Comments on: [Updated] 2008 sales figures released: Bleak across the board

By: SubieDoug

SubieDoug — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:28:39 +0000

bradleygt – Been selling Subarus for 5 + years, been in the business over 9. This year was my 3rd best year ever, and I was selling Acuras back in 2000 when pretty much every MDX was presold and went for list, and people were lining up for TL-S’s.

I also work in Michigan, and our region posted huge gains over last year, despite the crap economy. Not sure what brands the people you are talking to sell, or what part of the country you’re in, but all in all I can’t complain about 2008.

By: jackjimturkey

jackjimturkey — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:08:35 +0000

It’s a big crap sandwich and everybody’s gotta take a bite!

By: Kaizen

Kaizen — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:07:29 +0000

@inline6: TMS as a nation sold 2,217,662. Of this, Toyota division was at 1,843,671 which excludes the 113,904 Scion units. Lexus, as stated above, came in at 260,087. This means Toyota brand outsold Chevrolet by 42,540.

By: moparsalesman

moparsalesman — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:09:13 +0000

kelly blue book is a lame freaking thing to say. I dont know any dealer who uses kelly to appraise a vehicle. any salesman or manager knows the trade value is based on nada galves or for us in the northeast we look at the local auto auctions. besides kelly blue book has never written a check to anyone for their so called values of their vehicles. so actually anyone that quotes kbb values probably sits in an office on their computer and has nothing to do with the actual automobile industry.

By: beatusmongous

beatusmongous — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:40:25 +0000

@Anonymous Coward. thanks for the ribbing. I can appreciate a good jab. Very funny.

By: gugy

gugy — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:00:11 +0000

if you think this is bad, wait for 2009.
I would not be surprise to see several dealers everywhere and possible few car manufactures folding this year.

People are scared, losing their jobs and businesses are cutting across the board.

Last thing people want now is to buy a car if their old one is working. I just fixed my junk 10 year old Volvo and I will keep it for another year and wait. I was a prime consumer to buy a car, but with so much uncertainty all over, there is no way I am investing on a new car and having a car payment and a more expensive insurance. Screw that. Like me millions of folks are taking the same precautions that will lead to more pain into the whole automotive sector.

By: yarddog82abn

yarddog82abn — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:09:49 +0000

Gentlemen, i work in auto sales, and day in and day out, I talk to a lot of dealers, and every dealer is hurting, O.K. Mini is doing good, but all Mini dealers are part of BMW dealers… And “KBB values,”…. LOOK AT ME LAUGHING-OUT-LOUD!!!… ) ………DO YOU REALLY THINK A DEALER IS GOING TO GIVE YOU THE TOTAL TRAD-IN-VALUE?????….. DO YOU THINK SOMEONE IS GOING TO GIVE YOU WHAT “BBK” SAY’S YOU CAR IS WORTH, WHEN THEY CAN BUY A NEW ONE FOR THE SAME PRICE???

THE ECONOMY IS EFFECTING EVERY ONE!!! GO TO YOUR LOCAL MALL, COUNT HOW MEANY STORES ARE CLOSING, DRIVE AROUND TOWN AND COUNT HOW MANY BUSINESS ARE HAVING CLOSE OUT SALES, READ THE PAPER AND SEE HOW MANY CORPORATIONS ARE FILLING FOR BANKRUPTCY THIS WEEK… IF YOU DIRECTLY HAVE NOT BEEN EFFECTED, WAIT A MINUET, IT WILL…

By: inline6

inline6 — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:53:47 +0000

Toyota’s numbers are skewed because they group Scion’s in, too.

Is there a breakout on Scion sales figures? That’ll give us a better idea of how close Chevy and Toyota are in the #1 brand sales race.

By: CP92804

CP92804 — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:21:58 +0000

I worked at a BMW retailer in Southern California that declined to get in on a MINI franchise when it became avaiable becuse”No one wants to buy those and they wont sell.”. I wonder if he still has the same opinion now while he hands out pinks slips to the employees that have worked there for 5 or more years.

By: bradleygt

bradleygt — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:18:08 +0000

lol, love the optimism or sarcasm Zcar! You must be the only one out there or your have been selling for less then a year so have no history beyond what you have seen, because EVERYONE I know has #’s way lower, in both pay and units.

2008 is good to be gone imo!

By: AnonymousCoward

AnonymousCoward — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:16:36 +0000

@Tripleoneflipper: And that has to do with this in what way…?

By: Zcarsales

Zcarsales — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:06:49 +0000

I sell cars, and I didn’t notice this trend.

By: mayer_ray_nagin

mayer_ray_nagin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:05:44 +0000

Why in the living hell are Galant sales up?

By: hummah

hummah — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:02:16 +0000

How did Hyundai and Kia do I wonder? I’m guessing that the bargain-basement Korean cars are probably doing better than the domestics.

By: inline6

inline6 — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:02:00 +0000

GM’s figures are out. Why aren’t they included in your tallies, LLN?

By: Tripleoneflipper

Tripleoneflipper — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:00:44 +0000

They still rule.

look at KBB values you fool

Love

1115

By: bmw 740i

bmw 740i — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:47:05 +0000

looks like with the current state of the economy and environment people really are switching to smaller cars such as the mini… looks like alot of imports havent faired so well with the current financial status of the u.s.

By: pavlindrom

pavlindrom — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:44:03 +0000

@Tripleoneflipper: Acura went down in sales, what are you talking about?

By: AnonymousCoward

AnonymousCoward — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:38:03 +0000

@beatusmongous: Yep, but apparently not slower than your life.

By: Tripleoneflipper

Tripleoneflipper — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:33:29 +0000

Imports-Because of the economy

Dometics-Because they suck.

Acura’s rule.

1115

By: beatusmongous

beatusmongous — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:25:37 +0000

This is breaking news? Must be a slow news day.