Agent009
Agent009
"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."
View My AgentSpace

Print this Page | Digg It | del.icio.us

Automakers Blame Slumping Sales On Lack Of Amenities In Smaller Models
Automakers are working as fast as they can to meet a new consumer landscape: Buyers want not just fuel-efficient cars but also the same amenities they had in their hulking SUVs.

It's a change from how most cars have been set up in the USA. Smaller engines meant smaller sticker prices. Automakers put four-cylinder engines in their bare-bones models. If you wanted a moon roof, leather seats or a navigation system, you also got a bigger engine under the hood.

"A lot of it had to do with price points," says Eric Peterson, communications manager for Ford Motor's crossovers. Buyers who spent more wanted more power. "Now, there's more of a shift in consumer mind-set that we're reacting to. … Consumers are saying, 'I want fuel efficiency, and I want all these options as well.' "

 Read Article
Automakers Blame Slumping Sales On Lack Of Amenities In Smaller Models



Comments:

Images hosted in your AgentSpace can now be posted in the comments section using the following syntax (case matters):
[img]IMAGE URL[/img]
Example: [img]http://agent004.myautospies.com/users/150/Sample-Gallery/sample1.JPG[/img]
I95SPEEDINGTICKETSI95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 7/7/2008 11:24:03 AM
+4 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
It took them this long to understand that they should have had small engined fully loaded Vehicles available ?

You can get a Fully Loaded A3 with a 1.8TFSI producing damn near 200hp and it has much better interior quality than the 08 Escalade i rented in April.

I guess there is also the "It looks so small" reason for the slow pick-up of sales on Smaller Vehicles.

Weird how in the UK I feel Cool driving an RS4 Cab but in the USA Same car is considered A Chick Car.

reply to this comment
EnnNorakEnnNorak - 7/7/2008 3:36:15 PM
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Automakers hire too few true car guys. Sometimes I think that cars are designed by people who don't drive. Many small cars are not available with leather which is a deal-breaker for me.


DexDiamondsDexDiamonds - 7/7/2008 12:42:11 PM
0 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Well then when you load up the car you have to load up the price and I highly doubt people want to pay premium for a slow car with alot of gadgets.

reply to this comment
WhattheWhatthe - 7/7/2008 1:02:56 PM
-1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
The automakers are looking for excuses, while the public is waiting to see what happens to gas prices.

The industry is the inventor of the best excuses.
"sales are down because of the weather, economy, color of cars, gas prices, consumer angst.
The problem is there inability to change. Three years of talking, then two for planning brings a car to market that is out of step with the public.
For 20 years they knew the days of high gas prices were coming and did nothing. Panic time.
Now it our fault because we need cars with mp3s and nav systems and good gas mileage. "Damn consumer always wants more"
Dah.
How about consolidating platforms, engines, and facilties to bring things into being in less then the 3-6 years it takes now.
9 mths ago you could have all the prius' you wanted, now, wait in line. How short sighted can a business be and stay competitive.

ps the prius sucks, we need something better!


reply to this comment
MadibaPMadibaP - 7/8/2008 2:06:14 AM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Who is wanting to see what is going to happen to the "gas" price? ITS GOING UP! THE END!


austintysonaustintyson - 7/11/2008 9:23:25 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
You say 9 months ago we could all have prius'. So really what your saying is people 9 months ago were not even really looking at these cars. Now people are all upset because there are not enough small cars with what they want on them when a year ago they would not even think to look at these cars. Remember the makers are going to sell what people want. So everyone wants SUV's. Lets make them and sell them. No one wants a small car. Fine we wont make them. Everyone goes oh why didn't they see this coming. Well they probably did. But could you tell GM Ford or Toyota hey I know its 2003 right now but in 5 yrs gas is going to hit 4 bucks a gallon. I know I couldn't. And to come up with a build a brand new design takes a few years.. just doesn't happen overnight


RupertRupert - 7/7/2008 5:30:30 PMView My AgentSpace
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
In Europe you can spec most small engined cars to the exact same level as bigger engined ones. An A8 3.0 can be specced to the exact same level as an A8 W12.

reply to this comment
0to600to60 - 7/8/2008 12:24:50 AM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Smaller cars with no options were primarily built for people who wanted something cheap or couldnt afford otherwise. Hence the lack of expensive options. If I had to choose between a loaded small hyundai for 20k or an Accord with some options for around the same price, I would go with the Accord. Now, because of gas prices, if the Kia returns in the 30's mpg... I might have to think twice about my choice.

reply to this comment
MadibaPMadibaP - 7/8/2008 2:11:09 AM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
I think its already past the time that all cars (special exceptions made for small runs) should be no more that 1200 kg and have a top end of no more than 130km/h and get no less than 6 liters per 100km at max!

We are in trouble here, its worse than we think and we have to cut down our oil consumption rapidly.

reply to this comment
JudasLeaseJudasLease - 7/10/2008 12:55:42 AM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Sounds like their own fault.

reply to this comment
To post a comment for this story, you must first Login.

If you do not have an account, you will need to Register (It's Free!).

Most Recent Stories
The Genesis is stealing sales, but from who?Maserati MC Sport Line Package for the GranTurismoProduction 2009 Honda Insight Hybrid RevealedUAW Feels The Heat And Suspends Job Bank And Delays Trust Payments Until 2010The All New Mazda3 5 Door Hatch Debuts In BolognaDoes It Have What It Takes To Be At The Top? The 2010 Audi A5 and S5 Cabriolet - Quick Reference GuideOut of Time, Out of Money, Out of Options GM Spirals Into The AbyssPorsche Panamera Tuned by 9ff and Russian firm's Top Car and CardiBreaking: 2009 BMW Z4 UnveiledVolkswagen Scirocco Studie R Concept unveiled in BolognaAll-New Mazda3 Hatch Unveiled at Bologna Motor ShowDetroit's Big 3 request totals $34 billionMichelin presents Active Wheel systemAudi anticipates record sales in 2008Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback to feature Ralliart and GTS EditionsNovember Luxury Car Sales - Is Infiniti ready for a flagship?UPDATED: First Audi A5/S5 Convertible Photos- STUDS or DUDS? Why No Hardtop?V8 Car Cookout: Bratwurst (Audi S5), Beef Teriyaki (Lexus IS-F) or Bacon Cheeseburgers (Challenger SRT-8)?GM Says It Will Sacrific SAAB, Saturn, Hummer, And Hobble Pontiac For Federal FundsNissan Sales Sour By 44.4% In November: Infiniti Drops 28.0% UPDATED: Audi Sales Ends The Free Ride By Skidding 25.4% In NovemberDETROIT AUTO SHOW: Audi Flexes It's Muscle And Is Set To Debut V10 R8 Sports-CarHonda Civic sales down nearly 30%, Toyota Highlander sales up nearly 50%Chrysler Outpaces GM To The Bottom Of The Heap: November Sales Fall 47%Ford Asks Congress For $9 Billion In Stand By Credit But Has No Plans To Use ItGM Sales Out Does Them All In A Bad Way: Sales Implode 41.3% In November2010 Nissan GT-R Spec V Reportedly Will Cost $160,000 but Not Get More hpJaguar and Land Rover in Big Trouble as Tata on the BubbleMercedes Benz Sales Crumble 38.2% In NovemberMazda Sales Tank 31.3% For NovemberHyundai Makes Everyone Else Look Good In November By Falling 40%Porsche and BMW to Halt Production Honda Sales Falter 30.6% In November: Acura Freefalls 38.9%The World Bids Farewell to the YugoBMW Sales Plummet 36.1% Mini Sales Explode 43.1% In NovemberGM Ceases All Corporate Jet Flights: To Sell Remaining JetsToyota Sales Spiral In November Down 33.9%: Lexus Basement Bound Down 34.7%FOMOCO Sales Continue To Flatline: Down 30.6% In NovemberVolkswagen Finally Fumbles In 2008: November Sales Drop 19.2%Japanese and South Korean Car Sales Plummet in NovemberComparison Test: 2008 BMW M5 vs. 2009 Cadillac CTS-V vs. 2009 Mercedes-Benz C63The Big Three Bailout According to SNLNissan 370Z goes from 0 to 60 in the same time as the BMW M3Mulally chooses Escape Hybrid for D.C. road tripFisker to unveil production Karma Hybrid in DetroitToyota Halts Production And Cuts Management Bonuses To Maintain Positive CashflowChrysler says 2011 Charger and 300 will pass fuel-economy standards2009 GMC Yukon XL DenaliFORD CEO Alan Mulally Will Drive to Washington D.C. To BEG For Money - But What Car Will He Drive To D.C.? His Lexus, OR Perhaps Maybe a Ford Product?Industry Sales Likely To Be Down 28% In November GM May Fare Worse