Month of Reckoning: Civic, Corolla, Camry & Accord outsell F-series and Silverado

[GMusa]

I would love to see the new Malibu on top of that list!

[SUPERBADD75]

so the Civic is the #1 selling car this month? the AP story doesn't even mention the Civic, only Toyota. wow, the last time a car topped the F-150, it was the Taurus.... is that a testament to how much Detroit has lost its focus on cars? wow, this is just massively devastating for Ford. their entire structure has been based on the F-Series, and their house is very unstable now. at least the Focus is attracting buyers, and the Fusion and Taurus are pretty nice cars as well. i suspect the Explorer is doomed.

[caddyman23]

Ya know, reading through all (or at least most) of the posts today - the back and forth over whether or not GM has a "full and fuel-efficient line-up," something hit me...

For as all-powerful, gas friendly and generally green as the Japanese are thought to be, aren't like 80 percent of their "successes" in like four or five nameplates? I mean, remove Civic, Corolla, Accord and Camry and what'ya have left? Fit, Yaris, some of the Korean sub/compacts - they garner headlines here and elsewhere as symbols of all that is right with Asia and all that is wrong with America, and certainly their numbers are growing, but what are they really good for...like 200K units combined annually?

It's really incredible to think that the overwhelming, whopping majority of the machinery that's "killing" the US auto industry is and has been for 20 years, like four little nameplates from two Japanese manufacturers...or conversely, the US auto buying public is either so smart ("they've found a set of winning products and by gawd they'll stick with them forever") or else so sheep-like, so brainwashed by TV, a feeling of "fitting in" with other buyers, or just so scared of change from the familiar, that we're all buying the same things, over and over again.

Obvious I know, but still for me at least, a sobering thought.

[PocoToro]

Dear Lowe's home improvement center,


I am in desperate need of your top of the line furnace and a few tons of ice melt, not rock salt, I mean the good stuff, calcium chloride. As you see my home has frozen over.

I have enclosed my credit card, just send all you have.


Sincerely yours
Satan

[tgagneguam]

Originally Posted by paul8488

Honda has managed to ramp up Accord production fast enough to sell over 50,000 units in May. The Accord and Malbiu came out around the same time. GM needs to learn to play with the big boys or quit making cars. They could build ten units a month for two years and really get the quality down pat, but this isn't a knitting circle we're talking about, it's the US auto market. The competition isn't going to sit still while GM gives each component a hug and a kiss before assembling them.

Pretty much, paul8488. People can put whatever spin on this that they want-the author has an unmatched love affair with Toyota, Toyota lumps Matrix and Corolla sales, people are unpatriotic for buying Asian-branded vehicles-but the point is pretty clear: rising gasoline have once again caught Detroit with their pants down. Their products once again don't match what consumers are looking for. Once again they're left to explain away dismal monthly sales.

And fans of Detroit are left to once again throw their hands up in frustration. They are left to wonder when, when, when(!) will Detroit finally and consistently rise to the occasion and take back their home market from foreign-branded automakers, to whom they monthly give away pieces of the market without one bit of a fight. The Malibu? Please, the Camry and Accord crushed(!) the Malibu. It wasn't even close; look at the numbers, for Christ's sake. Strike? My ass. The Malibu isn't anywhere near the Camry or Accord. And let's not further embarass the Malibu by looking at the retail sales race. That one was lost long before it started.

[tgagneguam]

Originally Posted by caddyman23

Ya know, reading through all (or at least most) of the posts today - the back and forth over whether or not GM has a "full and fuel-efficient line-up," something hit me...

For as all-powerful, gas friendly and generally green as the Japanese are thought to be, aren't like 80 percent of their "successes" in like four or five nameplates? I mean, remove Civic, Corolla, Accord and Camry and what'ya have left? Fit, Yaris, some of the Korean sub/compacts - they garner headlines here and elsewhere as symbols of all that is right with Asia and all that is wrong with America, and certainly their numbers are growing, but what are they really good for...like 200K units combined annually?

It's really incredible to think that the overwhelming, whopping majority of the machinery that's "killing" the US auto industry is and has been for 20 years, like four little nameplates from two Japanese manufacturers...or conversely, the US auto buying public is either so smart ("they've found a set of winning products and by gawd they'll stick with them forever") or else so sheep-like, so brainwashed by TV, a feeling of "fitting in" with other buyers, or just so scared of change from the familiar, that we're all buying the same things, over and over again.

Obvious I know, but still for me at least, a sobering thought.

Take away the F-series, and what's left to Ford sales?

People are buying Camry's, Accords, Civics, and Corollas because they match consumer preferences. Trying to explain away their success the way you do comes across as naive. Toyota and Honda spent decades honing these vehicles, and it shows; their consistent success with them shouldn't be discredited simply as consumers are afraid to change. That's absolutely absurd, and it's precisely that mentality that got Detroit into the predicament it finds itself today. Let me guess, consumers should be different and buy a LaCrosse or an Aveo, like they're superior choices?

[SierraGS]

Originally Posted by Buick61

The sales charts have looked pretty much the same for the last few years: Ford F-series, Chevrolet Silverado, then Toyota Camry.

However, after a dismal month for pickup truck sales, the Civic, Corolla/Matrix, Camry, and Accord (in that order) leaped beyond both the Silverado and F-series to become America's best-selling vehicles for May 2008.

The F-series sales softened by 30.6% from May 2007, for a total of 42,973 units moved. The Silverado's sales were off by 42% year-over-year for a total sold of 37,020. In sharp contrast, Toyota was able to herd out an astonishing 52,826 Corollas/Matrixes and 51,291 Camrys during May (of which, 5,999 were hybrids). And taking the top prize was Honda's Civic, with total May sales of an unheard of 53,299 units. Slotting below the Camry for fourth place was the Accord, which racked up 43,728 buyers.


No doubt about it, the times have rapidly changed.

Pickup sales are tied to housing and the economy with 20% Fleet most going to Commercial and Government sales, when housing picks up so will truck sales. This does not make up the 40% drops but will boos the sales numbers a good bit.

Cancelled vacations and Boats/Trailers that will not be purchased or need a new Truck to Tow also impact Truck sales.

This change in top selling vehicles is nothing to celebrate, it may be a warning sign of serious repercussions in the economy.

[ZeroDrag]

Originally Posted by tgagneguam

The Malibu? Please, the Camry and Accord crushed(!) the Malibu. It wasn't even close; look at the numbers, for Christ's sake. Strike? My ass. The Malibu isn't anywhere near the Camry or Accord. And let's not further embarass the Malibu by looking at the retail sales race. That one was lost long before it started.

After all the hype on this site about the Malibu, I actually suggested a family friend to at least take a look at the Malibu. What a DISAPPOINTMENT!!! I checked out the car myself and it's a 3rd class attempt when you consider Camry and the new Accord. The front is horrible, interior only looks good in the photos. Don't know how I forgot this is a GM fan site.

[GM-Joe]

If those vehicles had Chevy or Ford badges on them I still wouldn't be interested. The Civic is OK in my book, but still not exillerating; I beat a new 28k Si in an 11 year old 900. None of them do much for me, especially the Corolla. And it is sad how uninformed and biased people of this country have become about domestics and imports. We might as well as prepare for the demise of this economy because the way things used to be will never be again.

As for the pickups, realistically it is pointless to own a pickup unless you have many chores you wish to accomplish. But on the other hand, those pickup trucks DO NOT get much worse mileage than most of these crossovers that everyone is jumping up and down about.

[Bvonscott]

I can't belive this is happening. This sucks. And we have to wait till 2010 till GM starts making all these new compact cars that can compete. They got caught with their pants down on this one. They had better be completely awesome class leading compacts or its over.

[AERO1]

I WILL NEVER BUY A JAPANESE VEHICLE!!!! EVER!!!

AMERICAN CARS, TRUCKS OR SUVs UNTIL I DIE!!!!

SG

[MaxLegroom]

Originally Posted by SierraGS

Pickup sales are tied to housing and the economy with 20% Fleet most going to Commercial and Government sales, when housing picks up so will truck sales. This does not make up the 40% drops but will boos the sales numbers a good bit.

Cancelled vacations and Boats/Trailers that will not be purchased or need a new Truck to Tow also impact Truck sales.

This change in top selling vehicles is nothing to celebrate, it may be a warning sign of serious repercussions in the economy.

I disagree mainly because the Japanese companies are the ones benefiting from this change in automotive fashions. While Focus and Cobalt sales are up, especially Focus sales, somehow GM , Ford and Chrysler have ended up on the short end of the stick again. I was looking for reports on Caliber sales, mainly because I can't quite believe that something that looks that much like a truck would sell better in the current conditions. My memory of driving one was that it accelerated like a Prius, but without the low end torque, and without the gas mileage.

[Joe in T.O.]

It's too bad the Cobalt and Malibu weren't up there. Japanese cars are the reason for the recesssion!

[camaro_freak]

Originally Posted by Aprime

Because Americans stopped buying cars they don't need?

lolwut

don't forget to mention Americans can't buy what they need now from the domestics... GM pretty much made that clear pushing the trucks so heavily and being late to market with hybrids and other alternative fuel vehicles (except E85 - I'll give them kudos for that at least)

[camaro_freak]

Originally Posted by AERO1

I WILL NEVER BUY A JAPANESE VEHICLE!!!! EVER!!!

AMERICAN CARS, TRUCKS OR SUVs UNTIL I DIE!!!!

SG

sigh.... that sounds like a bold statement but let's dig a little deeper... where are your clothes, electronics, and other home goods made? I highly doubt a large percentage of them are built here in America...most probably made in Mexico or China aren't they?

time to step off that high horse....