Adventra launch delayed

[fpv_gtho]

Source: www.carsguide.news.com.au

Adventra stalled
By Paul Gover
19dec03

THE biggest Holden launch of 2003 has run aground. The off-road Adventra, this year's Holden hero car, has been hit by production dramas and is unlikely to go on sale for at least another month.

It means a delay of at least two months, and more than three for early birds, but Holden is still refusing to set a firm date for full-scale production of the all-wheel-drive wagon.
“The on-sale date was meant to be at the end of October,” Holden spokesman Jason Laird admits.

“The whole situation is frustrating, but we would much prefer to have the cars right than to rush. The fact is we don't have enough parts to run at full production.”

Holden is now aiming to have the Adventra program up to speed by the middle of January, he says.

The trouble has been caused by delays in the supply of parts for Holden's all-wheel-drive models, so the Crewman Cross8, and Avalanche from Holden Special Vehicles, also are affected.

The Avalanche is likely to be delayed by more than three months, because HSV has completed only a couple of prototypes.

Only 250 Adventras have been built at Holden's Elizabeth factory in South Australia and the car won't go to showrooms until 350 are ready. Holden wants at least one car in each dealership.

Despite all this, Holden is still running its Adelaide factory at 780-cars-a-day capacity.



Herald Sun




This could turn out to be a bad thing for Holden, they entered the local crossover market with the strongest position, being the first there, shortly followed by Toyota wanting to capitalise on whatever it could, but now with this they've given up the spot of first in the class to Toyota, although Toyota dont make the Kluger here as yet, Holden still have first locally produced ahead of Ford. Either way, both Holden and Toyota are entering into a category that is owned by the Outback, and by the time Ford enter's, Holden will almost be ready to release the VZ Adventra

[HoldenHFV6]

This problem is no fault of Holden. The suppliers have not been able to delivier. One of the biggest problems was that Cast Alloy (the company that provides the engine sump with the hole through it) got closed down by the EPA for some reason. No sumps mean no cars. A few other suplliers have also had problems.

[fpv_gtho]

well for the people that are none the wiser, holdens gunna get the blame for the adventra not being delivered on time. the sump supplier going under is going to put strain on the cars launch, when do you think we can expect them on the raods

[HoldenHFV6]

I have no idea. I remember when they started to make them, they leaked through the window seal. I hope they come out soon. People are getting very angry at Holden becasue alot of people have put down deposits and they still have no cras.
I also rememeber that there was discussion on using steering knuckles that where cast instead forged. (Just incase you didn't know Holden is one of the only car companies in the world that use cast steering knuckles) but they continually failed so they went to forged which caused alot more problems.
Also, where the rack and pinion bolted onto the chasis, the individual tolorences on the components ment that the bolts where being done up with between 20 and 43 Nm of tourque when the spec was 48 Nm +/- 5 Nm

[fpv_gtho]

its kinda a pity that there having so many problems, cause to get the car on the market as soon as possible, its likely they might ruch it too much and leave areas overlooked that could cost the buyers. for the moment at least then the outback has its market practically to itsself then, with ford's product not being released het, holden having supply problems and toyota with a querky name and rather soft onroad product

[SHAKER]

people really dont learn though do they, everyone knows that you dont buy the "first" new model they bring out because they will all have teething problems, i guess some people just have to be the first to have everything.

[fpv_gtho]

well it doesnt really explain then why cars like the HQ and VT have been record sellers yet being the first of a new model, rather than say the VX. holdens expecting sales to get to about 20,000 ive heard when a V6 version gets put on the market ive heard though

[SHAKER]

if people arent worried about buying a new model then sales of newly designed cars will flourish...ive read in fordturbo6.com that many new falcon turbos are having probs with "shuddering" noises in the manuals and something in the engine(nothing to major)which ford have now rectified. Thats what i meant it takes manufactures a while to bug things out.

[fpv_gtho]

well that shudder in the gearbox is out of fords control unless they want to upgrade to the tr-3650, it would be coming out of the box because the engines making peak torque of 450nm for 2500rpm (2000rpm to 4500rpm) and the box could be built at 460nm tolerance. when theyre riding it that close, something as little as a piggyback chip could cause problems

[SHAKER]

youd be better off going for the auto box then...whats the speed difference between the manual and autos down the 1/4 mile?

[fpv_gtho]

9 out of 10 tests have come back with the auto being faster than the manual, but at the very most it would be about 0.2 seconds difference. ford will most likely put the V8 gearboxes behind the engine for BA2, they should at least since its faster than the XR8 and makes more torque at 2000rpm

[SHAKER]

well tha just goes to show about the "first model " comment i made, it had some truth to it.

[fpv_gtho]

well ford over engineered the XR6T, they had the garret GT35 turbo on it, but it barely made 220kw without any lag, so when they upgraded to the GT40 they were pushing over 250kw and had to reduce boost down to a measly 6spi. it pisses me off though how all these people reckon the XR6T has all this hidden potential because a $1500k chip gives it 300kw. nobody pays attention when the suppliers say that after about 3500rpm, cause theyre already hacked into the ECU they reprogram the turbo to do over 9psi....

[SHAKER]

ohwell its a complete suprise theres a turbo falcon anyway, i mean i heard about prob a year before it was released so they done well to win cars wheel of the year award aswell.......pitty they didnt win it last year again, but it was the cheapest car in the category.

[fpv_gtho]

well all eyes will be on them for the BC falcon or whateva its gunna be called, ford missed out the EA and the AU getting it and were pretty pissed by it, probably because holden with less effort has been able to take the award several times