Holden V8 Sales At Record Highs, Dispite Rising Fuel Prices

**JoeT** · 05-12-2007, 07:03 PM

Aussie V8's Still Rate

News Interactive
11 May 2007
www.carsguide.com.au

Sales figures for Holden and Ford V8s have risen over the past decade.

Aussies still love V8s. Rising fuel prices have slashed demand for homegrown Australian sixes and put the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore under the toughest showroom pressure for more than 15 years, but has had a surprisingly mild effect on support for V8s.

New figures from GM Holden show V8 sales have risen significantly in the past 10 years. The number of Commodore buyers chosing a V8 ahead of a V6 also rose significantly.

And V8s are a serious choice for private buyers.

“The V8 mix is fantastic,” says GM Holden executive director of sales and marketing Alan Batey. “It's amazing. HSV has had record sales. There are hardcore people in this country who like exciting cars and fuel price on its own will not discourage them.”

Click here to continue article

RedVee8 · 05-12-2007, 08:31 PM

Amazing really.
Though if I was in the market for a CalaisV, Statesman or Caprice i'd xertainly be tempted by the V8. Just seems more fitting for those cars.

jbernie · 05-12-2007, 08:48 PM

it is like luxury SUVs here in the US, certain parts of the market are relatively immune to higher gas prices. HSV knows its buyers very very well, most are mid 40s senior executive types. Probably making in a year at least 1.5 times the cost of the car. Also the novated leases in Australia will help as well.

Provide a top notch product and people will buy them.

HoosierRon · 05-12-2007, 08:49 PM

Somebody call Algore! We need to get those Aussies signed onto Kyoto yesterday.

69Firebird400 · 05-12-2007, 09:06 PM

I wonder if the phenomenon of six cylinder sales instead of V8 sales falling in Australia is similar to the one of midsize SUV sales falling in the US faster than full size SUV sales...

86fleet · 05-13-2007, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69Firebird400

I wonder if the phenomenon of six cylinder sales instead of V8 sales falling in Australia is similar to the one of midsize SUV sales falling in the US faster than full size SUV sales...

I beleive so. Most mid-size SUV sales were to those who didn't really need a truck, but wanted them because they were popular and gas was cheap. Most people who buy full-size SUVs either need them or like big trucks enough to ignore high gas prices. Most of those who buy sixes could easily shift to a 4 cylinder, especially in a smaller car. Once you move up to a V8, its hard to go back

mcool · 05-13-2007, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69Firebird400

I wonder if the phenomenon of six cylinder sales instead of V8 sales falling in Australia is similar to the one of midsize SUV sales falling in the US faster than full size SUV sales...

I think the two are related. The Omega and other V6 trims are up against a broader market than ever before, with better representation by a larger selection of brands. Here the midsize SUV is also facing renewed interest in wagons and the explosion of crossovers and better-than-ever cute-utes.

This is good for GM. They can sell more of the more-profitable trim levels of Commodore in Australia, move the economy-conscious buyers into the Epica. Any excess capacity can go to export G8s and the like.

redimpss5 · 05-13-2007, 12:26 AM

I am thinking it is time to go to Australia, just to check out how cool Holden's are!

Aych Es Vee · 05-13-2007, 03:27 AM

All it takes to sell a car is good looks and good specs really.... Why is this a suprise?
If people want a powerful car, then they'll say 'stuff the fuel prices'.

Most people that own V8 Holdens would have another smaller, more fuel efficient car anyway.

samkung · 05-13-2007, 04:05 AM

WOW maybe people get used to high fuel price

mikmak · 05-13-2007, 05:09 AM

^^^It's happened before

cedarman24 · 05-13-2007, 05:58 AM

Not hard to understand, the difference between the v6 and v8 fuel consumption can minimal in a year if you are doing 15000-20000 k's. Assuming there is a difference of 3Lt per 100k's between the 2 engines it would mean an extra cost of $540-$720 a year. Pretty cheap considering you get feeling under your right foot

Slick_Holden · 05-15-2007, 01:41 AM

Does anyone remember the fuel test done by drive wheels motor?? Carsguide one of them

... V6's and V8's they used and with smart driving they got just as good economy as the V6's... So driven smart you could expect a VE SS-V to return a good 550km+ per tank. And i always say with extra power you don't need to floor it to move as it will move with ease with little throttle.

redimpss5 · 05-15-2007, 01:48 AM

Yes, take the bus or get a job that pays, you got to love a V-8!

RedHotMike · 05-15-2007, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikmak

^^^It's happened before

It happens ever time there is a fuel price spike. Btw mikmak - it has been at least a day since I have seen a grateuetuous (sp???) posting of a Commodore.

Red Hot Mike

05-12-2007, 07:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
JoeT GMI's Holden Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Wollongong, Australia Drives: 2003 Holden Monaro CV8 Posts: 4,854	Holden V8 Sales At Record Highs, Dispite Rising Fuel Prices Aussie V8's Still Rate News Interactive 11 May 2007 www.carsguide.com.au Sales figures for Holden and Ford V8s have risen over the past decade. Aussies still love V8s. Rising fuel prices have slashed demand for homegrown Australian sixes and put the Ford Falcon and Holden Commodore under the toughest showroom pressure for more than 15 years, but has had a surprisingly mild effect on support for V8s. New figures from GM Holden show V8 sales have risen significantly in the past 10 years. The number of Commodore buyers chosing a V8 ahead of a V6 also rose significantly. And V8s are a serious choice for private buyers. “The V8 mix is fantastic,” says GM Holden executive director of sales and marketing Alan Batey. “It's amazing. HSV has had record sales. There are hardcore people in this country who like exciting cars and fuel price on its own will not discourage them.” Click here to continue article

05-12-2007, 08:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
RedVee8 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Rosemeadow, NSW Australia Drives: 1984 Holden VH Commodore Vacationer 253 V8 2006 A Posts: 1,617	Re: Holden V8 Sales At Record Highs, Dispite Rising Fuel Prices Amazing really. Though if I was in the market for a CalaisV, Statesman or Caprice i'd xertainly be tempted by the V8. Just seems more fitting for those cars. __________________ RedVee8 Current Holdens. VH Commodore Vacationer 253 V8; AH Astra CDX 1.8; CG Captiva LX 3.2V6 (work). Previous Holdens. 1969 HT Kingswood 186; 1975 HJ Premier 202; 1977 TC Gemini; 1985 JD Camira SL/E 1.8i Keep Holden On.

05-12-2007, 08:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
jbernie 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Colorado, USA Drives: 2006 Saab 9-3 Aero Posts: 1,412	Re: Holden V8 Sales At Record Highs, Dispite Rising Fuel Prices it is like luxury SUVs here in the US, certain parts of the market are relatively immune to higher gas prices. HSV knows its buyers very very well, most are mid 40s senior executive types. Probably making in a year at least 1.5 times the cost of the car. Also the novated leases in Australia will help as well. Provide a top notch product and people will buy them. __________________ Talk is cheap, sometimes it is on sale!

05-12-2007, 08:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
HoosierRon Banned Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 6,666	Re: Holden V8 Sales At Record Highs, Dispite Rising Fuel Prices Somebody call Algore! We need to get those Aussies signed onto Kyoto yesterday.

05-12-2007, 09:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
69Firebird400 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Philadelphia Area Drives: 08 CTS DI RWD Nav, 08 Sienna Limited AWD Nav Posts: 5,639	Re: Holden V8 Sales At Record Highs, Dispite Rising Fuel Prices I wonder if the phenomenon of six cylinder sales instead of V8 sales falling in Australia is similar to the one of midsize SUV sales falling in the US faster than full size SUV sales... __________________ Autosavant Cars and Technology

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05-13-2007, 12:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
redimpss5 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,631	Re: Holden V8 Sales At Record Highs, Dispite Rising Fuel Prices I am thinking it is time to go to Australia, just to check out how cool Holden's are!

05-13-2007, 03:27 AM	#9 (permalink)
Aych Es Vee 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canberra, Australia Drives: RB25det powered 1987 Holden VL Berlina & a 2004 Fo Posts: 886	Re: Holden V8 Sales At Record Highs, Dispite Rising Fuel Prices All it takes to sell a car is good looks and good specs really.... Why is this a suprise? If people want a powerful car, then they'll say 'stuff the fuel prices'. Most people that own V8 Holdens would have another smaller, more fuel efficient car anyway.

05-13-2007, 04:05 AM	#10 (permalink)
samkung 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Melbourne Drives: Mazda 2 Posts: 1,515	Re: Holden V8 Sales At Record Highs, Dispite Rising Fuel Prices WOW maybe people get used to high fuel price

05-13-2007, 05:09 AM	#11 (permalink)
mikmak 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pacific Paradise, Australia Drives: VZ Wagon and JSII sedan Posts: 8,034	Re: Holden V8 Sales At Record Highs, Dispite Rising Fuel Prices ^^^It's happened before __________________ You start a conversation you cant even finish it. You're talkin a lot, but you're not sayin anything. When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed. Say something once, why say it again?

05-13-2007, 05:58 AM	#12 (permalink)
cedarman24 2.4 Liter ECOTEC Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Gold Coast Aust. Drives: Ve Commodore Omega Posts: 109	Re: Holden V8 Sales At Record Highs, Dispite Rising Fuel Prices Not hard to understand, the difference between the v6 and v8 fuel consumption can minimal in a year if you are doing 15000-20000 k's. Assuming there is a difference of 3Lt per 100k's between the 2 engines it would mean an extra cost of $540-$720 a year. Pretty cheap considering you get feeling under your right foot __________________ _________________________________________ Ve Commodore Sportswagon SV6 Coming Ve Commodore Omega Going Vy Commodore Exec Gone

05-15-2007, 01:41 AM	#13 (permalink)
Slick_Holden 3.8 Liter Supercharged V6 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Australia, Melbourne Drives: 2000 Berlina V6. 1992 Commodore V6. Posts: 611	Re: Holden V8 Sales At Record Highs, Dispite Rising Fuel Prices Does anyone remember the fuel test done by drive wheels motor?? Carsguide one of them... V6's and V8's they used and with smart driving they got just as good economy as the V6's... So driven smart you could expect a VE SS-V to return a good 550km+ per tank. And i always say with extra power you don't need to floor it to move as it will move with ease with little throttle. __________________ IT'S ALIVE!!

05-15-2007, 01:48 AM	#14 (permalink)
redimpss5 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,631	Re: Holden V8 Sales At Record Highs, Dispite Rising Fuel Prices Yes, take the bus or get a job that pays, you got to love a V-8!

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