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September 2012's Sales Losers: Mitsubishi I-MiEV Outsells Acura RL
by
Derek Kreindler
(IC: employee)
Published: October 5th, 2012
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Independent sales analyst Tim Cain has released his Worst Selling Vehicles list for September 2012, with not just one but three measures of poor performance.
While sales of the Mazda3 were up 57 percent, every other Mazda was in the dumps; the CX-9 was down for its 8th consecutive month, while the Mazda5 performed dismally in a Chrysler-dominated minivan market.
The Acura RL is suffered its most ignominious defeat this month, being outsold by the Suzuki Grand Vitara by a 10:1 ratio, while also being bested by the Mitsubishi i-MiEV in the monthly sales tally. Also worthy of being singled out for poor performance; the Porsche Cayman. Sales of the baby P-car fell 84 percent in September 2012, with just 15 units sold.
Derek Kreindler
More by Derek Kreindler
Published October 5th, 2012 12:25 PM
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I took my wife to look at the new CX-5, and she hated it, for some reason. She preferred a 2011 CX-7. I thought the extra mileage of the CX-5 would make the difference, but she drives almost exclusively in town, max speed of 45 mph, so gas mileage and handling are not a concern. Whoda thunk it? Her last vehicle had problems keeping the Check Engine light off, she never ran it hard enough, or frequently enough to get the engine to clear it. I suppose I'll have to give this one an Italian Tune-up, now and again.
Bring back the Legend! I see it now, an anti-Camcord, a kick-ass LS460-esque flagship which is not simply a rebadged Japan only model (which the RL is or at least was until 2007 IIRC). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Legend
Now,now,be fair.The Mitsu freeway golf cart was not sold in 2011.The Acura RL is symptomatic of ACURA's wholesale bland alphabet nomenclature,matched to anonymous product.Initially,their line up(Integra,Legend,Vigor)conjured up aspirations of performance,and cache.Now it's marketing a line up with names that remind one of some necessary,but aggravating, government form-"Uh Sir?Sir!You're going to need to submit an RL,or maybe an RDX,or a TSX,but definitely an MDX,with your form ZDX." As for the Mazda5,there's the CX5,that's just name overlapping and confusing.Plus the new Maz5 looks like a 3/4 scale Nissan Quest with post lipo skin flaps.New Moms(& Dads)need no reminders.Duh. Well you go,Nissan GT-R!Sort of. Why is there a VW Eos? Bleach blond divorcees and retired sunbelt queens would be none the wiser if this were eliminated and replaced with the Golf Cabriolet.
I love my little Miev for commuting - had it about a year. I used to spend $100/month on gas, but I haven't noticed any increase whatsoever in my electric bill vs last year. The air conditiong isn't bad even in Texas. In theory it should be possible to put solar cells on the roof to get even more miles, but 200w would only give you maybe 3 miles per day, and that would mean a modified charge adapter (OpenESE might do it). Charlie Charlie Texas