The early Holdens and Falcons displaced a load of old technology that was inappropriate for Australia.

In their turn they became what they displaced. It took 20 years or so of making expensive, inappropriate cars while being subsidised by government. All of the time the unions feathered their own nest, taking advantage of the company, the government(taxpayers) and the paying customers.

Twenty plus years of not giving a rat's expletive about what the customer wants is a very long time and only made possible by governments and the unions, who similarly showed 'two to the Valley' to the long-suffering public.

Can't agree with you about the technology OTB, in fact I think much of the new technology is wrong for the average car.

A friend, a master technician, in the UK has just done a 3 week course on rebuilding just one of BMWs new engines. The company he works for will have to spend some hundreds of thousands on special equipment to be one of only 5 BMW dealers in the UK able to rebuild them.

They expect to charge at least 5000 pounds each in labour alone.

Compare this to Holdens V6 or V8 that old Joe can rebuild in the farm shed, between planting the wheat & harvesting it, with no special tools. I know which technology I'd rather own.

Then again, today, if not for some hundreds of fool green regulations, Holden could build an FJ, & sell it retail for less than $8,000.

With todays oils & fuels it would do 300,000Km no trouble, giving 7/8L/100Km fuel economy. With todays tyres, & lowered a little, it would do everything our Korean & Thailand imports can do, using about 250 Kg less resources to do so, & be nicer to drive.

Nah technology is a 2 edged sword, & we are getting the sharp end, rather than the handle I'm afraid.

Hasbeen,

There is technology and technology.

Can't say I am impressed with 'innovations' such as a dwell angle sensor that will improve fuel burn and reduce pollution by a margin that is immeasurably small, but would strand the vehicle in some remote place if it fails.

Replacing a Landy that leaks oil like the Exxon Valdez (you can rely on the oil trail and don't need a GPS or map to return to base), has electrics made by Lucas, the Prince of Darkness, leaks water even in a dew and where driver ergonomics are unknown (and a short drive results in loose teeth and bleeding kidneys), by a modern auto TD Landcruiser would make anyone praise improved technology.

I loved working on cars and like all farmers we had to do it anyhow. Sure it was easy to work on them, but a horse and buggy were even simpler.

With BMWs, Jaguars and the like you pay for complex technology and of course you always need two.

OTB,
100% correct. The cars Holden were/are building are totally inappropriate for Australia today especially with fuel so high and labor costs through the roof.
South Korea will fill the vacuum very quickly with small runabouts that you will be able to get three of four for the price of 1 Holden.
As far as the workers are concerned they have a few years to get their act together and with what they have been earning most of them could retire. There must not be any govt/taxpayer monies made available to them.

....There must not be any govt/taxpayer monies made available to them.

They're going to walk away with $300 to $500K EACH.

I doubt any other agreement is in such a mess.

While there are those who blame Abbott for Holdens exit, the blame lies squarely on the unions, lock stock and barrel, as they have demanded and acquired an unworkable situation.

Shame on them I say.

One of the endearing features of modern Holdens, as found in my Statesman, is the beautifully designed boot lid hlnges, they do not protrude outside the vehicle as on older and lesser cars so as to break the exterior lines by 1/2 an inch.
Instead they intrude into the usable boot space by 8 inches each side, woe to the unwary who put expensive luggage high enough to be mangled by these devices.
Fortunately we only have soft luggage and only the first time was I caught by not being able to close the lid, I'm now Holden trained and it's no longer a problem.

Then there are the plastic 'bumpers'.....