Holden Commodore once again Australia's best seller, with a catch
Click above for a high-res gallery of the VE Sportwagon SS-V
In a classic case of good-news versus bad-news, the Holden Commodore has once again managed to retain the title of Australia's best-selling vehicle in 2008. With this announcement, the Australian arm of General Motors has extended the Commodore's run as best seller to 13 straight years. That's the good news part. On the other hand, its 51,093 sales in 2008 are the model's lowest total since it first debuted in 1978. That, as you may have guessed, would be the bad news part.
Australia's second-best-seller is the Toyota Corolla, and the compact from Japan put up a very strong fight to wrest the title from Holden. There were a few main factors that eventually put the crown back on the Commodore, including the introduction of the Sportwagon bodystyle (above) and the October launch of Holden's $29,990 (AUS dollars) driveaway deal. Fuel prices also dropped towards the end of the year, and that likely helped swing the momentum back towards the Holden from the more fuel efficient Corolla. 2009? Time will tell.
Gallery: 2008 Holden VE Sportwagon SS-V
[Source: Drive.com.au]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
TyWright 2:07PM (1/07/2009)
When do WEEEEE get one??!
It has no FAKE air scoop like the G8 - sweet.
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Richard 2:59PM (1/07/2009)
If you would inform yourself instead of listen to stupid car rag editors then you would now that they are NOT fake. Both hood scoops have actual holes that go through the sheet metal of the hood. They are heavily restricted with rubber inserts so water does not get in but I was able to take all the restrictive crap off pretty easily. Too bad it rains too much down here for me to keep them free flowing.
They are not like the tacked on Mustang scoops, these are built into the hood.
firstplace 3:28PM (1/07/2009)
someone should make a intake/ waterproofing solution for them.
Richard 3:48PM (1/07/2009)
@firstplace
Someone is already working on a Ram-Air system but it utilizes the lower front air dam instead of the hood scoops.
I'm sure someone can make a system that uses the scoops but I think people will fabricate their own if they want to do that.
TyWright 4:09PM (1/07/2009)
Richard - go to a Pontiac dealer right now (while they're still open) and look in the hood scoop protruding from the hood of a G8. That is a barren scoop my friend. It does not go anywhere.
I had to look for myself. Couldn't believe it!!
new Cooper S, Tacoma, and Mustang GT are all guilty as well...
wef 3:23AM (1/08/2009)
@richard
tywright is right. just because they made a hole in the hood doesn't mean it's real. it's solely for cosmetic purposes. old subaru 2.5rs models had hood scoops similar to the ones on g8, but those weren't functional my friend.
Rich 1:54AM (1/11/2009)
the G8 hood scopes ...COME OUT, I HAVE 1
Jared 2:13PM (1/07/2009)
The Commodore front clip is so much more attractive than the G8.
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Mr. Luke 5:02PM (1/07/2009)
This has 500hp too.
Conundrum 8:12PM (1/07/2009)
Yeah, the US version should be a Buick Roadmaster Wagon. Just remove the silver Holden badge and install a silver Buick badge.
Buzz 2:40PM (1/07/2009)
screw the pick up, bring this to the US
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Dave 2:44PM (1/07/2009)
It's sad because we're getting neither.
chconline 2:19PM (1/07/2009)
Judging from my experience with the 1-hour long test drive around the city of the Pontiac G8 GT last week, no wonder the Aussies love it so much :P We should get the wagon version with a LS3 and a manual. That would end up in my garage in a flash.
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Toledo Guy 5:53PM (1/07/2009)
Yeah, it might wind up in your garage, but you'd be the only one..... A wagon with a manual? In the states? Talk about the last car on the lot.....
I wouldn't mind having a nice midsize wagon that was fun to drive either, but there really aren't enough of us to make them work anymore.
Jj 2:23PM (1/07/2009)
I wonder how it compares when you break out the ute version. Is the Sedan/wagon the best seller in that class? Is the ute the best selling ute? I imagine at least one of them would be, but it would be interesting to see.
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Ligor 2:24PM (1/07/2009)
now this should have come out in the us the day the G8 hit dealers as well
i'm waiting for a nice wagon with some muscle for about $30k - with AWD added to RWD (no FWD crap) - but right now there is none available in the US, unless you settle for a used A4/A6/3-series
what a nice ride and how sad GM keept it from us
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DKB_SATX 4:14PM (1/07/2009)
You could look for an '05 or '06 Subaru Legacy GT Wagon. 250 hp, 250 lb-ft of torque, symmetrical AWD, solid and reliable. They might be hard to find, though... Subaru didn't advertise them and never had many in dealer inventory, and if my attitude is any indication people are keeping them. My '05 Limited 5spd is certainly not for sale at any reasonable price.
Ligor 5:15PM (1/07/2009)
the looks are not for me on the Subi though
other than that i've heard that they have plenty of issues
the one review from Motortrend where they had like 8 things go wrong with it in one year just did me in and now i always associate Subaru with un-reliable
Serge 5:16PM (1/07/2009)
@ DKB_SATX
I dont think he considers 250hp and 250ft-lb torque to be "muscle", the guy wants an LS3!!! Plust this looks way more muscular and sportier than any Subie ever made.
I would check out the SRT8 version of the Magnum... if it had AWD.
Hamud 2:29PM (1/07/2009)
I used to like wagons, this one made me love wagons.
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