Why doesn't GM import Holdens?
 

When I was in Australia recently, I was impressed with the offering Holden had. The Commodore is a fantasic looking car. Why the hell doesent GM dump their vomit inducing mid-line cars import these? They already import the GTO from AU.

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Probably 'cause the unions would raise hell about it (they couldn't pay their stand-around-and-do-nothing workers $100k a year to make 'em then).

And the steering wheels are on the wrong side. . . ;)

They did. Wasn't the GTO a Holden? It was also cancelled this year.

Yup; the new Goat was a Holden Commodore.

This goes back to the original "energy crisis" in the '70s - why did Ford make that butt ugly Grenada rather than build the one they had been making in Europe for many years? Both GM and Ford have had worldwide operations for generations. Intra-company politics IMHO.

As has been said, they do/did. Unfortunately the new GTO looked like a rental car. Fast yes, but boring visually. I wonder if it'll gain the same following as the 94-96 Impalas?

They're fairly high priced, beginning at $30K+, but then I think Pontiacs are usually higher than the other American cars, except for Cadillacs. Leather seating is standard.

The look, to me, is a bit retro coupe, which I find attractive.

I've seen one at the track: yeah, it's fast, particularly with the 6spd gearbox.

I just priced one on-line, then went to the dealer in my zip code. There seems to be many still on the lot, so there could exist the possibility to make a deal.

Honestly, I believe as performance cars, they might be underplayed. The GTO definitely has all the right ingredients; I just haven't followed it much.

Link to an article

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/24/pontiac-may-get-a-g8-rwd-sedan/

GM and Holden may bring the new Commodore to the US as a Pontiac. I think it was Motor Trend that speculated it would replace the Grand Prix. The 'new' Commodore is the first from GM's new rear drive platform, and was developed for left or right hand drive. Same LS2 as a C6 Vette for better than 400 hp. To 60 in well under 5 seconds.

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Here is another Holden that may make it over here. It is produced in Australia as the Caprice. Again a rear-drive platform with either the up-to-275hp 'high feature' 3.6L V6 (ala Saturn AURA, Cadillac CTS/SRX) or the 400+ hp 6.0L LS2 V8 (Vette, SSR, Trailblazer SS, CTS-V, etc) backed with a 6 speed automatic.

I think it's a good looking car:

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