Should The Chevrolet Caprice Be Available To The Public?

[JoeT]

Now it has been confirmed that GM with offer the Holden Statesman for Police service
in the United States as the Chevrolet Caprice, but not for public sale, GMInsidenews asks:

Should The Chevrolet Caprice Be Available To The Public?

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f...cop-car-84762/
Smokey's Smokin' New Ride: GMI Attends Chevrolet Caprice PPV Launch In Melbourne
Chevrolet Caprice PPV to be built in Australia!!
http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f...ossible-84788/

[isszy]

OK, a purely selfish viewpoint - exports for Holden are a good thing.

And what is stopping them ? The car exists without any required modifications as an Middle East vehicle. There is no initial need to change the sheetmetal. It already has an instantly recognisable family resemblance.

There is a huge parts bin of options available between the Park Avenue, Holden's products and the Middle East Chevrolets.

It is now obviously US standards compliant.

The only sticking point is whether it will fit into CAFE - police use may get around that requirement.

Just do it.

[LeSabre]

I voted "Yes", though I rather have Buick get the Statesman as a Roadmaster or Park Avenue for NA instead. Have the Caprice be the Police car.



!!!!

[Danko]

Gawd I hate those rectangular indentations in front bumpers where plates go in states that require them. That indentation is not necessary and ruins the lines. I voted no because this car is too expensive for what you get and the mileage ratings are terrible. I also am American and this car is not. A Cadillac CTS would be better and look at the engine choices that gives.

[mmciau]

The US public keep "looking the gift horse in the mouth" and then dismissing it for whatever reason.

It was 12-18 months ago that there was speculation that the Buick Dealers of the US "knocked back" the Statesman/Caprice (Chinese-available Buick Park Royale) as a car.

Holden just must be so sick and tired of being used as a 'whipping boy' by the US. On again, Off again seems to be the outcome any time an Australian Holden VE or WM Zeta is discussed.

We'll just have to see if the WM is accepted by the US Police Forces first on this WM-based car

Mike

[mastertoby]

Originally Posted by mmciau

The US public keep "looking the gift horse in the mouth" and then dismissing it for whatever reason.

It was 12-18 months ago that there was speculation that the Buick Dealers of the US "knocked back" the Statesman/Caprice (Chinese-available Buick Park Royale) as a car.

Holden just must be so sick and tired of being used as a 'whipping boy' by the US. On again, Off again seems to be the outcome any time an Australian Holden VE or WM Zeta is discussed.

We'll just have to see if the WM is accepted by the US Police Forces first on this WM-based car

Mike

The sentiment of the car-buying public does not always necessarily line up with the decisions made by GM management. GM has lost nearly 25% US market share in the last 30 years Link. While there are many factors that have contributed to that, among them is the inability of GM to produce the cars people dream of owning. This was the case the the 50's and 60's.

I think people would want this car is GM did a better job getting the word out to the public. My folks have been approached numerous times asking what kind of car they drive (while standing next to it). They say it's a Pontiac G8, and the stranger cannot believe that GM made such a car...

[PHAT-JAY]

Honestly its a nice car, if it had a Mercedes or BMW emblem on the hood it would be in the country already and people would love it, just bring the dang car over already, let everyone have a chance to get it, don't mess it up GM as u did with the GTO and G8, its a easy fix just streech the Malibu to replace the impala, or keep both the same as they are and add just 1 more car, since it will be the only true full size sedan and then make a caddilac off of it for upscale purposes, then GM will have no product overlap.

[mikmak]

I said no. I couldn't possibly bear the whinging.



Just kidding. I voted no because it doesn't fit into any of the lineups and is too old. It is an ideal vehicle for Law enforcement but doesn't fit into the fickle (notice I didn't say discerning) US market. There are some things that the Statesman offers that would not be understood or desired by a significant enough portion of the mainstream market.

Should have happened 2 years ago. "Too late!", she cried.

[JoeT]

Personally I would like to see the next generation Holden Statesman/Caprice be the basis of a future Cadillac DTS or a US Buick Park Avenue, so I said no.

[uvaeeman]

Some form of this car should be available under one of the GM core brands. It seems like a no-brainer.

Afterthought - it seems like it would be so easy to make a civilian car, I just don't see why not. I know one guy across the hall who wants to replace his 96 Impala SS. Also, I like JoeT's thought of using the next gen as a DTS or Park Ave.

[2002 Caddy]

Should it be and Will it be are two completely different polls..

Should? Yes
Will? Very Unlikely

[Dr. Show-Me]

Strong opinions of what others may think or want lacks credulity. You don't know my wants, needs, desires, or what I might buy. To make blanket statements of what Americans want in a car is unfounded. What Americans BUY is what is available and that complies with laws that apply to our cars.
Quite a few Americans, myself included, envy the car options availabe in Australia, feeling a negativity toward GM that they produce the cars WE WANT for Australia, while they produce fwd cars that they sell to us; GM perhaps did not even realize that the internet has given us a more world wide view of what is available.
When GM discontinued the rwd sedans in 1996, I didn't know that the next generation of the car would be built (not in America but rather in Australia), but upon learning of the Commodore/G8 and Statesman/Caprice, I became angry toward GM for abandoning American buyers who liked and purchased such cars.
I drove my parents' Impalas many times and bought them myself, finding them an almost unbeatable combination of space, performance, comfort and handling, with the only real deficit being fuel economy. I never got over 20 mpg with my smallblock V8 Impala.
I have strongly supported bringing back the Impala SS, and have written so on numerous blogs. GM needs to step up and return the rwd Impala SS to its proper position and production, by building them here once again. BRING IT NOW!

[PHAT-JAY]

Originally Posted by Dr. Show-Me

Strong opinions of what others may think or want lacks credulity. You don't know my wants, needs, desires, or what I might buy. To make blanket statements of what Americans want in a car is unfounded. What Americans BUY is what is available and that complies with laws that apply to our cars.
Quite a few Americans, myself included, envy the car options availabe in Australia, feeling a negativity toward GM that they produce the cars WE WANT for Australia, while they produce fwd cars that they sell to us; GM perhaps did not even realize that the internet has given us a more world wide view of what is available.
When GM discontinued the rwd sedans in 1996, I didn't know that the next generation of the car would be built (not in America but rather in Australia), but upon learning of the Commodore/G8 and Statesman/Caprice, I became angry toward GM for abandoning American buyers who liked and purchased such cars.
I drove my parents' Impalas many times and bought them myself, finding them an almost unbeatable combination of space, performance, comfort and handling, with the only real deficit being fuel economy. I never got over 20 mpg with my smallblock V8 Impala.
I have strongly supported bringing back the Impala SS, and have written so on numerous blogs. GM needs to step up and return the rwd Impala SS to its proper position and production, by building them here once again. BRING IT NOW!

Show-Me, Please show GM the way, if they did what you say and make a real Impala SS, I will be in line with at the dealership putting down a deposit on a proper car in the proper position........

[Uzzy]

YES!! But please make the grille body colour, not chrome!

[Taglane]

Yes. That's all. nothin to it.