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Sales Flops of 2005
Ran across this story about the vehicles with the biggest sales declines for the year.
http://biz.yahoo.com/weekend/carturkey_1.html
Anything surprise you on this list:
No. 1: Volvo C70 convertible
Sales decline this year: 59.6%
No. 2: Land Rover Freelander SUV
Sales decline this year: 55.3%
No. 3: Mercedes-Benz CL-Class coupe
Sales decline this year: 53.2%
No. 4: Volkswagen Phaeton sedan
Sales decline this year: 52.1%
No. 5: Mercury Monterey minivan
Sales decline this year: 51.2%
No. 6: Jaguar X-Type sedan and wagon
Sales decline this year: 49.2%
No. 7: Audi TT convertible and coupe
Sales decline this year: 47.2%
No. 8: Mitsubishi Montero SUV*
Sales decline this year: 44.6%
No. 9: Chevrolet Monte Carlo coupe
Sales decline this year: 43.4%
No. 10: Mazda B-Series pickup
Sales decline this year: 43.0%
http://biz.yahoo.com/weekend/carturkey_1.html
Anything surprise you on this list:
No. 1: Volvo C70 convertible
Sales decline this year: 59.6%
No. 2: Land Rover Freelander SUV
Sales decline this year: 55.3%
No. 3: Mercedes-Benz CL-Class coupe
Sales decline this year: 53.2%
No. 4: Volkswagen Phaeton sedan
Sales decline this year: 52.1%
No. 5: Mercury Monterey minivan
Sales decline this year: 51.2%
No. 6: Jaguar X-Type sedan and wagon
Sales decline this year: 49.2%
No. 7: Audi TT convertible and coupe
Sales decline this year: 47.2%
No. 8: Mitsubishi Montero SUV*
Sales decline this year: 44.6%
No. 9: Chevrolet Monte Carlo coupe
Sales decline this year: 43.4%
No. 10: Mazda B-Series pickup
Sales decline this year: 43.0%
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Comments
That is true. However, unlike the Mercedes, they come with outstanding customer service and great reliability.
I have been to both the Mercedes and the Lexus events this past year at Arlington Park and I hear two constant themes
1) They don't make Mercedes like they used to.
2) You get so much more from Lexus with fewer problems (and I heard that at the Mercedes event).
One of the local businessmen always reminds me that he paid "$20k for a used Lexus with 80k miles and he's driven it for ten years and it doesn't look or ride any different than the day he bought it."
Sales decline this year: 44.6%
Mitsu just can't catch a break... Just as well I guess, the Montero is OLD and maybe the Endeavor will pick up those sales.
The Monterey decline is pathetic, but not surprising...
M
I'm surprised the Mercedes G Class isn't on that list. I rarely see them, even though they were released 2 years ago.
Here in the Middle East the Montero/Pajero is one of the most popular SUVs, although in America its not probably because of the immense variety offered there. In any case here most of its popularity is due to fleet sales.
G-wagen came out here for MY 2001 or so, I see them fairly regularly in my neighborhood, but I'll admit it's not a normal place.
There's not a car on that list that doesn't deserve to die for one reason or another.
I can think of a few off the top of my head, with varying degrees of up-to-datedness:
Acura RL (running, I think, at roughly half the volume Acura was hoping for with the much-revised model)
Subaru Tribeca (production cuts set at 50% beginning in the new year)
Everything Saab that is a rebadged something else
Heck, toss in the 9-3 for good measure: it has been around more than 12 months IIRC, but it certainly hasn't measured up to the hopes they had for sales
Q45 - poor ol' Infiniti. I forget how long ago the last model update was, but it wasn't that long ago and there was a lot of fanfare with that one. They continue to sell at a rate of roughly 1000 a year - why bother?
Need I mention the all-new Jetta, the car that was going to "grow up" the VW image overnight? Now the new Passat is busy following in its footsteps. And thank GOODNESS they cancelled the Phaeton.
And for this space, same time next year, let's mention the Grand Vitara, released with more hoopla than I can remember from Suzuki in forever, and already every reviewer hates it. And the Range Rover Sport, another case of why bother. And possibly the Honda Ridgeline and the Buick Lucerne, both of which will sell in decent numbers but will fall short of their manufacturers' hopes and dreams by a goodly amount. Oh yeah, and add the Torrent on that last count. I would mention the new Mercury/Lincoln Fusion clones, but does Ford even have hopes and dreams for Lincoln/Mercury any more? Final entry and then I will quit: the new Jeep (what is it? Commander or something?). It is so similar to Grand Cherokee in mission, all it will do is suck a few sales away from the GC before falling into automotive oblivion.
So sayeth the sage...
:-P
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
OTOH the Buick Lacrosse is pretty rare even though it's been out for a year. The
Infiniti M35/45 doesn't seen to be any more prevalent than the Acura RL so sales of them have to be disappointing.
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
Have to agree with you on the Saabs, though.
Andys120, I haven't seen recent sales figures, but the M35/45 was selling as well as the Lexus GS and others in the class. I dunno what Infiniti projected, but I gotta figure it's doing well enough.
I haven't seen the Grand Vitara yet, except for that commercial where the dude skydives out of his house. I almost hate to admit it, but I think it's actually pretty attractive! I think it's one of the better looking SUVs out there nowadays. There's just something nice and clean about its styling. Still, style will only get you so far, and according to the buff rags, there are much better buys out there.
I don't see Acura RLs very often, but then they're styling just blends in. They're easy to miss. As for Infinitis, I don't think I see ANY kind of Infiniti on a regular basis, except for this green I30 that one of the secretaries at work drives.
All reviewers have commented that the third seat is a joke for anyone larger than a small child.
So unless you really like the squared off styling or have small children that can fit in the rearmost seats, there's really no point in buying one in place of the Grand Cherokee.
FWIW though, I'm guessing that very few SUVs have a useable 3rd row seat. Even in my Mom & stepdad's Expedition, or even some Suburbans I've been in, it's not a very hospitable place to be.
How safe is the 3rd-row seat on your typical SUV, anyway? Most SUVs that I've seen that get rear-ended basically cease to exist behind the rear axle. I imagine it would be almost as bad as the 3rd row seat you used to get in station wagons back in the day.
Shame about the Q45. I bet it's every bit as good a car as the Lexus LS430. Well, if you don't want to run into your car on every block, get a Q45!
Ooo! Ooo! I DID see a Tribeca today!
As for the Lucerne, GM has excluded it from the Red Tag promotion, which might be a sign of strong sales.
Maybe wishful thinking?
In reference to Chrysler, the load-em up strategy failed miserably on the Pacifica.
When the 300 came out, Chrysler had more of a variety in stock. Also, it seemed like they didn't flood the lots with them at first...they let them trickle in to see which ones the customers wanted. And in a rare occurence, it turns out this was one model where a good chunk of the buyers WANTED the pricier trim level! For awhile, something like 40% of 300 sales were the Hemi C model, leaving the three cheaper lines to scrap for the remaining 60%. In contrast, the vast majority of Intrepids and Concordes were usually the cheapest trim line. And even with cars like the Accord, Camry, and Altima, the top trim levels usually only account for a relative handful of sales.
They sell the high volume models (think Accord LX, Camry LE) at a great price and well equipped to the majority of their buyers. But for the percentage that wants a baby Lexus or Acura, they can have a V-6, leather clad offering available as well. All off the same platform, same factory etc.
This allows them to make larger margins on the meat and potatoes of the line up, but still not turn off a potential buyer with a few more bucks in their pocket.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
According to http://www.aicautosite.com/editoria/asmr/svsuv.asp, the Touraeg does outsell the Cayenne...through August 31 the VW sold 11,994 units, vs 8,806 for the Porsche. Not a bad showing overall, though, considering SUVs were a new territory for both of them (well, there was the VW Thing!) I thought the Touraeg was cool from the moment I saw it, but I figured the Cayenne would be a total flop.
The Touareg isn't doing quite so hot. Although a sister vehicle to the Cayenne, the Touareg competes more directly with the X5, RX330, and MDX. The V-dub's sales don't come close to what the market will bear.
edit: Prosa beat me to the point. :P
I have read the Aveo is GM's biggest seller.
If Ford still churning out Tauri? Once they axe that brute, the 500 should get a healthy fleet jolt.
she says, "it's the interior, it's sprayed on tan gone wrong!". when i looked at it, it was! barf. :sick:
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
If the Cayenne sells 1000 a month at $60k, I'd say it was holding it's own! Lexus LX doesn't do that anymore.
The Range Rover did better after it's redesign, but with the heavy advertising on the $75k Sport (I've never seen such an expensive vehicle marketed so hard!), I'd say the Sport is not doing what Range wants.
Touraeg (I'm guessing) has many things going against it:
1. Stupid name
2. It's smaller than most mid-size SUV's (I've sat in one)
3. Is part of the not-so-successful VW upscale afterbirth, which has claimed the lives of the Photon (another stupid name), and W8 Passat.
4. Sells at premium prices without premium quality (Judging by J.D. Power, and the number of disgruntled VW owners)
No one has brought up the STS?
That Subaru SUV is a pretty bad idea:
A. Too heavy for their CAR engines to support.
B. Too pricey for their clientele to support.
C. Too late to the SUV party!
The H3 doing so well is a shock!!! :confuse:
Wrong time, wrong engine, few incentives, and it has caught on?
Too early to annoint Nissan Versa "Flop of 2006"?
DrFill
My company has always leased the Taurus as the company car. They have been told that they can nolonger get the Taurus, so a few of the guys have now received the 500. I have been told there isn't much difference in (fleet) prices for the 500 vs. the Taurus. I have a Taurus and it has some of the most uncomfortable front seats of any car I have ever owned in recent memory!
Why would the Versa flop? I think the time of mini-crossovers is arriving. These mini-mini-vans are practical, sporty, and stylish. I would certainly consider one as my next car, and I think a lot of other young people would be interested too.
As long as Nissan, Mazda, etc. keep initial sales projections realistic, I think they will succeed. Chrysler was trumpeting absurd Pacifica sales from the start. They should have started low and let true demand determine supply.
The Taurus was available to fleets ONLY in MY 2005.
The prices on the low-end Fusion and the Ford 500 are SIMILAR but *not* the same as the old Taurus. However, fleet prices are like anything - negotiable. For some reason, Ford will give you a lot better price if you agree to buy 2000 units than if you buy 20. (g)
i have been running around in a 1997 Ford Taurus the past week as I have had to run some work errands. That model was not as uncomfortable as some of the earlier models (and the 2003 version). I've always hated the cockpit feel.
Crossfire also comes to mind.
Another slow mover seems to be the RX-8.
Not sure about the Charger. I've seen a few on the roads, but not many. I think alot of people who would have bought the charger already owned 300s.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
A. Too heavy for their CAR engines to support.
B. Too pricey for their clientele to support.
C. Too late to the SUV party!
Pricing should not have been such an obstacle. Base model B9 Tribecas, the 5-passenger versions with cloth upholstery, can be purchased for about $29,000. That's less than some Outback models and is fully competitive with the competition. Unfortunately, as I've noted before, base models are very difficult to find. Almost all the 'becas on dealer lots are the 7-passenger versions with leather, priced in the mid-30's.
Getting beyond just Subaru, what is this obsession with 7-passenger seating? Leave out for now the fact that 7-passenger seating usually means normal seating for five and two microscopic seats suitable only for small children. Birth rates are low enough that few families really need more than five seats. Those that do, can buy minivans or conventional vans. But it seems as if every SUV and crossover tries to shoehorn in those two extra seats - even the new RAV4.