Worst Selling Cars...

Don't know if somebody has already commented on this, but an online news service gave a listing of some really big sales dissapointments:

Amoung the duds -

Cadillac XLR - no surprise there; who wants it when you can have a Mercedes SL?
Jaguar - apparantly every single model except the 2-seaters; Xtype, Stype, and also the XJ (around 3600 cars each Jan to Oct this year)
Audi - A8 & S8 appear to be dead in the water
Porsche - the Boxter moved only 3148 Jan-Oct
Lexus SC430 - this ugly duckling has been out there for 8 stubborn years and has never taken off.

 

Just because a car sells poorly doesn't make it bad. Case in point:

NSX - Loved my NA2, I don't think they EVER sold over 500 NA2 cars in a year
BMW 840/850Ci - Great GTs

And here is a surprise:

Mercedes SL Since 2006 or so, sales have fallen significantly. I think they sold more in 2003 then 2005-2007 combined!

 

I think the A8 is a beautiful car. Same with the XJ-R's

Cadillac XLR was a horrible idea. No one under 50 will buy one, and most over 50 will want the undisguised version (Corvette)

 

You are right; I posted these because with the exception of the XLR and the SC430, they would all seem to be fairly decent cars (some of which I would not mind having)...others on the list were doggy sport utility type things such as the Honda Element. My biggest surprise was the numbers given for the Boxter; this may even be lower than sales of the Ferrari 430!

The SL does seem to be dropping behind, wonder if the price point has anything to do with it...and, I don't thing the McLaren Mercedes supercar has been much of a fireball in popularity either.

 

The opposite is true, too. Best sellers / pop cars aren't intrinsically better.

 

Yup they sell lots of Kia's and Hyundai's and they are really not that bad any more...


Jaguar's issues have more to do with Parantal issues than vehicle (but the sedans do look long on the vine...)

XLR... better than you would think but not as good as it should be.

Audi, S8 A8 Pretty sure they really didn't sell that many of the big'uns here at any time, fantastic car.

Lexus YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnn!

 

I agree with all these statments 100%.

 

To spend 100k on a XLR-V I better get a 25k rebate with it. In all honesty the XLR needs to be priced alot cheaper, its more of a status symbol then anything. You can get the much better performing C6 Z06 for 70k.

 

Ah but you can get a pink one if you sell enough mary kay

 

It was posted elsewhere, but the ZR1 club guru's that have been to the factory in BG say that the XLR line has been shut down for months, with partially assembled cars just sitting in place and covered with plastic sheeting. There is rumor that they will remove it soon and start assembling the Solstice/Sky there in its place.

Dave Hill, I hope you are good and happy now - wherever you are at. You single-handedly killed the last ZR1, got rid of Dave McClellan (and they say practically every single one of his executive engineering crew), and finally got your way of making a Cadillac Corvette. After the Corvette people resisted cloning their car into another division for all those years.

 

Thats pretty funny, we have one of the pink Marry Kay caddies rolling around here. Did you get out sailing recently?

 

Volkswagon Phaeton
Isuzu Vehicross
NSX actually sold over 1000 in 91, downhill from there.
Reventon ( heard only 20 were sold )

 

Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang - only 5 were sold
McLaren F1 LM - only 5 (tie with Veyron Pur Sang)
Pininfarina Ferrari P4/5 - Only 1 ever !

 

Another opinion: I think a reason why SLs don't sell particularly well is because a 07 looks the same as a 03. So people looking to pick up one for their wife are just gonna go out and get a low mileage used instead of a new one. My take anyways.

 

Well, I think most of them have all ended up in Las Vegas... it's SL city here.

 

Also the Porsche Cayman. Although the 911 is moving well. Probably matter of styling - 911 is the classic look; Cayman ... isn't. I've also noticed that the base Boxster, with only 240bhp or so, is kind of pricey for its performance. (That's 308 QV territory...) You could argue a Boxster is all about balance and handling, but that's kind of nuanced for most modern two-seater car shopers, IMO.

Jags: X-Type and S-Type have been duds for a while -- in fact the S-Type is starting to look ridiculous.

You forgot to mention the Ford Five-Hun -- er, Taurus. I guess renaming a dull car isn't enough.

 

They're hugely popular in San Diego. I think there are enough almost-new ones on the secondary market, at a healthy discount, that people may be staying away from the showroom. The model's also due for an update.

 

I would think with the introduction last year of the GL & new S-class, and the 2008 C & CL classes, it will be the SL's turn next.

Speaking of Mercedes. I would throw the previous generation C-class coupe in as poor sellers but good cars.

Others:
BMW M Coupe
Pontiac GTO
Chrysler Pacifica

 

I believe that is only true in the U.S. Foreign governments love them.

 

Not so shure about that - the car has been a failure sales wise. But it gained my respect in terms of the company VW and its potential... That said, I would get one over a S- 7- or A8 any day... So stealthy in the traffic it's too cool...

 

Infiniti Q45. The one with the rear parking camera (all the craze back in '02). Had the weird gatling gun headlights. They sold about 200 a month I believe.

I don't want to say the RS6 was a dud, but I think the auto tranny held back its potential for buyers. I think many more enthusiasts would've been interested had it been offered with a manual.

Mazda RX8 hasn't held steady imo. Competed with the Z for a very short while, right when the RX8 was introduced, but fell off the map in a hurry.

 

Mercedes R-Class, people dont want that thing, whatever it is.

 

Its pretty much a Chrysler Pacifica. Its a good 6-8 passenger vehicle though, but since it says Mercedes they charge way to much for it.

I really like the XJ, it is my favourite of all the big sedans. The Problem with the S8 is that you can buy an S6 which has 15 less horsepower for $20,000 less. Your not getting that much less car really.

 

Chrysler Crossfire - sales were so slow that many of them ended up stored in warehouses and outdoor lots both here and in Europe. Finally, with the DCX split in progress, most of the remaining stock was pushed out through dealer-only auctions this past summer. Surprisingly, this action alone brought a 32% increase in Chrysler sales over the same period the year before; the 50% price discount being the true motivator. Crossfire sales alone were up 421%.

Imagine a one year only sportscar with 330 HP and 0-60 in 4.8 for $26,000 (SRT-6). Plus it came with a full 7/70 warranty or unlimited if you timed it right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCtN5yrjZ64

 

Yeah what a shame, those were very very neat cars. IMO they are pretty goodlooking too. Heres a picture I took of one at the track day I went to for the local car club. Heres a vid of the same car

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/16a25610-b40d-493c-a537-99c2016c9fd2.htm
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