Helicopter rides with each new car

Jumping castles, sausage sizzles and staff wearing bear costumes have been overtaken by helicopter rides.

Not the $1 helicopter rides found in shopping centres, but the real deal. A Holden dealer in Penrith recently took the unprecedented step of offering a free helicopter to new car buyers.

“To attract people to our yard we have had giant slides, jumping castles, ice-cream trucks, golf pros, and race cars. But nothing like this before,” dealer principal of Heartland Holden Penrith Adam Mears told News Limited. “To my knowledge no-one has done this from the actual dealership before and on the day of the sale. The helicopter should draw lots of attention.” 

There are a few conditions: the new-car deal must be signed on the weekend and applies only to the Holden Penrith dealership. The flights are dependent on clear flying conditions. “If there is bad weather or bush fires the helicopter can’t fly in the area,” Mears said.

The Australian-new car market is the toughest in the developed world, with 67 brands competing for 1.1 million sales. In the US, 28 brands compete for 14.5 million sales. Last year was an all-time record for new-car sales in Australia, but Holden posted its lowest result in 19 years as buyers embraced imports buoyed by favourable foreign exchange rates.

“Definitely selling cars is more competitive than ever with so many brands sold in Australia,” Mears said. “We are always looking for new ideas to attract people onto our yard. That’s why we are going to great heights to sell people a car."

This journalist is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling