Subcompact Culture (Free subscription) | 11/08/2009
Another month, another big sales gain by Hyundai and Kia with the Accent and Rio, respectively. The biggest change from this time last year is the Accent—up more than double from 2008. Kia's Rio has sold nearly 75% more than this time last year. The only car showing a positive gain compared to '08 is the Accent, although the best-selling Vera is only down 6.6% compared to last year. Best selling...
Subcompact Culture (Free subscription) | 10/02/2009
Well, cash for clunkers is over, as are the astromoical sales increases had by some subcompact models last month. It's back to the same old stuff, for the most part, and that means slow sales. There were some bright spots: The Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, and MINI lineup all posted positive increases last month. And yet another juxtaposition for the title of "best seller" for the year, too. The...
Subcompact Culture (Free subscription) | 09/01/2009
Well what a difference the C.A.R.S. (Cash for Clunkers) program made, well at least for most subcompacts. There were some truly remarkable sales increases from this time last year, led by the Honda Fit, which increased sales 194.1% (no, that is not a typo). But it wasn't just Honda that did well. The Fit, Chevrolet Aveo, and Nissan Versa all had gains of over 100% compared to last year. Additionally,...
Subcompact Culture (Free subscription) | 08/25/2009
Most of us know that subcompacts and small cars are typically less expensive to own than larger vehicles. Many times they use less gas, and even have fewer repairs. Today on Yahoo Finance, there's an article on The 10 Cheapest Cars to Own , according to part of an article called "Financially Fit" on Bankrate.com . The list is made up of six subcompacts, and four compacts (in this order)....
Biggest News (Free subscription) | 08/25/2009
5-year total cost: $28965; Cost per mile: 39 cents; Pontiac G3: Starting price: $15055; 5-year total cost: $29049; Cost per mile: 39 cents; Mazda3 iSport: Starting price: $15360; 5-year total cost: $29271; Cost per mile: 39 cents [...]
Leftlane (Free subscription) | 08/19/2009
In a move that makes the Pontiac G3 look like one of the longest-running nameplates in history, General Motors announced on Wednesday that it has killed its plan to bring a smaller Buick crossover – and its plug-in hybrid counterpart – to market. The news of the cancellation comes less than two weeks after GM initially [...]
Subcompact Culture (Free subscription) | 08/06/2009
A transitional month for subcompact sales. Most models were up from last month, with the Hyundai Accent leading the pack again with a +13.3% gain from last year at this time. The most improved last month was the Scion xD, which only lost 2.0% from this time last year. The Kia Rio was the poorest performer compared to last year at this time with a loss of 53.6% compared to July 2008. Additionally, we...
Straightline (Free subscription) | 07/14/2009
This semi-regular column is written (in his own blood) by an automotive sage and noted malcontent, known as The Mechanic. Mercilessly beaten as a child with rolled-up back issues of old car magazines, our free-spoken hero developed a unique "for your own good" take on cars and the auto industry, along with an unfortunate habit of setting himself ablaze. Later, after a distinguished career...
Subcompact Culture (Free subscription) | 07/02/2009
So here's how things shook out for the month of June, 2009. • Hyundai's Accent was the only subcompact to have a positive gain, and it was a decent one at +17.7%. • The biggest loser was Scion's xD, with a -70% change vs. this same time last year. • Top sellers this year are the Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Accent, and Nissan Versa, in that order. • Lowest seller thus far is, again, the...
Just Auto (Free subscription) | 06/17/2009
General Motors is halting its assembly lines in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, for seven weeks from 1 July to 21 August due to weak demand for the Chevrolet Aveo and Pontiac G3 models the plant builds.
Subcompact Culture (Free subscription) | 06/02/2009
Unsurprisingly, like most vehicles, subcompact sales were down in May. • The least percentage lost from this time last year was Hyundai's Accent (-15.3%). The Accent is the only subcompact vehicle to have a positive gain overall for the year. • The biggest loser was the Scion xD, down nearly 75% from this time last year. • The biggest subcompact seller of the month was the Yaris with...
Subcompact Culture (Free subscription) | 06/02/2009
I'm sure by now we're all aware of the GM bankruptcy happenings. All this GM talk made me think of the company's past subcompact offerings, plus the fact that I've been intrigued by the 1980s Chevrolet Sprint Turbo as of late. So here's an ü ber-brief rundown of some of the General's subcompacts. 1971-1977 Chevrolet Vega/Pontiac Astre The Vega could be considered GM's first subcompact and was...
South Sea Republic (Free subscription) | 05/03/2009
by cam Kicking Tires has an interesting run down of inventory for the remaining Pontiacs: Pontiac G3: 617 days of inventory Pontiac G5: 443 days of inventory Pontiac G6: 83 days of inventory Pontiac G8: 92 days of inventory Pontiac Solstice: 276 days of inventory Pontiac Vibe: 149 days of inventory Pontiac Torrent: 99 days of inventory Considering that Pontiac is being killed for 2010 several of the...
Subcompact Culture (Free subscription) | 04/27/2009
As you have probably heard, General Motor's Pontiac division was given the official axe today. And so dies with it the Pontiac G3, which was just introduced this year. As you may have read from my previous G3 posts , it was a twin of the Chevrolet Aveo and hasn't sold well. It's not that the vehicle is terrible, but there isn't (wasn't) much of a case to have two Chevrolet Aveos on the market ... being...
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