is holding Ford back? Just a thought

Not really...I was born and bred Holden, now I drive a Ford. You can't honestly believe that without Holden, Ford's perceived quality will continue to increase to the point where it is comparable to a BMW. It's the reason both GM and Ford continue to buy marquee brands like Aston Martin and Jag. They realise that there are limits to what people will pay for a particular brand

[BHDOGS]

I find i amusing that if holden get rid of jobs the government jumps in, it happens anywhere else in another market thats not the car industry and its tough off to center link

[GTENVY]

[QUOTE=NJXR6]Sorry to say this, but guys wake up...its an originally AUSTRALIAN company

Well Sorry to say it has never been Australian owned from the time it produced its first car. When it was Australian owed it was assembling bodies for Ford, Chrysler and GM. GM Brought them, then they started making there own cars under the new parent company GMH.

[imugli]

[QUOTE=GTENVY]

Originally Posted by NJXR6

Sorry to say this, but guys wake up...its an originally AUSTRALIAN company

Well Sorry to say it has never been Australian owned from the time it produced its first car. When it was Australian owed it was assembling bodies for Ford, Chrysler and GM. GM Brought them, then they started making there own cars under the new parent company GMH.

He shoots, he scores! :

[deesun]

On this mornings news Ford US has stated a 20% increase in sales in recent months and will ramp up production to cope. They have said " no problems here folks, steady as she goes" onward and upward for Ford.

[The Snout]

GM kept the Holden name when they bought them out, what 70 years ago now or something. Toyota is as Australian as Holden or Ford for that matter. All overseas companies that employee Aussies.

I really don't care if Holden die or more likely is bought out by a VW or Skoda. The free market isn't a party being held in anyone's honor. Holden don't deserve to survive just because 'that's how it's always been'.

If they fold then those buyers will just have to buy Falcons/Mondeos or Aurions, or whatever vehicle suits. Life will go on, even without Holden.

[dallasv8]

[QUOTE=GTENVY]

Originally Posted by NJXR6

Sorry to say this, but guys wake up...its an originally AUSTRALIAN company

Well Sorry to say it has never been Australian owned from the time it produced its first car. When it was Australian owed it was assembling bodies for Ford, Chrysler and GM. GM Brought them, then they started making there own cars under the new parent company GMH.

haha,you dont see that advertised in the holden meat pie ads

i would like to see ford come out on top,especially since they seem to be doing the right things to keep themselves going.

i just hope that since the usa government is pulling them out of the crapper, that they dont just use gm cars as the main fleet car over there,or here for that matter.

[kypez]

Originally Posted by dallasv8

haha,you dont see that advertised in the holden meat pie ads

i would like to see ford come out on top,especially since they seem to be doing the right things to keep themselves going.

i just hope that since the usa government is pulling them out of the crapper, that they dont just use gm cars as the main fleet car over there,or here for that matter.

I think Ford and other car makers would have a good case for an Anti-Trust case against the US govt if they did that...

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by LowEL2XR8

Holden PR is second to none. They could sell snow to eskimos.

So very true

[Crazed]

Holden deserve the positive spin, look at what is happening to its brothers:

GM has killed Saturn and Pontiac and is selling SAAB, Hummer, Vauxhull, Opel. Whilst GM-DAT (Daewoo) is having huge refinancing issues. Out of all the doom and gloom of the GM world Holden is one of the few bright spots!

Who else in Australia, has the biggest selling car (Commodore),invested in product to bring out a new wagon (Sportwagon), maintained investment in the long wheel-base-market (Statesman). They also build left and right hand drive cars and will be bringing out E85 flex fuel, and direct injection. And with the mess the car industry is in, they still are planning on being profitable (early 2010).

It is amazing that GM which is the largest car maker on the planet, has basically held onto Holden for dear life while jettising some of its largest and well-known marques. Holden have done bloody well out of all this, good on them.

[seXCmont]

if holden goes then watching bathurst will get a lot less interesting

[mik]

agreed....that would be the end of bathurst for many i think.

[Daymoe]

Who saw the cartoon in the age today? It was Hummer, Saturn, Pontiac and all those axed GM brands all smashed up and a FX or FJ Holden with some old woman in there in front saying "Phew that was close".

[Thankfull]

I feel for the Holden Employees out at the Elizabeth plant....despite owning Fords all of my life, I was a spray Painter in the GMH Spraybooth at Elizabeth back in 1989 when the VN series was running.

In the end 200 Commodores a shift and working between the Robots was getting a bit much for me after 6 months, so I left it all behind.

They where a great bunch to work with....the spray painting is fully automated now, I would say with the exception of a few over seer painters to make sure everything works as it should along the spray booth line.

I will say one thing for GM Elizabeth...they had the cleanest Spray Booth line I have ever seen...full stop.

Cheers All

[cool65]

with obama now owning 70% of GM, he can release his version of cadillac - sorry lol

[GT69]

Originally Posted by cool65

with obama now owning 70% of GM, he can release his version of cadillac - sorry lol

Is there enough bling on that though?

[Windsor220]

Isnt the idea to lower the car?