Carsguide article - Viva slips launch net - 23sep05

[blackSRi]

http://carsguide.news.com.au/news/story_page/0,8269,16677276%255E21822,00.html

by
Jaedene Hudson


Viva, Holden's new small car, has broken cover, arriving at showrooms two weeks before the car is launched.

[BassyAstra]

Thats my dealership, yey :)

[zoidberg]

OMG!!!.....That piece of $hit looks sooooo cheap.

Is Holden Strapped for cash at the moment, dropping all but one of the european (aka quality) cars.

I hope it fails!!!

[astra03]

After having a quick look at the Viva last Sunday, the sedan it virtually unchanged exterior to the Lacetti, but the interior... you have to be joking, those air vents look like something out of a 1970's Escort. I looked at a Lacetti in a car park recently and they should have left the same vents as it had, rather than the ghastly looking things they have put in the Viva. The hatch looked very ordinary and cheap. I am led to believe they are using the Aust built 1.8 motor (89kw), yet again Holden thinks any old slug under the bonnet will do Joe Public. It isnt that cheap at $17990 when just another say 2-3 will get you in something of far better quality overall. Their motor program is well and truley falling behind the opposition, Australia seems to end up with all the outdated engines and Holden are going to start paying the price. In the latest Wheels magazine there was a story about the updated Opel 1.8, varaialbe valve timing and 103kw, i wonder if and when we will ever see that in Australian models?

[zoidberg]

For the time being im not to concerned about whether or not Australia gets the new 1.8L Opel engine, dont get me wrong it would be good if we did, but im more concered about whether or not Holden will stupidly decide to give the AH Astra a much shorter life than the outgoing TS Astra has had.

I really hope the AH Turbo isn't a short run either, the Golf GTi is concided as a permanent part of the VW line up, I'd like to see Holden do the same with the AH Turbo.

[rjastra]

I really hope the AH Turbo isn't a short run either, the Golf GTi is concided as a permanent part of the VW line up, I'd like to see Holden do the same with the AH Turbo.


Why wouldn't it? The reason the old SRI Turbo dissappeared so quickly was that we only got it late on the model cycle.