Best Selling Sedans of May, 2007

[stevecmh]

wow the impala is killing...

nice to see the GP up there too

i am surprised the 3 series is that high

[Bravada]

Originally Posted by lio45

But all of it can be traced directly to Daimler. Before the exodus of pissed-off talent following the "merger" and Germans' attitude that came with it, Chrysler was on a roll... (the planet's most profitable automaker back then, actually).

I don't see any reason why the successful team that was in place and running the show at the time (with amazing success... witness ChryCo's ~1998 lineup!) would have decided spontaneously to start messing things up around Y2K...

As if somebody forced Chrysler to merge with Daimler..

[exGMer]

With all the complaining about Impala fleet sales, does anyone know the volume of Camry fleet sales so far this year?

[ChevroletRevived]

The Impala is competent, safe and reliable. It's an excellent car for what it is. People are starting to realize that (after months on the market) and are starting to buy them in larger numbers. The tides are turning guys..

[superstreet]

wow look at the impala sales

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by Bravada

The models designed and luanched under the old-style Daimler management of Chrysler include the LXs. The Caliber, Sebring/Avenger etc. are more like Tom LaSorda children. Stop blaming Daimler for everything. There is also inherent incompetency within Chrysler themselves.

Whoa there Bravada, the Sebring and Avenger are very much Daimlers fault. You should see the electronics they use, way to expensive for that market. This is why money was cut on other things like more 6-speeds and a better interior.

The Caliber, Compass, and Patriot are the same thing.

Those cars are what you get when you use a crappy Mitsubishi platform, change it, and add overpriced Mercedes-Benz derived electronics.

The Nitro you can blame on LaSorda and Co, but the cars are the Germans fault.

[Bravada]

I don't know what you want to blame Nitro for, save for the questionable front end treatment it is a perfect modern-day Jeep Cherokee (unlike the modern-day Jeep Cherokee). As to the "crappy Mitsubishi platform", Mitsubishi just built one of the most desirable compacts off the same platform, and from what I've been hearing, Chrysler took the platforms when they were still halfway under development, so no wonder their cars are all fleet specials.

As concerns electronics, what electronics is it exactly, and how much does it cost (vs. on regular cars, like VW or Opel)?

[TahoeMikeZ71]

Originally Posted by smk4565

Impala must have had a big taxi and police car month, and if that is sedan only, there is a 2 door Camry and Accord, that pump up their over all numbers.

Why don't you face the facts that the Impala is doing good.

Originally Posted by BusyBody

Maybe in the US, but in Ontario, most cop cars are still the rounded rear tail light Impalas. Most cops will tell you they are reliable cars.

Our Sheriffs here have been using the old style ('00-'05) Impala for a long time now. Just know I have been seeing the new ones being used.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by BusyBody

Maybe in the US, but in Ontario, most cop cars are still the rounded rear tail light Impalas. Most cops will tell you they are reliable cars.

Really? Around here, the few cop cars that aren't Crown Victorias are Dodges...

I agree that police (and taxi, for that matter) fleets keep their cars a while, but they're pretty much the only ones...

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Bravada

As if somebody forced Chrysler to merge with Daimler..

"Forced" might not be the most accurate word, but it's not the least accurate either.

Old but still an interesting read (if you haven't read the book already) :

http://www.businessweek.com/2000/00_23/b3684147.htm

[Bravada]

This is a book written to prove a point, not document reality, and nobody ever said it does the latter.

[PhishPhood]

Originally Posted by exGMer

With all the complaining about Impala fleet sales, does anyone know the volume of Camry fleet sales so far this year?

From another thread today ...

From Fleet Central: http://www.fleet-central.com/af/stats2007/cars_web.pdf

Camry ~8% of 203,000
Accord ~5% of 163,000
Fusion ~ 27% of 67,000
Impala ~ 54% of 149,000
Malibu ~ 59% of 64,000
Altima ~ 16% of 128,000

[69Firebird400]

Originally Posted by macphisto

Something to remember, the Impala's fleet sales are not equal to other fleet sales because a large portion of their fleet sales are not to rental fleets. Impala's are GM's police cruiser and I've been seeing a lot of them down here throughout the state as new police vehicles. GM's not giving up those fleet sales because they're profitable and because they don't impact resale or public perception negatively like rental fleets. The Impala is also a workhorse now for government across the country. I would guess that a bulk of the fleet sales are government sales and not rental fleets. The previous Impala was more of a renter king but GM has really expanded into gov't with this newer car.

The stats don't really back that up so much...the majority of Impala fleet sales are still going to daily rentals. Check out this link:

Originally Posted by PhishPhood

From another thread today ...

From Fleet Central: http://www.fleet-central.com/af/stats2007/cars_web.pdf

Camry ~8% of 203,000
Accord ~5% of 163,000
Fusion ~ 27% of 67,000
Impala ~ 54% of 149,000
Malibu ~ 59% of 64,000
Altima ~ 16% of 128,000

The breakdown for the Impala for the first half of the model year is:

23,036 fleet - commercial (sales reps, etc.) = 28.7% of fleet sales, 15.5% of total sales
12,438 fleet - government (police cars, etc.) = 15.5% of fleet sales, 8.4% of total sales
44,660 fleet - rental = 55.7% of fleet sales, 30.0% of total sales

80,134 - total fleet sales = 53.9% of total sales

68,565 - retail = 46.1% of total sales

148,699 - total sales

[DuSpinnst]

Originally Posted by 69Firebird400

The breakdown for the Impala for the first half of the model year is:

23,036 fleet - commercial (sales reps, etc.) = 28.7% of fleet sales, 15.5% of total sales
12,438 fleet - government (police cars, etc.) = 15.5% of fleet sales, 8.4% of total sales
44,660 fleet - rental = 55.7% of fleet sales, 30.0% of total sales

80,134 - total fleet sales = 53.9% of total sales

68,565 - retail = 46.1% of total sales

148,699 - total sales

That is actually not that bad, the commercial and government sales do generate some money. The rental needs to go down a little.

[ponchoman49]

It never ceases to amaze me how Toyota rolls out so many bland Camrys. People must like bloated plain, ugly styling, transmissions that advertise as having 6 speeds and only shift with 4, 5 speed automatics that hestitate and increase your chances of getting killed or rear ended and an interior with more cut lines and cheap plastic than 4 GM sedans put together. It also seems to have quite the bitch fest on many of the forums with things ranging from tranny failures, clunky suspensions, not able to stay aligned, poor gas mileage, hesitation and poor performance with the 4 banger and many other gripes.