From the Automotive News reprint of Ford’s dealer memo:

“The Division’s initial launch strategy for the Flex consisted of seven target regions: New York, Washington, Detroit, Atlanta, Orlando, Southwest and California. These regions are supporting the launch through a Tier II advertising campaign. To date, we have been able to offer every Select Dealer in these seven regions a start-up unit.

In September the Flex will be launched nationally in the ten remaining regions. It is our intention to offer every Select Dealer in the country their start-up allocation by the September production period.”

This may have been an article before but I’m too lazy to look for it. Could the experts at TTAC enlighten me on how a dealership actually makes money?

Service and sales of used cars are where most of the profit for a dealer is. If you are a Honda or Toyota dealer, you make money on sales of new cars as well. If you are a Detroit 3 dealer, well, no.

Now, some of those numbers are worse than they seem. For example, there aren’t many stand-alone Buick dealers left; most are Pontiac-GMC-Buick dealers. So three sales a month turns into 25. Still bad, but not OMGHOWDOTHEYSTAYINBUSINESS bad.

when is ttac going to start its tomoco death watch? the signs are there if you know what to look for …

When their net profit drops below 1 trillion yen a year (10 billion US dollars). Their profit the last four years has been above that level each year, and indications are that that will continue. If you have Scrooge McDuck’s money pit, you aren’t on anybody’s Death Watch.

what about VW? BMW? M-B? Audi?

last i heard MB was kicking butt

Frank Williams put out some market share charts this month that may clear this up for you.
Also, take a look at their scores in the JDP VDS.
They have had some quality stumbles but viewing all the data from JDP, CR and True Delta leaves the impression that those are anomolies and only Honda can run with them in that arena right now.

I like very few of their products but I think they can say with Twain “Rumors of my death have been greatly overstated”.

Just sayin’.

Bunter

I wonder when they will get their BILLION dollar investment back from retooling Oakville.

Too bad they just didn’t advertise the NEW FOR 2008 Taurus X…

All of the Lithia stores have been putting more emphasis on used cars for some time now.

I’m guessing you live within 5 miles of work, correct? :-)

Since he said in the sentence right before the part you cut and pasted that his commute is 6 miles… :)

I just bought a Tundra too. Lots of compromises with trucks, had it down to the Tundra vs Chevy and the Tundra won on price and engine. But $20K for a near $30K sticker? Hell yeah, now I can haul my race car rather than drive the miserable thing.

Just last week the National car rental lot at the Austin, TX airport had a Silverado with a huge sign that read “you’ll look cool driving this.”

I feel really bad for the private sellers trying to unload their used trucks/SUV’s at prices that match the dealer for new.

I find it interesting that the car rental prices reflect this inversion. Recently reserved an airport rental for a few days. Just as an example Chevy Aveo $39/day. Ford Explorer or other mid-sized SUV $17/day. Since I won’t be driving 100s of miles/day I took the Explorer. I didn’t run the numbers but I think you would need to drive several hundred miles per day to make the prices even out (and then you would still be driving a subcompact). Rentals are where the real SUV bargains are right now. And you can turn the vehicle back in after just a week or two.

BTW-I didn’t see an estimate of Honda’s car inventory-or isn’t there one?

Bunter

I’m guessing you live within 5 miles of work, correct? :-)