Holden Cruze - unloved?

[TonyJZX]

maybe $5k more?

but the engine has overboost, the holden doesnt

the cruze hatch with for $22.5k isnt a bad deal for what it is

1,400kg though...

[Lon]

The two petrols are like a big old bucket of aids, the turbo diesel is a much better motor.

Yeah, the TD gives you that big Whoosh and throws you into the back of the seat feeling. Surprising for a small arse TD. We have some of them at work as fleet cars.

[darwinschops]

Can't be any worse than a Viva.

Had one as a rental, worst car I had ever driven. Seriously, my $150 '74 Corona rode and steered better.

The cruz is mediocre, I'm still amazed they sold any vivas. Was a timewarp back to mid 90's excel that shit heap.

I rented one in Brisbane (Oz built 1.8 CDX - so leather etc) as an upgrade. I personally didn't find it too bad. Even went ok up Mt Mee (force auto gearbox to stay in correct gear). Like any underpowered auto car you have to keep momentum up and avoid large throttle changes - otherwise you will get a hyperactive auto.

It would make an ok A to B car. Its certain quieter when cruising on highway than a Mazda 3.

It's mediocre fridge that I'm not surprised in the least sells considering else shit that does. Re. bold, I like nopics little sp23 for a thrash through some twisties (and absolutely not a single problem in 5 years now) and not a real refinement guy but the first thing I noticed is how generally noisy the little bugger is.

...Opel... with that engine...

Would like to drive. But based on previous experience with opels (xc barina and th astra) quality was a fucking mess and trading extensively on yewropeeenism.

sisternopics xc had no shortage or problems (pretty sure made in spain so no surprises?) and mate's th had a couple of random knobs fall off radio no work almost as it was driven off show room floor.

Incidentally, especially re. focus mention, he did test drive one of those first but left hastily when the door handle came off when he closed it. SA quality?

[Asteroid]

I've had a couple of 1.8 CDX rentals. The first was pretty well screwed together but drove awful. The second was not the greatest example of Australian quality but drove quite ok. I actually quite like the interiors in em, particularly that the drivers seat can get properly low - rare in modern cars.

[Bob Vegana.]

Complete junk.

They look ok, but they feel like they should be 50% cheaper.

Have they put a footrest in, yet? Last time I drove one, I couldn't find a home for my left foot, when I wasn't trying to clutch-kick some encouragement into the somewhat lifeless 'powerplant'. Fuck it, let's just call it a plant.

[Sterling Archer]

Underrated, well the Sri is anyway. They can be converted to flex fuel running an inline sensor to the PCM and are very tuneable.

Have a look at what they are doing in the states with the 1.4iti not bad for such a little unit.

[TonyJZX]

they are getting killed by the maz3 and koreans

the cynic in me would like to think they are doing something dodgy engineering wise to offer a 1.6 turbo for $22.5 when everyone else offers n/a lameness

or they could be dropping their draws to build up numbers

[Captiva Fan]

the cynic in me would like to think they are doing something dodgy engineering wise to offer a 1.6 turbo for $22.5 when everyone else offers n/a lameness

VW sells small 4cyl turbo Polo for that monkey here, and while they're smaller the cost ain't in the amount of metal & plastic.
I suspect they've just sharpened the pencil to try & make up for having US-Korean dynamics at least a generation behind the opposition.

[darwinschops]

Que? From oct 2012

Top 20 best-selling small cars – 2012 to date

Mazda3 – 35,776
Toyota Corolla – 31,066
Holden Cruze – 25,142
Hyundai i30 – 24,212
Volkswagen Golf – 15,127
Ford Focus – 14,751
Mitsubishi Lancer – 12,985
Honda Civic – 8418
Hyundai Elantra – 7366
Subaru Impreza – 7296

Mazda 3 definitely killing it (and not a bad thing, as I said, not a single problem in the 5 years with ours) but cruz also killing old favourites lancer, civic, elantra and not imprezzive. likewise ahead of i30 and not that far behind stalwart corolla. And the last one of those I drove was indistinguishably shit from cruz for different reasons.

petrol plant in cruz is farking shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit though...

[TonyJZX]

the 1.4 turbo motor has won some awards and yeah the fact its a global motor means they have scale

from my perspective this is a potentially great motor in a daewoo shell

132kW/230Nm now but wait until the americans wind it up

[Cock Fist]

Still a shitbox. Mainly cause the cunts who buy them think they're V8 Thupercars which means their 1.4 with a tiny arse turbo can get the jump on me in the Cressida from the merging lane.

Yeah, nah.

[Karnage]

Chev Badge would no doubt improve sales :ugh2:

[ButtaS15]

Still a shitbox. Mainly cause the cunts who buy them think they're V8 Thupercars which means their 1.4 with a tiny arse turbo can get the jump on me in the Cressida from the merging lane.

Yeah, nah.

The upgraded model is getting some good press. Seems the issues with the sluggish box have been fixed, handling improved and the 1.4 is available as an option through out the range, with the 1.6 available on the SRI and SRI-V models. I always thought Cruze sedan styling was pretty good but would never consider one because of the previous drive train options. I'd now seriously consider testing an SRI or SRI-V when it's time to move on from our SP23.

[darwinschops]

Still a shitbox. ...Yeah, nah.

Yeh... It is. Ambivalent to their purpose but would never buy one myself, even a turbo.

Chev Badge would no doubt improve sales :ugh2:

Have seen a few and a few more with the ssv stripes and cunts ^ that think they're min ss'...

So nar. dore is at least capable of awesome things. cruz is just a fridge with stripes.

Plenty of actually good fwd bases if that's your thing but cruz turbos seem about the flatbrim upgrade (to new from the vs) or down (if the vx keeps breaking down and they feel the need for new minimal bogan speed...). So chuck the strips and chev on cuz liyk they maid them as Chavs bro!

[RESON8]

Media seemed to really like the handling and power of the 1.6t, I had the pleasure of joining in on the media event over in TAS. I might be a bit biased as I work for Holden, if your looking at buying a car in this segment I would highly recommend you jump into a new one and check it out for yourself.

Expecting a lot more articles like this http://www.carsguide.com.au/news-and..._drive_review/