November Sales Snapshot: Tall/Boxy Wagons and Pony Cars

Paul Niedermeyer
by Paul Niedermeyer

This first segment is my creation, and I admit it’s a bit wacky. Industry norms have these cars all over the various categories. Anyway, the not-so-tall-or-boxy HHR takes the pole. The Soul is handily outselling the Cube, which is outselling the xB. The PT Cruiser says adios. The Element doesn’t really fit in very well with this bunch, but it’s always been an outsider. And the Camaro is whippin’ the ‘Stang’s butt. The Challenger isn’t challenging very much. Details:

Ranking by YTD SalesNov. 09 sales% changeYTD sales% change Boxy/tall wagonsChevy HHR472038%67402-24%Kia Soul250528805Scion xB1392-36%23705-45%Nissan Cube156518414PT Cruiser310-91%17205-65%Honda Element1017-23%13458-46%Kia Rondo425-70%12970-53%Pony CarsMustang3627-1%60096-31%Camaro6867 54100 Challenger2040-40%2331657%
Paul Niedermeyer
Paul Niedermeyer

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  • Frantz Frantz on Dec 09, 2009

    Maybe Ford should go with a IRS setup for market reasons but there really are some of us (myself) who like solid rears. Maybe I'm a 1% guys but I'm glad the option as I really really really don't care if a car handles well. I LOVE straight lines and everything else is boring to me. I am also glad their are cars built for amazing handling. It'd be nice if there were cars for every single market but why do we feel we need to make them all fit our own? Also I love the 2010 update. The 2011 engine improvements will be really nice.

  • Porschespeed Porschespeed on Dec 09, 2009
    Man, have we become jaded. No kidding. An off the shelf pony car will chew up 60's/70's/80's race cars. Back in '76 when the 930 turbo was new - 'brutally quick and fast as hell'- it ran to 60 in around 7.5 and was only good for about 150. You could now spank it's ass with a Honda Accord. The other amusement is that we built Hoover Dam and Empire State with dump trucks and semis that have less output than a run-of-the-mill F150.
  • David C. Holzman David C. Holzman on Dec 09, 2009

    I should have seen that, JuniorMint. Yes, well, it IS a trainwreck. Anyway, thanks for a good laugh at Paul. Of course, he's absolutely right. (would someone please link to his original xB article? I can't find it.)

  • Mjz Mjz on Dec 09, 2009

    Gee, not to beat a dead horse, again and again and again, but the 2010 PT Cruiser (Classic) has either just gone or will just go into production. They only sold 310 units because that's just about all that was left of 2009 inventory, most of which sold out during Cash for Clunkers. 2010 will be final edition, with production of Fiat 500 taking over.

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