Proven: Canadian auto market is different than that in USA

[turbodiesel]

March 7, 2005

Industry Update
Small cars make big splash
by Jeremy Cato

When university administrator Joan Belfry went looking for a new commuter car, she thought about fuel economy, space, reliability, price and ride comfort for her commute -- one hour each way, every day.

She made a very Canadian decision. She bought a Toyota Echo subcompact sedan.

It's not just because the Echo was the fifth best-selling car in this country through the end of October, with 26,865 sold. More to the point, the Echo is a small car, and we Canadians buy small cars in great numbers.

In fact, the top seven of the 10 best selling cars in Canada are little runabouts - and four of those seven are imports. Market researcher DesRosiers Automotive Consultants notes that compact and subcompact cars make up almost one third (29.5 per cent) of all new vehicles sold in Canada.

read the rest of it here: http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jc/compact1.htm

[s113]

I wonder how the Cobalt (and especially the Pontiac Pursuit) are doing in Canada.

[5.3Avalanche]

Originally Posted by from the article

"It's even fun to drive," adds husband Don Belfry.

OMG, sometimes I hate Canada. These are the kinds of people that go flying in the ditch with their Echos because they think that they're invincible with front wheel drive. (don't ask me why, but people can't drive, nor do they have basic logic). Why are performance models coming out if the Echo is fun to drive? Wow, society is in a downward spiral.

[gmsickofan]

The fact that GM Canada doesn't bat an eye when it takes in Daewoo-made cars like the Epica, Optra, and Wave is another example of how they are different.

[airbalancer]

not all Canadians are crazy,
My wife drives a STS, and I drive a Sierra Z71 ECSB
And I want a small car next, Solstice, Sky or a Z4

[paul8488]

Originally Posted by 5.3Avalanche

OMG, sometimes I hate Canada. These are the kinds of people that go flying in the ditch with their Echos because they think that they're invincible with front wheel drive. (don't ask me why, but people can't drive, nor do they have basic logic). Why are performance models coming out if the Echo is fun to drive? Wow, society is in a downward spiral.

Wow. You really extrapolated there! All they said was it's fun to drive. A small car by nature can be pretty tossable. A bigger car has more weight to deal with. They didn't say it was the single best driving experience available.
Why is the Z06 coming out if the current Vette is already a blast? Any car can be made better, but some people can enjoy driving a dinky little FWD, and don't necessarily end up in the ditch. See "Large 4X4 SUV" for people who think they're invincible.

[tgagneguam]

Is this really all that surprising: another country has different preferences than the US? I think the US is the oddball out when it comes to taste sometimes. There aren't many countries that favor their gigantic trucks like the US, as one example.

Different cultures, different tastes. Go figure.

[pupp1]

Originally Posted by 5.3Avalanche

OMG, sometimes I hate Canada. These are the kinds of people that go flying in the ditch with their Echos because they think that they're invincible with front wheel drive. (don't ask me why, but people can't drive, nor do they have basic logic). Why are performance models coming out if the Echo is fun to drive? Wow, society is in a downward spiral.

lol
Come on man,you know it is fun to drive a go cart.

[Mike The Canadian]

bah, I live in Canada, I like big cruisers like my Buick, but we always have the second car compact or midsize. Though when i'm in charge thats gonna change :p

[doh]

The compact market is hugh here in Canada, be greatful GM lovers because of this GM gained over 26% sales in Feb.

I can remeber asking GM to change something on a Sunfire to no avail, but at the time they would seriously listen to Canadian dealers about fullsize truck. 1997 even though Canada was only 9% of GM's sales, we sold 22% of their full size trucks. That number has been dropping since 1997. Now compacts are growing.

[yoblues]

Just an odd question? Has anyone ever done a study comparing how many miles the average person in the USA drives vs the average Canadian in a year? Mabey the driving patterns are different in each country. If I was on the road a lot constantly driving I would prefere a larger car for the comfort/safety features. If I did not drive a lot a small car would be fine.

[5.3Avalanche]

Originally Posted by paul8488

Any car can be made better, but some people can enjoy driving a dinky little FWD, and don't necessarily end up in the ditch. See "Large 4X4 SUV" for people who think they're invincible.

You'd think that that would be the trend, but when I drive, it's always the trucks and the "Large 4x4 SUV's" that tend to take their time more on slippery winter roads. People in little cars don't realize that friction on the road surface actually changes. Not saying that this is the same with everyone, but just from what I've observed in general.

Yes, go-carts are fun to drive...on a go cart track. And I wouldn't exactly consider an echo to be quite tossable...it seems very top-heavy and out of proportion. As for a small car for myself, I'd opt for a Solstice or a Sky as a weekend summer cruiser like so many others on this board. There's nothing wrong with small cars, they have their place, just not in my driveway.