Holden in USA

Please, please, please.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/05/holden-about-to-confirm-american-commodore-exports-and-not-just-sedans-either/

Sorry, you can't come here unless you bring Utes.

Please please PLEASE let there be some LSx based ute goodness in my future.

probably just another rebadging like the Holden Monero/Pontiac Grand Prix. Anything else would be costly.....GM already learned the problem with the extra overhead of having too many divisions. I can't see them trying to sell the cars as Holden's in the USA.

[...and still think the fiat 500 should have been rebadged and sold through Chrysler dealers instead of setting up Fiat "salons".....they could have sold more units at a lower price point.]

Third post today on this subject:

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/chevy-gets-a-rwd-car/49702/page1/

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/off-topic-discussion/here-comes-the-new-rear-drive-ss-chevy/49694/page1/

Brett_Murphy wrote: Please, please, please. http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/05/holden-about-to-confirm-american-commodore-exports-and-not-just-sedans-either/

That site needs to be renamed: "the horribly misinformed people that should not be able to write about cars."

See my comments in one of the other existing threads over in Off Topic.

we already have a couple of Holdens prowling the streets in the US- the Caprice cop car and the Camaro.. before that we had the G8 and the GTO..

....I wonder if I'm the only one who doesn't "get it" about these cars?

ScottRA21 wrote: ....I wonder if I'm the only one who doesn't "get it" about these cars?

yes.. i'd say so..

V8, rwd, manual trans.. that's the best recipe for fun..

novaderrik wrote:

ScottRA21 wrote: ....I wonder if I'm the only one who doesn't "get it" about these cars?

yes.. i'd say so.. V8, rwd, manual trans.. that's the best recipe for fun..

In a 3500-3800 lb car? Doesn't fit my ideal recipe for fun...

ScottRA21 wrote:

novaderrik wrote:

ScottRA21 wrote: ....I wonder if I'm the only one who doesn't "get it" about these cars?

yes.. i'd say so.. V8, rwd, manual trans.. that's the best recipe for fun..

In a 3500-3800 lb car? Doesn't fit my ideal recipe for fun...

400+ horsepowers and 400+ torques in a heavy car is still 400+ horsepowers and 400+ torques..

the hosts of the most popular tv show in the world seem to think it's a good recipe for fun..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yuBCAn0LWE&feature=related

400+ HP and TQ in a 2900-3100 lb car, that I could get behind. Preferably a two door coupe, compact-mid size. 400+ HP and TQ in a what basically amounts to a full size, 4 door saloon that weighs 3500-3800 lbs...sounds less than inspiring to me.

I don't like excess weight. I don't like large cars...with 2 exceptions: Lotus Carlton, and Buick GNX, and those mostly have to do with the thought process behind them.

And I really....really do not get UTEs.

They should just throw them on a boat as-is and be done with it. Keep the Holden badging & styling, keep them RHD. I'll bet the mods to get them US-legal are pretty minimal; these days most cars are designed to a global standard, except for some things like lighting & signal requirements. Send the Utes in without engines to get around the chicken tax.

No mucking around with "market re-evaluations" or any corporate hot-air games, no "oh noes we have to open an entire new franchise of dealers!!1", no trying to pretend they're anything other than Australian-built muscle cars. Build enough to meet demand, only, and have customers sign a disclaimer that they understand parts might be slow to get. Do it on the cheap, and sell tens of thousands for profit (instead of selling the same amount anyway at a loss because everyone along the way had to get their hands in the cash bucket.)

Jay wrote: They should just throw them on a boat as-is and be done with it. Keep the Holden badging, styling, and RHD. I'll bet the mods to get them US-legal are pretty minimal; these days most cars are designed to a global standard, except for some things like lighting & signal requirements. Send the Utes in without engines to get around the chicken tax. No mucking around with "market re-evaluations" or any corporate hot-air games, no "oh noes we have to open an entire new franchise of dealers!!1", no trying to pretend they're anything other than Australian-built muscle cars. Build enough to meet demand, only, and have customers sign a disclaimer that they understand parts might be slow to get. Do it on the cheap, and sell tens of thousands for profit (instead of selling the same amount anyway at a loss because everyone along the way had to get their hands in the cash bucket.)

As long as it is through the existing chevy dealer network and not through new holden dealers (that won't sell enough units to survive)

ScottRA21 wrote: 400+ HP and TQ in a what basically amounts to a full size, 4 door saloon that weighs 3500-3800 lbs...sounds less than inspiring to me.

I like light cars as much as anyone (s2000, Miata and a couple of b13 se-rs in my ownership history, and a lotus Elise on my wishlist), but there's something to be said for a fast big vehicle you can actually do stuff with. That said, no wagon/ute, no care.

That image with the ugly hubcaps and Chevy badging has forever tainted my love for the Pontiac G8. Nothing against Chevy, but that is one ugly transformed Commodore. I've wanted a G8 since they came out; lots of power and a big backseat for the kids. Recently I've noticed the similarities of a G8 to the Impala and now seeing that image has made me think twice about buying a G8 in the future (if budget allows) in fear of purchasing a shared GM parts bin.....but I already knew that, I just didn't want to admit it. Damn you GM for killing Pontiac and keeping Buick!

In reply to ScottRA21:

Scott . . . you need to take a ride/drive in a GTO, CTS-V, SRT8, M5, AMG . . . et al. 400+hp 3700+ lb cars.

All those cars listed are heavier than the Lotus Carlton and will beat to 60 and in the quarter . . .

I do believe the Lotus Carlton, Opel Omega, Cadillac Catera, Holden/GTO/Commodore/Ute, CTS-V (upgraded Sigma chassis) are all part of the same chassis family.

400+ HP and TQ in a 2900-3100 lb car, that I could get behind. Preferably a two door coupe, compact-mid size.

would you like the optional unicorn horn trim with that? I can't think of any car ever sold (at least at a reasonable price) that meets those specs

Mmmm a new Estate wagon with LSx power. Must. Have.

icaneat50eggs wrote:

400+ HP and TQ in a 2900-3100 lb car, that I could get behind. Preferably a two door coupe, compact-mid size.

would you like the optional unicorn horn trim with that? I can't think of any car ever sold (at least at a reasonable price) that meets those specs

Sounds like a Corvette to me. Depends on your concept of reasonable in regards to pricing though.

I thought we were talking about something with a backseat. I'd love a vette. however 2 kids kills that. I am fine with cramming my kids in the back of a small back seat, but it has to at least be there.

icaneat50eggs wrote:

400+ HP and TQ in a 2900-3100 lb car, that I could get behind. Preferably a two door coupe, compact-mid size.

would you like the optional unicorn horn trim with that? I can't think of any car ever sold (at least at a reasonable price) that meets those specs

Nah, the Unicorn Ivory might push the price up too much.

I want it for under $20k too you know.

Look, big cars just don't fit my "ideal recipe for fun". Never said it can't be fun, nor did I try to push my views on anyone else.

Strike, my appreciation for the Lotus Carlton and the GNX, is more about the sheer awesomeness that such cars were built, from companies you least expect it from at the time period when they came out. Especially the GNX.

Considering my unnatural love for old GM B-bodies (9C1's) a big RWD GM V8 sedan is definately my idea of fun. But, then again my first REAL car was a 9C1 B-body. So I know I'm not right in the head.

Who wants to help me build an 89 Caprice One LAp car?

Jay wrote: Send the Utes in without engines to get around the chicken tax.

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard! They need to put seats in the bed a la the Subaru Brat! How cool would that be?!?

I can haz Ute?

Make mine white with a vinyl bench seat please.