but having said that, maybe it does seem like a kick in the pants to the aussie buyers, but what the hell do you care? honestly? you constantly remind us you wouldnt touch one with a ten foot pole let alone fork out the US list price for one.
now i ask you, whats your point?
why are you getting so hung up on the discounted list price on a vehicle you wish to be dead???

and also, from what i understand, holden are making SFA out of their export program.
they are not sending them there to turn big bucks but rather test the waters and create a recognition of their product amongst the consumers in a few different markets.

mark my words that the export program will stop once the next gen commodore (possibly Torana) comes online.

it is totally normal for manufacturers to offer abnormally low prices on a product they are trying to break into the market with.
whether it be food, clothing, tools, or motor vehicles, the basic practices of business still apply.

I use to manage a supermarket (going back a few years), and when we had coke on a ripper special, we would lose 1-2cents per bottle. do you know why that was no drama and why it ended up being beneficial??
if you had one little bit of business knowledge you would clearly understand the basics as to why cheaper commodores in the US actually carries with it good reason.

but if you dont understand, pick your lip up and soldier on. You were never going to buy one at full or discounted price anyway

Let’s leave this infantile “Holden are bastards for selling em in the US for thirty grand” nonsense behind and get back to the Aurion, if you must.

No Sh!t!! Whats your point??

It’s just not fair!LOL.

Its quite simple Riddler(Thomas69 or should that be Dumbarse69)?LOL.

The more cars made the lower the cost per unit.

Golfschwein, we do know why!! That’s because there is still enough fat left in the US$30K for Pontiac’s low volume badge/style redesign, shipment costs, and still make them profit!! Of course, if they charged the same amount, as they do here for the HSVs, it would get a second look! Imagine how much fat we must be paying on hsv here. And people still buy them here in oz, because of tariffs on much better international cars, make those overpriced holdens still competitive.

Again I ask How far has a Aussie made it up the Toyota [management] Tree

You either haven’t read or more likely simply chosen to ignore Golfys statement because the Commodore/Statesman and Ute are exported to other countries other than the US
Toyota aren’t the only ones

Not only that but Holden Designers and Engineers have considerable input and influence in other GM related projects..

Then of course theres the Holden Engine Company who build engines for a range of companies including Alfa Romeo

Oh and Aussie Mike Simcoe who was the Head of Holden Design Studio got promoted to become Head of Design for the Asia Pacific and now is Head of Design for GM he now has the final say as to how virtually all GM cars will look

How far has a Aussie made it up the Toyota management Tree

Which proves how important Holden is to GM – I mean Toyota have been forced to take a Cumry from the USA and try to make it more suitable to Australian conditions

Whereas Holden were brave enough to go it alone with the VE and design a completely new car the architecture of which is now being used in other GM cars like the Camaro

I realise that Holden used to modify Opel Rekords for the VB-VNs but my point is that over the years Holden has gradually improved its position within GM World unlike the Toyota

If Toyota was that confident surely they would be able to put forward a case like Holden did to build a uniquely Australian car from scratch not just take 5 year old hand me downs..

And before tyou mention Daewoos – Holden are involved in improving the engineering and quality of their cars and overtime it will improve just like Hyundai Did.. Yet it’s looking more likely that Holden will start to import Opels again particularly the Corsa and the Insignia

You ever seen how many industries the Government subsidies in this Country ? What about the fact Toyota recently were more than happy to take money off Rudd and the Victorian Government from memory to produce a hybrid Camry they were already building! Thats just greed !

Just cause you don’t sell large numbers of a make around the world doesn’t make it a bad car as Golfy says ,doesn’t it make it unique though ? I’m guessing for such a small market GMH are doing this country a favor showing the world what we can make in performance cars , as colonials we have done a damn fine job in such a small time in manufacturing.

Im guessing we’re suppling more G8s to the USA than Toyota is sending TRD Camrys…………Then again they still cant sell the 500 they made here LAST YEAR!

Regarding the Aurion being $13.00 cheaper a week then its nearest rival,two things to say to that, only boring people buy a car based off a survey and second Ill do without a bottle of Yellow Glen a week than drive a Camry thanks!

As for local industry, I think the biggest loss would be Toyota, given they export vehicles throughout the world. Ford and Holden would be no loss at all.

None of the Australian cars exported so far have truly universal appeal (think Golf and Corolla), as they’re not truly economical but you can’t knock them as a niche product being sold around the world.

Australian manufacturers have done well to get our cars where they already are, and I’m talking Holden, Toyota as well as Mitsubishi with its deceased Diamante.

And please don’t include yourself as one of those who rant tiresomely about how cheap the Commodore’s sold in America. You and I will never know why…