Holden Epica

how many decades has it been since Holden designed a car in Oz, I doubt if they have the expertise but Ford are still equipped with the knowledge and facilities to develop a vehicle from scratch not only forthe local market but the overseas customers that Ford Australia has.

ummm...the VE is designed here - the yanks like it so much they scrapped their project and took the VE platform.

BTW - that still doesnt excuse the Epica..............POS

yep ok I'll give you that I was wrong, the VE is the first commodore designed in Oz, that's really fantastic.

Epica is just a replacement for Vectra which along with Astra has a design criteria of "engineered for obscelence".

Don't dream of buying a second hand one, and sell it before it gets to 60,000 because the bills start adding up:

* brake disks that can't be machined they are so thin
* air cond compressor that can't be repaired
* electric window assemblies that just die
* fan belt tensioner that just dies

to name just a few - and each have been $1000+ repairs.

Current model Barina and Viva are Daewoos like Epica... the small cars Holden had to have - mummy GM said so.

Sounds like you have some experience with the Epica Andrew, and none of it good. LOL

Greg

Sorry - that experience was with Astra...

The only people who have put 60,000 k's under an Epica are Seoul Taxi Drivers.

Every commodore after the VL was designed in Oz.

Why do Ford nuts always talk crap?

Gerphardp1,

Cause they won Bathurst back to back LOL

Kev

>Every commodore after the VL was designed in Oz.

From wikipedia:

The VE is the first Commodore model designed entirely in Australia, with previous generations based on Opel-sourced platforms that had been adapted both mechanically and in size for the local market.

oh and here's the link.

Read up first and engage brain before posting...lol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_Commodore

you bet me to it red frog.
all other commoders ect are just copys of overseas cars as you said

You may be right about the origin of the Commodore but I'd be very cautious about staking your reputation on what you read on Wikipedia ;-P

Yes true but this commodore stuff is pretty much common knowledge so I just needed a quick reference. I was wrong about the VE so I've learnt something and that can only be good.

Pfft ford holden there all fmostly foreighn hacks
The VG valiant still is the most Australian family sized car ever produced

Jimbo
I think there are Korean manufacturers and there are Korean manufacturers. The fact that GMH bought out Daewoo and then almost immediately stopped selling them in Australia tells you something about them. As a rule of thumb I wouldnt buy a vehicle from a manufacturer unless there were plenty of ten year old vehicles of that brand still running around. Compare the number of older Hyundai's to the number of older Daewoos on our roads. I honestly cant remember seeing an old Daewoo anywhere!!!. In about 1998 I had a bloke try to sell me a new Daewoo Espero - I told him after the test drive that it was the worst car I had ever driven. My opinion hasn't changed. I dont think I've seen one of them on the road for at least 4 years. I just think its a shame that the General thinks so highly of us that he is prepared to put his name on this s__t and sell it here

tessa!!

You will need a lot more than a few!

A mate has one and ouch.... talk about expensive to buy, expensive to run.
Nice car, but $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Cheers

Yes, none of the manufacturers really advertise the service costs of the vehicle after purchase.

As I don't have the money to buy one yet, the service costs don't really matter. By the time I do have, the H3 might be available with a diesel and a 5/6 speed auto so that might require a few less $$$ and be less painful to scratch...:)

Hi Gerhardp1, have you checked out the Toyota Yaris, we got a new one for the wife last November. Sedan, 4 airbags 2 full length curtain airbags,auto,air, 1.5L vvt Did a trip up to Forster 6.7L per 100klms brilliant and plenty of get up and go even in auto Easily sit on 120k and knock out of overdrive going up mooney mooney and hawksbury with air on and will sit on 120 and increase in speed if you want it to. My wife loves it and plenty of head and leg room. $21.000 drive away. Just a thought incase you havnt thought of them. We found the hatch too small in the back but everyone to there own. Regards Steve M

Hi Stephen, my daughter has checked the Yaris, but immediately disliked it because, and I quote " It's poxy looking, and the instruments are in the middle, how dumb is that? "

Each generation to its own, I guess. But I have to say I can't understand why the speedo can't be in front of the driver, even Nissan has corrected the error in the new Xtrail. It's not as if it's a saving for LHD/RHD manufacture either, because they are angled.

Cheers.

Dreaming of an H3 with VM Motori V6 diesel, 6l60e tranny, off road gear set........$50,000 drive away......haha, doesn't hurt to dream :)