Post by oldsauroraman1 on Oct 10, 2005 8:37:15 GMT -6
Sure "Big 3," keep making those gas guzzlers while gas prices soar and will be high. 
Smaller cars post big sales increases
By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY
In a flashback to the 1980s, high gas prices pushed smaller cars to the top of the list of biggest percentage sales gains in September. Among the biggest gainers are models not normally in the limelight: Dodge Neon, Chevrolet Malibu and Nissan Sentra.
Dodge Neon is being replaced by the larger Caliber.
Wieck
The five vehicles showing the biggest percentage increases in September over a year ago were all smaller cars, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Autodata sales figures for vehicles that sold at least 10,000 units. By contrast, four of the five biggest percentage losers were SUVs or pickups. (Photo gallery: Small cars, big sales)
"The two hurricanes and the subsequent spike in gas prices led consumers to reconsider their traditional car-buying choices," says Mark McCready of CarsDirect.com.
The September sales increases show that consumers are interested in different high-mileage vehicles, not just the hot-selling gas-electric hybrid models.
"I don't think Americans are telling us all of a sudden they want small," says Dan Gorrell of consultant Strategic Vision. "They are telling us they want more affordable."
The biggest gainer was Ford's Mustang, up 73%, helped by comparison with September 2004, when a redesign went on sale. But it is followed in the listing by these automotive introverts:
•Dodge Neon. Even though Chrysler recently stopped making it, the Neon is getting its last hurrah, including a 69% sales gain in September. "The dealers are calling and asking for more," says Steven Landry, a Dodge vice president.
Landry says there's no hope of restarting production. The company has enough Neons to last through January, he says. It will be replaced by the larger Caliber.
•Chevy Malibu. Despite Malibu's 49% sales gain, General Motors hasn't gotten as much notice as it deserves for the strength of its car line, says Tom Libby of J.D. Power and Associates. GM has advertised Malibu as one of its best-mileage models at 32 miles a gallon highway. Sales of its stretched version, the Malibu Maxx, which gets 2 mpg less, fell 20% last month.
•Nissan Sentra. Sales of Nissan's small car rose 66% last month, even though it hasn't been redesigned since 2000. "Sentra has consistently exceeded our business plan," says Mark McNabb, a Nissan vice president. A part of the increase was from higher fleet sales, including to rental-car firms bulking up after the hurricanes.
Small-car leaders Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla also cashed in with 36% and 21% increases, respectively. "Fuel prices played a role," says Honda spokesman Sage Marie. So did a redesigned 2006 Civic, which just went on sale. "It's been flying off the trucks."
Find this article at:
www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2005-10-09-small-cars-usat_x.htm
Smaller cars post big sales increases
By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY
In a flashback to the 1980s, high gas prices pushed smaller cars to the top of the list of biggest percentage sales gains in September. Among the biggest gainers are models not normally in the limelight: Dodge Neon, Chevrolet Malibu and Nissan Sentra.
Dodge Neon is being replaced by the larger Caliber.
Wieck
The five vehicles showing the biggest percentage increases in September over a year ago were all smaller cars, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Autodata sales figures for vehicles that sold at least 10,000 units. By contrast, four of the five biggest percentage losers were SUVs or pickups. (Photo gallery: Small cars, big sales)
"The two hurricanes and the subsequent spike in gas prices led consumers to reconsider their traditional car-buying choices," says Mark McCready of CarsDirect.com.
The September sales increases show that consumers are interested in different high-mileage vehicles, not just the hot-selling gas-electric hybrid models.
"I don't think Americans are telling us all of a sudden they want small," says Dan Gorrell of consultant Strategic Vision. "They are telling us they want more affordable."
The biggest gainer was Ford's Mustang, up 73%, helped by comparison with September 2004, when a redesign went on sale. But it is followed in the listing by these automotive introverts:
•Dodge Neon. Even though Chrysler recently stopped making it, the Neon is getting its last hurrah, including a 69% sales gain in September. "The dealers are calling and asking for more," says Steven Landry, a Dodge vice president.
Landry says there's no hope of restarting production. The company has enough Neons to last through January, he says. It will be replaced by the larger Caliber.
•Chevy Malibu. Despite Malibu's 49% sales gain, General Motors hasn't gotten as much notice as it deserves for the strength of its car line, says Tom Libby of J.D. Power and Associates. GM has advertised Malibu as one of its best-mileage models at 32 miles a gallon highway. Sales of its stretched version, the Malibu Maxx, which gets 2 mpg less, fell 20% last month.
•Nissan Sentra. Sales of Nissan's small car rose 66% last month, even though it hasn't been redesigned since 2000. "Sentra has consistently exceeded our business plan," says Mark McNabb, a Nissan vice president. A part of the increase was from higher fleet sales, including to rental-car firms bulking up after the hurricanes.
Small-car leaders Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla also cashed in with 36% and 21% increases, respectively. "Fuel prices played a role," says Honda spokesman Sage Marie. So did a redesigned 2006 Civic, which just went on sale. "It's been flying off the trucks."
Find this article at:
www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2005-10-09-small-cars-usat_x.htm