RSS RSS Twitter Twitter
Leftlane - news, reviews, and info for the auto-industry
 
 

Weakening pickup sales may be a danger sign

05/09/2006, 11:27 AM

By admin

Despite rising gas prices, the common wisdom has been that pickup sales would be largely unaffected because they are often necessary rather than a luxury. However, sales of full-size pickups — a critical component of U.S. auto sales — fell nearly six percent last month, according to the Detroit Free Press. One possibility is that customers are waiting to see if gas prices will get worse. “They just want to see where this gas price thing is going to end up,” said George Pipas, Ford’s top sales analyst. Pipas contends that pickup customers need the large utility vehicles, and that won’t change. But according to CNW Marketing Research, a quarter of pickup owners are “appearance buyers” — that is, they buy a pickup because they like the image. “They don’t need a pickup truck,” said CNW president Art Spinella.

    Print This Post

New car price quote

Zero obligation price quote from a trusted local dealer.
 
 

05/09, 11:56 AM

posted by:

e30e

Good! Less men with small man syndrome and women with b*tch syndrom driving trucks they don’t need

05/09, 12:51 PM

posted by:

gsh

or the asian trucks are stealing sales =D

05/09, 12:52 PM

posted by:

Ahk-Med

Mike you may “disagree” with e30e’s comment #1, but there IS some truth there. Your complete rejection of the idea is the only ignorant comment I see here.

That little rant in the last paragraph of your comment leads me to believe you may be suffering from the aforementioned small man syndrome…

05/09, 12:53 PM

posted by:

TW

The dumb**** has spoken up and gets the prize…. and it goes to number 2.

05/09, 12:59 PM

posted by:

TW

#3, go to the Detroit News link. “Asian” sales are down also.

05/09, 12:59 PM

posted by:

Mike

akmad… what is the truth in #1’s comment?

gsh… it says sales of fullsize pickps… not sales of GM Ford and Dodge… so your asians are included in the declining numbers…AND also fit into my comment about a new model emerging within the next year and people are waiting.

TW…please, counter anything I posted in comment #2 with facts…

05/09, 1:18 PM

posted by:

TW

Mike.
Its not a question of facts… its attitude. Lighten up a bit. Its only a truck.

05/09, 1:22 PM

posted by:

Derek

GM’s new full size SUV’s are selling like mad right now. Sales of the 07 Escalade were up 127%. When GM comes out with the pickups to match them they will fly out of dealerships. If you are an import fanboy who doesnt like or know anything about trucks and you are just here to make idiotic commments like #1 or #3, you haters seriously just need to shut the hell up. The pick up market will DISAPPEAR before the big 3 give it up.

05/09, 2:21 PM

posted by:

RangeRoverBoy

I’d have to doubt the 25% appearance buyers, In the survey many people who move a sofa during thier ownership probably consider it a ‘work’ vehicle. I’ve seen an awful lot of ‘air’ being hauled around by pickups with beds only marred by water stains from the last rain.

Has anyone noticed how fast many of these owners try to drive these pick’emups! I just assumed they were embarrassed to be seen in them!

Pickups are a mental disorder in my opinion.
(as much as keeping an 11 year old Range Rover in great shape for off roading)

Hahahaha

Todd

05/09, 2:36 PM

posted by:

Mike

Freedom of choice and a consumer making an educated buying decision is a mental disorder because you do not agree with the purchase? sounds a little closed-minded to me…

pushyourliberalagendadowneveryonesthroatmuch?

05/09, 2:43 PM

posted by:

Cody

Ahk-Med: I disagree with you somewhat on the Corvette comment. A lot of that has to deal with the fact that the “balding middle-aged man” probably could not afford the Corvette until then.

That being said, I guess I fall into the “appearance buyers” category because I don’t haul things on a regular basis but I have hauled/towed things with it and it has been very handy. Are the majority of car sales not to “appearance buyers”, within the car segment that is?

I don’t understand a lot of the hatred towards people who drive what they like, be it lifted/lowered pickups and SUVs, sports cars, pimped out SUVs, ricers, economy cars…

::My pickup has a curmple zone, it just happens to be the car that hits me and the last time it happened to be a Ford Ranger.::

05/09, 4:04 PM

posted by:

Chris

it seems totally reasonable that at least 25% of every car category (outside of small to mid-sized sedans) consists of “appearance” buyers. pickups, convertibles, sports cars, etc…

and if the downside of owning these vehicles gets too large, the appearance buyers will be the first to go. for large trucks, its gas prices that drive sales down. someone that owns a 2-door sports car will probably have to look at selling it if they get married and have kids. nothing seems too controversial here…

05/09, 4:05 PM

posted by:

Ahk-Med

Cody,

Don’t take it too serious, thats the mistake that Mike keeps making.

05/09, 4:15 PM

posted by:

eam3

My buddy who drove his GMC p/u for about 5 years kept telling me how useful it was and how I should really consider buying one. When I asked him to logically (and not emotionally) explain to me the reason behind his suggestion, his answer was: so when you move, you have the right vehicle to haul stuff in. I explained that having moved 2x in 9 years is not enough of a reason for me to put up with a gas guzzling, ill-handling vehicle. His best rebuttal was something about how cool trucks are and that’s another reason to own one. To each his own but the truth of the matter is that a lot of people who drive p/u’s drive them because of the perceived “cool” image they feel trucks have. In reality, I see pick-up trucks as work vehicles. If you don’t use it to haul things on a daily basis then what’s the point?

05/09, 5:00 PM

posted by:

RangeRoverBoy

Mike…. take a deep breath!

I’m guessing you don’t have a sharp senst of humor. Or, have to cappertop tailgate open and are under the influence of your pick’emup emissions. Or, lastly you’re 9 and want a monster truck someday!

Maybe you did not catch the word ‘opinion’ in my last comment.

Although I do love howyousmushallyourwordstogetherwhenyougetworkedup! Itistoughnottohitthespacebarbetweenwords! Nicework!

XOXO

05/09, 5:17 PM

posted by:

Cody

Ahk-Med: I’m not taking it too serious, I was just pointing out my slightly different take on things. The whole post wasn’t targetted at you if that’s how it seemed, just the Corvette part. The hatred part was just a general comment on how a lot of the people posting on this website act.

::My pickup has a curmple zone, it just happens to be the car that hits me and the last time it happened to be a Ford Ranger.::

05/09, 5:42 PM

posted by:

e30e

Mike,
Seriously I must of struck a nerve with the syndrome comment. Its not ignorant to simply say those kinds of people are not going to be driving a truck. Ask a salemen about truck sales they’ll tell you “gas goes down 10 cents, I sell 5 more trucks and 5 more suv’s.” Those dumbass ass people who buy when gas goes down 10 cents are the same people who have the syndromse I’m talking about. I would be willing to say a VAST MAJORITY of truck owners do not need use the truck as a truck more than once every two weeks, they use them as a single person mover to work and the grocery stores. Why do I say that because, I OWNED a truck and did those things. I’m not anti-truck or some liberal douche, I’m simply stating that there is going to be less people driving new trucks and I think thats great!

 
 
You need to log in with your user name and password before you can leave comments.

    

Forgot your Password?

Don't have a user name yet? Simply fill in the form below and click the link provided in the
confirmation email. You must supply a valid email address to complete the registration process.

  
 
 
 
 
  • Login
  • About
  • Contact
Please note that you need to log in with your user name and password before you can leave comments.
  

login
cancel
Forgot your Password?
Don't have a user name yet? Click here to register now.

Simply fill in the form below and click the link provided in the confirmation email. You must supply a valid email address to complete the registration process.

  
submit
cancel
Leftlane is the leading source for automotive industry and vehicle news, new car research, future vehicle information, and reviews. Read by car shoppers, driving enthusiasts, autoworkers, executives, and investors, the website is updated throughout the day with the very latest auto news - as it happens.

Leftlane also provides consumers with accurate and media-rich information on every car currently on the market. In-market shoppers can review specs, read overviews, view high-resolution images, watch videos, and estimate pricing. No other automotive publication brings together the same degree of timeliness, thoroughness and accuracy as Leftlane.
 
submit
cancel