i wasn't picking on the daihatsu or daewoo they were a good little car for what they were and what they cost. The saab i think were a bit overated and benefit from the 'made in europe so must be better than made in australia' myth.
that myth still persists.
the local Sunday Times newspaer recently ran a car of the year article.
VW golf the writers said they would never buy a second hand one and would not keep one past the warranty period, but guess which car won their COTY?
The new Vf was rated against the Mercedes the VF is around $34000 the merc around $75, the holden was classed as second best because, they claimed, the motor was a 'bit coarse' whatever that means.
So they rated the car that cost twice as much as better than the local product.
Hello? for double the price it would bloody well want to be better.
and what exactly do they mean by better?

I agree. If the imported stuff they sell is a reflection on what they will sell in the future then they are doomed. All of their imported product in my opinion is inferior to their competition.

I heard a rumor that the u.s gov stated that 70% of what is sold their has to be produced their, I don't not know if this is true, but we need a gov like that, the truth is we are a small market with to many brands, the gov need to kick some out unless that have a plant here.

Cruze spares?