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What is "wrong" with these new subcompacts?

8698 messages,  Last post on Dec 08, 2009 at 11:02 AM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires

What is this discussion about? Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, smart fortwo, MINI Cooper


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#7933 of 8698
Re: Civic vs Corolla [lilengineerboy] by nippononly
Aug 03, 2008 (10:34 am)
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Replying to: lilengineerboy (Aug 03, 2008 10:16 am)

The Fit is notably more fun to drive than the Yaris, for about the same money and without anything in the way of exhibitionism. You usually don't get too much flashiness in a $15K hatchback, and the Fit is no exception.
 
Some of the upcoming subs will fit that mold too, like the Fiesta, the new Aveo5 and the Beat that will replace it in a couple of years. Others like the Hornet and of course the existing Mini Cooper give you more flash, but often you pay extra for "flash", and the Mini is no exception. I wonder how they will price the Hornet when it arrives (courtesy of Chery Motors Inc). Seeing as its Chinese, I expect it will be low-priced.
#7934 of 8698
Re: Civic vs Corolla [irismg] by ateixeira
Aug 04, 2008 (6:05 am)
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Replying to: irismg (Aug 02, 2008 11:58 am)

Thanks for the vote of confidence.
 
Your response was timely because either last night or the night before someone broke in to my flashy convertible (Miata) and stole all the change out of the center console.
 
It unfortunately does draw unwanted attention.
 
At least there wasn't anything valuable in it.
#7935 of 8698
so did I post numbers recently? :-) by nippononly
Aug 12, 2008 (11:52 am)
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'Cause they are pretty DARN good!
 
From Automotive News, for 2008 sales through June 30:
 
Fit: up 67% from 2007
Accent: up 48.9%
Rio: up 29.1%
Yaris: up 39%
Mini Cooper: up 33.6%
 
And if you're counting Versa (debatable for inclusion in this category, IMO), it is up 20.7%.
 
And for those of you tracking the ForTwo, they sold 11,399 of them by midyear, and that wasn't a full six months of sales by any means.
 
The only one that wasn't up in a big way (about flat instead) was the Aveo, which I think was partly because a lot of the Aveos were going to fleets last year, and GM is still cutting back on its rental fleet sales.
 
http://www.autonews.com/assets/PDF/CA5240487.PDF
#7936 of 8698
Re: so did I post numbers recently? :-) [nippononly] by andre1969
Aug 12, 2008 (11:55 am)
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Replying to: nippononly (Aug 12, 2008 11:52 am)

The only one that wasn't up in a big way (about flat instead) was the Aveo, which I think was partly because a lot of the Aveos were going to fleets last year, and GM is still cutting back on its rental fleet sales.
 
Well, there was the xA, down a whopping 99.6%.
 
Considering how bad off the economy supposedly is, I'm surprised that total car sales are staying as strong as they are. The grand total comes out to 3.989M, down from 4.059M. That's only a 1.7% drop. Now a lot of that is redistribution, as sales of smaller cars are increasing while bigger and more premium categories are dropping.
 
Still, it looks like people are buying. I guess truck sales might tell a different story, though.
#7937 of 8698
Re: so did I post numbers recently? :-) [andre1969] by nippononly
Aug 12, 2008 (11:56 am)
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Replying to: andre1969 (Aug 12, 2008 11:55 am)

You DO know the xA was discontinued in 2006, right?!
#7938 of 8698
Re: so did I post numbers recently? :-) [andre1969] by thegraduate
Aug 12, 2008 (11:57 am)
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Replying to: andre1969 (Aug 12, 2008 11:55 am)

I think we might have to limit the sales discussion to those cars still FOR SALE this year.
#7939 of 8698
xA by ateixeira
Aug 13, 2008 (5:52 am)
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Well, the xA got a lot bigger, especially the standard engine. So it went in the wrong direction, or at least the opposite direction compared to where consumers were heading.
 
Bad timing.
#7940 of 8698
Re: xA [ateixeira] by nippononly
Aug 13, 2008 (6:56 am)
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Replying to: ateixeira (Aug 13, 2008 5:52 am)

Yes, it now uses the same engine as the new Corolla and Matrix, and is about the same size and mileage as the Matrix.
 
It is significant to note that while Toyota dealers can't keep Corollas in stock, Matrixes are piling up in unprecedented numbers. While Matrix has a lot more utiltity than the Corolla sedan, it also consumes at least 20% more gas, making it less popular in times of $4 gas. The same applies to the xD (replacement for the xA).
#7941 of 8698
Re: xA [nippononly] by ateixeira
Aug 13, 2008 (7:02 am)
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Replying to: nippononly (Aug 13, 2008 6:56 am)

That's too bad.
 
In Brazil they actually sell a Corolla Fielder, which is a Corolla wagon. An no it looks nothing at all like a Matrix.
 
I'd pick that for the extra space, better visibility, plus better mileage to boot.
 

 
My brother is shopping for a Hyundai Tucson and I suggested one of those as an alternative. Both are FWD and the Fielder actually costs less in Brazil.
#7942 of 8698
Re: xA [ateixeira] by nippononly
Aug 13, 2008 (7:06 am)
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Replying to: ateixeira (Aug 13, 2008 7:02 am)

It would be SO cool if Toyota offered a proper Corolla wagon in the U.S. again! They are too hung up on the popularity of SUVs and crossvers. I guess we are lucky we even get the Matrix.

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