Toyota Corolla, Matrix, and Camry losin' their A.p.p.e.a.l.

[plane]

Man,
I'm not even going to try to directly quote and respond to half-coherent, judgmental ramblings
that go off the deep end about an Oldsmobile Silhouette.
I'm deeply regretful that you had such a crappy experience with your Oldsmobile.
I'm sure 3+ million oil sludge victims agree with you.

And for you to expect that the 2008 Malibu would instantly shoot to the top of the sales chart in the first year of sales is beyond credulity.

With a comment like that, I've got to ask.... Which Toyota location, marketing firm, dealership or affiliate do you work for?

[marinerbc]

Got to award this round to plane as usual, with a strong showing by AMERICA 123.

A Prime and Vladimir head back to the locker room to revamp the game plan, and hoping to hit the field in the second half firing on all 2 cylinders. Toyota in the meantime coasts on its reputation, learning nothing from what its hated rival went through not so very long ago, because it didn't happen in Nagoya. Neither did Little Boy, but hey, don't heed history, see how that works for ya. G'ahead.

[Ttple]

Originally Posted by joemac

Interesting. My father in law makes a trip to see our family 4 times a year. Every time at the airport he's rented a car. Usually shows up in a a Malibu or G6 never an import. This time he shows up in a Corolla rental. Makes you wonder all the daily rental space the domestics have been vacating, if the import brands having been filling the void.

I never understood why people complained that GM sold so many cars to rental agencies. It gave people who wouldn't think of owning a GM car the opportunity to drive one and possibly end up liking it. Now people who own GM cars may find that they prefer the foreign rental car over the domestic car they drive.

[AMERICA 123]

Originally Posted by joemac

Interesting. My father in law makes a trip to see our family 4 times a year. Every time at the airport he's rented a car. Usually shows up in a a Malibu or G6 never an import. This time he shows up in a Corolla rental. Makes you wonder all the daily rental space the domestics have been vacating, if the import brands having been filling the void.

The new 2009 Corolla started off like the current Avenger/Sebring.

You know same sort of thing thing with the Prius and all the other HSD concerning Calender Year 2006 and 2007.

I'd be willing to make a substantial wager that somewhere between 10-25% of Prius sales last year were fleet or commercial or Government sales - that's part of why they cut back the battery production schedule.

The other thing on that is that Toyota missed their internal goal of 1,000,000 Priuses within 10 years by 5 months plus some weeks and days.

Toyota is absolutely fierce about trying to make or exceed internal projections - especially if they are in view of the public - and they will adjust no matter what once they decide a time limit has been missed.

[eurohazard]

Has anyone here ever bought a car based on "A.P.P.E.A.L." results/rankings? Thank you.

It's cool though.....I'm glad to see the Malibu ranked so high honestly. But I hardly see this as gloom for the Toyota cars.

[Grifter_35]

You should actually read the JD Power survey you pasted as the Corolla and Matrix are the 2008 model years.

[AMERICA 123]

Originally Posted by plane

That depends.
It's a different market now.
There are several other brands can slide in immediately as direct replacements.

If I can buy a Malibu with better styling, equivalent safety and 10% better fuel economy at a lower price, I just might do that.

Not to mention the Saturn Aura, Honda Accord, or similar offerings from other manufacturers.

Exactly.

Depending on how you want to score it, GM and Ford did the best in this segment - either way as 1 and 2 or 2 and 1.

GM's Saturn Aura and Chevrolet Malibu both beat the 2009 Camry.

Ford's Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and the Mazda 6 - all in their old end of the line configurations also beat the 2009 Camry.

************************************************** ************************************************** **

Late add - from the press release

Porsche is the highest-ranking nameplate in APEAL for a fourth consecutive year.

Among the 36 ranked nameplates, 20 experience a decline in index scores since 2007, while 15 improve.

Domestic brands comprise the eight most-improved nameplates.

Buick posts the largest improvement, followed by Chrysler, Ford, Mercury and Dodge, respectively.

A majority of the most-improved models are also from domestic manufacturers, including the redesigned Ford Focus, Dodge Grand Caravan and Chevrolet Malibu.

[GMusa]

The new Malibu and Accord are so much better then the Camry. Toyotas redsign of the Camry better be awesome or the Malibu and Accord are going to steal sales.

[plane]

Originally Posted by Grifter_35

You should actually read the JD Power survey you pasted as the Corolla and Matrix are the 2008 model years.

Thanks for pointing that out.
Whew. Toyota sure dodged a bullet there.
That would have been six more years of bottom of the barrel.

[AMERICA 123]

Originally Posted by Grifter_35

You should actually read the JD Power survey you pasted as the Corolla and Matrix are the 2008 model years.

Sigh....... actually its not clear either way.

The links provided btw, go directly to the category results and not the press release

The earlier, IQS data is out on the 2009 Corolla and 2009 Matrix.

However, the press release covering this later APPEAL survey does say that the data is for 2008 Model Year product in describing itself.

Compounding this is the rash of correcting press releases that JD seems to have had of late.

On Monday, I'll attempt to get a clarification from them directly.

At this point it could be either one - its not certain.

[Xenon]

Originally Posted by Vladimir1978

Two more numbers to chew on.

Corolla/Matrix- 52,826
Camry- 51,291

Post all the tripe you want- people are buying these cars, and they're buying them without a ton of cash on the hood.

The only cars that actually sell without incentives are hybrids, Hondas and Porsches.

[Xenon]

and another question, since when do economy cars sell based on appeal? THey sell based on low price, features, and good fuel economy. This isn't a luxury car segment.

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

I agree. Nissan is the new "it" Japanese manufacturer.

[AMERICA 123]

Originally Posted by plane

Thanks for pointing that out.
Whew. Toyota sure dodged a bullet there.
That would have been six more years of bottom of the barrel.

Hopefully with the new Corolla,
weight will go down <nope>.
gas mileage will increase <nope,decrease>.
and it will look totally new, different and much improved <nope, nope, and nope>.

It's like the Battle of Midway - we got two badly damaged Imperial Japanese Navy cruisers temporarily unaccounted for - limping off under clouds and haze - and about to collide with each other.

Not to worry, we'll get'em both one way or the other - soon.

Meanwhile, there is a big fat flattop in sight - and underneath.

[marinerbc]

Originally Posted by New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66

I agree. Nissan is the new "it" Japanese manufacturer.

They have the sporty offerings that Toyota and Honda lack, IMO. Ghosn has done a superb job there, and it will be interesting to just who suffers as Nissan's visibility and sales rise. Will it be at Toyota's expense? I doubt it, because people that buy Toyotas (for the most part) don't care about cars. (Yes there are some that put fart can mufflers on Corollas. But they are few compared to the "Toyota as appliance" people.

Nissan's sales could be at Honda's, or GM's expense.