Opel Australia offers driveaway pricing

OPEL Australia is looking to build on its “solid start” into the local market by offering driveaway pricing and a new 24-hour test-drive program across its entire model range between now and February 28.

The German brand’s limited-time offer sees the Corsa light-car range now kick off from $16,990 driveaway for the three-door and $19,490 for the five-door – $500 higher than the regular list price, but representing better value considering on-road costs are included.

These on-road costs include dealer delivery, stamp duty, 12 months registration and compulsory third party insurance, charges which are usually not included in the vehicle price and which typically add thousands of dollars to the total.

The same driveaway pricing structure carries across to the Astra range, which now kicks off from $22,990 for the base 1.4 hatch, $26,990 for the Sports Tourer wagon and $29,990 for the GTC coupe.

These prices represent especially sharp value for the hatch and wagon as they not only include on-road costs, but also sport a $1000 sharper list price.

The GTC Coupe price increases by $1000, but the inclusion of on-roads still makes it better value overall.

The range-topping Insignia sedan and wagon variants now start at $39,990 and $41,990 respectively, up $1500 over the regular list price, but now inclusive of on-road costs.

The 24-hour test-drive program, dubbed the German Exchange Program, allows prospective customers to live with a test car for an entire day, rather than just taking it for a quick test drive with a salesperson at a dealership.

Opel Australia head of marketing and public relations Michelle Lang told GoAuto that the campaign had been a success since commencing on January 1 this year.

“When people get into the cars for a longer period of time, it becomes an easier sell because people fall in love with them,” she said. “It’s proven really successful so far.”

Opel Australia managing director Bill Mott said the company would look to grow beyond its “solid start” last year, describing the 24-hour test program as the answer to a question its prospective buyers had been asking.

“We’ve had a lot of feedback from customers that it is hard to get a real feel for a vehicle when you take it out on such a short test drive from the dealership,” he said. “Our German Exchange Program gives the customers the opportunity to live and experience our cars in their own environment.”

The driveaway pricing offer and exchange program join Opel’s ongoing three-year capped-price servicing offer (introduced from launch last September) as incentives to help the fledgling brand grow its presence in Australia.

Opel launched locally in September last year with the Corsa, Astra and Insignia.

This year will see the addition of hardcore OPC versions of all three in March (meaning they will miss out on driveaway pricing), while the Cascada convertible and Mokka crossover are also understood to be on the wish list.

The company – pitched as a price-point rival to fellow German Volkswagen – sold 365 Astras, 111 Insignias and 65 Corsas between September and December 2012.

Opel range drive-away pricing*

Corsa three-door
Base	$16,990
Colour Edition	$18,990
Colour Edition (a)	$20,990
Corsa five-door
Enjoy	$19,490
Enjoy (a)	$21,490
Astra hatch
1.4	$22,990
1.4 (a)	$24,990
Luxury 1.4	$25,740
Luxury 1.4 (a)	$27,740
2.0 diesel	$26,990
2.0 diesel (a)	$28,990
Select 2.0 diesel	$30,990
Select 2.0 diesel (a)	$32,990
Select 1.6 petrol	$27,990
Select 1.6 petrol (a)	$29,990
Sport 1.6 petrol	$32,490
Sport 1.6 petrol (a)	$34,490
Astra Sports Tourer
1.4 petrol (a)	$26,990
2.0 diesel (a)	$30,990
Select 1.6 petrol (a)	$31,990
Select 2.0 diesel (a)	$34,990
Astra GTC
1.4 petrol	$29,990
1.4 petrol (a)	$31,990
Sport 1.6 petrol	$35,990
Insignia sedan
2.0 petrol (a)	$39,990
2.0 diesel (a)	$41,490
Select 2.0 petrol (a)	$46,990
Select 2.0 diesel (a)	$48,490
Insignia Sports Tourer
2.0 petrol (a)	$41,990
2.0 diesel (a)	$43,490
Select 2.0 petrol (a)	$48,990
Select 2.0 diesel (a)	$50,490

*Prices valid until Feb 28