Typical!!! Even China gets better Holdens then we do >:-(

[anonymousmoose]

I just had a look at the Buick website China. I was talking to someone from there and we discussed cars.

Have a look at the interior, its so much nicer then ours. I cant believe everything we get is the arse of the world, even when we make the cars ourselves.

link: ParkAvenue2010
I know its in Chinese but just click around to see pics:

or:

[50LTRv8]

Thats is pretty sweet

[Verynice]

Mmmm very typical indeed

[acarmody]

Oh that's bullcrap man, that interior looks awesome.

[calais24/7]

I want to order me a buick and put commodore badges on it that interior looks so comfy and classy

[ryno_vrx]

man i'm not a fan of wood grain but i'd love to have that interior

[ZOMBIE]

i am also not a huge fan of woodgrain but that interior is awesome!!

ZOMBIE

[acarmody]

Except for the slighly out of place (but not overly so) plastic grey part in the center, that is the sort of interior I expect from a $150,000+ Merc or Beamer, and I have seen a few.

[kcpwns]

sign me up for an interior like this

[calais24/7]

The rear seats look so comfortable

[Darren_L]

it's a CGI image, so it may not be quite the same in reality.....

[Astranomical]

Here's a real pic, you can't see much, but I'm a-lookin and I'm a-likin...



For what its worth, the car doesn't actually leave Australia complete, but as a CKD (Completely Knocked Down) kit, and its available with your choice of either a 2.8L V6 or the "flagship" 3.6L V6, no V8s, so in that respect our Statos are better than the Park Avenue, as much as I love the interior. Here's the full article from the website I stole the pic from:

Buick China | Buick Park Avenue face lift spotted in China | China Car Times

The Chinese version of the Buick Park Avenue is quite a handsome vehicle, and has just recieved more handsome thanks to a small facial upgrade.

The Park Avenue is based off the Australian designed and built Holden Statesman and is actually a CKD model from Australia with the Buick badging bolted on afterwards.

The Park Avenue is part of GM’s Global Rear Wheel Drive platform which shares its platform with several other high profile GM vehicles, notably the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. The Chinese version of the Park Avenue comes with the choice of a 2.8 V6 and a flagship 3.6l V6, the updated version see’s the Park Avenue get a new set of headlights, new wheels and other minor modifications.

Prices are expected to stay the same when launched, which ranges from 300,000rmb to 460,890rmb

(AU$49,503 - $76,051 respectively)

[TMM]

Here it would be $100,000+ with an interior like that (Australian labour is expensive compared to Chinese labour) and no one would pay that for a Holden (HSV Bogans excluded), they'd just get a BMW or a Merc instead. Most Holden owners don't know what luxury is and think the epitome of luxury is a 15 year old Statesman dumped on it's arse with leather in terrible condition, some kind of chrome 20 inch wheels, loud droning 3 inch exhaust and a subwoofer you can hear 5 suburbs away.

For what its worth, the car doesn't actually leave Australia complete, but as a CKD (Completely Knocked Down) kit, and its available with your choice of either a 2.8L V6 or the "flagship" 3.6L V6, no V8s, so in that respect our Statos are better than the Park Avenue, as much as I love the interior.

Meh, i don't see the point of having a V8 in a Statesman anyway. It's supposed to waft you around in silence and the V6 does that fine, just have to fit a quiet exhaust and some extra sound deadening. It's just that Holden owners usually want a V8 either to make their e-penis bigger, beat some jap/euro/ford at the traffic light GP or rip a 'sick burnout'.

it's a CGI image, so it may not be quite the same in reality.....

No it isn't, it's in a photography studio and they have edited the view out the windows and overlayed the tray sliding images.

[50LTRv8]

man i'm not a fan of wood grain but i'd love to have that interior

Replace the wood with brushed alloy or carbon fiber

[GAMBLR]

Here it would be $100,000+ with an interior like that (Australian labour is expensive compared to Chinese labour) and no one would pay that for a Holden (HSV Bogans excluded), they'd just get a BMW or a Merc instead. Most Holden owners don't know what luxury is and think the epitome of luxury is a 15 year old Statesman dumped on it's arse with leather in terrible condition, some kind of chrome 20 inch wheels, loud droning 3 inch exhaust and a subwoofer you can hear 5 suburbs away.


Meh, i don't see the point of having a V8 in a Statesman anyway. It's supposed to waft you around in silence and the V6 does that fine, just have to fit a quiet exhaust and some extra sound deadening. It's just that Holden owners usually want a V8 either to make their e-penis bigger, beat some jap/euro/ford at the traffic light GP or rip a 'sick burnout'.


No it isn't, it's in a photography studio and they have edited the view out the windows and overlayed the tray sliding images.

So, by association then, you fall into the same category? I mean, you yourself drive an upper market Holden?

I'm sure most people who own the "15 year old Statesmans" would agree that it's not the top end of the prestige scale. But for an equivalent sized Mercedes or BMW, be willing to fork out a hell of a lot more. It's still a budget family car, just with a few extras thrown in. It's a more affordable way to step into a nicer car without having to refinance the house. It's still a nice car to have.

And no V8 for the Statesman? Again, by association, all BMW 7 series, Mercedes S Class and Audi A8's should be nothing more than a V6 to silently putt around town in? They account for around half of those particular model ranges, and it's nice to option the V8 (or V10-V12 in some cases) and have a prestige car with a bit of power behind it.
And if someone had statistics, I'm willing to bet that if you compared V8 SS to a V8 Calais or Statesman, which one would be driven harder, and launched at the lights to beat the Jap or Ford sitting there. You don't buy a prestige V8 to flog the shit out of it.

By no means am I saying that Holden is the bees knees or be-all-and-end-all. There are cars out there that do much better than Holden do. But I'll happily keep my 'bogan' V8 Calais, which I think is quite a luxurious ride for a Commodore, and I suggest you sell the Berlina and buy a Mercedes, instead of whinging how crap the quality of Holdens are.

[50LTRv8]

So, by association then, you fall into the same category? I mean, you yourself drive an upper market Holden?

I'm sure most people who own the "15 year old Statesmans" would agree that it's not the top end of the prestige scale. But for an equivalent sized Mercedes or BMW, be willing to fork out a hell of a lot more. It's still a budget family car, just with a few extras thrown in. It's a more affordable way to step into a nicer car without having to refinance the house. It's still a nice car to have.

And no V8 for the Statesman? Again, by association, all BMW 7 series, Mercedes S Class and Audi A8's should be nothing more than a V6 to silently putt around town in? They account for around half of those particular model ranges, and it's nice to option the V8 (or V10-V12 in some cases) and have a prestige car with a bit of power behind it.
And if someone had statistics, I'm willing to bet that if you compared V8 SS to a V8 Calais or Statesman, which one would be driven harder, and launched at the lights to beat the Jap or Ford sitting there. You don't buy a prestige V8 to flog the shit out of it.

By no means am I saying that Holden is the bees knees or be-all-and-end-all. There are cars out there that do much better than Holden do. But I'll happily keep my 'bogan' V8 Calais, which I think is quite a luxurious ride for a Commodore, and I suggest you sell the Berlina and buy a Mercedes, instead of whinging how crap the quality of Holdens are.

Couldn't have said it better myself, I would love an M5 but the budget just won't stretch that far

[Verynice]

Here it would be $100,000+ with an interior like that (Australian labour is expensive compared to Chinese labour) and no one would pay that for a Holden (HSV Bogans excluded), they'd just get a BMW or a Merc instead. Most Holden owners don't know what luxury is and think the epitome of luxury is a 15 year old Statesman dumped on it's arse with leather in terrible condition, some kind of chrome 20 inch wheels, loud droning 3 inch exhaust and a subwoofer you can hear 5 suburbs away.


Meh, i don't see the point of having a V8 in a Statesman anyway. It's supposed to waft you around in silence and the V6 does that fine, just have to fit a quiet exhaust and some extra sound deadening. It's just that Holden owners usually want a V8 either to make their e-penis bigger, beat some jap/euro/ford at the traffic light GP or rip a 'sick burnout'.


No it isn't, it's in a photography studio and they have edited the view out the windows and overlayed the tray sliding images.

woah, hope this isn't a cop out to my car man they aren't much more luxury than a calais of the same model...

Just saying, even the Grange doesn't see that nice of an interior as in the first post.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Goes to show what the Australian market is willing to compromise on so they can drive a Holden. It's a pity we don't have the popluation to support better products across the board, and not just vehicles. In Australia it sucks when it comes down to choice. There is basically no competition and we are fed substandard products and services compared to the rest of the world.

[TMM]

woah, hope this isn't a cop out to my car man they aren't much more luxury than a calais of the same model...

Nah, there's nothing wrong with a VS statesman, it's just those people who get a statesman then put 20" chromies, creme louvers and pretend they are a millionaire.

Just saying, even the Grange doesn't see that nice of an interior as in the first post.

Yeah that's my point. Holden just put some dead cow in to something so similar to an executive and it's suddenly it's a 'luxury car'. BMW couldn't get away with the same level of laziness... actually come to think of it they can, it's called the 318i rofl.

So, by association then, you fall into the same category? I mean, you yourself drive an upper market Holden?

No. My car was never a luxury car and never will be. It's a middle of the range family car and i don't pretend it is anything else.

And no V8 for the Statesman? Again, by association, all BMW 7 series, Mercedes S Class and Audi A8's should be nothing more than a V6 to silently putt around town in? They account for around half of those particular model ranges, and it's nice to option the V8 (or V10-V12 in some cases) and have a prestige car with a bit of power behind it.
And if someone had statistics, I'm willing to bet that if you compared V8 SS to a V8 Calais or Statesman, which one would be driven harder, and launched at the lights to beat the Jap or Ford sitting there. You don't buy a prestige V8 to flog the shit out of it.

So an S350 is completely worthless? It does the job with just as much refinement as an S550, you just have to press the pedal a bit harder. For all i care a luxury car could have a 2L diesel, as long as it is quiet and smooth. I'd rather have a second hand S350 then a new V8 Grange.
The only reason for needing a powerful engine in a luxury car is for towing something really heavy, to inflate your ego or for better fuel economy at high speeds. Given we don't have any high speed freeways in Australia, if you don't need to go fast a smaller engine does fine.

Anyone who thinks a Holden (V6 or V8, it doesn't matter) is a luxury car, i urge you to go drive a Toyota Aurion. The interior is shit and it lacks sound deadening (as does the commodore), but in terms of engine/transmission refinement and ride quality it is pretty close to most luxury cars and light years ahead of any Commodore. The engine is completely silent up to about 5000rpm. No need for a big engine with that kind of refinement of a smaller 6.

[Darren_L]

No it isn't, it's in a photography studio and they have edited the view out the windows and overlayed the tray sliding images.

the images are CGI. Worked with enough CGI images to know one when I see it. The sharp contrasty edges are a dead giveaway as is the lighting/dimension. Compare it to the real photo poster later in the thread, it's fairly obvious.

and the term 'luxury' is entirely subjective. No one is claiming the Statesman/Caprice is of the same level as Euro luxury cars like BMW, Mercedes etc. A car with a smooth engine & driveline doesn't equate to 'luxury', especially when their interior isn't much better than a Camry. If you are bagging our flagship Holdens for not being luxury, then on what basis would you claim an Aurion (of all Japanese cars!!) to be luxury ?? Smooth engine/driveline maybe, but the interior is no better than our own Holdens.... Luxury is usually associated with features and interior finish, not to mention either rear wheel drive or all wheel drive. Certainly not an inferior, built to a price, front wheel drive system. Sure the Statesman & Caprice aren't well known for a great interior finish, but they rate fairly highly against many Euro cars when it comes to features.

[Stressball]

sorry but the images are CGI. Worked with enough CGI images to know one when I see it.

If you look at the EXIF data on the first shot, it shows that the photo was taken with a Phase One H25; a medium format, 22 megapixel camera back.

It may be edited, but it is a real shot of the real car.

[Darren_L]

If you look at the EXIF data on the first shot, it shows that the photo was taken with a Phase One H25; a medium format, 22 megapixel camera back.

It may be edited, but it is a real shot of the real car.

about as real as a photo of a model on the front of a fashion magazine, which has been heavily photoshopped.

[Stressball]

about as real as a photo of a model on the front of a fashion magazine, which has been heavily photoshopped.

Which are edited photographs; not computer generated imagery. Computer edited imagery, yeah.

[aidanhq]

olds kool and you know it.

[fuzzy2308]

i want that back seat it looks so cumfy. imagine how nice it would be to go parking on it being alll cushy and that