Comments on: By The Numbers: July Sizzles, Sales Fizzle

By: MgoBLUE

MgoBLUE — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:15:16 +0000

Frank,

Thanks for the insight.

In regards to the “New Models” section, as an example, it would be helpful to add some context in that paragraph. “The Acadia was down 1400 units for the month.” I found myself wondering, ‘1400 units off of how many? 3k/month? 6k? 12k?

Just a suggestion.

Thanks again.

By: AuricTech

AuricTech — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 01:16:40 +0000

Meanwhile, Suzuki’s US sales were down only one percent from July 2006. YTD sales for Suzuki are up one percent over last year.

By: hltguy

hltguy — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:53:18 +0000

The Los Angeles Times printed an editorial on the new Chrysler Sebring in today’s edition, to say the least it was scathing. Very negative on the car. That is what people read and that is what many consumers base their decision on certain car companies whether to purchase a vehicle from them or not. No telling how many sales Chrysler cost themselves by putting out another car that is being panned in the press.

By: jurisb

jurisb — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 09:31:57 +0000

hot models,hot sales and a conflagration in market indicators. fair enough. as fair the detroit3 game is.

By: rtz

rtz — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 04:53:05 +0000

Ford Edge is just too expensive. Nice looking vehicle though.

By: NickR

NickR — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 03:30:29 +0000

Ford’s new model…the Precipice.

By: Bill Wade

Bill Wade — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 02:57:37 +0000

Out of curiosity, with the domestic share decreasing every month will this reach some type of critical mass that will accelerate the rate of sales decline?

By: Steven Lang

Steven Lang — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 02:03:05 +0000

I can tell you guys from experience that the two worst months from hereonin will be August and November.

At the auctions, October and the first 15 days of November usually offer the lowest returns on fleets and repo’s. This July was a real stinker to… which really does not bode well for the industry as a whole.

By: dwford

dwford — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:44:59 +0000

I have noticed that Ford often has gaps between the end of one model year and the beginning of the next, resulting in shortages. We were so short of 07 and 08 Super Duties earlier in the year as the model changed over, no the same is happening with the 500/Taurus. We have only 2 07 Edges left, 2 Explorers, 1 500, 1 Freestyle.

Everyone seems to be waiting for 0% on the Super Duties, though.

By: TheNatural

TheNatural — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 23:06:53 +0000

No one wants no payments deals. Can you imagine have a depreciating asset (spelling) that you make no payments on? Mitsu did this awhile back and people came in a year later wanting to trade and there were so buried, no one would touch them.

By: 86er

86er — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:51:16 +0000

Is the 4runner still a truck based SUV?

In a word, yes.

By: Landcrusher

Landcrusher — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:45:35 +0000

Is the 4runner still a truck based SUV?

By: Johnson

Johnson — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 20:49:55 +0000

Frank Williams
Ford isn’t offering big incentives on the F-Series

Depends. Ford is offering 0% APR on the F-150 and a lot of cash on the hood to move their trucks. F-150 incentives are higher than either the Tundra or the the GM twins. Toyota is also easing back on Tundra incentives for August, while GM increased it’s truck incentives at the same time.

August should be an interesting month.

By: greenb1ood

greenb1ood — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 20:33:57 +0000

I keep waiting for one of the domestics to come up with some radical new incentive strategy along the lines of ‘no payments ’til 2009!!’ to move the metal – my money is on Chrysler.

Surely this approach would mean that no one learned from the employee prices for all period, but someone in marketing will notice that it’s the status quo in the furniture industry and try it out.

The quicker the industry consolidates, the better off all of the remaining manufacturers will be…

By: blautens

blautens — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:44:17 +0000

Great article. Bad news, generally speaking, unless you’re in the market for a new car, I suppose.

By: jkross22

jkross22 — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:00:23 +0000

As the price of autos has increased, but salaries haven’t kept up, these numbers are not surprising. Certainly when you throw in the uncertainty of subprime loans.

BUT, if the 2.8 made the stuff we want, their losses would like Toyota’s and not like, well, theirs.