HSV Grange targets BMW, Mercedes-Benz !!!!

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by fordman6

Hate to say this, but: GO GET 'EM!!!



Who does Daimler belong to? Ford don't own it, neither Mitsbishi, they sold Daimler years ago!

Mitsubishi never owned Daimler. Daimler-Benz owned Mitsubishi. Daimler belongs to itself.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

Lol, what year on the wine?

Wow thats a big whack of money for a holden!! Was this the car running the add that compares the car to the BMW? Or was that the VE statesman or similar?

november 06 issue of wheels tested calais v v8 against bmw 550i and MB e500. apparently they'd choose the calais over the bimmer regardless of money. merc won the comparo but the usual dribble regarding the calais is said. this is the article the ads are referring to i believe.

i guess the bmw550 is similar spec on paper but for 20grand less they could've compared it to an m3 although prolly not as 'luxury' as the 550.

sure the grange may compete well on paper but they just don't have the prestige or the badge to steal drivers away from the euro's.

if you compare it on price its up against
audi a4 or a6; bmw 330i,325ci, 525i; 300c srt8; jag s type; merc e200k, slk200k, clk200k.

when you look at it that way the euro's don't have a hell of a lot to offer in that price range.

its not a bad problem to have though. wondering how your going to spend 90 large.

[LeadFoot81]

aaargh!

Can people stop b******g about Ford's loss of the Fairlane. Whatever their mistakes were in the past, there just isn't a market here for LWB luxury cars!!!

Holden and HSV couldnt have their Caprice or Grange were it not for export deals. No, Ford Oz can't get export deals thanks to Fomoco US, end of story. Do you guys think car makers like abandoning cash cow segments, or reducing their portfolio?

Holden are lucky they have the oppurtunity to export, and have absoloutely, unequivocally made the best of it, and good on them. Hopefully Ford can ressurect Fairlane one way or another later this decade.

The Grange as always, is a little over the top. I find the Caprice is a great looking car, though I find the rear a little bland. Can't ignore the statement the Grange makes however.

[stewyg]

Sorry guys, I have to say it, HSV and FPV may as well through in the towel when it comes to competing with the likes of Benz, Audi, BMW etc, euros know how to build a car, and they do a good job to. we have cars from all continents in our family. '07 Forester GT, '94 E220, '02 Patrol, '07 fairmont and more. the merc, although being blitzed in a straight line is the nicest to drive around town with the smoothest auto of the lot, but OMG the handling! no other car in the family comes close with the exception of the Suby being AWD. The merc does not whir, rattle ect, all the others do. and after over 200,000 kms the mercs engine sounds the best still! I still love my XC but seriously, Euro luxury and quality is above the capabilities of the locals at the moment, but hey that said, gotta start somewhere so good luck to them.

[pb02]

Originally Posted by stewyg

Sorry guys, I have to say it, HSV and FPV may as well through in the towel when it comes to competing with the likes of Benz, Audi, BMW etc, euros know how to build a car, and they do a good job to. we have cars from all continents in our family. '07 Forester GT, '94 E220, '02 Patrol, '07 fairmont and more. the merc, although being blitzed in a straight line is the nicest to drive around town with the smoothest auto of the lot, but OMG the handling! no other car in the family comes close with the exception of the Suby being AWD. The merc does not whir, rattle ect, all the others do. and after over 200,000 kms the mercs engine sounds the best still! I still love my XC but seriously, Euro luxury and quality is above the capabilities of the locals at the moment, but hey that said, gotta start somewhere so good luck to them.

I agree with what you are saying about OLDER mercs. Beautiful cars to drive, the new ones, still great driving but the quality is sh!t....
I know owners of new Mercs and BM's. The Mercedes is a 2003 model S class. It now has about 70K kms, regular servicing. It's brakes have failed twice, suspension failed, electrics failed, brake discs replaced, and recently the catalytic converter went ($1700 for parts!!!).
The BMW owner will be replacing it shortly, great car, but can't for the life of him figure out the I-drive system. It can be a very frustrating car to drive.

[Wally]

I reckon if you knocked out every member in this thread who have actually owned or even driven a BMW for a week, there'd only be two posts. Neither would be saying how good an experience it was. Very average car really.

Next time you go to the wreckers have a squiz at the build quality and mechanicals of the BMW and you may be suprised that there isn't any gold or precious gems built in, just metal panels with the same old spot welds, and engine covered in oil from leaking seals, a brake system that isn't any better than an XA falcon, cracked dash, cracked seats, solar susceptible plastic everywhere, etc.

[Angeldust]

on our 2003 bmw, after 1 year, the ignition module failed ( replaced under warranty )
6months ago the air con/climate cntrl condensor went (now out of warranty) bmw want $2500 to replace it :( not to mention the astronomical service costs.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by Angeldust

on our 2003 bmw, after 1 year, the ignition module failed ( replaced under warranty )
6months ago the air con/climate cntrl condensor went (now out of warranty) bmw want $2500 to replace it :( not to mention the astronomical service costs.

That's cos most of the entry level "euros" are now built in India, South Africa or Mexico. Economies of scale and savage competition have driven even the traditional luxury marques to penny pinching and production scale economies off shore for survival.............Quality control clearly aint what it used to be. Its almost like they don't care anymore now that these cars are no longer the exclusive domain of the RICH and FAMOUS. Its the underlying audacity that mediocrity for the mediocre buyer is now acceptable. And we all thought that this was the exclusive philosophy of FORD and GM.............

[Iphido]

The Caprice and the Grange make a strong argument.

ITS THE MOST CAR YOU CAN BUY FOR THE MONEY.

Its more car than nearly everyone would ever need. Its fast, its got luxury, it feels pretty nice, looks nice, *HUGE* space inside.

If you have a older family, and you want to go for a drive. Folding 4 or 5 6'4-6'8 people into a car can be a daunting task, not with a LWB holden, jesus, its huge! I think only the new S class L comes anywhere near it for space.

This or a entry level BMW or Merc? Trust me, I would take the Olden Holden.. Even with the occasional squeek.

[Steffo]

Originally Posted by Iphido

The Caprice and the Grange make a strong argument.

ITS THE MOST CAR YOU CAN BUY FOR THE MONEY.

Its more car than nearly everyone would ever need. Its fast, its got luxury, it feels pretty nice, looks nice, *HUGE* space inside.

If you have a older family, and you want to go for a drive. Folding 4 or 5 6'4-6'8 people into a car can be a daunting task, not with a LWB holden, jesus, its huge! I think only the new S class L comes anywhere near it for space.

This or a entry level BMW or Merc? Trust me, I would take the Olden Holden.. Even with the occasional squeek.

Its smaller inside then the S-Class L, A8L and 7-Series L. In fact, the normal ones are about the same size.