Sales: Weekend Toys, March 2011

by Edward Niedermeyer

April 8th, 2011 5:36 PM

The sun is shining into the shrouded windows here at TTAC HQ, seriously tempting me away from the computer for the first time since Oregon’s long, grey winter set in. In celebration of the fine weather and the impending weekend, we continue our March sales coverage by taking a look at the cars we call “weekend toys.” There’s no real rhyme or reason to this “segment,” as it spans a variety of sizes and price points. So rather than seeing this as a segment of directly-competing models, just think of it as an update on the world of (relatively) irrational vehicle purchases. The chart above represents the most popular vehicles that we think qualify as sufficiently irrational… hit the jump for an extended chart, including the higher-priced, lower-volume models.

#ChartOfTheDay #NewCars #Sales

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5 of 52 comments

Smokingclutch on Apr 10, 2011

I just picked up a leftover 2010 Challenger. Historically I have driven sporty Japanese cars (turbocharged 1990 Miata, two second-gen RX-7s, one first-gen RX-7, an RX-8, and a 2000 and 2007 Civic Si) but I decided that I wanted to get one of the new-age muscle cars before one special interest group or another and gas prices conspired to kill them off. I find the Challenger's interior to have a quality feel in most spots. The dashboard is a one-piece soft-touch affair that previewed the 2012 JGC, Charger, and 300. The only part I don't care for is the steering wheel - however, I don't think the new one in the 2011s is really an improvement. If I could change anything, it would be to replace the fake carbon fiber trim with a satin finish faux wood like the original Challenger. Personally, I'm glad that the Mustang and Camaro are selling at about double the rate - despite the car having been on the market for about 3 years, a Hemi Orange Challenger R/T Classic still gets a lot of positive attention.

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- Nrd515 on Apr 11, 2011
  
  I'm looking at swapping the fake carbon for trim painted Hemi Orange to match the car. I want my friend to do it first though, it may be a little too much. I've never had a car that gets the attention it does.
  
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Bridge2farr on Apr 11, 2011

Love how the TTAC faithful can't accept Camaro/Mustang dominance in this segment!

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- See 1 previous
- Zackman on Apr 11, 2011
  
  Fortunately, I'm not part of that group! I couldn't care less about any of the imports as I wouldn't buy one. For something like this, although I own a 2007 MX5, I say to the Camaro and Mustang: Go, go, go! These two are daily drivers, as opposed to a Miata.
  
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- Pete Zaitcev on Apr 11, 2011
  
  I know a guy who has MX-5 for daily driver, in Boston. He even drives with top down when it's -10C outside.
  
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