It is a Sad day

"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale) 10/20/2017 at 13:00 • Filed to: Pontiac GTO, Holden, SAD HOLDEN STUFF

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and my car is sad looking over the ocean reflecting on its home that is being shut down today. I wish GM would keep the Holden production going, but they don’t make “global platform” vehicle.

I am still on the side that if GM advertised better, then they could sell Chevy Commodores (cause SS as a name is fucking stupid) in all their trimas and the Ute and wagon here in the US and around the world. Make them Global Platforms.

Textured Soy Protein > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/20/2017 at 13:08

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It’s no secret why rebadged Holdens never sold well in the US: they had anonymous styling, and most Americans want their muscle cars to stand out, not be sleepers.

There is of course one car built by Holden that did sell well here.

jasmits > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/20/2017 at 13:09

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Chevy Chevelle. History, fond memories, a real name not a fucking trim name

CaptDale - is secretly British > jasmits 10/20/2017 at 13:16

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Chevelle could work, I think Commodore would work too.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Textured Soy Protein 10/20/2017 at 13:18

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Well they made the Zeta platform. I think all Holdens would sell just fine here

Textured Soy Protein > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/20/2017 at 13:34

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Except all the Holdens sold here, i.e. the GTO, G8 and SS, all sold like crap.

Meanwhile the mechanically similar, but heavily styled, 300, Charger, Challenger and even station wagon Magnum did way better.

I think sleeper cars are cool, but the majority of customers for large American (or American-style, but with roots elsewhere) V8 rwd cars want more distinctive styling.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Textured Soy Protein 10/20/2017 at 13:37

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I also blame GM’s terrible marketing for all their vehicle, but especially the fun cars.

The SS was a little too subtle, but I think the GTO and especially the G8 have great styling.

I mean that is not a subtle vehicle.

jasmits > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/20/2017 at 13:51

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Commodore would’ve been miles better than SS but I think the marketing dept refused to bring that nameplate to the US because of a lack of brand recognition. Chevelle has brand recognition but isn’t tainted like the Caprice name. Plus the Chevelle SS was the more sleepy muscle car whereas the Camaro was the more stylish muscle car so that even would fit properly.

CaptDale - is secretly British > jasmits 10/20/2017 at 13:54

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I wholeheartedly agree with that statement.

S65 > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/20/2017 at 13:58

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I never liked the styling of those early 5th Camaros, I very much prefer the later Firebird and the GTO/Monaro. I wish they’d keep Commodore around, as a fleet vehicle or something. One cool car closer to our anemic autonomous future.

CaptDale - is secretly British > S65 10/20/2017 at 14:05

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There was no Firebird, but the Trans Am Depot does great conversions.

I wish they would just make it part of their Global Platform strategy and make more of them! Drop the Acadia or something terrible like that.

S65 > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/20/2017 at 14:09

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I was referring to the last F-Body ones they did back in 2002. Can’t they make it nicer on the inside and push it into a luxury segment or something? Hell I’d be cool with a lifted wagon Commodore.

CaptDale - is secretly British > S65 10/20/2017 at 14:15

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They could, but Mary Barra and her Goons suck ass

S65 > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/20/2017 at 14:21

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They could probably get away with it too, give it some cheesy name like Quannapowitt and most people wouldn’t know the difference between a FWD, AWD, and a RWD car. all that body cladding, bleh

CaptDale - is secretly British > S65 10/20/2017 at 14:22

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Body cladding? On what vehicle?

S65 > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/20/2017 at 14:23

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On the imaginary Commodore lifted wagon thingy that could probably exist

CaptDale - is secretly British > S65 10/20/2017 at 14:38

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No cladding! Just an airbag system like the Jeep Grand Cherokee

AfromanGTO > Textured Soy Protein 10/21/2017 at 15:04

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Fuck the 5th gen! I want my Coupe 60!!!!!!

AfromanGTO > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/21/2017 at 15:05

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What is worse is that our GTOs have endured this twice. Once with the last of the GTOs being produced, and now with Holden being shut down. Give yours a hug. Don’t forget #HeadlightsonforHolden.

CaptDale - is secretly British > AfromanGTO 10/21/2017 at 16:34

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True, I really wish they had made the Coupe 60 and imported them as the next generation GTO. I think the government wouldn’t have forced GM to shut down Pontiac and that may have saved Holden.

Textured Soy Protein > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/21/2017 at 18:06

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Paint it a boring color and it’s totally under the radar.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Textured Soy Protein 10/23/2017 at 11:18

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You think so? I never thought so. These cars stick out like a sore thumb, in a good way.

Textured Soy Protein > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/23/2017 at 11:29

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In boring silver, there’s nothing blatantly obvious about the G8 GXP that slaps you in the face and says MUSCLE CAR. It’s subtle. Sure it has fender flares and hood scoops and big brakes but those aren’t things regular car customers notice. It could just as easily be yet another Pontiac sedan at the rental car lot.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the car, but the cars in this segment that have sold well are much less subtle.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Textured Soy Protein 10/23/2017 at 12:27

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Ignition Orange Metallic (AKA Ignition Metallic) = 927

Liquid Red (AKA Red Hot) = 6243

Magnetic Gray Metallic (AKA Evoke Metallic) = 5467

Maverick Silver Metallic (AKA Switchblade Silver Metallic) = 3250

Pacific Slate Metallic (AKA Karma Metallic) = 1748

Panther Black Metallic (AKA Phantom Metallic) = 9691

Sport Red Metallic (AKA Red Passion Metallic) = 2577 (my second fav color)

Stealth Blue Metallic (AKA K-Pow Metallic) = 590

Stryker Blue Metallic (AKA Voodoo Metallic) = 1590 (my favorite color)

White Hot (AKA Heron White) = 6173

Textured Soy Protein > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/23/2017 at 12:48

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Like I said:

“Paint it a boring color and it’s totally under the radar.”

Any car painted bright purple or orange is going to stand out, because of the color, not the design of the car.

Every muscle car since the 2005 Mustang has been retro-styled. The only exceptions have been the rebadged Holdens, which, coincidentally, have been the only ones that haven’t sold well.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Textured Soy Protein 10/23/2017 at 14:46

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Yeah I still think these look miles better than any of those “retro” junk. Even in your so called boring colors.

Textured Soy Protein > CaptDale - is secretly British 10/23/2017 at 14:57

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Just to be clear, I’m not saying those retro cars actually look better, just they sold better i.e. are more in line with what the majority of American muscle car consumers apparently want.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Textured Soy Protein 10/23/2017 at 16:25

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Well the consumer is apparently wrong