Comments on: Top Gear Australia episode two preview

By: smokin'R32

smokin'R32 — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:00:05 +0000

Did anyone catch this last night? Im trying to download it now, ive heard it was a good improvement over the first episode. Fingers crossed it continues this upwards trend

By: Chipmunk105

Chipmunk105 — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:53:46 +0000

Wow, talk about ethnocentric aussies who think Falcodores are the be all and end all of cars. It seems you are forgetting that Australians have moved from buying the “Big Aussie 6 or 8″ for the BMW 3 series, C-class Mercs, A4 audi’s, VW’s, etc etc….must be something to that surely.
Dont get me wrong, i drive a commodore because it suits my current circumstances, but its not a great car. It’s had more probs in the last 3 yrs than my 1980 BMW 323i did before it….and that car was 20 yrs old when i bought it.
Yes aussie cars have come a long way in the past ten years, and about time too….BMW had 4 wheel disc brakes and IRS on their cars back in the early 70’s, yet holden only put it into the commodore in 97 with the VT…
Commodores and Falcons are nice cars, and in a cost comparison they will win everytime against the europeans. However they will never have that finesse and refinement of a BMW or Mercedes, but then again, most Aussies only want their Falcodore V8 to put 22′ chrome wheels on, a big loud exhaust and do burnouts in…..but hey, as long as they yell “POWER (clarkson style) while doing it, good on ‘em!

By: The Salesman

The Salesman — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:15:30 +0000

Correction,

Ford is now placed fourth, Hyundai – Kia id fifth

By: The Salesman

The Salesman — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:13:13 +0000

Ford and Holden are not Australian,
The cars are built here specifically for our market, but, our market is changing. Even government fleet buyers are changing direction from the traditional Falcodore. Face the music, Holden and Ford rely on the big aussie six to hold up their sales, now that has dropped off they have to compete in the small car market, so , whets on offer here? Not much that the Koreans haven’t already dominated (yes I am aware most Holden’s come out of Korea)
So for all you’re arguing over who is better? I say who really cares? The writing is on the wall, Holden and Ford must adapt quickly. Ford has lost their global sales ranking to VW, slipping to fifth, just in froth of Hyundai – Kia. Holden lost their number one spot to Toyota.
Signs of the times ahead and very sad indeed.

By: Golfschwein

Golfschwein — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:48:38 +0000

I feel for Ford and Holden. I love them, but people like me aren’t buying their cars, and they’re not doing so in greater numbers than ever before.

We’re replicating the European experience of the last 10 to 15 years, where declining sales of large car staples eventually saw to it that a decades-old lineage of Zephyrs, Consuls, Granadas, Victors, Carltons, Diplomats, Rekords and Senators was discontinued.

Peoples’ tastes swung to tastier, yet smaller servings.

If the same thing’s happening here, I wish Holden and Ford full speed ahead on their manufacturing and export programs for whatever car’s going to hit the marketing nail on the head.

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:45:41 +0000

Tomas – if you want it so that the Australian Automotive Industry disappears and therefore Australians are held to ransom by the Overseas car companies than fine

Because there are some narrow-minded ill informed illogival people who seem th thiink that if/when tharrifs are reduced to 5% and eventually 0% that the imported cars will become cheaper.. initially they will but this will see the end of the Australian car industry

When that happens the overseas car companies will realise hey we’ve got something the Australians want/need and so we are in control and will be able to charge whatever want for them so don’t be surprised if they double in price because afterall BMW Merc etc are in business to make/increase profits

The situation would be made worse with the fact that because the Holden Ford and your beloved Toyota has disappeared 100s of 1000s of workers wouldn’t have a job not only in the Car industry but other industries including finance retail hospitality/tourism construction etc.. So very few would actually be able to afford a BMW either way.

Whereas if we still had a local car industry we would still have the option of buying a locally built car and people would still have a job

Mind you as there would be so many people out of work if tarrifs were to fall there would be a greater reliance on centrelink and the govt would have to increase its budget so they would probably increase income taxes on those who still have ajob which mewans they too would have less money to spend on a new BMW which remember BMW would have doubled increased the price back up to what they are now

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:33:14 +0000

Tomas – you say the only reason he Commodore is a winner in terms of bang for your Bucks is because of the tarrif protection

Yet if that is the case why was it on Top Gear when JC compared the Vauxhall VXR8 against an Audi Porsche and BMW it beat them all not only in a straight line but also for sheer driving excitement and fun..

I mean for the VXR8 to impress JC as much as it did [the same way the monaro did] shows that the VXR8 [commodore] is a fine performance car given that in the UK it doesn’t have protection and was pitted against similarly priced cars
And this is a man who drives cars from all over the world every day

I remember JC said something like “Sure its not as refined as the Euros but it was more fun”

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:25:17 +0000

Tomas79 – If you like German style beer and Wurst you should visit Hahndorf here in the Adelaide Hills… Its really nice – which you’d expect given that Adelaide has the the largest population of Germans and German decendants in Australia what with the barossa valley and all

By: o

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 22:28:30 +0000

Imagine if today the goverment got rid of all of tis tarrifs and imports taxes etc and BMW 5 sereies was equivialnt to a commodore in price i know what i would buy. It seems that you all love going how good aussie cars are but if they were priced equivialntly they would lose. A falcodore just doesnt have the tech that a german car does under the skin. Austrlalian cars are doomed and i really hope when the focus is built here that we dont miss out on certain equipment/tech rumor has it that hte next focus will have sat-nav standard

By: spam

spam — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:35:08 +0000

tomas79 you are so right , those with blinkers on will one day understand that its a changed game .

maybe ford and holden should share a platform and badge swap , after all there isnt much difference between the dino’s

By: Brett

Brett — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:33:56 +0000

One CL 500, one Passat R36 wagon, two German built RS Fords and one Porsche 911.

For all those who have called me a ’supremacist’ and a ’snob’; there you go. I’ll happily buy Fords; but only decent ones.

By: Tomas79

Tomas79 — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:17:07 +0000

Hey Brett, Do you own a CL 500???
NICE!!!
Now thats a proper full size sports car!! None of this HSV/FPV rubbish!! :-)

By: Tomas79

Tomas79 — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:53:31 +0000

Watto_cobra, when I said look at the SMALLER European countries exporting to Aus and the world, obviously I wasn’t referring to the populously larger Germany, France and Spain, etc…!! A good example is Czech Republic, Population 10 Million, and last year, 1 car was manufactured per 1.5 heads of population! Sure you might know the VW owned SKODA Auto, but there is about another 4 unique Czech car brands and about 5 unique truck/bus brands!! Not to mention all the big international manufactures that build combined plants up there! And its all 90% for export!! I’m sure a similar automobile industry exists in Austria, and even Slovakia! So like I said, the size of the population, does not affect the global demand!!

With regards to Spam’s criticisms of Taxis, I think he is referring to all the FG variants sharing the same body shell!! Why, if ford wants to make a sports car, why not come up with a coupe?? If ford comes out with a coupe, maybe something resembling the Aston martin, I’d be the first in line to get one!!

Don’t get me wrong, I wish all the best for Ford Australia, Ford Falcon Fg is a great car but let’s not hail it a BMW/MERC beater or a World Class Car till the world actually starts to demand it, or even applaud it!! And till it can actually survive on its own, without any government protection!!

Anyway, that’s enough from me on this matter…

By: Watto_Cobra

Watto_Cobra — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:00:51 +0000

I’M LUCKY YOU HAVE A HARD SKIN??? Are you going to have me rubbed out? Tomas, speaking of population:-
France – 64,473,140
Germany – 82,220,000

I’m not going to bother searching for the pop. of Italy, Spain, UK, etc, etc, because they are all far more populated than Oz. You think because France is a small country compared to Oz. population makes no difference?? Surely you can’t think that. Whatever those Euro countries can produce can be sold anywhere in that part of the world to huge markets. No prob.

Holden(GM) used forward thinking to open up LHD markets for the Commodore (US, Emirates, China, Korea, etc) Well done Holden. Our population is becoming too small to rely on local sales only. That’s what sucks about Ford. FordOZ make a great car that outshines anything FordUS have to offer, but restricted to Aus and NZ, and it’s now hurting.

Dearborn is to blame for the lack of an export program for Aus Fords. Bob Lutz for GM knows we have a good product, and he has done something about it.

By: Falcodore

Falcodore — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:52:18 +0000

Tomas79, nothing against bratwurst and german beer or mercs for that matter. It was just a joke about drunk ppl throwing up in taxis but with a german twist. The point i was making is that spam was bagging falcons cause they are used as taxis, so do germans bag mercs and beemers cause they’re used for the same purposes? I doubt it so why do it here?
He should use some perspective and objectivity and stop spewing mindless dribble.
Wasn’t the topic about Top Gear Austalia? its easy to get off topic sometimes, anyway not long to go now, cant wait myself.

By: Watto_Cobra

Watto_Cobra — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:35:44 +0000

Redneck? We are American now? Tomas79 how on earth did you get “redneck” out of Quote=”Tomas79, you are joking right? We have a measly 21 million population, and you think we should be able to break into euro markets on our own merits?”

A redneck might have said “golly gee gosh Tomas, I don’ buy nuthink’ my cuz don’t build in the local car faktry.”

If anything Mr. Spam-script with its poor grammar, spelling, and ignorance of where captial letters should be used, comes across as bogan (or “redneck”) to me.

What is the tariff now on imports? I’m not too up on it but I believe 10% and the Labor government wants to reduce it to 5%? Is that correct? You’ll have to fill me in. Take 10% of a performance import and I think SS/XR6T would still come out on top performance-wise.

By: Tomas79

Tomas79 — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:16:45 +0000

Watto_Cobra, that’s a bit of redneck comment you made against me, you are lucky I have a hard skin!!! Population size has little to do with things, look at some of the smaller European nations that export their cars to aus!! And don’t forget it is you guys that are tapping it on the back, calling it a TRUE WORLD CLASS CAR!!

I just don’t believe I should have to fork out more of my money when I buy imports, just in order to keep this industry alive!!!

Watto_Cobra, The only reason the Falcodores are good Bang-for-Buck, is because the tariffs and other protections are keeping the Euros and other Internationals artificially expensive!!

Tom Says:”Even in the US, were the G8 is a import, a 550i is a good 20 grand+ more expensive.”
But isn’t the G8s 30+ grand cheaper in the US, then it’s equivalent here??

Falcodore, Whats wrong with German Beer & Bratwurst, I love the stuff!! Except it’s very hard to find decent Wursts here in aus!!

Also, Mercs make brilliant taxis!! Too bad we have to settle for falcadores here!! And Mercs which is a truly world class!! Benz innovates technology that later becomes standard thought the industry!! What technology did Falcadores bring to the world?!

By: Watto_Cobra

Watto_Cobra — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:58:59 +0000

So Mr. Spam-script (better turn your spell checker on) you didn’t elaborate too much.

VW, that could mean anything from a Veyron to a Kombi van. I’m partial to Golf’s despite being a so-called taxi lover. Somehow, I don’t think you own a Veyron.

Subaru could mean anything from a hot STi to a flogged out 10-year old Brumby. Not real specific there champ.

Oh, but because you have a penchant for imports you must be better than everyone else. As Falcodore says, in Europe/UK they use Mercs and Beemers for taxis. Well, geez, they mustn’t be good enough for you Mr. can-supposedly-afford-a-100k+-car-but-didn’t-pass-3rd-grade-spelling-Spam-script.

By: Falcodore

Falcodore — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:53:25 +0000

According to spam everyone who drives a Merc is driving a crap taxi and is the equivalent of a German bogan (euro snob?).
Oktoberfest next month, whos up for drinking german beer, getting sh*tfaced, stealing a mercedes and treating it like a taxi? Hey driver, got room for some bratwhurst and a dozen stienglasses?

By: spam

spam — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:46:37 +0000

wacko nobbo i drive subaru and vw does that satisfy your thirst for blood.
probably never sat in a real car ,what is it meat pie , beer and a falcoon or crummerdore , never set foot out of the back yard .

wonderfull you will be full of pride as the falcodore annual “lets drive around the mountain ” taxi race comes up soon,zzzzzzzzzzzz boring , oh shit we cant have any euro/jappo competition, bugger they might just win