Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz
In regards to the Astra, you can only **** something in the **** so many times before it dies.
Mmm, lets sell rebadged Vauxhalls,
nah, lets sell rebadged Izuzus,
nah, Nissans,
Toyotas,
Opels,
Daewoos,
back to Opels again,
more Daewoos, and
back to Opels, again.
I am surprised anybody knows what they sell, much less buys any.
And not withstanding that they made a complete pig's ear of the whole thing, this isn't some grand strategic decision.
The Astra has, for some time, been a GM product, made by Opel. The licence has expired and Opel are nolonger making them.
Overall, they are simply acknowledging that they have screwed up the Australian market, because basically they don't give a rats ****, and the simplest solution is to give up and revert to flogging whatever horrible crap Americans buy.
And lets be honest.
Contrary to what is often claimed, there is no great paradigm shift.
I have always maintained that the most versatile family car was a mid to large station wagon, preferably an aussie version with decent ground clearance.
But those crafty millennials don't want station wagons.
No instead they will buy a 2wd urban SUV that is mechanically identical to the FWD sedan/hatch on whose platform its built. (And pay more money for the privilege.)
One 7 seater model we looked at was previously sold as a "People Mover". They gave it a facelift and its now a 7-seat "SUV".
It's above shape more than anything, and those have always been in a constant state of evolution.
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