ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
As the western world eyes off a protectionist future, one local man has called on the nation to start making their own cars again.
Derek Sutherland, of Betoota Heights, has never owned an Australian car but says he would consider it in the future if he knew they had the same build quality as a Japanese car.
He’s never had the joy of owning a VE Commodore, being told by a mechanic to sit down while he explains why the engine light won’t stay off. The 34-year-old has never had the sense of shame and defeat that you get looking out the front window to see a Mitsubishi 380 sitting in the driveway.
On the inverse, he’s never had the pleasure of owning an AU Falcon or a Territory.
“There’s a reason why all the cabs back in the day were Falcons and not Commodores,” he said.
“The 4.0L straight-six was just a better engine. Whatever that GM thing was, it was no good. Wouldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding. Full of defects. There’s a reason why Holden got punted,”
“But we should make our own cars. Our own quality cars. Put tariffs on foreign-owned cars. Force real estate agents to drive hot Aussie hatches.”
When asked if he’d ever owned an Australian car, Derek asked what that has to do with anything.
“Mate, I’m just saying we should be making more things here. I’d buy an Aussie car if it was better than anything else on the market. That’s the benchmark. I drive the best four-wheel-drive on the market,”
“I drive a Mazda BT50. My mates put shit on me, they call it the Bangkok Billycart but they all have no idea.”
More to come.
