Australian & New Zealand February 2008 Sales Results: YTD Toyota Leads Holden 15,916!

[ericmvest]

Originally Posted by VB3.3

If you want to hold historical grudges, it seems Japan has treated Australia and New Zealand worst than Churchill.

I don't want to make a political thread,and my jibe was meant to be light hearted, but the distinction is Japan was at war with us, the English were our allies.

Churchill's convenience does not excuse hijacking our troops mid voyage returning from the middle east to defend our home land and diverting them to be captured at Singapore. All against the direct order of our Prime Minister Curtin. I have no grudges agaisnt the English, just Churchill. This was one of the most significant events in the formation of our foreign policy and the ever increasing alliance with the US.

So for all I care Churchill can curl up with his Black Dog and have a sip of Gin![/quote]

I mentioned Churchill's poor decisions causing many wasted Australian lives in the WWI Battle of Gallipoli. You mentioned other poor Churchill decisions in WWII causing even more wasted Australian lives and POW's. I was not aware of these WWII mistakes. I can see why Churchill is not well thought of in Australia and New Zealand. I was not trying to provoke or insult by quoting Churchill. The quote was simply to express that General Motors should never quit. It should continuously improve with the goal of besting its competition.

[Robert Ryan]

What happened to the Hummer H3? looks like it fell off the cliff.

[mikmak]

Sold out last month.

[Ssom]

Funny thing I noticed is that in spite of the Falcon and Focus being run out in NZ at the mo (With the clever "You won't believe you're buying new" campain), they both sold pretty poorly. The Focus 2.0 LX is going for $25,995 ($6000 off RRP) and the Falcon XT for $30,990 (Down about $8k) and they were both outgunned by the Mondeo.


Seems nobody is keen to lose money on thier new car by scoring a run-out deal any more.

PS Joe, it's a "Hyundai Tucson" rather than a Kia :p

[JoeT]

Inflation Squashes New Car Market

Joshua Gliddon
13 March 2008
www.drive.com.au

Ford’s new managing director president predicts that rising interest rates will dampen car sales over the next twelve months.

Thinking of buying a new car? You’re one of a decreasing number of Australians that will lay out their cash for new metal this year. That’s the view from Ford Australia’s new president, Bill Osborne, who says the company expects some softening in the market due to rising interest rates and the continuing international fall out from the sub prime crisis in the United States.

“We certainly don’t see the industry tanking,” says Mr Osbourne. He predicts that around 1.045 million cars will be sold in Australia this year.

“The central bank’s moves to lower inflation, along with rising interest rates will put some dampener on the industry, but with the strong number of competitors we don’t see a collapse. It will simply be down from record highs,” he says.

Mr Osbourne also disputed that higher fuel prices are killing off the large car market, which has softened considerably over the past few years.

Click here to continue article

Ford Australia’s Bill Osborne

[Fnomna]

Hmm. The change in economic conditions couldn't have come at a worse time for Ford and the new Falcon. Probably less fleet, novated lease and private sales ahead following changes in sentiment..

[Patto1]

Originally Posted by Robert Ryan

What happened to the Hummer H3? looks like it fell off the cliff.

I'm seeing quite alot of Hummer H3's around Sydney now

[Patto1]

Originally Posted by mikmak

Sold out last month.

Alex Mildren Hummer at Artarmon have a waiting list for the Hummer H3

[Patto1]

Originally Posted by Ssom

NZ Top 20 models:

1. Commodore- 481
2. Corolla- 433
3. Swift- 317
4. Mazda3- 213
5. Mondeo- 195
6. Falcon- 174
7. Jazz- 139
8. Civic- 138
9. Mazda2- 124
10. Accord- 118
11. Outlander- 115
12. Tucson- 114
13. Mazda6- 114
14. Aurion- 98
15. Yaris- 97
16. Captiva
17. Lancer- 94
18. Territory- 88
19. SX4- 86
20. CRV- 84

The Holden Captiva is outselling the Ford Territory in NZ too........