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Midsize Sedans 2.0

18218 messages,  Last post on May 23, 2013 at 3:51 PM

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What is this discussion about? Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Volkswagen Passat, Mazda MAZDA6, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu, Kia Optima, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 1648 of 1822

#16468 of 18218 Re: BTW [aviboy97] by backy

May 02, 2011 (10:05 am)

Replying to: aviboy97 (May 02, 2011 9:38 am)
I'd like to find out where those Hyundais are. The Hertz lots I go to around the USA all say the same thing: "We don't buy Hyundais anymore." Same story at Avis, although I did find a 2010 Elantra with 30k miles on it the other day in Madison, but they said "it's not ours." I think National has some Hyundais, but no idea how many. I do see LOTS of Toyotas and Nissans. I almost always get a Nissan (Versa, Sentra, Altima) when I rent a car from Hertz these days. They try to give me Toyotas sometimes (Yaris, Corolla, Matrix, Camry) but I try to switch for another car (except for the Camry) if possible.
 
This is borne out in sales numbers, e.g. as of April 1, Hyundai sales to fleet accounts were down 31 percent for the year with fleet sales representing 13 percent of the total sales mix year-to-date, and 11 percent for March. Those numbers seem a lot lower than for other automakers, e.g. Nissan, as mentioned in an earlier post.

#16469 of 18218 Re: BTW [m6user] by plekto

May 02, 2011 (10:43 am)

Replying to: m6user (May 02, 2011 8:59 am)
I don't know where to get figures for auto sales versus truck/van sales to rental companies but I know that truck/full size van FLEET sales are huge.
Trust me, when you're making $100 off of each car from fleet sales, it adds up to a lot of nothing in your pocket quick. Fleet sales are the last thing you want as an auto company if you can help it. Now, someone has to buy new rentals and so on, but you certainly don't want it to be 20-30%+ of your sales. That's essentially just running the plants to keep them running at that point.

#16470 of 18218 Re: BTW [backy] by aviboy97

May 02, 2011 (11:19 am)

Replying to: backy (May 02, 2011 10:05 am)
I'd like to find out where those Hyundais are
 
Enterprise and Budget is where I have been seeing them. My local Budget store has a fleet of the new Elantra's available.
 
I think this is how the whole conversation started. Enterprise has a boat load of 2011 Sonata GLS's they are selling at $18,000 plus....
 
Starting in 2009, Hyundai/Kia Group sold a whopping 1/3 of all cars to rental fleet agencies Enterprise, National and Hertz in the first quarter. As of August 2010, Hyundai was the largest supplier to rental fleet, at 16%, of all foreign auto makers, with Nissan and Toyota following them.

#16471 of 18218 Re: BTW [aviboy97] by backy

May 02, 2011 (12:26 pm)

Replying to: aviboy97 (May 02, 2011 11:19 am)
2009 and 2010? This is 2011, last time I checked.

#16472 of 18218 Re: BTW [plekto] by m6user

May 02, 2011 (1:16 pm)

Replying to: plekto (May 02, 2011 10:43 am)
Trust me, when you're making $100 off of each car from fleet sales, it adds up to a lot of nothing in your pocket quick.
 
I don't believe for a minute that the car companies only make $100 off each car sold for fleet. I've heard that low of number thrown around and just don't believe it. Never have had anybody ever offer up any real proof either. That's like a dealer selling you a car for $100 over invoice and trying to get you to believe that's all they made.

#16473 of 18218 Re: BTW [m6user] by tlong

May 02, 2011 (1:42 pm)

Replying to: m6user (May 02, 2011 1:16 pm)
I don't believe for a minute that the car companies only make $100 off each car sold for fleet.
 
Well, since GM lost billions over many years of high sales while selling a LOT to fleets, I'd be surprised if they were actually making anything on those sales.

#16474 of 18218 Re: BTW [tlong] by m6user

May 02, 2011 (2:04 pm)

Replying to: tlong (May 02, 2011 1:42 pm)
Them and others as well. Could it be they were making $1000 profit when they needed to be making $2000 thus the huge losses? I don't know the answer but selling any item that is valued at $20-$30k for only a $100 margin doesn't make sense. I just think there is obviously a lot more to the equation than simply selling for a loss to rental fleets to keep the presses running.

#16475 of 18218 Re: BTW [m6user] by acdii

May 02, 2011 (2:19 pm)

Replying to: m6user (May 02, 2011 1:16 pm)
Ford Crown Vic's are only sold to Fleet, a regular consumer can no longer purchase them, so 100% of all CV's are fleet sales. Police and taxi mostly, the rest corporation sales, and usually just stripper models. Those and I would say standard cab LB F150's would be the other majority of fleet sales. When you consider how many police departments still use the CV as their #1 cruiser, that adds up to a lot of sales, and it wouldn't surprise me if a lot of departments are hording them since 2012 is the last year they will be produced. The beauty of the CV is the parts are interchangeable from year to year, a fender from an 07 will still fit a10. A lot of barns store up these parts inventories for the CV, and once they are no longer available, well, they will try to keep them going as long as they can. Look how many years the Checkers were on the road after they were no longer made, some are still being used.
 
I found the sales figures, link title
 
Crown vic sales were up 91% between 2009 and 2010. Taurus sales jumped up 121%, but those aren't broken down between consumer and fleet. March 2011 sales figures for the CV are at 6176 compared to last year at 3223 units sold. To date this year 14620 have been sold. Those are all Fleet sales. In addition a lot of Town Cars are also sold to fleets. What I didn't see in those numbers above, is that just Ford, or is Mercury, Lincoln, and Volvo included in those fleet sales figures?

#16476 of 18218 Re: BTW [backy] by aviboy97

May 02, 2011 (3:19 pm)

Replying to: backy (May 02, 2011 12:26 pm)
2009 and 2010? This is 2011, last time I checked.
 
We just finished 1Q in 2011. I think Q3 2010 is valid. If you would like to share evidence that shows a different trend for 2011, I'm listening....

#16477 of 18218 Re: BTW [m6user] by aviboy97

May 02, 2011 (3:17 pm)

Replying to: m6user (May 02, 2011 2:04 pm)
I just think there is obviously a lot more to the equation than simply selling for a loss to rental fleets to keep the presses running.
 
I think we would be shocked if we saw what it actually costs to build a car. The number would be surprisingly low.
 
My guess is it costs $10,000 or less to manufacturer a Chevy Malibu valued at $20,000, not counting R&D

Messages Page 1648 of 1822

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